Japanese rice field transformed into giant artwork

A rice field in northern Japan has got tourists flocking to it after being transformed into a giant artwork.

The scene is about the legend of Mount Fuji and has been created by artists using coloured rice plants.

The display has been made to commemorate the Mount Fuji's registration as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

From CBBC Newsround

Tanbo Art is made by using various types and colors of rice to create giant pictures in the rice fields. It started back in 1993 as a way to revitalize the rice village of Inakadate, in the area of Aomori. For the first nine years, the farmers created a simple picture of Mount Iwaki but the art has now evolved into more complex designs featuring popular characters that appeal to both kids and adults.

Every April, the villagers meet and decide what to plant for the year. They first sketch out the designs on computers and then sow seeds of the varying rice plants. This year, the huge images have crossed the island’s limits and feature a host of awesome designs, including the famous “Ushiwaka and his subordinate Benkei” and Mazinger Z.

From: http://inhabitat.com/giant-rice-paddy-art-flourish-in-japan/tanbo-art-giant-illustrations-rice-fields-japan-7/