'To Feel Life': Japanese Village Is Replacing Young People With Puppets

In the quiet rural village of Ichinono, Japan, the dwindling population of young residents has sparked a touching solution to combat loneliness and preserve a sense of community. With fewer than 60 residents, most of whom are in their senior years, Ichinono epitomises the challenges facing rural areas in Japan, a country with one of the world’s oldest populations.

Ageing Japanese Village’s Creative Solution

As young people left the village for education and work in larger cities, few returned, leaving Ichinono with a ghostly silence and a predominantly ageing population. To counter the loneliness and the empty streets, residents began crafting life-sized dolls, dressing them in old clothes, and placing them around the village to mimic daily activities. These “residents” are positioned throughout the town—swinging on swings, cycling down the streets, and collecting firewood—creating a lively illusion of a bustling community, as reported by Vice.

Japan’s Ageing Crisis

Japan's demographic challenges are stark: over 29% of its population is aged 65 and older, the highest percentage of elderly in any country. The population has declined steadily, marking a record low birthrate in 2023, with 1.58 million deaths far outpacing the 730,000 births. Efforts to stimulate rural life have met limited success, despite government initiatives such as offering financial incentives to young families willing to relocate from urban centers to rural villages.

A Ray of Hope

Among the ageing residents and life-sized mannequins stands a symbol of hope—a two-year-old boy named Kuranosuke, the village's first child in two decades. His family moved from Osaka during the pandemic, seeking a quieter life. Although Kuranosuke currently has no real peers in the village, his presence offers hope that younger families might eventually find their way to Ichinono, bringing life back to the streets not just through dolls but with real, vibrant community members.

Challenges Ahead

The story of Ichinono highlights the social and demographic challenges Japan faces as rural populations decline. While dolls offer a comforting reminder of the community's resilience, the future depends on attracting younger generations. Until then, Ichinono’s life-sized dolls will continue to tell the story of a village striving to stay alive.