Nagoro The Valley of Dolls

Fritz Schumann on Vimeo.

Nagoro the Valley of Dolls

In this remote Japanese village, residents have found a novel way to memorialize the dead. Nagoro The Valley of Dolls is a documentary film by Fritz Schumann that takes place in Nagoro on one of the four main islands of Japan.

Living in a town whose residents have passed away, are rapidly aging or are moving away gave Ayano Tsukimi the idea to make life sized dolls in the likeness of the deceased. In this way she allowed the residents to remember the dead for how they lived and allow the dead to remain forever as they once were.

Tsukimi has now made over 350 dolls which can be found scattered throughout the town and are enjoying the activities their predecessors once loved: swimming, fishing, napping, holding hands, etc. The empty streets of this once vibrant town are now filled with more dolls than living people!

What do you think about this incredible and eccentric response to death and dying? Share with us in our comment section below!

Thank you to Aeon Magazine for bringing this to our attention!