Loneliness as a Social Phenomenon: Cross-Cultural Approaches to a Human Condition

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Xplanatorium Herrenhausen, Hanover, Germany

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Loneliness as a Social Phenomenon: Cross-Cultural Approaches to a Human Condition

11. Juni - 13. Juni 2025

Organized by:
Celia Spoden & Carolin Fleischer-Heininger, German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ) Tokyo, Japan; part of the Max Weber Foundation, Bonn, Germany

Sachiko Horiguchi, Temple University, Japan Campus, Tokyo, Japan
Aaron Hames, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

This symposium examined loneliness as a social phenomenon that has increased as a result of social transformations and structural changes. We bring together an interdisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners to explore loneliness and social isolation. To investigate both conditions, we take a holistic and cross-cultural approach, and explore themes that connect theoretical understandings with practical application. For example, participants will share their expertise on the ambivalent role of digital technologies; civil-society measures to foster social inclusion; literary representations of loneliness; and the ethical implications of social fragmentation. In addition to academic presentations, the symposium includes an ethnographic film screening, a workshop, and a field trip to a local project addressing loneliness.

This event was part of the theme week “(Tackling) Loneliness”, 11th – 13th June 2025, Hanover

Wednesday, June 11

09:30 – 13:00	Volkswagen Foundation: Joint Program and Lunch
13:00-13:15	Introduction: Differentiating Loneliness and Social Isolation – Interdisciplinary Approaches Aaron Hames, Sachiko Horiguchi, Carolin Fleischer-Heininger, Celia Spoden
13:15 – 14:45	First Session: Conceptual Perspectives on Loneliness Chair: Wolfram Manzenreiter 1. Chikako Ozawa-de Silva “The Anatomy of Loneliness and the Phenomenon of a Lonely Society” 2. Zohar Lederman “Ethics of Loneliness” 3. Carolin Fleischer-Heininger “Encountering Loneliness in Contemporary Japanese Literature”
14:45 – 15:15	Coffee Break
15:15 – 16:45	Second Session: Technological Solutions to Loneliness and Social Isolation Chair: Felix Spremberg 1. Daniel White & Hirofumi Katsuno (presenter) “Modelling Loneliness in Japan: Companion Robot Experiments in Artificial Emotional Intelligence” 2. Marit Haldar & Maja Nordtug “Tackling Loneliness Amongst Older People and Homebound Students with Telepresence Technology in Norway” 3. Celia Spoden “Avatar Robots as a Solution to Loneliness? Technological Approaches to Overcome Social Isolation from Japan and Germany”
16:45 – 17:00	Coffee Break
17:00 – 19:00	Third Session: Loneliness and Social Isolation in Old Age Chair: Felix Spremberg Heesun Shin and Chihyung Jeon “’Grandma, Hug Me Tight’: Living with a ‘Robot Grandchild’ in South Korea” Cordula Endter “Together Not Alone in Old Age – Digital Innovations for Caring Communities in Rural Areas in Germany” Aaron Hames “The Virtues of Analog: Social Life for Older People in Japan” Iza Kavedžija “The Spectre of Loneliness: Communities of care and engaged aging in Japan”
19:00	Dinner
Thursday, June 12
08:30 – 10:00	Fourth Session: Perspectives on Loneliness and Social Isolation from Disability Studies, Psychosocial and Healthcare Chair: Evelyn Schulz 1. Jan Steffens and Thomas Hoffmann “Isolation, Social Development and Disability: A Cultural-historical Approach” 2. Sachiko Horiguchi “How Social Workers in Japan, Germany, UK and Sweden Have Been Tackling Social Isolation: Exploring the Relationships Between the Experiences of Social Isolation and Welfare Policies” 3. Sebastian Hofstetter “Digital Health Literacy for Burnout and Workplace-Related Social Isolation in Japan: Evaluating Online Resources Using MAPPinfo”
10:00 – 10:30	Coffee Break
10:30 – 12:00	Fifth Session: Bridging Scholarship and Practice – Addressing Loneliness and Social Isolation from a Practitioners Perspectives Workshop by Birgit Redlich on “TOGETHER Against the RIGHT. Experiences of Loneliness as a Catalyst for Democratic Distance and Authoritarian Attitudes at Vocational Schools in Germany?”, a project to empower young people from diverse educational or migrational backgrounds in structurally weak areas, who experienced discrimination and loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic. The project is funded as part of the program “Demokratie leben!” by the BMFSFJ, in cooperation between the Adam von Trott Foundation and the Chair of Sociology of Rural Areas at Georg-August-University Göttingen.
12:00 – 13:00	Volkswagen Foundation: Joint Lunch
13:00 – 16:00	Field Trip “Growing Older in the Midst of it All – Active On-Site”, Arbeiterwohlfahrt Hannover e.V. List Nord Ost and Anderten Introduction by Silke Oppenhausen, team leader social work for older people at the Arbeiterwohlfahrt Hannover e.V. to „Mittendrin älter werden – aktiv vor Ort“ / “Growing Older in the Midst of it All – Active On-Site”, a project addressing loneliness amongst older adults threatened or affected by exclusion from the labor market. The project is funded under the BMFSFJ-program “Strengthening the Participation of Older People – Against Loneliness and Social Isolation” and the European Social Fund Plus
After 16:00	Volkswagen Foundation: Joint Activity, Dinner, and Public Event on Loneliness and Social Isolation 16:00-17:00 Panel discussion 17:00-18:00 Exhibition of/by the symposia from the second theme week 18:00-19:00 Dinner 19:00-20:30 Film Screening “Hug Me Tight: A Robot Story”, produced by Heesun Shin and Chihyung Jeon with support from the National Research Foundation of South Korea Introduction by Heesun Shin and Chihyung Jeon
Friday, June 13
09:00 – 09:30 09:30 – 10:30 10:30 – 12:00	Comments by Chairs (10 minutes each) Working Groups: How Can Societies Become More Inclusive and Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation? 1) Identifying social structures that lead to exclusion, social isolation, and feelings of loneliness; how to build inclusive social structures that foster meaningful connections, mutual social support, and a sense of belonging; 2) Loneliness and social isolation in different age groups and specific challenges; 3) The roles of science, technology, civil society, and politics, and their connections in addressing social isolation and loneliness Roundtable Discussion: Further Cooperation and Dissemination of Results (joint grant proposal, edited volume, online platform with teaching materials)
12:00 – 14:00	Volkswagen Foundation: Joint Closing Remarks, Panel Discussion, and Lunch