As population declines, one village replaces young people with mannequins: ‘Puppets are few in number’

Less than 60 people live in the village of Ichinono, Japan. and the majority are past retirement age.Neighborhood residents placed handmade stuffed mannequins Recreate a once vibrant community.

According to data from the interior ministry, only one baby has been born in Ichinono in the last two decades.

The youngest member of the village is two-year-old Kuranosuke, who arrived in the village in 2021 with his parents Rie Kato (33) and Toshiki Kato (31). Due to the difficulties, the couple chose to move from Osaka to the countryside. the sense of community they found missing in the city.

The katos accurately reflect Ichinono’s youth, when she was encouraged by her parents to move to the city to pursue better educational, job, and then marriage opportunities. Young people moved to the cities but never returned.

“We were afraid they wouldn’t be able to get married if they were stuck in such a remote place. They went out and never came back, finding work elsewhere. “We are paying the price for it now,” said Hisayo Yamazaki, an 88-year-old widow. AFP.

“The puppets probably outnumber us,” he added.

The puppets, all handmade by local residents, are placed on swings or bicycles, positioned as if they were pushing a firewood cart or preparing to work in the fields; It’s an eerie replica of what families must have once done.

“If the village is left in its current state, the only thing waiting for us is destruction,” said Ichiro Sawayama, 74, chairman of Ichinono’s board of directors.

Ichinono is one of more than 20,000 communities. Japan where majority of residents are 65 and olderUnderlining the difficult task ahead of the country, rapidly falling birth rate.

Preliminary government data released earlier this year showed the number of babies born in Japan falling to a new record low for the eighth consecutive year in 2023. While the number of births decreased by 5.1 percent compared to the previous year to 758,631, the number of marriages also decreased by 5.1 percent. It decreased by 5.9 percent to 489,281.

In 2023, more than twice as many deaths as newborns were recorded in Japan.

This is the first time in 90 years that the number has fallen below 500,000, a sign that it will fall further. population Since out-of-wedlock births are rare in Japan.

“The falling birth rate is in a critical situation,” chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in February. “The next six years, until 2030, when the number of young people will decline rapidly, will be the last chance to reverse this trend.”

A falling birth rate leaves the island nation struggling with a shrinking workforce; This situation may have important consequences on the financing of retirement and health services, especially in line with the demands of the elderly. aging population continues to rise.

According to government data, as of September 15, 2023, approximately 36.23 million people in Japan were aged 65 or older. This represents a record-breaking 29.1 percent of the total population; This indicates an increase of 0.1 points compared to the previous year.

The statistics were released by Japan’s ministry of internal affairs on the eve of “Respect for the Elderly Day”, a public holiday celebrated in Japan on September 18.

According to projections by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Japan’s population will decline by nearly 30 percent to 87 million by 2070; Four out of every 10 people will be 65 or older.

government initiated various initiatives with combating the declining birth rateto contain financial incentives for couples having children, expanded child care facilities, and even State-backed dating app in Tokyo uses artificial intelligence to match singles.

Drop birth rates It is a growing problem in East Asia; neighbors South Korea and China face similar challenges; as they grapple with the rising cost of living and face the daunting task of motivating young individuals to have more children. increasing social discontent.

Last year, South Korea set a new record. lowest fertility rate in the worldduring China’s population has decreased At the beginning of this year for the first time since the early 1960s.

As Japan’s government tries to find a way out of the crisis, the Katos in Ichinono don’t seem too concerned about their son’s lack of a playmate.

While the headman of the village described the little boy as “our pride”, Yamazaki said that he was “almost my great grandchild, a very sweet thing”.

“Even though our son has yet to achieve anything in life, by being born here he benefits from the love, support and hope of so many people,” said his father, Toshiki.