Matt Bedford, Nagaro: Village of the Dolls (DOCO 2024)

In Japan, as it is in most nations, people seek to migrate to urban centres for better work opportunities and lifestyle. In Nagaro, a small village in the mountainous Tokushima prefecture in Shikoku, the population has dwindled down to around 20 people and in there place are dolls made to memorialise those that left, either by moving or passing. While the concept may sound a little creepy, there is a sense of whimsy about seeing it up close.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.