74-year-old Tsukimi Ayano, a resident of the mountain village of Nagoro in Japan, was able to save her native village. Virtually abandoned by people, the village turned out to be on the verge of abandonment, with only 30 residents, mostly pensioners, remaining in the area. During the last 20 years, not a single child was born in the village, which led to its desolation and gradual extinction.
Faced with loneliness and lifelessness, Tsukimi decided to take the initiative into her own hands and create her own world. She made life-sized dolls in the image and likeness of former villagers and placed them on the streets, in shops and even in empty school classrooms. It became not only her hobby, but also an effective means of entertainment and comfort for others.
Now there are more than 350 dolls in the village, which is ten times more than the number of real residents. This unique element attracts the attention of tourists who come not only to see the rag-tag "villagers", but also to feel the atmosphere, which remains strange. Locals admit that the village has become popular with visitors, making it a lively and lively place.
