<P> The plots within the novel, manga and anime are each rather different from one another, and many themes and personalities differ between each . The novel also regularly mentions drug use by the main character, and later, his friend, Yamazaki . This element of the story is downplayed in the manga (drugs Satō uses are referred to as "legal psychedelics purchased off the internet"), and left out of the story altogether in the anime (with the exception of Hitomi). This is likely due to several reasons, including a more public - friendly rating, as well as ultimately being unneeded for the progression of the plot . Lolita themes present within the novel and manga have also been downplayed within the anime, where most of the women the characters lust after are of mature age, although brief hints still remain . </P> <P> The Nihon Hikikomori Kyōkai (N.H.K.) (日本 ひきこもり 協会) of Satō's imagination is supposedly a sinister conspiracy which aims to turn people into hikikomori and NEETs . No clear reason why they would do this is offered, although Satō considers the potential of an "army" of displaced individuals, and it is mentioned that hikikomori are created for the purpose of giving society someone to look down upon, making themselves feel superior . The majority of the N.H.K.'s work is done through the media, via broadcasting anime and other material that is likely to turn the viewer into an otaku . Throughout the series, many shots of advertising hoardings or movie posters incidentally displayed in other locations bear N.H.K. references . </P> <P> Satō on occasion also believes that the N.H.K. takes a more active role via the use of agents, although of course these agents only appear in dream sequences or flashbacks . Three types of N.H.K. agents are seen: the first are classic Men in Black who appear to have the ability to disguise themselves as anyone else they wish . They occupy key roles in a target's life, ensuring that they fail to develop . The second are cute, or more precisely moé girls who directly break the hearts of targets or who, via celebrity status, induce targets to have impossible or unrealistic expectations of relationships, destroying their ability to develop them in the real world (Satō never considers how, or even if, the N.H.K. would target women). Satō at one point fears that Misaki may be an agent of this type . The final type of agents are bizarre, Goblin - like creatures who are grey all over but for a letter (usually "N", "H" or "K") written in yellow on their belly . These creatures appear to be the masterminds of the entire N.H.K. conspiracy, but more likely than not they are Satō's mental image of the spreading mindset or circumstances he associates with the N.H.K. In the novel, it is hinted that Tatsuhiro may not actually believe the conspiracy to exist but instead needed an imaginary enemy to vent his frustrations on and to help motivate him into overcoming his hikikomori ways . </P> <P> The real - life public broadcaster NHK, which is the source of the acronym that is parodied by the series, really does provide a support website for real - life hikikomori . In the manga and novel, a concrete link between the public broadcaster NHK and Satō's Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai is implied; in the anime, although the conspiracy is still named NHK, no such correspondence is drawn and it appears that the NHK does not even exist as a broadcaster in the anime's version of Japan (in the anime, Misaki has never heard of the acronym when Satō says it to her). This may have been because the anime was broadcast on TV channels operated by other Japanese broadcasting companies, thus implying that it related to the real TV company and could have been interpreted as slander against a competitor . </P>

Welcome to the nhk episode 8 english dub