The Wild and Wonderful World of Japanese ScarecrowsS

Across Japan, it's harvest time. In September, the rice turns a golden hue. The color—my favorite—is koganeiro (黄金色). Scarecrows stand watch over the rice fields. Most scarecrows in Japan are rather pedestrian—what you'd think a scarecrow would and should look like.


Then, there the ones that don't look anything like scarecrows, taking their look from anime characters, athletes, and even rock stars.

In the above gallery, many of the more elaborate scarecrows are from scarecrow festivals or contests throughout Japan, in which people show off their clever scarecrow creations to the delight of locals and visitors alike—especially kids.

The gallery also has a few scarecrows which were spotted hard at work in the fields.

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(Top photo: キニ速)
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