One would assume that a place known solely for growing rice would have little else to offer, but a town in Japan shows the world that’s not the case.
The people living in Inakadate have been cultivating rice for over 2,000 years, and up until 1993, it was the only thing they were known for. In order to garner public attention and tourism, the townspeople decided to use their ample supply of rice stalks to create art.
Known as Tanbo, or paddy art, rice stalks genetically engineered to produce different colors are used. Computer models map out where stakes should go that will guide what color should be planted where.
The outcome is an intricate piece of football field-sized artwork that changes annually. The paddies cost around $35,000 a year and over, over 1,000 volunteers help create and maintain them.
A small observation deck is on the edge of the fields, offering around 200,000 visitors a year a glimpse of the elaborate artwork. Other towns within Japan have also begun creating the paddy art, although none are as complex as Inakadate’s.
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