Image via Complex Original
lead
Eye-catching crop art has popped up across the rice fields of Japan. While the designs may look superimposed, they’re completely authentic. Created without dye or ink, farmers strategically plant different colored rice strains—yellows, purples and greens—to make the massive displays. Local volunteers typically plant the rice in the spring and as summer progresses, the intricate artwork emerges.
Check out 10 of the Coolest Examples of Japanese Rice Paddy Art.
10
10. Daikoku
The finest paddy art comes from the village of Inakadate, 600 miles north of Tokyo, where the tradition began (on a much smaller scale) in 1993 in an effort to draw tourists and revitalize the economy. Over 150,000 people now visit the small village of just 8,700 residents each summer to explore the agricultural artistry. This mural of Daikoku, the god of wealth in Japanese mythology, graced the fields of Inakadate in 2008. (Photo: dailyartfixx)
9
9. Ebisu
Rendered right next to Daikuku in 2008 was his son, Ebisu, the god of fishers and merchants, and for those in the countryside also the guardian of the rice fields. Father and child are two of the seven lucky gods of Japan, a group that’s popular in pictures and sculptures. Unlike here, where he’s riding a large fish, Ebisu is almost always pictured with the catch on his rod or under his arm. (Photo: gessato)
8
8. The Great Wave
In the 90’s and early 2000’s Inakadate farmers grew a simple design of a mountain each year. A 2005 agreement between landowners allowed for the creation of far larger works on more than 160,000 square feet of land. The Great Wave pictured here is a tribute to the famous woodblock print made by Japanese artist Hokusai. (Photo: hemmy.net)
7
7. Napoleon
Since 2008, designers in Inakadate and other villages that the tradition has recently spread to, have been able to use a computer program to plot their work, allowing for far more detailed designs. This image of Napoleon, who played a key role in modernizing Japanese troops, was created directly next to a mural of famed Japanese samurai Naoe Kanetsugu. (Photo: thisblogrules)
6
6. Naoe and Osen
While not the version of samurai Naoe mentioned in the last slide, this image of the young warrior and his wife appeared in Yonezawa, another spot known for its paddy art. A popular year-long television series on the Naoe and Osen was airing at the time this particular piece was created. (Photo: ezinemark)
5
5. Benkei
A legendary warrior-monk named Benkei, known for his loyalty and popular in kabuki plays, was featured on the fields adjacent to Inakadate’s town hall. Since rice paddy art is indistinguishable from the ground, local paddy patrons insist that visitors climb the village’s castle tower for a better view. (Photo: dailyartfixx)
4
4. Fujin and Raijin
Prior to planting the rice in May, a series of local meetings determine which images will grace the fields in a given summer. In 2006, Inakadate decided their two main fields would be dedicated to Fujin (left) and Raijin (right), the Shinto and mythological gods of lightning and thunder, respectively. Versions of these characters have appeared in several video games, including Street Fighter, Warcraft III and Final Fantasy. (Photo: thisblogrules)
3
3. Animals in Asahikawa
This group of cartoonish animals from 2010 was created in Ashahikawa, a city in Northern Japan that’s home to the country’s most esteemed zoo. The metropolis also holds a winter festival featuring large-scale snow sculptures every February. (Photo: pinktentacle)
2
2. Mona Lisa
Every once in a while rice field committees will choose an iconic image from outside Japanese mythology and culture. This Mona Lisa, made in 2003, was the first piece of paddy art Inakadate attempted on such a massive scale. While not as intricate or impressive as more recent pieces, the portrait was recreated without the help of a computer.
1
1. Ushiwakamaru
Also known as Minamoto no Yoshitsune, this 12th Century warrior is revered as one of the greatest fighters in the history of Japan. The young but skilled swordsman was featured in Inakadate in 2010 alongside the hulking Benkei, who he defeated in a legendary sword fight. (Photo: dailyartfixx)