Last summer, Kotaku introduced some of Japan's amazing rice paddy art. And this summer? More amazing rice paddy art.
As mentioned before, dyes are not used to create "tanbo art" (田んぼアート) or "rice paddy art."
Farmers and volunteers, instead, use different types of rice strains to create the colors, with some leaves a bright green and others darker hues.
[Photo: smile77mad]
Each section of the rice paddy is roped off, so the farmers and their volunteers know which strain to plant where to create the right effect when the rice starts to grow.
[Photo: shiwamaro_kun]
Below, you can see how the rice paddy art of samurai Date Masamune has been growing over the past few months:
[Photo: chinchiko9]
[Photo: 23_yik]
Amazing, huh? And here are characters from popular anime Sazae-san:
[Photo: A_Takashiro]
[Photo: tsugirl_junne]
[Photo: potepotelong]
Earlier today, NHK reported how this year Mt. Fuji was portrayed in rice paddy as the mountain was recently recognized as a World Heritage Site. Next to Mt. Fuji is a celestial maiden from the Hagoromo legend.
[Photo: StHryk]
[Photo: potepotelong]
[Photo: StHryk]
These are so wonderful! Living works of art.
[Photo: 2NE1_feat_Me]
青森 田んぼアート見頃迎える [NHK]
Top photo: gorian877
To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.