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

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 examines 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 is part of the theme week “(Tackling) Loneliness”, 11th – 13th June 2025, Hanover

Wednesday, June 11

09:30 – 13:00 Volkswagen Foundation: Joint Program

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.      Celia Spoden “Avatar Robots for Hospitalized Children and People with Disabilities: Comparing Technological Approaches to Loneliness and Social Isolation from Japan and Germany”

3.      Marit Haldar & Maja Nordtug “Tackling Loneliness Amongst Older People and Homebound Students with Telepresence Technology in Norway”

16:45 – 17:00  Coffee Break

17:00 – 19:00 Third Session: Loneliness and Social isolation in Old Age

Chair: Felix Spremberg

1.      Heesun Shin and Chihyung Jeon “’Grandma, Hug Me Tight’: Living with a ‘Robot Grandchild’ in South Korea”

2.      Sebastian Hofstetter “Digital Health Literacy for Burnout and Workplace-Related Social Isolation in Japan: Evaluating Online Resources Using MAPPinfo”

3.      Cordula Endter “Together Not Alone in Old Age – Digital Innovations for Caring Communities in Rural Areas in Germany”

4.      Aaron Hames “The Virtues of Analog: Social Life for Older People in Japan”

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.      Isaac Gagné “Entailments and Entanglements: Community-based Psychosocial Care for Addressing Social Isolation among Older People in Japan”

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 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 und Anderten

16:00 – end Volkswagen Foundation: Joint Program

19:00 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

Friday, June 13

09:00 – 09:30  Comments by Chairs

09:30 – 10:30  Working Groups: How Can Societies Become More Inclusive and Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation?

10:30 – 12:00 Roundtable Discussion

12:00 – 13:00 Volkswagen Foundation: Joint Closing Remarks