Art imitates … life.
Dotting a remote village in western Japan, a population of life-sized dolls outnumber actual humans 10 to one, a result of depopulation that has affected areas throughout the Prefectures. To help combat the loneliness felt by the less than 30 residents, an artist, Tsukimi Ayano, began creating the dolls, with the first being in her father’s likeness. Others soon followed, eventually progressing to what’s known today as the Nagoro Doll Village.
And while the effort is good-natured and heartwarming at the core, the result, mixed with the setting, can often leave one with an eerie feeling.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
TOPSHOT – This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows life-size dolls displayed at a house veranda in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows life-size dolls displayed by a roadside in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan, the wind howls down a deserted street.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows local resident Tsukimi Ayano walking in front of an abandoned grocery shop decorated with life-size dolls in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows life-size doll depicting a scarecrow pulling a cart in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows life-size dolls displayed in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan, the wind howls down a deserted street.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows life-size dolls seated by a house veranda in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan, the wind howls down a deserted street.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
TOPSHOT – This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows life-size dolls sitting by a roadside in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan, the wind howls down a deserted street.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: A hand-made doll sits against a post as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls sit outside an abandoned house as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls sit under a shelter as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls sit in a field as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls are seated in a village meeting room as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls are reflected in a mirror as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls swing in a hammock as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: A hand-made doll dressed as an engineer rests in the grass as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls sit outside an abandoned house as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls sit outside an abandoned house as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: Hand-made dolls swing in a hammock as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: A hand-made doll dressed as a construction worker sits next to a field as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
MIYOSHI, JAPAN – APRIL 22: A hand-made doll dressed as a cyclist sits under a lamppost as others are placed around the village by local resident Tsukimi Ayano to replace the dwindling local population on April 22, 2016 in Nagoro village, in Miyoshi, Japan.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows life-size dolls depicting a family sitting in front of a house in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro, deep in the mountains of western Japan, the wind howls down a deserted street.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows a life-size doll depicting a teacher at an elementary school, which closed seven years ago as there was no one left to teach, in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows a life-size doll depicting a teacher at an elementary school, which closed seven years ago as there was no one left to teach, in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro.
Life-sized dolls of Nagoro, Japan
This picture taken on March 16, 2019 shows a life-size doll depicting a teacher at an elementary school, which closed seven years ago as there was no one left to teach, in the tiny village of Nagoro in western Japan. – In the tiny village of Nagoro.
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: The Doll Village of Nagoro, Japan: One of the scariest places on Earth
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