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With a new "Star Wars" film coming out in December, you can imagine people around the world are excited. And Japan is no exception. With all the advertising and events happening, it can be hard to keep up with everything, but the current big "Star Wars" event in Japan has a distinctly cultural feel to it: Rice field art.
While you can find rice fields all over Japan, if you ever happen to find yourself in Aomori Prefecture’s Inakadate Village, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of some of the most unusual rice fields in the country: Rice field art. Called "tambo" art in Japanese, locals of all ages, from five to 85, get together every year to plant rice of various colors in specific patters to create illustrations, like the giant image of Mt Fuji in a field of rice we gawked over last year.
But this year’s rice-planting featured some very specials guests from a galaxy far, far away. However, the stormtroopers weren’t here to arrest, shoot, or even menace anyone! Instead they were guarding the rice planters.
The "tambo" art fields, which are created using rice in multiple colors planted in predetermined locations, draw up to 250,000 visitors a year. Not quite the same numbers as something like Tokyo Disneyland, but not bad for some rice fields.
This year’s "Star Wars" rice field art features a pair of well-known robots and a character from the new film. The art will cover an area of 154 meters by 69 meters.
In addition to the "Star Wars" rice field art, Inakadate Village will also be producing a field with art from "Gone With the Wind." Frankly, dear, we do give a damn! This should be really cool!
We’re betting there will be a ton of other cool Japanese "Star Wars" events in the near future. If you’re a fan of the franchise and Japan, now would be a great time to start planning your calendar.
Source: Tambo Art no Mura Inakadate
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© Japan Today
6 Comments
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Vernie Jefferies
I saw this special event where they were planting the rice field on the News. I can't wait to see the outcome when the rice is fully grown.
CGB Spender
All this Star Wars hype in the media and all kinds of otherwise unrelated commercial aspects gets a bit ridiculous now. I start to yawn when see yet another joe in a stormtrooper or Darth Vader costume. It was once cool for a moment but now it seems everyone wants to be like that.
harvey pekar
Let people have their fun! Millions of normal good-natured fun-loving people love cosplay and Star Wars. I say, wear your Vader mask, make your awesome rice art, and May the force be with you!
Bossu
Stormtroopers are the perfect allegory for the common salaryman. What better way for folks in Japan, who are expected to look and act the same in society, to cosplay as identical clone soldiers who wear identical getups to serve some massive institution (headed by an emperor)?
Nuiichi
I won't miss it!!!
Serrano
@CGB Spender
I find your lack of faith disturbing. Hee hee!