This village sits along a river running through the mountains, surrounded by forests of cedar and bamboo. The once-thriving hamlet was known for its silk, timber and a starchy root called konjac.

A Japanese village struggling with a low population created life-sized dolls to mimic the feeling of a bustling society. The hamlet of Ichinono, which has less than 60 residents and only one child, is ...

As depopulation deepens around the world, a small village in Japan turns to puppets to stitch their community back together. Ichinono is only one of several “doll villages” in Japan where life-sized ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. NANMOKU, Japan — This village sits ...