Japanese Woman Creates a Village of Living Dolls

The tiny Japanese hamlet of Nagoro is peaceful and quiet. It rests in the stunning landscape of the Iya Valley and is considered one of the country’s hidden treasures. Its scenic views and rich history are not its only points of interest, however. Perhaps more notably, Nagoro’s dwindling population has been replaced by dolls - life-sized, fully dressed and staged dolls.

Photo: Maarten1979/Flickr

Ayano Tsukimi, at the age of 64, is Nagoro’s youngest inhabitant, and the hamlet’s resident doll maker. After having lived in Osaka for many years, Tsukimi returned to Nagoro to take care of her ailing father, and found she had very little to occupy her time with beyond that.  Once a thriving village with plentiful jobs working on the nearby dam, Nagoro has seen its population fall to a mere 37 residents. With its younger residents moving to larger surrounding cities and work drying up, a very small group of aging inhabitants remains. 

Tsukimi needed something to do, and in an effort to cultivate a hobby, began to sow seeds. Due to the nuisance of hungry crows, and much to her disappointment, the seeds never took hold. She believed a scarecrow would do the trick, and thus a new hobby was born.

The first doll bore a striking resemblance to her father, and inspired Tsukimi to create what can best be described as a tribute to those who have moved elsewhere or passed away.

Photo: Elaine Kurtenback AP

"When I make the dolls of dead people, I think about them when they were alive and healthy. The dolls are like my children," she tells Fritz Schumann, who did an in-depth piece on Tsukimi in her serene surroundings.

Photo: Elaine Kurtenback AP

Constructed of wood, wire, newspaper and fabric, these strikingly life-like dolls are placed throughout Nagoro and the surrounding landscape. Situated at the entrance of the valley, they generate interest from tourists and passers-by who are surprised and intrigued by the quiet, stoic welcoming committee. 

Photo: Fritz Schumann

Photo: Fritz Schumann

Photo: Fritz Schumann

Photo: Horiyan

"Maybe a time will come when I will have outlived all the people in this village," Tsukimi says. "I don’t think dying is scary, I’ll probably live forever." We are pretty sure, that while Ayano Tsukimi will probably not live forever, the legacy of her dolls will go on for many years to come. 

For Schumann’s entire collection of photos and the short film he made, click here.