NANMOKU, Japan — This village sits along a river running through the mountains, surrounded by forests of cedar and bamboo. The once-thriving hamlet was known for its silk, timber and a starchy root ...

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 ...

A Japanese village struggling with a low population created life-sized dolls to mimic the feeling of a bustling society. The hamlet of Ichinono, which has less than 60 residents and only one child, is ...

In the tranquil Iya Valley lies Nagoro, known as scarecrow village, which features over 200 lifelike scarecrows. These unique figures are placed in various scenarios such as tending to farms, waiting ...

As depopulation deepens around the world, a small village in Japan turns to puppets to stitch their community back together. Ichinono is only one of several “doll villages” in Japan where life-sized ...

Villages across Japan's countryside are facing extinction as the population ages and shrinks. NPR's Anthony Kuhn visited Japan's most aged village, where most residents are over age 65. He reports on ...

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support ...