Incredible Rice Paddy Art

Japan is known for anime and manga art, technological advancements in robotics, and beautiful and picturesque scenery. Cherry-blossom or hanami season brings in thousands of visitors each year to witness the splendor of the blossoming flowers. Bonsai is another  art form that focuses on the long-term practice of cultivating and shaping miniature trees that are grown in a container.

The Japanese can create amazing art in almost any form imaginable. Another art form that is uniquely Japanese is rice paddy art (田んぼアート tambo āto), where people plant various types of rice in different colors to create elaborate designs in a paddy field.

Inakadate Rice Paddy Art YouTube upload by Ronin Dave:

In 1993, the people of Inakadate, a village in Minamitsugaru District in Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan, were searching for a means to enliven their village. Archaeological explorations in the area gave rise to the realization that rice had been grown in Inakadate for over 2,000 years. The villagers thought of honoring their history by planting a rice field. They used four different types of heirloom and modern strains of rice to create breathtaking pictures in the rice paddies. For visitors to be able to view the entire image, a castle tower 22 meters high was erected at the village office.

For the first nine years, the farmers only created simple images of Mount Iwaki.  Over the years, more elaborate, complex, and modern designs have graced the site. In 2006, over 200,000 people came to witness the awe inspiring work of art. Other villages in Japan have also come to create their own tanbo art such as in the village of Yonezawa, in Yamagata prefecture.

Rice paddy art is just one of the many things to discover about Japan!