It's fall in Japan. And like every fall, rice is harvested, leaving behind straw to be hung and dried. In some rural areas, though, the rice straw has a special use: Making giant beasts.
Kagawa Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture have the most famous "straw art festivals," which are large straw sculpture displays.
Traditionally, straw was used to thatch roofs. In much the same manner, these straw sculptures are thatched around wooden frames. But instead of roofs, enormous dinosaurs, bugs, and much, much more are created.
The rice straw sculptures sure make a nice seasonal bookend with Japan's rice paddy art.
Photos: Asahi, くりりん３, 稲わらアート, hat*im*3のブログ, 三鷹の一日, たろーちゃんGoodですよ, Niigata City, Niigata Story, こへび隊活動日誌, Niigata City, Niigata Photo Blog, Honzu World, 新潟風景彩選, Niigata Photo Blog, fujikoの散歩道, 123ikko
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