
The rice planting season has wrapped up in Japan. Imperial Stormtroopers ensured everything went as planned.

[Photo: cinematoday_stf]
As noted on Japaaan and Game Over, the children were from a local nursery school in Aomori Prefecture, and they were enlisted for the day to help plant rice for rice paddy art.
This is actually a publicity stunt for the Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. The children were decked out in Star Wars t-shirts, and there was even one kid in a Darth Vader mask. With flowers.

[Photo: Disney Japan]
Heart. Melting.

[Photo: Cinema Today]
Best day out ever? Website Cinema Today has these delightful snaps.

[Photo: 2014kanida]
So this summer, when the rice grows tall, it should look like this:

[Photo: cinemtoday_stf]
Right now, it looks like this.

He’s pretty nice for a Stormtrooper.

[Photo: cinematoday_stf]
In case you missed it, you can check out more rice paddy art here and here.
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DISCUSSION
you know, in uzbekistan, if the kids don’t pick the cotton, they’re not allowed to go to school the next year. it’s state controlled child slave labor.
i wonder if japan similarly ‘incentivizes’ their little rice planters?