A hikikomori who cured himself of his reclusiveness by learning karate is now operating a successful business going around clobbering other social hermits, according to Sunday Mainichi (2/17).

Hajime Endo, the 28-year-old former recluse, now calls himself a "rental karate-ka", and the black belt for hire travels to the homes of other hikkikomori to try and help them get back into society by developing a love for the martial art.

Sunday Mainichi notes that Endo was diagnosed with depression while he was still studying at high school. After graduating, he moved into a home by himself and shut himself off from the rest of the world, becoming a hikikomori (recluse). Around this time, he started slashing himself with knives, eventually self-harming himself in over 100 places across his body.

Some six years ago, a hikikomori acquaintance fatally overdosed on prescription medicine, plunging Endo further into the darkness of depression. Another associate suggested he try karate to try and get himself into a better state. Endo reluctantly gave it a go, finding it hard at first. After heading off regularly to the dojo, though, Endo became proficient enough to be able to take up the martial art competitively and his self-esteem improved enough to stop him slashing himself.

Endo received his black belt in karate three years ago and began teaching the fighting art to children. Last year, he decided to become a black belt for hire, offering private karate lessons at customers' appointed locations for 1,500 yen per 90-minute session and transport fees.

He's also started other programs aimed at getting other hikikomori out and about. One such event was a run around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, where he promised people they could do the jog in pairs. On the day of the event, 13 recluses braved the elements to complete the run.

"The drink of water I had after I'd finished running tasted wonderful," Sunday Mainichi quotes a 29-year-old woman from Mie Prefecture who took part in the event as saying. "The feeling of having given your best to achieve something is absolutely remarkable. I just want to thank so many people."

Not long after the run, the woman returned to work after three years of treatment for depression and anxiety attacks.

Black belt for hire Endo hopes he'll get more people coming out of their shells.

"Karate teaches you skills that allow you to deal with people physically in a way that doesn't hurt them more than it needs to, while also teaching you how important it is to look after yourself," he tells Sunday Mainichi. "I want to use my experiences to help show other people who don't love themselves that a healthy body is better than drugs, and that it's better to be around others than being alone. I want to create as many chances as possible for people who are looking to get back in touch with society." (By Ryann Connell)