How One Woman Replaced a Village in Japan
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ย. 2024
- In the mountains of Shikoku Japan sits a dying village with only 25 remaining residents. Once home to festivals and lively residents, one woman has taken it on herself to change everything. This is the story of Ayano Tsukimi who over the past 20 years has filled Nagoro village with hundreds of Japanese Kakashi Scarecrow dolls - I visited the village years ago, but never got to tell her story. I promised her I would go back, and so... We finally did.
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We FINALLY got to go back to meet Ayano San!!! (See the original here: th-cam.com/video/vxiOdrVreSQ/w-d-xo.html)
But Would YOU to visit her? --- If you have messages for her LEAVE THEM BELOW AND I WILL SHARE IT WITH HER WHEN I GO BACK NEXT TIME!!!
I would visit her. i love her dedication and expressions.
Please tell her that her creativity is admired and she is loved ❤
Go go Ayano san!
Long may she reside alongside her creations. I'd love to visit if my health - and wealth were better!
Ayano-san is a brilliant gem of a person. Her creations are a wonderful view into her artistry and just how much heart she has for the village.
I drove down to meet Ayano san last summer. She is incredibly friendly, literally came out from her house, her hair still wet after showering but still made an effort to take questions from me. She even let me video interview her casually with my broken japanese. What a kind gentle soul.
I am very sad that villages like these are disappearing around Japan. Although harder to access, these are beautiful places that tell an amazing unfettered story of the Japanese countryside. Thank you Tokyo Lens for shining light on this, away from the usual hustle and bustle of cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto!
The world needs to hear more stories like this!
This lady is adorable. I love that there's corners of the world like this. Thank you for bringing her story to light!
thanks for being here for it!
Memories. Thank you again for preserving these moments and history so that they won't ever be forgotten, Norm. It breaks my heart that a lot of the smaller towns don't have a 'young' presence and they will be lost.
the next video will give some good insight into this....
@TokyoLens can't wait. Again, thank you for videos like these. It is very much appreciated!
Agreed, this is a beautiful catalog of a wonderfully creative soul!!
It's informative and heartwarming to watch. And a golden piece of media for posterity. 🥹💕
...well, all the stores (like clothes, groceries & pharmacies) & doctors are about 3-hrs away -_- If you get badly sick or break a leg or something worst your pretty much fk, no joke ☹️ (8yrs ago, my grandfather loved living in the country but had heart attack an needed a hospital with specialized equipment but all those Major hospitals are 100-miles >_< sadly passed away while being airlifted which was a 2-3hr ride).
The Country side is beautiful ❤ but you risk your own health 🤒living out there 🏞.
What a beautiful person she is and what a lovely town.
3:45 wow, James May kakashi is still there... loves the show when james visited the village back in 2019 for his travel show and Ayano-san make one kakashi for him.
Sumimasen.
Secret second comment!!
For those who know.... you know
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So turn on those notifications and leave me something on release, and we can chat and get to know each other a bit!!
Always got the notifications on!
obligatory #TrifectaSquad
Great job, Norm.. I was so happy to see that you had gone back to talk with this lady. As amazing as her creations are - it made me sad.
It is amazing that Ayano san's passion toward making visitors smile and entertain let her create over a thousand of Kakashi dolls. But getting to know her seeing the future of the village made me a bit emotional..Thank you Norm to let the world know about Ayano san! I hope she will stay well for a long time and keep brighting up the village!
it was honestly a bit emotional for me to finally be there with her and have this chat.
But I am so glad that I got to do it and share it with everyone
Thank you as always for your kind commentary~
I love the fact that when you use Google streetview to look at the village, Google blurred the faces of most of the kakashi dolls. And I just discovered you could actually get to the village bij public transport which is amazing.
LOL I never looked at that!! I should have~
She is such a sweet person. Thank you for sharing her story
omg really?! i want to go here someday, say hi to Ayano-san
The scarecrows are back! I like when we come full circle with some of these stories. It makes small stories richer and brings people around the world closer 💜
took longer than I wanted to get back here
but im glad that I did!
Oh my goodness.. she is such a beautiful person with warm heart and you captured it so well. Thanks Norm for constantly sharing a great raw documentary of Japan. I would love to visit her and the village in the near future while she is still Genki
I hope you get the chance!
There’s an underlying sadness and pain in her words…especially when she talks about her own scarecrow.
It’s strangely beautiful how each scarecrow is like a moment lost in time.
At first I thought it was kinda creepy but the way she interacts with the scarecrows and talks about them, gives you a sense that these were once people too, who’ve moved on, and the whole village is her memories on display.
I thought it was cute how she gave them jobs to do.😂
@@shannondore I acknowledge the perspective, could be she’s just fuking bored in the middle of nowhere.
Norm, I have heard that sometimes videos like these don't always get high view counts. I say that is the least important.
Because you are preserving these moments of time, these moments of history, the children, grandchildren, cousins, etc, will be able to look back on their loved one. Remember them. Remember their voice, their movements, their style, what made them them. Bringing back memories of love, respect, happiness, etc. It may not be today or tomorrow next month or next year, but there is a place where a loved one can see someone or someone who can come and get inspired.
Let that be your motivation to continue these videos, Norm.
The first time I found out about this village is through your video about it years ago and I thought it was amazing that one person makes all of the dolls. Watching this now and getting to know the one who made them made me think it's much more amazing than I thought. Not gonna lie, I felt emotional halfway through the video when she was talking about some of the individual dolls and I started tearing up when she was talking about how she knows the dolls would be gone alongside her when she passes someday. I think it's wonderful she put her passion in this cause it shows how much she loves what she's doing and how much she loves the village as well.
Thank you for making this video. Someday, if the scarecrows do eventually disappear, at least, there's this video that shows how and why they existed.
She brought comfort and tears to my eyes there at the end. What a beautiful soul 🤍
What a lovely video about an amazing woman and her creations! The purity of her life actually made me cry. I hate to see the day come when she can no longer carry on with her passionate life's work. One can tell that each of her "dolls" means the world to her. You have a beautiful soul for making her day so special. I loved this video and the message that it conveys. Thank you for highlighting Ayano San and all that she does. This video will serve as a permanent documentary of her creations.
I am so glad that people like her exist!! we are truly blessed
@@TokyoLens I agree, my friend. Both of you have brightened my day so much!
5:12 "he is here every day" That was so funny and wholesome at the same time ❤
Wow Norm!
You did something so beautiful by visiting that wonderful lady and I could tell that she was genuinely happy that you were there!
Bless you ❤
Her smile when she said "I thought you had already left". Her joy that you stayed for the meal. I think you brought her joy and a very special day, Norm.
Might be a silly question, but is there an address where we could send a postcard to Ayano-san to show our appreciation? I can’t visit Japan till (hopefully) next year, but I’d like to share with her that sometimes I remember how much love she put into her village and it always makes my day a little brighter.
This is a lovely idea. I love the idea of letting her know she is not forgotten.
This is some crazy skill & dedication & I hope she's able to keep doing this for as long as she wants to. I may normally be creeped out by dolls, but these have a sort of special feel to them that's a little calming
I’ve been looking forward to this one and it didn’t disappoint, Ayano-san really is a remarkable person. I’m going to be in the Iya Valley next year, so hopefully might get the chance to check out the village for myself 😊
glad you enjoyed it!!
Great documentary and glad to see she’s still making these. It’s for sure interesting and pleasant to find someone doing a hobby for an area.
so glad that she's still at it!
Thank you for documenting this kind of stuff Norm, this channel is a time capsule!☺️
That’s a large part of the goal of this channel.
Thank you so much!!
Awesome video as always Norm. Ayano-san she is an absolute legend she is such a kind hearted lady this is definitely worth an adventure to see and experience firsthand.
I was there this summer. Driving alone over the mountains from Mima in pouring rain was quite an experience. (Even had to find a new route due to a closed road.)
I visited several places I have discovered thanks to your great videos - even the abandoned school with the tunnel.
Amazing lady! Thanks, Norm, for taking us with you to meet with Ayano -san in person. I loved your first story about her. She is really so interesting! Wow, gardening -- big gardens -- and creating her villagers. She has a lot of energy. Thanks so much!
This hits deep man 😢 thank you Norm
glad you felt this one~
Yo, the way you describe stuff is incredible. It's like I can feel the emotions right through the screen. I really wanna visit the village soon❤
I'm speechless. Thank you so much for featuring this amazing story!
Thank you for sharing Ayano-san's story and her village. You've done an excellent job of highlighting the love, care, and passion she has for the village. I hope she gets the visitors she wants, since she seem like a lovely and genuine person!
What a sweet & kind lady. I hope everyone who’s able goes to see her. ❤😊
Much love from my deepest heart for this documentary, make me felt the vibe and situation on nagoro. Need to put this village to my bucket list of places hahaha
hope you make it!
Norm you have the power to make Kakashi festival possible this year
lol I literally dont
wish I did
but unfortunately turning back the clock of time is not within my powers lol
@@TokyoLens Next year, then ;)
That ending really made me cry. Love your videos and your sensibility, Norm. Thanks for sharing your exeperiences with us
this is amazing, thank you for showcasing her creations and bringing her story to a wider audience. Here's hoping she's able to keep the village alive for as long as she can!
What a wonderful lady. People like her make the world a better place. 🌹🎩
WOW! Great story of a dedicated woman trying to maintain memories of the community she lived in. This is one of your best, heart touching, and thought provoking videos. Wish I could get back to visit Japan in the near future. 😊
I love how one persons passion can transform a fading village into something bright and wonderful.
That is so amazing. I’m glad you got to go back and speak with her and document her experience!
A beautiful piece about a courageous lady keeping her village alive at a time when it is slowly dwindling away. May she carry on as long as she feels able to, and I hope some more visitors make the trip to appreciate her work and the love expressed in it. This one is uplifting, if sad in some ways, you never disappoint with your videos Norm, thank you.
These will always be my favorite videos ❤ you have the greatest talent in sharing other peoples stories! Thank you for all you do Norm!
Its so cool how she had these all set up basically telling a story and keep the village lively
Thank you Norm.
YES! I would absolutely visit. Just adding it to my list now. Seems like quite the wonderful experience.
such a warm soul, had me smiling the entire time. even when the mood turns sad, its still heartwarming.
glad that you went back because the original video has always been one of my favorites.
These mini docs are wonderful-
thank u for opening a portal to us that otherwise wouldnt be possible.
That lady is a gem. Whimsical, grounded, great view of thing, practical joker, get all the good rolled into one.
I'm so glad you shared this. It was great hearing her story. I really love the variety in the dolls. She's so creative. I also love how she not only included family and friends, but also herself. This would be amazing to see in person
My family and I are spending a few nights in the Iya Valley in early December.
Driving along this twisting mountain road and stopping at this village has been a bucket list item for a decade or more, and it will finally happen in a few months time.
Norm's storytelling is trully magical! The channel I watched religiously during Covid time.
That was beautiful Norm, thank you so much for showing us this!
Oh Norm, this was so beautiful. I'm so thankful you got to meet her and talk. What a blessing. "Just a beautiful soul...doing what she loves while she can..." This goes for you too, friend!! Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world. Proudly wore my purple "Explore Always" shirt today.
What an amazing woman! I so admire her love of giving to the world unselfishly. There aren't that many people like that. I remember seeing your video when you went the first time, and I am so thankful to you that you visited again!
YAY, we actually get to see her story! So glad you were able to come back!
Ayano San is a noble spirit - I hope she lives many more years in good health and joy!
You really do great job with this channel
thats very kind of you
I am just lucky enough to be able to find great people like Ayano san~
She's so kind and works really hard. She made me remember my grandma (who passed away in 2023. She was 100 y.o.). This one made me cry.
wow!! She maded it to 100?? what an amazing life
Thank you so much for sharing~
@@TokyoLens thank you! She worked really hard all her life. She was the eldest woman in her rural area in Spain. She survived the Spanish Civil War and after that, she took care of her younger sisters because her mom passed away. She had her own shop in the village in a time when women usually couldn't be economically independent of their husbands.
Now that house where she had the shop is mine. And it's going to be a 100 y.o. house in 2026. I'll keep it in good condition until I die because it's what she wanted.
Amazing and unique hobby. Love how it makes her more social and she shares happiness with other people :)
Awww, this is a lovely film. I heard of the dolls and the village but was always afraid to learn more. I thought it would be such a sad story but it isn't! So happy to have watched this, Ayano is so funny and kind, I love what she does.
Wonderful video, Norm! Your videos are so well shot and edited. Thank you for capturing these beautiful moments and sharing them with us!
Thank you for going back to dig into the history more.
Beautiful! Just really touched my ❤! Thank you so much for sharing this story and with such wonderful regards to Ayano -san!
Thanks Norm, Ayano is a work of art her own self. I guess she hinted at it when she immortalised herself with her own kakashi. A lovely story.😊
What a lovely story, thanks for showing us this part of the world
How awesome, sad, moving and heartwarming at the same time..... Thank you for this video. Really!
I feel this definitely needs preserving, thanks for the effort Norm!
Luckily it seems the tide is turning in a lot of small villages. As in most countries a lot of people are escaping the busy big cities preferring smaller, calmer towns.
I look forward to seeing how things will evolve over time.
Bucket list for a future visit. Ayano san reminds me so much of my mother in law in Nara. Hope to visit soon. Thanks for making it back out to visit her.
A beautiful labor of love and memory. Life is never easy, but her life is full, joyful, and carries the peace that I've learned is pure Shikoku. Embracing fully who you are, and making each moment, each encounter count. So glad that you were able to visit again and share her story. 💜✌️🐦 🙇♀️
were you guys able to make it out to Nagoro when you went?
@@TokyoLens unfortunately no, but it is 100% on my must see list when I visit for the 88 pilgrimage (driving) which I'm hoping to do spring '25
I wish for her many more years of health and many visitors. ❤ I also hope her crops are plentiful. Thank you for sharing this story.
Amazing, just amazing. 🤯 I love how you documented this beautiful person and her beautiful little village. She is so adorable. It made me a little emotional thinking that something so wonderful one day will disappear. I wonder if she could have classes so that others can learn how to make the Kakashi dolls to continue her vision. Thank you as always, Norm. 😊
I am sad when I hear about the depopulation of rural Japan. But then I remember that traditional Japanese culture finds beauty in impermanence. Nothing lasts forever and things are always changing. I suppose that make sense for a people who frequently have to rebuild after massive earthquakes.
Reminds me of a line from a song by the synthwave rock band, Gunship, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it was."
Today I had a conversation with a gentleman on bus in west Tokyo he was 87, i am not young but we enjoyed our chat for 15 minutes with his wife. We talked about several areas i like and our local park.good memory for me.
Hi Norm! Phenomenal docu on Ayano-san with her Scarecrow doll village. She always brought a smile to my heart and reminded me of my grandma whom always make things for me when I was growing up. Whether is mending my clothes or cooking a simple and delicious meals, am grateful and appreciate what elderly has gone through in their spare time to keep them self active and creating fun things to expand their mind/horizon. If you ever going back or stopping by her way/village, give her my best regard and wishin' her good health and keep doing what she does and enjoy a longevity life and attract more international visitor to see her wonderful creation and the beautiful nature/village she live in!
We saw this with my daughter before Covid. I'm so grateful for her driving up the long & very winding narrow roads. It was a marvelous experience.
I love doing road trips. Seeing there's something interesting before arriving to the village has already got me excited.
I need to do this!
The talent and dedication Ayano San puts into these dolls is amazing. She seems like such a lovely person. ❤
just amazing
I cant imagine the amount of time that went into it all
Oh boy Toyko Lens thank you, thank you for such a beautiful story. It was so amazing and just so heartfelt. Ayano san is just the most gorgeous, genuine person and her passion is so infectious. I just want to go there so much. Thanks again, just love this channel. ❤
🥹 What a lovely Woman!🫶🏼
I got a bit emotional listening to her. Thanks for sharing this precious Woman and her kakashi dolls with us. I'd love the opportunity to meet her, but who knows when I'll get to Japan. So many roadblocks have prevented me from visiting Japan 😢
Thank you so much for both sharing and preserving this history. My goodness, she has such a fun personality 🥰.
Thank you so much for watching!! and yes! She has one of my favorite personalities ever!!
This is so sad. But she's a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL soul. It's so lovely, and I hope she finds an apprentice or ten who have even half her drive. The kakashi deserve to be visited.
Beautiful.
Got a sad tear but a smile at the same time.
Amazing video and a amazing Woman
Thank you! 😊
This is AMAZING from the spirit of craftsmanship
i have been there this month, driving it quite a challenge but the experience is so rewarding, i recommend you visiting this place once
Beautiful short documentary!! This is why I like your channel!!
There is intense poetry in this hobby. Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a touching Story ! Tranks for making the effort
This video showcases what admirable dedication, a kind and hopeful soul, and a blend of the past meeting the present looks like. I love that she has stories for each doll, and the time she takes to personalize each and every one of them. Thank you for helping the world see into this tucked away corner. It truly is a treasure to cherish.
I'm always amazed by how sensitive you are, truly. Telling these stories, shining light on these people, those places. It's a gift, Norm. ❤ Ayano San is really precious, thanks for letting us know about her, her work and her village. ❤
🤩😍 I'm so glad you two were able connect! Thanks you both for the follow up😊
I love how dedicated an down to earth she is. It is not a legacy that will last through the ages but it is a legacy none the less, for as long a time as people know her story.
I went to the Iya valley on our first trip to Japan in 2015 but not to that town. I would love to go again but I don't know if she will still be around by then. And that makes me a bit sad.
That was beautiful. Thank you for the amazing video !
I would love to visit this village one day, but other than driving there, I guess taking public transport is not the most feasible. I'll try to figure it out! It would be so lovely to meet Ayano-san!
Norm you did Ayano-san proud and showed her beauty and passion. She is her own cottage industry. One of your best videos! You are showing human interest stories of Japan in a meaningful way. Well done.
Ever since I saw the first video I was waiting for the day you would revisit here and see Ayano san.
I can't find the right words to express but watching this just warms you up emotionally when contrasted against the backdrop of everything else going on right now.
It's great to see more recognition of this little place, I just hope that everyone who visits will respect it. It also makes me happy knowing that in my own fleeting moment on this spaceship, it was at the same time as wonderful people like Ayano san.
Thanks Norm.
P.S When's the next live?
Beautiful video.
Great to return and meet the maker. What a perfect way to capture the life and soul of a place. I hope she continues as long as possible, maybe she needs an apprentice. Sign me up. 😀
This is so lovely!
Makes me dream of going to Japan and visiting places like these like you do.
Thanks for sharing the experience with us, I hope the place gets lots of friendly visitors as a result!
Love all of your videos, but man did this one hit me right in the feels. Thank you for the work you do.
Thank you for being here and watching~
Awesome, a follow up on the old video!
Hope you enjoyed it!
Fantastic video, Norm! Ayano-san is such a lovely person.
Good to see that she is well and is carrying on creating these figures how she wants.
It would be interesting to know what the opinions are of the other people who are left in the village. Do they support her or do they just think she is odd?
I was so happy that she is doing so well~
everyone in the area loves it
her scarecrows are spread far and wide with schools bringing kids to her just to learn!
@@TokyoLens that's great!