Village has more PUPPETS than humans as young people leave to search for work elsewhere
WATCH: GB News covers a global population crisis - at its worst in Japan
GB NEWS
Puppets now outnumber real people in a remote Japanese village.
Ichinono, in southern Japan, has fewer than 60 residents - most of whom are past retirement age.
But with younger generations leaving in search of jobs and education elsewhere, the village's elderly inhabitants have devised an unusual solution to combat loneliness.
Using old clothes, fabrics and mannequins, residents have crafted life-sized puppets to keep them company.
These eerie figures can be seen throughout the village, riding swings, pushing carts and even collecting firewood.
Hisayo Yamazaki said locals were 'outnumbered' by the puppets
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"We're probably outnumbered by puppets," Hisayo Yamazaki, an 88-year-old widow, told the AFP news agency.
The puppets are strategically placed throughout Ichinono to create the illusion of village life.
Some can be seen on swings, others push firewood carts, and a few ride bicycles.
Residents have crafted these figures using old clothes, fabrics, and mannequins. The result? An eerily lifelike population of dolls which smile at visitors.
Scenes of puppet children and families playing can be seen on grass verges and front porches throughout Ichinono - with one scene depicting a family of three collecting wood in a small cart.
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Scenes of puppet children and families playing can be seen on grass verges and front porches throughout Ichinono
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In crop fields, life-size mannequins in farming clothes stand ready to work.
However, residents have lamented the departure of Ichinono's youth. "We're now paying the price," Yamazaki added, referring to the encouragement given to young people to leave.
Japan faces significant demographic challenges, with the highest percentage of people aged 65 and over globally. According to recent data, 29.3 per cent of the country's population is over 65.
The total population has been declining for 15 consecutive years, with a record low of 730,000 newborns in 2023.
One scene depicts a family of three collecting wood with a small cart
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Ichinono's situation reflects the national trend. Most families once had children, but they were encouraged to seek opportunities elsewhere.
"We were afraid they would become unmarriageable if they remained stuck in a remote place like this," Yamazaki said.
Ichiro Sawayama, 74, head of the village's governing body, warned: "If the village is left as it is now, the only thing that awaits us is extinction."
The puppets serve a therapeutic purpose for Ichinono's elderly residents. Studies have shown that puppets can alleviate symptoms of loneliness and depression in older generations.
The dolls can be seen in various poses throughout Ichinono
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"It's not childish, or child's play. Puppets allow you to project in a way that is safe," drama therapist Dannielle Jackson told ABC News.
Despite the village's ageing population, there is a glimmer of hope. Rie Kato, 33, and Toshiki Kato, 31, moved to Ichinono from Osaka during the Covid pandemic.
Their son, Kuranosuke, now two years old, was the village's first baby in two decades.
His father said: "Just by being born here, our son benefits from the love, support, and hope of so many people — even though he has achieved absolutely nothing in life yet."
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