Remember crop circles? Yes, those were cool until Japanese farmers came up with something much more creative.

The Japanese rice field art — or Tanbo Art (田んぼアート) — began in the village of Inakadate in Aomori prefecture in 1993 when a group of farmers transformed a rice field into a simple but gigantic picture of the local Iwaki Mountain.

Since then, every year new designs are created, attracting thousands of visitors from all parts of Japan. Another such venue with rice field art is located in the town of Yonezawa in northern Japan.

Rice is planted in different patterns using different types of rice that come in natural, chemical-free colors (purple, yellow, green, white and red).

Jesenska žetev v kraju Inakadate.

In this interview for thedoq.com, head of the town hall Takatoshi Asari says that the event began as a way to provide the experience of rice planting and harvesting by hand again, so that people could appreciate the crop and the process first-hand, since so much is now done with high-tech machines. What initially started as a 200 person event now draws as many as 1600 people during harvesting.

To the question about who decides the theme, Asari answers that the design is decided by the revitalization committee and adds that they don’t hire any specialists to do this. The rough drafts are drawn by one of the teachers at a local art school for the deaf.  Another villager then takes the drafts and creates computer CAD drawings with coordinates that are plotted over the rice field.

During the time when rice field art is visible, they get around 3000 visitors on the weekdays and about 6000 on the weekends.

Volunteers who come and help with planting and harvesting are provided 2 rice balls per person, made from last year’s harvest, a pork and vegetable miso soup and a coupon that can be redeemed for 2 kg of rice field art rice harvested earlier that year.

Asari also adds that they don’t have any intentions of using this event for advertising. Their view is that rice field art was not born to make money but to help develop and grow the village. They frequently receive offers from advertising and media companies to use an advertisement or logo in the design but they turn them all down.

People of Inakadate say that they will be more than willing to share their know-how and experience if some other farms or countries wanted to do some sort of similar rice paddy art.