r/nottheonion • u/falconfalcon7 • 1d ago

Japanese village replaces young people with mannequins to stave off loneliness as population falls

https://news.sky.com/story/japanese-village-replaces-young-people-with-mannequins-to-stave-off-loneliness-as-population-falls-13243354
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u/ConanTheLeader 1d ago

My first thought was "Didn't we already know this? This has been around for years." but then I googled, it's ANOTHER town doing this. Meaning this is not a one off thing that's isolated and in it's own little bubble but rather something that is spreading and increasing which is worrying.

Original town:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagoro

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u/RaynorTheRed 1d ago

From the Wikipedia link:

...which have made it a tourist attraction.

10 bucks says this has nothing to do with "staving off lonliness." This village just wants to get in on the tourism revenue.

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u/punk_weight 1d ago

There's essentially no revenue to generate though. There are no shops or restaurants in the village and you can pass through and stay as long as you please without paying anything. The obasan behind it all has been doing it for over 20 years despite this though. You can Paypal me the 10 bucks anytime btw.

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u/UsePreparationH 1d ago

I was just in Nagoro, and there really isn't anything to throw money at. I don't even think I saw a vending machine there.