This Japanese Town Replaced Humans With Scarecrows
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- čas přidán 8. 08. 2020
- In a Japanese town with a dying population, we find hundreds of scarecrows, zero children, and a voice that I hope I never forget...
On the island of Shikoku in South-Western Japan, there is a village that has replaced humans with scarecrows. This is the story of Nagoro Village.
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Norm Nakamura - Tokyo Creative
306 PORTAL Apartment & Art POINT, 4-17 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031
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Would you make the trip? How about at night?
Hope you all enjoyed this one. I will see you in the comments below!!
I think it would definitely be weirder at night. Forget the bears; you see something's eyes flash and it's one of those dolls. Omg...did it move?? Could you sleep through that, Norm? ;)
""almost frightening at times" .... Oh yes I imagine so, particularly at night.
Although during the day even are you sure that they don't move whenever you look away ....
Man, it's impressive. Also hey James May!
I think I would love to visit this town and I'm thinking more and more about moving to Japan for maybe a 6months or a year when Covid is over and it might be nice to even live in a small town like this. Though at night the dolls might be a bit freaky, especially if I have a few Strong Zero's in me HAHAHAHAHA
I would definitely want to visit also maybe not at night 😅
In some way i feel kinda sad about this. Yeah, it's creepy, but when you look closer it has a vibe of loneliness and longing😞
It’s the saddest thing I have seen. But I see it everywhere rural. I used to work as expeditor traveling all over the US. You see it everywhere. Boarded up shops and abandoned homes. No children. People desperate to talk to you and pump up their town cause everyone leaves and no one says. Just the grief of an abandoned place and an abandoned people is immeasurable. This reminds me so much of Cairo IL.
200 years from now no one will remember us or that we even existed. You don't remember some railroad tie maker from 1820 do you? It's a sad fact of humanity. Best you can do is live for yourself and make sure you enjoy your minutes.
Yeah, it also made me sad.
This actually is happening in all the world, but others countries don't put attention to the rural areas.
Gaurav Verma 1412 Living for yourself does not make you a psychopath, Mr. Psychologist. He is just being realistic. No one will remember you, much like no one will remember me.
"Nobody wants to be forgotten"
Oof, you got me right in the feels there Norm.
😢
No worries. We will be.... Inevitable.
That doesn't matter if you got forgotten.. death is technically a rest you would not have any bussiness again with the living.. especially if you christian, the scripture said death = rest/sleep
Ghibli Studios needs to make a movie about this town.
Omg genius.. Yes!! I stand by that idea.
(2)
Yesplease and im already crying
The story can go like: When a person passes on, their memory is brought back to life with the Kakashi dolls and its the only way for the main character to interact with her loved ones. She must save the town from a big corporate development that is planning to destroy the village. At the end, the story reveals that the CEO came from this village long ago and eventually finding his deceased parents with an emotional closure.
@@Gibbzee01 this is genius !! i really want this so bad!
"Nobody wants to be forgotten". This hit hard
The town was amazing but the school gym was next level. Genuinely quite trippy seeing that.
Incredible video mate and expertly handled!
Tokyo Lens has shown us his perspective on this town......I hope to see your take on this town
Cheers mate~
Just wait till the next doc 😉
@@nolisarmiento1719 For now you can see James May's perspective as he visits this place too in his 6 part documentary of Japan. Available on Prime Video or just pirate it.
I cried when I saw the gym.
It is settled then. A Natsuki episode with Chris Broad and Ryotaro
I feel both sad and creeped out. It's a bit depressing that their village will eventually fade away when they all pass on.
I think land is always valuable. People might not appreciate it now but eventually the people living in tight quarters will want more space that’s less expensive. Plus isn’t there a way to make faster transportation to the rural areas? That way you could have best of both worlds, more space and faster commute. I dunno. I wonder why ppl move to city as I thought Japan isn’t that large of a country. Couldn’t they build fast railways throughout? I mean, here in US an hour commute one way to work is normal. What’s the average commute in Japan? And also, if everything goes to online then a commute might no longer matter.
@@narnia1233 An hour commute to work would be terrible in Japan. The work culture there is way different from the West. Japanese have to work really long hours and they are expected to work overtime without being asked. Many of them wake up at 6 am and only get home after 10 pm. Adding the commute time and they would not even have time to rest, eat, bath and other activities. And the bosses always want employees to show up immediately whenever something happened.
I make me laugh Lol 😂
My dad it's from a small village in South America. Went back during his 30's out of curiosity, nature took it all, swallowed by the river. He keeps a painting in the living room says it reminds him of his village. Makes me think of how my generation has a picture for everything. We can easily travel to the past and show it to others but for my dad there only this painting that has a semblance to a town that only exists in his memories now.
Woah wth
:((
well said
Imagine this town once a very lively village, where kids run around the streets, you'll hear them everywhere, people greet each others whenever walking around. Everything was vibrant and no dolls were made except for those little dolls for the kids. Now it's all silent where everything you see is motionless until you take a closer look it's all just dolls.
Im afraid this will also happen to my village, watching this is more painful when you know your village could be next
@@r3ll282 something in me has hope that at some point when the cities run out of space, people will start populating the countryside again and bring more opportunities there. Who knows.
STOP MAKING ME CRY 😭 IM LIVING IN MY COUSIN COUNTRYSIDE AND NOW IM SAD TO MOVE IF THAT HAPPENS
In my cousin place, of course there are kids running and playing, don't make me feel nostalgic!! 😓😓
This town has the vibe of a Goosebumps book and I love ittttt
Hahaha reeeeeallllyyyy does
Man... I remember staying up late reading those lol
Memories!!
Dam the 90s 👍🏼😎
Sharmeleon a new book idea Sharla lol
Woah so awesome to see you in these comments!! Sharla you should definitely go check it out!!;)
*READER BEWARE YOU'RE IN FOR A SCARE*
The guy seemed so happy explaining the gym. Even though he didn’t create them himself, it shows how proud country folk can be and that the country has culture too and that small amount of culture makes the residents happy and us too. And those memories of that culture we experience keep the town alive.
"Towns have culture too" If anything culture originates from towns and cities are killing it
This is an art instalation. This village and their kakashi, Ayano-san and everyone deserve exposition and recognition. This video is great!
I see it as an art installtion too, pretty great if they had some kind of tourism there for foreigners
Everyone gangster before the dolls start moving
I suspect they actually do move at night
“I came back to my abandoned town to see all the people were gone so i decided, i’ll make some.”
sounds like an isekai anime title
The stories of the older generation are often lost or end when it’s only oral tradition. This town and the story you show have a beautiful romance to it - I hope more countryside villages will be able to preserve their stories like this one
I hope so too
Oh man.. I'm crying. This is so sad... So lonely.
The dools are amazing, but must be so heartbreaking not having the same energy with kids running around, people walking on the street.. 😭
Kakashi Sensei... I need your Sharigan
What do u mean
Why are you in every video comment section i watch
Also im Malaysian
@@riteken8843 ikr
@@KennyGuite what does ikr means?
Oh
One of them dolls is James may from top gear. He visited the area for Japanese show he did, it’s the blonde hair one with blue shirt you showed :)
yup, I watched it on TV :D
I am glad James May doll was still there.
Wow!
That's awesome!
Yes! I was just coming to say this too. Our Man In Japan was soooo good :)
This really hit me in the heart. I lived in the Chiba countryside before moving into Tokyo, and I took 3 trips down to Tateyama.
The first time I went, it looked, not run down, but not as populated as youd think. The station had this interesting, California-vibe type of architecture. Walking around, it looked pretty fun and normal. There was a castle, where it seemed like where everyone converged and hungout.
The second time I went, I took a long walk all over the town. There were so many abandoned houses and businesses. One particular house looked like it had been abandoned for a very long time, you would think it was a patch of forest and bamboo if you didnt peek through.
The third time I went was after the typhoon. I went to volunteer and got blue tarps to bring them as they were short on that and supplies.
While the countryside lifestyle is slowly diminishing because of the population change and younger people wanting to live near the city, I think that years from now, it could flip. Connecting transportation vehicles, faster modes, etc.
Might bring everyone together and possibly bring a second renaissance of living in the countryside. At least, I hope. I feel sadness when I remember the folks I met living over there. This video brought up those memories.
There's some young people who want to live away from the city but can't since they work/school in the city.
Me example, I want to live in a countryside after living in hectic, pollution, hot city. but I damn know I need some transport that can take me to the city because that's where most of stuff available.
It's true what you said. Just give more transport that connected to that city, and in a short time, it would transform into a suburban where people could live and commute to the city everyday.
Japanese villages always give me this wholesome vibe and makes me feel like home.
It's depressing and heartwarming at the same time how they named all the kakashi/dolls/scare crows after a real person who lived there just to preserve their memories to the village
I translated and submitted it so that Ayano-san can watch this documentary. Hope it'll help.
That is amazingly kind of you~
Thank you so much!!
How is she?
Ayano aishi?
@@GreatTasteMurder I also thought of Ayano from YS at first lol
@@kenschicken1392 🤣🤣
This is beautiful & heartbreaking,💔
"No one wanted to be forgotten" ~😢
As a gen z, id be happy to move there! I feel like ppl should open up a national park or just some place to camp and hike. Id absolutely love to explore the woods there. Gives me massive twin peaks vibe.
Same it looks pretty interesting and peaceful!
I'm a old-fashioned, I want to stay in a meiji japanese style home!
I would explore there too, look at the nature around, they should do something to get foreigners to go there
This video is like an elegy. Wrenching. Haunting. Shattering beauty--like the dolls themselves.
I actually saw this town mentioned on i think NHK the other day (after your livestream)& gotta say, you give more info. I'm not frightened (in daylight anyway, heh) but it has a bittersweet feel that she is memorializing people she knows/knew. Nice video, Norm~
Thanks so much eh 😊
It's a lovely creative way to battle loneliness. I wish the narrator would not say it's creepy. I will think happy thoughts for them and say loving prayers.🌸
3:08 James May is officially in the memory of that town
This would be an amazing premise for a horror film: "Night of the Living Kakashi".
Agreed
kakashi hatake
And it will be claimed as "based on a true story" just by the fact that this village exists.
I was thinking the same thing
Thank you for the creative content. It must be hard during these times. Thank you for the energy in keeping the content coming.
How many of you noticed the phone call? 😉
Me look forward to going back! ☺
Bless her so much. I'm looking forward to you going back too so we can all meet her.
Awesome brother
@@rubytwoshoes1032 I agree with you. This story must be told further.
Me. I was suprised there was more. I look forward to it
“No one wants to be forgotten” it’s a beautiful and sense hitting video... thanks man.
This woman must really love her town! To leave and then come back and find all those people gone, she has an amazing skill and art of reviving the town even though nobody’s there. I really hope to pan starts to move back into these old towns and revive them. Now with the ease that was created from Covid to work at home, maybe that will become more possible! Great video！
That was really beautiful but sad at the same time....having to replace the citizens of the town with dolls....
it'd be really creepy to drive thru the village if I did not know about this beforehand....
thanks for this documentary, and please keep doing more, and do stay safe Norm ^^
Thanks so much~
I feel more sad about those other villages that don't have someone like Ayano san.
Great video, I wish someone can document their stories and lives. Immortalizing them in a way.
At first I thought it was creepy- but actually it’s just really lonely. I’d love to go one day and say hello to the locals.
Ayano must have been so sad when she came back, that all the people she always saw was already gone, giving her motivation to make all of those... 😔
It's so incredibly sad yet charming at the same time. I was raised in a small town while growing up in Puerto Rico and every day I think about how bad things are there, how hurricanes tear apart the infrastructure, the economy being in shambles, etc. Small towns really do feel the brunt of the passage of time
They really do
This is beautifuuuuuul!!!! As always I love your videos!!!
I’ve seen a ton of videos about this town (or other similar ones), but none compared to the one you made about Nagaro. One of the earlier videos of yours that I watched, I really enjoyed seeing your take on the subject and the stunning shots paired with your fantastic music choices.
What a great video! I think this is your best one yet, at least for me. I felt bittersweet feelings for the village. Its sad that a village with so much character may not be around for too much longer, but its nice to see how proud the townspeople are of it.
I have a bittersweet feeling watching this documentary. It is well done anyway. 👍
Thanks so much~
I love that you couldn't show Ayano-san, it adds a layer of mystery to an already great story. Seriously this needs to be a full feature length documentary or even a narrative film. Great video 😀👍🏾
I’m actually tearing up - for her to go back home after some time and seeing such a drastic change and loss from, assuming, her childhood... and the effort whilst making those dolls, and imagine thinking of every person that has left the town.... man..
these videos. they're so heartfelt, different. This one athl the start it feels creepy, but later on when we see the bigger picture, it's actually sad.
Man, that gym scene hit a little different, just imagining all those dolls as real people kinda made the reality of it sad...but as always great job Norm!
Beautiful craftswomanship and absolutely breathtaking scenery - enhanced by rainy & typhoon season. It's heartbreaking that so many villages are losing their populations and disappearing. I too hope that regulations change so that smaller places like this can see revitalization. While Japan has it's superstitions and "mosters", this is not scary. This is someone's passion for celebrating life as it was known and a hope that someday it will be robust and thriving again. Thank you for another stunning view into rural Japan.
When you move from a heavily populated town that doesn't have enough jobs for the people who live there you CAN go to a more rural area where they are looking to hire able bodied working are people.
BUT if the area does NOT have a job that pays enough to for somebody to be able to afford to move.
Housing can be peoples largest expense so if you were to throw in a free or next to nothing house for successful job applicants who settle there to take up work,
Low pay and fewer opportunities drive people away but if you have a bunch of disused houses the local authority can offer them to those who would consider settling in their village.
I have moved from an English town of about 200,000 to a village of about 100 on a Scottish island and i did so because there were Jobs/opportunities and the place i came from was an absolute dump, but i can say i know a little bit about the subject from doing that.
I didn't pick my area arbitrarily and there were a whole bunch of areas that i saw as financially unfeasible and if you want to attract people you need to look at it from the perspective of the kind of people who would move to a place and appreciate it for what it is!
people would be worried they will spend a chunk or all of their savings to make it work and leave empty handed.
Ask *Why would they?* and *why don't/haven't they?*
Where is the Ghibli Studios movie about this town coming to life at night because of the Kamis drawn to Ayano's craft and energy?
This almost brought me to tears. My grandmother used to sit alone in an arm chair inside of her living room. The week after she passed away I found myself sitting in the same chair. I was staring outside of the window when I realized that the chair faced the driveway. Every day she was sitting, waiting, and hoping for someone to drive into her driveway. Please don’t neglect your grandparents!
I remember seeing this in a amazon prime documentary and it's definitely one of the places I want to visit when I finally go to Japan, it looks like it will be a saddening yet humbling experience.
It hits when he said " nobody wants to be forgotten."
CZcams algorithm brought me to your channel and wow...this time its recommendation is amazing. I find this video so calming, genuine, sad, and creepy at the same time. If someday I can go to Japan, I really want to visit this village. I only want to make the people happy, just like the way you do. 😊
Looking forward to seeing your other heartwarming documentaries. 😊
This is beautiful, loving, sad and a little depressing all at the same time. It's a beautiful story all around. Thanks for sharing Norm 😊
Thanks for watching~
Sometimes I'm questioning myself what I find so magic about Japan. But cases like this remind me of that. I can't find words for this. Absolutely fascinating.
"No one wants to be forgotten"
....That hit me in the feels....such a great video, Norm!
The village is both eerie and sad from its slow decline. It makes me think about how we need each other to survive, and the longer you cut yourself off from others, or others leave you, life seems to fade away.
I'd actually live there, I'm young and at least I can help look after who's and what's left, I don't like a lot of people so that suits me just fine. 😁.
Many people would but hardly anyone does.
I would also like to move there. I am an introvert and I love the Idea of living in a peaceful quiet place with so much nature.
This was both sad and endearingly adorable simultaneously. Ayano-san seems like a jewel. May she live many more years, and may her town prosper with many more of her creations.
So happy for this documentary!!! was really great!! I was absolutely blown away by the gymnasium !! the massive dedication that must have taken is insane!!! Theres something really inspiring about it.
This is incredible! I feel so much watching this video. It's beautiful, sad and so precious. It's like the entire city is a piece of art. The gym is really another level, like someone mentioned here before. Really, nobody wants to forget or to be forgoten. Thank you for sharing this, your work is really impressive and sensible.
I don't understand why there isn't a huge rush to move back to the Japanese countryside. Nothing could persuade me to live in a city. Hopefully people will start to realise how important connection to nature and community is.
I found this town completely heartbreaking. That it was so empty that someone felt the need to fill up the empty space in the town with kakashi. If nothing else, I hope they get more travelers passing through.
When 4:49 rolled in, "nobody wants to be forgotten", it hit me right in the feels.
The kakashis are great and all, but watching this emits profound loneliness in many ways I cannot describe. My heart goes out to the few people who live there, thank you for sharing us their story.
You guys do such amazing work! I am very excited to have cover end so I can visit these places. I currently live in Korea and have friends who live in Japan. I also want to give you guys major props for being so careful to keep other safe during your travels, it shows your character as humans and it is very positive. Thank you.
This is sad and scary at the same time
Honestly looks like an amazing place to make a movie
"Nobody wants to be forgotten". I wanna live or atleast visit this Town. Such a wonderful beauty!
I've seen this town in other CZcamsrs' videos and, while creepy, it definitely is sad. It's fascinating to see the different things people in these small towns do to hold on to their memory of the town.
When you mention about how it will looks like in 10, 20, 30 years ahead, i teared up, really. To imagine this much of a change is incredible
Actually really beautiful. Leaves me envious, I'd quite like to find a way to live and work in Japan for a time and do some exploring.
I absolutely LOVE this. Thank you for such a wonderful documentary on something so unique, so special, so touching. Much respect to Ayano-San for such amazing work done with love and dedication.
This makes me really sad. It reminds me of my grandparents village. There are hardly any people left there now. Everytime I visit my grandparents, I just walk around the village and it's fields. Last time I was there, I went to their old house (which is abandoned now) where my mom was raised. It was also a place where I spent my summer vacation when I was young. God, it hurt!
Most of the people forgot where they came from, this shows really heartwarming welcome even everyone forgot their place 😔❣️
This is so heartbreaking and sad to me. I can't believe how powerful this is to me.
Creepy and kind of sad.
I have to say that whenever I watch one of your videos, I’m impressed by the stories you find-always something unique and off the beaten path. I’m quite disappointed you didn’t get an interview with the lady, but I can understand your concerns. Hope you’re able to follow up with her in the near future.
I stumble with this channel today and its really amazing with these contents!
Not going to lie. This seems just a bit creepy. Perhaps I've been reading too many Stephen King short stories! :-)
Love the drone shots. You are really upping your game when it comes to filming and editing.
It seems so sad that these villages are essentially aging out. The fact that the elementary school has been closed for 20 years-it's a real indicator of the situation.
4:48 "Nobody wants to be forgotten" That one just shot an arrow into my heart :-(
Thank you for giving us a look at this very unique place. I'd like to think this might serve to inform future generations.
I truly hope you get a chance to go back to Nagoro Village and meet with Ayano-San. I applaud your caution in not meeting her now, despite how overwhelmingly temping it must have been.
As always, thank you for taking us along. Finding your channel was one of the best things that has happened in recent years.
I honestly honestly hope I can make it back
The moment you entered the sports hall I got goosebumps.... The hall felt so lively yet so empty at the same time. It is really unfortunate to know that there are tons of villages you have never even heard of that are soon going to disappear.... I genuinely felt like I was present, following you around in silence. It made me really happy that you shared this short yet meaningful video with all of us..... There really isn't much we can do except raising awareness because it is exactly the way you said: Nobody wants to be forgotten.
Wow this is crazy.
Also gotta give you props for being considerate about the coronavirus and stuff, even if it meant you couldn't meet Ayano-san in person. That had to be really hard. Hope you will be able to meet her one day!
Going on a like spree(and comment). Forgot to when I first watched a lot of the videos but going back I really have learned how much I truly LOVE these "Mini Docs" and I both hope and look forward to many more! After all, "it's always nice to have something to look forward to".
Still love the videos many years later Norm
Wow this is amazing! I would love to visit this village especially at night ☺️
10/10 while recommend
I really hope you can go back later on.
I truly want a sitdown interview with the creator.
I hope so too!
My first thought was "Spoocy." But then I saw the detailed faces, the close of workers, and children. That this was all memories that are trying not to be forgotten. That's when I realized I was a half second from crying. The emotion in this is incredible, and beautiful.
I live just outside of a tiny town in Kansas, U.S.A. and I watch it slowly dry up year after year.
Thank you for this video.
There are so many amazing things and places to see in Japan. I think in these deep country communities, they feel loneliness and miss the children and activities. It's kind of sad in a way.
I love your photo documentaries. Great Job and Subscribed!
My dad left his village when 18 & stays in the city till now. I was born in the city and have no idea of my hometown village. When asked about my hometown, I don't know if I should say the village that I've no idea or should tell about my city.
🤦🏽♂️ why would you say you're from a village you were born in the city.... If YOU were born in the village then you can say you're hometown is the village 🤦🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️
Imagine the scarecrows moving at the full moon
I cried. This was beautiful!
Thank you Norm.
I had heard about Nagoro and Ayano-san before but I appreciate your perspective and the respect you show for them and rural life in general.
I still young just starting my life, 19 btw...i wonder how the future hold up for me no matter what you do good thing come to end
What a beautiful legacy. Tangible memories.
This is a very sad reality of the state of countryside towns. Thanks for sharing this meaningful content.
This breaks my heart. A town once full of youth and life, is now full of memories, not yet forgotten.
It is said that the spirit of an age is something to which one cannot return. Thus it is best to make the most out of every generation.
In the kamigata area, they have a tiered lunchbox they use for a single day when flower viewing. Upon return they throw them away, trampling them underfoot...
...the end is important in all things.
2 quotes from the hagakure.
I mean as creepy as it is, its definitely a uinique experience. The end really hit home for me. I hope Japanese countrysides get more visitors and residents.
I plan on visiting and would love some time in a peaceful country town.
I came onto the comments to chant "Nightime Visit, Nighttime Visit!!!"and you'd already asked that question! So a resounding YES!! But man, this one's poignant. The fate of these towns leaves me with so much sadness. I'd love to see you connect with Ayano-San in person. 🌸
This is one of the many proofs that nothing lasts forever 😞
I really cried to this.
Its really sad to know the declining population in japanese country side.
Thank you so much for telling this story, love this.
I just love your content, so introspective and shows your love for Japan, a country that is also dear to my heart.
Nice. I like folk art.
Me too
If I ever were to live in Japan, I would live in the countryside