Why Was This Japanese Village Abandoned?
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- čas přidán 1. 05. 2021
- It's rare to find an entire abandoned village in Japan. But what about 12 abandoned villages? Why were they abandoned? Where did everyone go? Why was so much left behind? Today we are taking a closer look at a set of abandoned villages, and talking to some of the Japanese locals who lived there, to learn more.
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What did you think? Would you visit a place like this?
There was so much to explore and so many people to talk to.
Thank you all so much for being a part of these adventures. Adventure season has officially kicked off and this is the start!
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And a special thank you to the Patreon crew for making these possible!
The thought of running into a 🐻 is kinda offputting.
I love these types of places. They make me homesick. I also like living in the remote mountains.
I would definitely love to explore that area!
Bittersweet...
You keep out doing yourself. You finally answered the same question that I always had. Why do they just leave all their belonging.
It's sad in a way, to see a home suddenly become abandoned, and people forfeiting their belongings to nature.
I would totally visit places like this.
I look forward to seeing your adventures this year.
it’s so fitting that the last man did not want to be on camera. CZcams can seem so produced so it’s hard to remember that these are real people and some want to stay private
I really love this comment
its nice that he respected his wishes on the other its a shame.. in my country there are hundreds of vilages that got destroyed after ww2 and during comunism and you cannot even find the walls of houses from those vilages.. its sad as there is no one who would remember those and the people who lived there and since those were poor villages there arent even pictures or paitings of those.. it might be just selfish but i would love to seethose people of the past.. its same as not having picture of relative that died and your family always talks about.. its just.. something is missing
The OP's profile pic made me realise that the last remaining resident might be a yokai !
I think people who can simply live like this are dying out, when that happens we've truly lost ourselves. That part of the video was beautiful
@@HansCent what is Yokai?
The one last man living peacefully in a forgotten village that nobody will remember. Its poetic sad and humbling to hear about this small tale of changing times.
He is going to be the last person standing in an apocalypse
actually, that's the appeal. its not sad, i'd say. just ethereal. i moved back to my village after years of busy and chaotic urban life, and to be one with nature again, to be able to breathe the air, to know that everything is alright even without all the hustle of hedonistical life and worldly achievement, i feel fine. i miss my friends sometimes, but, it's not as bad as missing your own self that you lost since living with urban people and technology. its great. i relate to the last residence the most, honestly.
@@syarifaamaliamarwadinata5623 i can understand such a concept. i would love to live near a forest. and be content to hear myself again. however my comment was more about the tone of the video and how it made me feel. the place looks comfy as a summers house perhaps.
@@Haskellerz 'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth' -Jesus ;)
@Sakichi, yes place of much peacefulness and calm from the worldly and fleshly,
able to realize don't need those things to really be happy!
His wisdom is over 9000
This was an exceptional documentary mate! The cinematography, the story, the people. Tokyo Lens at its best!
Cheers mate
Was an absolute blast to make~
I appreciate the passion put into each video it is amazing
Haha, it's already several times I see you complimenting each other under video, lol. But anyway, video quality is awesome!
You two should do a crossover
You r too
You can really feel the melancholy in their voices when they tell the stories but they all seem like nice people.
Living in a mountain like that kinda gives me Wolf children vibes, the isolation, peace, and safety. Going there must feel like entering another reality
I watched wolf children many times. And I cried every time I watched it.
I love that movie
This also reminded me of Wood job.
A Japanese movie
@@meyersia3407 same here
Wonder if they ever saw any wolves with sweaters tied around their necks...
There is a short story manga called "Waters".. its has similar story like this vid about Dam, villages, protests, a fall out, etc with a little supernatural touch in it
is it just me or rural part of japan made me feel strangely nostalgic even i'm not from japan?
There is a certain quality to rural Japan that makes it have this effect on some people, I think...myself included. The only thing missing was the singing of the higurashi, but I wouldn't want to be up in the mountains alone at dusk. Mad respect for the fellow that actually is living up there by himself.
I'm Japanese but it's quite surprising to hear that because as far as I understand how we Japanese take the word "nostalgic" is very different from how those from overseas do.
@@zionpark0803 oh im curious, how do you guys interpret nostalgic differently?? As for me I see it as bittersweet.
All normal people belong in nature. Cities are unnatural garbage.
Maybe you live in there in your past life 🤣🤣🤣
This is just so sad. I can't even imagine seeing a place you grew up, a place you had friends, a place that builds a thord or a quarter of your life get abandoned. The memories remains and so the sadness.
Is it sadness or Nostalgia about good old times?
Maybe in a few decades the decision to move out will be seen with different eyes.
Sad?? Not if it was me. I will definitely feel better leave it abandoned rather than be destroyed by the government so they can make Highways. 😤 I don't have anymore them places/landmarks to revisit my late grandparents place that i used to play when I was young.I can only pinpoint when passing by at the specific part of the road. It's sucks really.
I know everyone is not the same, but the thought of abandoned, they can actually come back and re-tell the old days to their kids n grandkids even. Heck these days there are good techs capable to help live comfortably in the secluded forest. Just either will they do it, or they won't.
Same feelings 😒
@@dinofinger Still not that easy to live in the forrest
This moved me to tears. Not because I find it sad or haunting, but because I've always found there's so much beauty in the evidence of lives lived. Times change, people move - forward or on or elsewhere, and, unavoidably, things get left behind. And here, even with the stories of discord and dispute, there's peace and stillness left. There's so much bittersweet beauty in this video: the villages that were wiped away by the future; the houses that are still standing, carrying the memories; the former villages returning to take care of what they left behind; the sole remaining villager, only accessible through paths slowly being reclaimed by nature. So many metaphors for life.
Weirdly enough, in the far unseen future, the village might be revived again, migration happens for many folks, there's a huge possibility it will be revived but not sooner than we can see
Realy love this comment
I couldn’t have said it more perfect myself. 👍🏻
@@alexandersmith4731 also the government is incentivizing people moving back to the country
Wow...you really communicate well in writing. What an amazing reflection. I can't agree more - what you said about 'metaphors for life'. How many false starts, restarts, different lives have we already lived, respectively? How our identities tie to the people, places, things in our lives.
Haunting. The visuals. The sense of things lost. Deeply effecting.
There's actually a Japanese horror film that draws inspiration from this a lot called Noroi [The Curse]. Check it out, you might like it a lot.
Wow. The old homes almost turned into shrines of memories for the people that once lived there. You did great to record this before no one remembered this anymore.
You can tell that for many of them while they might of left those places behind physically, their hearts are still there.
Honestly this is the reason I subscribed to this channel. The documentation of abandoned and lost villages, stories and people allow for them to live forever regardless if anyone continues to live or visit there.
Honestly thank you so much just for being such a big part of it. that means the absolute world to me. Many more to come~
This was amazing! For a relatively short video, I feel like this captured so much more of the story of these abandoned towns than your average made-for-tv hour long documentary would. Just allowing the people who lived there to talk and reminisce told the story so vividly. It also let us know that while these villages are abandoned, they aren't forgotten or ghost towns. Thank you for making and sharing this!
That’s an incredibly kind comment and I really appreciate it
Thank you so much
Why do I feel so much nostalgia for a life that was not mine?
Have you ever heard of a past life? Maybe this was yours, maybe this is simply similar to many other you have had ?
@@bugrin8427 sounds interesting but past life aint a thing tho
Man, a life of solitude, just living alone in the mountains. I question how many of us will be able to do that or are ready to do that.
in our generation we rely heavily on electornics, internet and online shopping. i think it will be very rare for us to live in that kind of lifestyle now. great video norm. keep up the good work.
The second guy had such a deep voice. I think he is and epic story teller :D
This was so deeply moving for me, I wasn’t expecting to get so emotional at the end. All the lives this dam impacted and all the hard decisions people had to face, to say the layers of emotions are deep is an absolute understatement. The man at the end choosing not to be filmed was so admirable, my imagination is running wild with the quiet, simple but hard life he leads. Thank you so much for this video ❤️
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leaving such a kind comment~
“My granddaughter used it a lot. So, we can’t bring ourselves to part with it.” The quiet, reserved sentiment is so typical Japanese. They’re not often expressive of their feelings and affection so when I see it, I get choked up. Same with their trembling voices when they talk about their memories growing up there. 🥲
It's a difficult subject, having to leave behind your birthplace and all you know in the name of national progress. This sort of thing happened to a lot of villages during the dam boom in the 70's and 80's. It also happens to be part of the backstory for my favorite fictional work, Higurashi When They Cry. The interviews in this video make that backstory all the more relatable and meaningful. There's still a lot of natural beauty to be found in Japan, and I hope to be able to visit and take it all in myself one day.
Thank you for going back and taking the time to make a documentary on the abandonded village. I had so many questions - what happened, why was it abandoned, etc.
It's so sad that it happened, but at the same time, really cool to see how nature was coming back.
As for the last villager - I hope that they have many years to live.
I really hope he does as well~
Another beautiful video, the abandoned villages are fascinating to see, with the people just appearing to leave. It’s heartbreaking to hear that many left, not because they chose to but out of need, but I hope they all found happy lives where they ended up. The fact that many of the families still used them to store toys for family was nice and the chap that couldn’t get rid of the pink bug his grand daughter loved put a smile on my face.
Thank you~
I really appreciate documentaries that are under 20 minutes that does not skimp on the quality of information learned. Thank you for telling us these stories.
This is honestly heart breaking to watch. Incredibly well made but still very heart breaking. The emotions of those who lost there homes and friends must be so complicated.
I always find abandoned places to be very sad. I start thinking about the lives of the people that once lived there and the lost history.
I share your sentiment
Me too.
This got me some heavy Higurashi-flashbacks.... thanks Norm
😊
NII-PAH~
I am glad that I am not the only one who is getting that vibe.
What's higurashi?
@@slax4884The full name for Higurashi is Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Its an old Anime about set in a town that is about to be demolished to build a dam. 2 Mysterious killings happens during one of their festival. A group of students try to make sense of it.
I have to say, mad respect for standing by the old mans wishes, a perfect ending. It’s a shame others don’t value others privacy as much as you do! Great vid
I don't know how to describe the feelings I had while watching this but damn I need more.
This was an absolutely powerful short documentary. You can see and really feel the solemn relationship that the old villagers have with their mountains, even through the view of the lens. I think that as a society we could stand to see more experiences and meet more people like this as they help put into perspective the vast difference in our lifestyles and experiences. Excellent job!
I am in love with japanese ruins. There's something so whimsical and special about them... A portal to the past. Even a tiny cup on the table tells a story.
Thank you so much for bringing these to the comfort of our homes.
I love how you find these local people and can get them to talk for ages, honestly the best part of your videos. I don't think I'll ever be wealthy enough to visit japan from here in the UK. But its up there near the top of my list now thanks to your videos. Fascinating place
"It all started with a dam. A dam that put an entire village underwater"
Well I'll be damned
Thank you! I love how carefully and respectfully you treat these beautiful and heartwrenching stories. Your videos always evoke so many emotions. I felt such a sense of nostalgia for a time that was never my own, but also sadness and hope. I truly love what you do. Thank you for sharing! ( I also most definitely want to visit that place!)
I really appreciate that~ Thank you so much!
Beautiful sentiment, Natalie.
This just came into my recommendation and I am so grateful for it. I am Japanese, but now live in Germany and have not visited Japan in a while. Seeing the country’s history like this is eerily haunting and mythical at the same time. Though I have personally never been to any abandoned village, I would like to visit when I get to go back to Japan. Watching Japanese TV shows like 世界のなんだこれミステリーor ポツンと一軒家 makes me feel nostalgia.
Thanks for sharing
One thing that’s really struck me as I rewatch all your videos is how your videos have “matured” over the years. Not that there was anything wrong with them at the beginning; it’s more that you approach things so much more with a story and vision in mind now and you’re almost leaning into being a documentarian at times. You make incredible videos (vlogs and otherwise), and you’re just so mindful about everything you shoot and show in each one. This attention to detail (along with your storytelling ability) make your videos a true joy to watch and re-watch.
"It all started with a dam"
Okay Norm your very first sentence and just 15 seconds in already convinced me that this will be eerie and amazing due to this reminding me of Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni and Noroi. Great video!
I was thinking the same thing.
The timelessness of the mountains. The snapshots of lives lived in the abandoned homes and old pictures. The distant memories of those who linger. And the final man living a peaceful solitary life, who simply wishes not to be filmed.
It's all so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you so much for your kind words~
As someone who grew up in the woods whose hometown is also slowly dying, I can completely empathize with the one man left behind. So often I just want to go back to the woods. It's so difficult to live that kind of life now. I'm so sad for all the villages that are lost and forgotten, and the quiet way of life with them.
Looking at those old abandoned houses makes me remember memories I dont own. I makes me wanna live there, relive there.
Those old fashion tools and house designs looks so peaceful. Like, I could live there if there's internet, water and power.
Your abandoned buildings videos are some of my favorites! I used to be an archaeologist and we'd find all kinds of old farmsteads tucked away in beautiful places. Thanks for helping me relive that!
Making charcoal for the main village? FOUND Tanjiro’s lost village!
As serious as this documentary was
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking the exact same thing
I was wondering why the charcoal story sounded so familiar!
@@TokyoLens It was very well done. Respectful and thoughtful. Thank you for sharing it.
I was looking for this comment! Noticed the same thing ngl
I think its the ancestors of tanjiro living there. The last interviewed was his succesor. Accepting peace and to live privately.
This is such a beautiful story. The grace in which it is told is just heartwarming.
This abandoned village is such a storyteller. And those who came back to visit are proof of its once glorious past. There will come a time when everything is replaced by nothing and memories are of the past. Such a serene but sad truth.
Thank you for preserving the stories for many generations to come. In a sense by you doing this, the village never was abandoned. Thank you again !
Oh wow--this was so sad at some points, but there was also an underlying sense of perseverance and just the "shouganai" feeling from those you spoke with. The ladybug sandbox got me. :( This is beautiful Norm....the music was absolutely perfect.
I would definitely visit a place like this. There's just so many unexplainable feelings you can get from seeing building that are being taken back over by nature.
This is so sad. Thank you for the documentary, we wouldn't think a place like this exist forgotten in the mountains. I hope the sole remaining villager up there is living a happy life.
Thank you for being a respectful and humble person and respecting the privacy of the last man
Such sweet people, and such a tragedy they had change their lives and leave those beautiful houses behind.
Looking at all the things they left behind makes me so sad. I love antiques and watching all that history get wrecked hurts a little.
I don't know how you continue to make such intensely captivating videos with stories that resonate... Whenever I come across an abandoned house, even in the heart of Tokyo, I stop to observe, listen, and try to imagine the life and livelihoods that once went on there. It's not difficult to turn off and turn away from electronic devices to live in the moment. Otherwise, risk becoming a blip in the passing of time, and then, as Proust wrote, "...à la Recherche du Temps Perdu".
I'm sad that the pending dam construction ruined relationships, and it's sad to see so many pieces of people's lives still in their abandoned homes, yet there is a real sense of peace and beauty. Well done, Norm, this was captivating!
Firstly: I loved this video, Norm. honestly wonderful and thoughtful.
Second: that man saying "We're burning daylight" got a real chuckle out of me and I'm not sure why. I loved it
Happy to see you here!
I’ve got a whole playlist of my mini documentaries if you ever get bored lol
Cheers man! Hope we can meet again sooner than later
Wow this was incredible and you dealt with the subject with so much humanity. Thank you for answering the one overwhelming question I’ve had since your previous video...why did people leave seemingly in the middle of their day with clothes hanging and toys out! Thanks for that!
honestly thank you so much for watching~
Imagine these villages with people living in them and enjoying life and having community together. Those beautiful homes in good condition with children running around and natural gardens. Must have been heaven on earth.
This was pretty sad and moving to watch. I like the scenery and I like it when you interview people like this. Gives many perspectives and thoughts. Also very fitting and poetic that there is one man living in solitude, but desired not to be shown. Also makes you wonder how many still living in otherwise abandoned villages.
Seeing that old man look at where his house was was powerful
Great video Norm, I hope everyone that left the houses had a long life wherever they went.
Thank you so much for taking the time out to filming and editing this. This was a wonderfully touching story and it was really great to hear directly from the people of what happened. I look forward to more content :)
This was an amazing piece, thank you for putting it together Norm.
The music fit perfectly. I am always positively surprised, how many people in Japan, especially seniors, are willing to talk to a stranger. Recording their stories is worth so much!
Also: the Beekeeper has an amazing voice, I could listen to him all day!
Your documentaries are something else man. The love and respect for the culture of Japanese people can be felt just watching this video. what an awesome job you're doing, love it.
I really appreciate that~ Thank you
Thank you Norm for bringing this Beautiful mini doc to us. I Love when you do interviews with People, its Hard to listen to their sad stories, but you carry yourself with so much respect for everyone you include in your documentaries.
I commend the last man resident, and his request for privacy is highly valued. (bowing down) Respect.
This is beautifully done. It conveys the emotions of people who had to leave everything behind and that one man who is still there
One of the most well made videos I’ve seen on CZcams.
Another beautiful video, with stunning shots. Really pulled at the heartstrings, so sad and emotional. 💖💖💖
3 days
it took me 3 days to find this comment lol
@@TokyoLens but you did it! 😂👌🏻💖
the isolation mixed with the peace is a beautifully haunting image of life for many in the past and few in the present. It is videos like these that inspire me to go and explore more about the world around us thats hidden away in the mountains rather than the cities. I wish the gentleman all the best who continues to reside in the mountains, and I wish him many years of health.
Another masterpiece from Norm. Thank you sir! Your love for sharing Japan with us is greatly appreciated!
Ahh, my heart! It looks so beautiful 😯 Lost to history, but not forgotten 😊
Cheers mate
I hope you make lots of adventure videos like this❤️
Cuz u make the video to good taking videos and how to make your videos and your content on this adventure warm my heart
plenty on the channel, and plenty more to come! Thank you so much~
Loved this! Love hearing from the locals about their history
I’m so grateful for this video. I’ve always wanted to visit these small villages in the mountains so it breaks my heart that each year more and more are being left behind.
getting dressed for work, so can't watch, but hope everybody has fun whilst my laptop plays on a loop.
Hahahaha awesome to have you here
I can't imagine the loneliness of a person living alone on the mountains. If this was an anime, he would be the sage of the forest or the mountain spirit protecting the villagers from the evil spirits. Take care, old man.
This made me really emotional. I appreciate people sharing their stories so openly. It's fascinating. You made a wonderful video (I also liked that you left more room for the people and only took the role of the narrator).
That's incredibly sad....beautiful vid...the music is perfect
I can understand why the last man is still living in the mountains. The peace and quiet, the solitude, are abundant here. It takes me back to my childhood visiting my grandparents in Steamboat Springs. Even though it is for the most part abandoned, there is still life, slowly moving through each day. There is a hum, a buzz (beekeeper pun - not - intended?) of energy on the air. Thank you for telling their stories. While the dam has benefited many, it is also sad to see how it has negatively affected so many.
what I dont understand is why dont people use these places as a weekend getaway, mountain cottages /vacation homes. I would LOVE to have one of these to escape to every few months. Away from EVERYONE. A secret hidden getaway. Only a few locals. Its the perfect place to go when you need to.
Maybe Animals?
I imagine it's the upkeep. Especially of old buildings. Families and everyday people who left these homes also probably don't have time for weekend getaways.
This was absolutely beautiful to watch, yet so heartbreaking at the same time. I liked how there were real encounters with people, the authenticity was wonderful. Made me tear up a bit actually lol. Thank you so much for this video!
Thank you for bringing their story to us. These types of stories are a part of life and often overlooked in favor of more joyous occasions. Those who shared with you, probably got to relive some memories both good and bittersweet. I'm grateful for them reliving that to share with us in their journey. And for that last resident, it's perfectly fine that he didn't want to be recorded.
Notifications squad!! How is everyone’s week going?
Doing good!
You?
@@TokyoLens ooh I’m glad! I’m doing pretty alrighttt! Nothing interesting but all is good. ^~^
This would have been Tanjiro’s job selling charcoal and coming down the mountain everyday if he didn’t become a Demon Slayer
Norm, this was a great piece of story telling, both beautiful and awfully sad at the same time. To have to leave your life behind is beyond words. And as for an event that would divide family and friends, that's going on today as we speak. Oh this was so moving to watch, I saw the bumper first and then this video, I'm so glad I made the time to watch this. You have a fan for life.
This was beautiful and melancholy - beautifully done and I'm so glad you were able to share their stories.
“No shortage of DANGEROUS wild animals” and then you realize that the animal with the highest annual kill count in Japan is a bee that claims 50 lives a year...
Always exceptional work, Norm. This is a haunting video when you consider the life that was once in these villages and the way things were just… dropped.
this made me so emotional man, i cried after a long time. Thank you , you have always been my inspiration ever since i found you. Please don't stop making these beautiful short films.
We got to hear some of their stories!!!!! Ah, I'm crying in amazement, joy and sadness. What an overwhelming amount of feelings but it is amazing to see that people stayed near by and where wiling to talk about it! hearing their stories really brings to light just how different the times and places we're in are.
I can't get enough of these! Extraordinary work and amazing stories. Thank you.
Really touching story. You did such a great job getting everyone to open up. The ending, with mention of the person living alone in the village, left a touch of both curiosity and sadness.
These documentaries that you create are truly exceptional! I’m always learning so much and can really feel the emotion of these people. Thank you for bringing us stories of places and people that are rarely/ never seen 🙌🏻
It was such a pleasure to watch. Getting to know and learn about this remembered me how fragile life can sometimes be. Thank you for making this documentary and all the ones before!✨ Looking forward to more of your content!☺️🌸
These documentaries are amazing.. You can feel heartbreak and sadness so much emotions.. It's a good story to know about that once there was such a village. Thank you!
I loved this. It was very well done! I absolutely loved that the once-locals wanted to take you to their old house and allowed A small part of their stories to be told.
I feel like you could submit this to short film festivals if you wanted too! Gets some awards under your belt!
so emotional.
you really do find the most humbling people and their stories
Thank you for sharing this, the bittersweet memories these residents had will live on. I hope they are doing well now despite the heartbreak of having to lose their homes
Seeing all the stuff they left behind is just mind blowing to me. Like all the pictures albums and other stuff left behind..it's kind of heartbreaking.
I would absolutely go see a place like that, it is fascinating to me!
Such a beautifully done video again Norm! Much love from Arizona ❤️❤️
Absolutely amazing, this story was truly beautiful and heart aching. I’m left with a slew of emotions to process. From joy to sadness, nostalgic memories of a beautiful past to the once person not willing to let it go. Thank you for sharing this.
Seeing these abandoned villages always give this sense of eerie isolation that then melts into a lonely melancholy. It's hard to think about the memories that were made here before when somebody inevitably called this place home.
I just found your channel and I must say that I'm glued to keep watching one video after another! This one in particular, is so heartwrenching I never wanted it to end.. Such a perfectly crafted storyline, smooth transitions with melancholic tune of nature while you explored the paths less traveled.. Done subscribed! 💖💖💖