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Taijin kyofusho (対人恐怖症, TKS, for taijin kyofusho symptoms), is a culture-bound syndrome (cultural disorder, or mental illness) specific to Japan.
Taijin kyofusho is usually described as a form of social anxiety (social phobia), with the sufferer dreading and avoiding social contact. However, instead of the anxiety focussing on a fear of embarrassing themselves or being judged by other people because of their social ineptness (as in cases in the Western world), sufferers of taijin kyofusho instead display a fear of hurting or offending other people; the focus is thus on avoiding harm to others rather than to oneself.
Being specific to non-American culture, taijin kyofusho is not detailed in the DSM IV (as noted in the DSM cautionary statement).
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