The only child in Japan's 'puppet village'

[@Surftouka]

That child is going to grow up so loved by all his community and the wisdom he'll gain from all the elders of his community can't be matched to any university.

[@NoctTap]

Except if you want to be a pilot, doctor , engineer you need to go to university! 😅

[@Zagaara]

It happened, the village I used to live is swallowed by abandoned farm and forest nearby, Many years ago I pass by and decided drop in and have a look at my old grandparents village house and all I see is dilapidated village home, the route once used to be a farm and fruit orchard now is all covered by high bushes and forest..... Everyone has left the village....

[@comradeleppi2000]

It's sad to see that right

[@xanderpiz8770]

While it is "sad" to see that, it generally means that the nation is doing okay and gravitating towards a more medium-high skill economy. Whether or not it is ready for it is another question entirely.

[@maeannengo4908]

Before that village, it used to be all forest and now the forest has reclaimed the area

[@xanderpiz8770]

@@Zagaara Well here's another point: if this area has fallen into disrepair, it falls to third parties to incentivise investment into industry. Revitalise the village in terms of primary or secondary industry to boost economical feasibility either via grants or possible tax breaks. Happened in other countries so it should work here too.

[@nanwijanarko1969]

​@@xanderpiz8770 I'm not sure about the dying villages being "gravitating towards a more medium-high skill economy". It's more of a consequence of the declining birthrate. We are not turning villages into cities (higher economy); we're polarizing rural and urban areas even more due to migrations. 28%+ of Japan's population are aged 65 or older. That means not enough workforce to keep both the villages and cities growing. While the younger generations migrate to cities, and increases housing demands + strains urban infrastructure, the villages being devaluated to the point of ruins. It is sad.

[@jsin4774]

"It takes a village to raise a child." 😊

[@ChickensAndGardening]

So bittersweet. I hope many more young couples discover these villages and start repopulating them.

[@Cataclyscerator]

Ummm that sounds...ok then

[@ChickensAndGardening]

@@Cataclyscerator There has to be an economic incentive to move to these smaller towns other than cheap or free housing (which is a massive incentive). There have to be jobs as well though.

[@PwningGerZ]

@@ChickensAndGardeningrural areas was always for farming. Farmers were the riches group of people during the start of the Economic Miracle of Japan. Richer than factory workers, salarymen families. It was for the food security of the country. By 1960 after 1952 American occupation leaving, the country was 98% food secure.

[@SieMiezekatze]

​@@ChickensAndGardening I come from the rural area there are millions of job what there is not is money and education

[@mikeinjapan2004]

Easier than said...

[@comradeleppi2000]

"We are now paying the price" 😢 poor grandma.. I feel bad for her.. I will never leave my mum alone but if situation didn't help I will still visit her once in a while..

[@starward0997]

The translations is wrong, she didnt say that

[@SkyJamieson]

​@starward0997 then what did she say 🤨

[@gogosegaga]

The model of forcing all society to only getting an education and working in a professional office has caused this. We need society to be diverse in skills and not only work in professional Jobs, but also agriculture, manufacturing etc. Now everyone just wants to be salary person.

[@shaider1982]

You can get a degree in Agriculture or Agricultural Engineering

[@cooltwittertag]

No, it was caused by wealth differences and lack of any investment in rural areas in japan combined with the soul crushing nature of work in japan causing falling birth rates

[@xanderpiz8770]

Nations sitting in agriculture based economies are usually ones that have low food security. The general cycle of national development means that once that is sorted, the focus turns towards societal advancement. You cannot convince people to look forward to the future if there is no opportunity for growth.

[@robrot404]

Nah, this is just how society developed. Agriculture and Manufacturing has become so efficient to the point we don't need that much people working in it, but this efficiency requires people educated in engineering, logistics, etc. Which is why demand for people with these skills is much higher

[@gogosegaga]

@@robrot404 ​​⁠ you’re missing the point your so called ‘urbanization efficiency’ is causing a population decline. There is silent genocide happening against rural communities at the expense of urbanization and feeding the ever more growing urban major cities. I’m saying this because now that population is declining to the point where we can’t afford to pay and support pensions is this so called efficiency of urbanization worth it if our communities and populations are being wiped off the face of the earth? Governments need to have a real strategy for the whole countries and not just major cities.

[@tangbesitangbesi7009]

It's happening all over the world now, we in SEA too, send our kids to attend colleges in big towns and when they've completed their studies, they have no intention to stay in small villages and tiny towns where oppirtunities for self developement are rare. We parents woyld be happy if we get to meet together on certain big celebrations of the year like Chinese New Year

[@LollipopLop]

I feel like government needs to make more cities than just one Because there’s only one big city in Japan and that’s not enough

[@_Just_Another_Guy]

The Japanese government could maybe help incentivize and revitalize these small villages by inviting foreigners who know Japanese to move in and become residents. There are a lot of people who are leaving America these days and moving to Europe, Australia, and South East Asia.

[@Ikajo]

​@@LollipopLop That's just false. Plenty of big cities in Japan. Among those, Osaka, which is mentioned in the video.

[@varadharajannadarajah]

Hope the kid gets couple of siblings soon.

[@yughioh616]

The media paint this town in a bad light making it scary but the truth is this town is so Beautiful. I pray that people will come back and prosper. 😊❤

[@annat6249]

I don’t think people see this town as not beautiful. My parents are in their 80s so I witness loneliness of old age. I see this as a lonely town. Yes people might be Less lonely with many neighbors in their own age. It is like senior housing, people have friend but still wish for their family. I think this is a large beautiful senior home. Beautiful or not depending on each person living there. Like when we are sad, our beautiful surroundings are not beautiful.

[@_Just_Another_Guy]

One positive thing about this village is that it's likely one of the safest places to live nowadays. Yes, it might be lonely but there's no crime. You can literally walk alone at night and be safe.

[@alemelo3070]

家族の幸せを心から願っています。幸せは私たちの夢の中にあり、シンプルな生活も素晴らしい選択です。幸運を祈ります。

[@FRISHR]

Don’t let anything bad happen to his parents or else the boy will join the Akatsuki.

[@williamlai29]

Imagine seeing those puppet at night....

[@mrartdeco]

you won’t.. they disappear at night and reappear in the morning cos it was dark outside yohohohohoho

[@mrartdeco]

you won’t.. they disappear at night and reappear in the morning cos it was dark outside yohohohohoho

[@xanderpiz8770]

I don't mind that...what I do worry about is why they're all in different positions by the morning.

[@livelive7435]

😮

[@heartsDmise]

​@@mrartdeco A One Piece reference found in the wild👁️👄👁️ ⁉️

[@tacotuesday458]

That little boys gonna bring joy to that village without realizing it growing up How heartwarming

[@myeongwol]

Everyone in the village becomes the grandpa grandma uncle auntie of the boy ❤

[@upsidedownbagofflour697]

Village of puppets? Sounds like the setting for a Junji Ito manga

[@nilabhbhosale6709]

He look cute in thumbnail 🥰 I hope he never be alone in this village

[@Sjalabais]

The biggest question remains unanswered: Does he have other children to play with in a nearby village, Kindergarten or school? That's important for healthy development.

[@Kiyoone]

This kid WILL need therapy in the future.

[@richardcoreno]

It takes a village......

[@noahh-b4v]

To raise a child

[@juxtapositionark9671]

May they all live happily and grow their sweet village.

[@Dan-wu9iv]

feel sorry for that kid. hes never going to have any friends his age growing up. probably will have trouble socializing with ppl around his age when he grows up too

[@mlalbaitero]

He should be fine, also maybe some other family will move there, or someone else will have kids, or he'll get a sibling who knows

[@jeffseah397]

I agreed,a kid should grow up surround with kids their age and not elderly,they will be more happy

[@ExplorerXyz-om6mz]

The parents told that the kid was lonely in Osaka no one would focus on him. Don't worry elderly are also kids and some kids can join him soon.

[@otakumonkey]

He will mature early

[@kawaiipotatoes7888]

He will grow up playing fortnite he will be fine.

[@iii___iii]

Serious question, why do so many Japanese dislike rural life so much compared to the city? Is it not less stressful? Is the food and water not better quality? Is it not cheaper? So many foreigners dream of this kind of life, yet Japanese seem to abandon it. 🤔🤔

[@kamsunleong6648]

Job and education opportunities. Not everyone wants to he a farmer.

[@Fabulousprofound168]

2:42 the answer to your question is here. An entire generation left home and never came back. Hopefully the next generation will tire of the rat race and return to these places before they all disappear 🤷‍♂️

[@Cantonnoodles1x1]

If your interested in the topic, look up Japan’s lost decade similar to what another commenter posted an entire generation left in search of Jobs prospects fresh out of college and never came back because of the lost decade playing a part

[@神崎アオイ-o4o]

There’s actually a recent video I saw that talks about how people are ostracised and bullied in small towns and villages. It’s often that the people who were bullies in school end up becoming the town chief and power structures remain for the rest of their lives there. Horrifying for a lot of people

[@i_Love_Curry]

​@@神崎アオイ-o4oI've watched it, the family have limited privacy. there is also a youtuber, a young Japanese girl moving to rural area, she got stalked by the villager.

[@Eleora1997Msia]

poor lil guy, it must be boredom for him to be alone, and the only child in the village. without the same age group, he might just wandering with his imagination. Well look at the bright side, be friends with senior citizen is 100% worth it than children playing on smartphone and screen time. The nature, the history, learn to be matured, captured on traditional, the love, is very natural. as a children who grown-up with grandparents, i feel that too. ❤❤❤ it worth it, seriously No ! phone, no gadget, this is pure human life to lived soul.

[@hungchoonghow5857]

That's why Studio Ghibli's stories only work well in these kind of places in Japan.

[@envitech02]

The kid is so cute but I'm sad that despite being so loved by the entire village, he has no one his age to play with.

[@ccamire]

I hope the kid wont suffer the bullying made to outside people trying to upgrade small villages. I was there one month ago, it was remote, too quiet, no restaurant around. Japan has a very long way to revitalize those regions and it start by changing the culture

[@Muramasa1794]

Wonderful story

[@LudwigVanBeethoven17]

Honestly my first impression is what a scary place

[@niallhamblin]

I would visit that village any day!

[@LudwigVanBeethoven17]

What a cute little thing 😊😊

[@_Just_Another_Guy]

Perhaps Japanese government could help rehabilitate these dwindling villages by allowing foreigners who know Japanese to immigrate to Japan and move into these village as citizen residents.

[@Ikajo]

Japan is extremely xenophobic, there is no way they would allow that easily.

[@imizuyou]

The title so misleading,i really thought some kind of horror japanese movie😂😂😂

[@tankeryy1566]

yo i thought the only puppet village is nagoro village

[@lessparks8553]

That's going to be one seriously messed up kid psychologically

[@rajenkasi67]

What a strange yet beautiful story.

[@Cantonnoodles1x1]

To think that this child will come back to this village in 10-20 years to see where he was born, only to realize he was the last child in an aging community that most likely won’t be around by the time he’s an adult. Lots of rural communities disappearing, it’s sad to see

[@danaeads919]

The puppets would scare me away. I hope the boy is not raised to be pampered and entitled.

[@ziggystardust3060]

This is tragic on so many levels. People around the world must wake up, because this could also be our future! Its Orwellian. 😱

[@thewaythewindblows-saoirse]

Glad to see the forest talking over. My town is overpopulated. I wish this was the case with my town. We have too many children and people 😂🎉

[@ian-blum]

I hope either more people move there or he moves out someday or he's looking at a really lonely life

[@jeffreysetapak]

The doll spirits are protecting this child.

[@Tan92lfc]

town is not too far from Osaka, Husband can still work and travel

[@Simkets]

If I could, I would definitely want to live in a village rather than town. We'll see what the future holds for me

[@yohanasusanto9167]

To live amongst puppets is sooo eerie...

[@GeorgeMartinus]

Japan should follow China's way by replicating the rural revitalization project. Govt helps and asks young productive to start project to revitalize the villages economy by promoting local products and tourism. All done with creativity and technology.

[@otron805]

That's kind of scary

[@taimalik1110]

This needs to go viral all over Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China...East Asia is quickly aging and declining 😢

[@amithasupun5971]

What about open gate to immigrants.. that need to be viral in east asia..

[@captainwin6333]

These towns are pretty much doomed.

[@Fabulousprofound168]

I wish I could contest your comment, but what you are saying is true. I have been watching Japanese explorer videos and the number of abandoned villages is very concerning… some of them look like the inhabitants simply walked away leaving everything behind.

[@jaypeej7830]

The father is handsome

[@maeannengo4908]

More than 10 years ago, I've seen a Japanese Horror movie set at a similar village but with straw puppets.

[@wasimshaikh1665]

Puppets are scary and they are even scarier in an half abandoned village full of old people. Who's idea was it ?

[@raghavsarma8520]

Everyone is gangsta until the puppets moves suddenly

[@toidIllorTAmI]

Bro? I thought this place was abandoned, and the last woman built all off her passed neighbors

[@Someone-zn4dh]

Different village

[@youngmasterzhi]

I think they would’ve done a better decor with mannequins

[@emmanuel2333]

Amazingly sad

[@TIMOTHYGZ怪物]

And still No School then?

[@Mezza-ld3bq]

Just move there people lovely

[@ninjamafia192]

Reminds me of the beginnings of My Neighbor Totoro and Wolf Children

[@Advyn.]

Sounds like the backstory of a naruto villain

[@冇乜嘢]

He will be Sasori in the future, he can train using the puppets from the village already.

[@livelive7435]

Wow I’m shocked 😳 devastating please take the kid away from tha😢disturbing place!!!

[@hardik7696]

Looks like a horror movie location

[@sophiehussain3668]

Its so lonely

[@Bcanonymus]

Imagine thoese dolls started moving at mid night 😂

[@Dharcness]

Do the puppets move at night?

[@akolangito6945]

In nagoro there are also like it

[@PrivateJennaSoljderAccountant]

A Rhinosuraus and Panda for your village ? Rugby

[@debbiecurtis4021]

Genki otokonoko

[@hua_tetsu_cat]

baby bro gonna master puppet justsu one day

[@Teddimon]

all i see is a script for a new horror movie

[@user-gw9yx2wx5g]

Everybody wants an easy office job and no longer wants to work the land that if properly cultivate will make them millionaires.

[@yukitakaoni007]

visual novel anime are real?

[@hobimisteri9280]

But in Indonesia you still can find so many children in town even in rural villages.. 😂😂 , it is our common tradition to having kid

[@Sraived16]

😅😢😂

[@Okashime]

yeah indonesia is overpopulated with youth and causing serious age discriminations in job recruitments and also a huge problem for job seeker industry cuz there are way more job seeker than job supply in the market, people gotta stop making childrens when they are bored with nothing to do & end up with poverty cuz too many kids to feed in the family

[@talhahabdullah8980]

Yeah make a nice movie plot for Japanes horors like on cult and Folk religion and shamanism. I can see some dark spirit requires soul of children and the puppets are the vassal The old folks are the priest and priestess in disguise nuturing the final sacrifice - the only living child in the village. The stage is set until one nosy kawaii girl reporter came ... and her parent were actually came from this village originally..

[@blitzzulu6862]

❤❤❤

[@Eldenshelton]

why not have more then? why stay at one child? Lol

[@Iamshady-yn6mg]

Raising a child is too expensive in Japan

[@ginebrasanmiguel1445]

That's happening is south Korea too...old people remains in a village , you g people preferred living and working in the city😔😔😔

[@ridhamatri9447]

Japan is doomed. 😢 🗾💔

[@kennycringeworthy]

The boy's name is Sasori and he will join the Akatsuki when he grows up.

[@adrielsison9835]

Hahahahah

[@iiraingirlii]

☹️💗

[@knand9936]

this looks like a horror movie plot beginning... 20 years later the child returns to his former home village... now an abandoned ghost village... and.... the puppets come alive..

[@Hkchinese888]

Little pinks are trying to find their butterfly grandma in the village.🤣🤣

[@DavidFoo-kh4ri]

While a fake "chinese" like you is trying to find its way out of its dank dungeon

[@wynn3077]

@@DavidFoo-kh4ri Fake take a look at your own account Wubot.😜

[@ToiChutGongWu]

More tiresome wind-up from “Mohammed Kumar”/“Hkchinese”/”wynn” /”Johnny Somali 2.0” 😂

[@ToiChutGongWu]

@@wynn3077 Oh dear, “Mohammed Kumar”/“Hkchinese”/”wynn” /”Johnny Somali 2.0” is doing what it accuses me of, spamming 😂

[@ToiChutGongWu]

@@DavidFoo-kh4ri “Mohammed Kumar”/“Hkchinese”/”wynn” /”Johnny Somali 2.0” replies to you each time you post. Welcome to being a vehicle for it to express its inadequacy 😂

[@ExplorerXyz-om6mz]

"It takes a village to raise a child" . Indeed😄

[@moai7344]

Anti spiral

[@JohnyN-qp3xg]

Just like

[@gbraadnl]

This is happening to many Asian countries; the birth rate in South Korea is also low... and while Japan has a birth rate of 1.20 now, in 2022 that was 1.26, in China it was a mere 1.18... and estimated to be even lower as 'official' numbers are most likely not very accurate. Western countries also see a decline, but not as steep... yet.

[@munling6627]

I remember Japan's puppet government in Manchukuo

[@irawilliams343]

This is the social consequence Japan has to suffer for being a G7 nation

[@hafix100x]

42. Say, [O Muḥammad], "Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before. Most of them were associators [of others with Allāh]. 43. So direct your face [i.e., self] toward the correct religion before a Day comes from Allāh of which there is no repelling. That Day, they will be divided. - Quran 30:42-43

[@monkeyguy80]

Now all having 1 Child Policy ya!

[@myintmaunmaun]

Isn't Japan a giant puppet island?

[@Maharlikano_XYZ]

Yes, a US-puppet land.

[@Jackie_Chan-w2m]

So creepy