An excerpt from a well-researched book about mind control, written by Okada Takashi, a psychiatrist. The book discusses cults, gurus, secret police, and a wide variety of techniques, such as hypnosis, sensory deprivation, and the use of mind-altering chemicals. Original in Japanese. My translation:
Such “tunnels” are used, not only for visibly dangerous purposes, but also frequently for aims regarded by society as healthy. For example, joining clubs or sports teams may entail entering a kind of tunnel. Aiming to enroll in a difficult-to-enter school, or joining a class to study for entrance exams, or attending a cram school full of superior students—such activities have the characteristics of a tunnel.
That is, the child enters a small, closed world. The rules and values therein are held as absolute, and thus control the child. It entails a narrowing of vision, and the child goes ahead entirely focused on achieving the established aim.
As a tunnel, even for such “good” aims, various dangers and side effects can arise. Since the goal is overly prioritized, other matters might be ignored and neglected. If the goal is not achieved, the child might fall into despair, feeling hopeless, that all is lost, and perhaps even commit suicide.
After living too long inside a tunnel, a gap emerges, a separation from other worlds, and in some cases, the ability to adapt to other worlds is lost. Pursuing a goal, working hard, in a dream-like state of absorption—afterwards, upon reflection, one might sense it was not what one wanted, and then wonder: Why did I do such things?
Actually, as a life experience, time passed within a tunnel is rather dull and monotonous, with an inescapable feeling of emptiness. Not surprisingly, when one cannot see the scenery outside, this might be a time of profound sensitivity. In many cases, it produces a reaction, in which, for a time equal to or even longer than time passed in the tunnel, the subject wanders, aimlessly adrift, as if trying to recover something lost.
As a method of education or training, tunnels are powerful and effective, but in the process, many other things are sacrificed.
When a child is put into a tunnel, it means subjection, albeit unknowingly, to a kind of mind control. In this sense, it is dangerous to lead a child into a such an narrowly-constricted world. Indeed, although unexpected, again and again, the entrance-exam elite become victims of cults and other organizations. Having passed through youth inside a tunnel, the light outside is too bright. Thus, once again, they find a tunnel.
So that children do not fall into such traps, we must recognize the damage caused by tunnels. Children need to maintain contact with the outside world, to engage in other activities, and, in order to avoid narrowing down too quickly to a single option, they need to engage in trial and error, and should also receive plenty of time for decision making. Even if this means milling around, taking a detour, ultimately, in many cases, this is a better way.