In Inakadate, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, people will grow rice of different types and colors to create unique works of art in the field.
The art of growing rice is a unique Japanese technique. To make masterpieces in the field, farmers need to choose good rice and plant seeds of different colors. This art form originated in 1993 in Inakadate village, Aomori province, as a means to revive the regional economy.
Rice masterpieces were created in two areas of the village. The field covers nearly 1.5 hectares. It is 143 m long AND 103 m wide. Inspirations for creativity are great artwork, characters from Japanese folklore, and images from many popular anime films.
Each year, a different theme will be put forward for people to implement. The motif of 2017 is Japanese fairy tales and legends. In 2018, the art of growing rice was inspired by the scene in the world famous Roman Holiday film in the mid-20th century and the anime work of Japanese manga artist, Tezuka Osamu.
Variety of colorful trees will be prepared to create the ultimate artwork. Rice used is a combination of the standard type and ornamental plants from ancient times. 10 strains of rice will produce 7 colors, including green, yellow, yellow, dark purple, white, orange and red. After deciding on images, rough sketches are made and reviewed from many angles.
Based on the final design, different rice varieties were selected accordingly. Each color area in the image is arranged and aligned properly on the field and proceeds to sow rice. In early summer, mature trees and the work is now complete.
You can see the art of growing rice from about June to October. The ideal time to admire the picture with the most vivid colors is from July to August. Coming to Inakadate, you should also try Aomori’s unique cuisine with many delicious dishes such as Kenoshiru vegetarian soup, Ichogo-ni soup made with sea urchin and abalone, Jappa-Jiru cod fish hotpot, etc.
During the first nine years, the farmers created a simple picture of Mount Iwaki before coming up with more elaborate designs. On average, more than 350,000 people visit Inakadate every year to see the famous rice art. In order for visitors to admire the whole giant art painting, a 22 m high tower was erected nearby.