<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:0 none;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/kewlstuff/rice_paddy020.jpg" alt="rice paddy art" width="450" height="317" /></p>

A friend of mine has been living in Japan a couple of years and says these rice paddy art contests are brill. Every year, the rice fields of the Aamori perfecture town of Inakadate, host large scale art as part of the Japanese rice paddy festival.

<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border:0 none;" src="http://www.remain-silent.com/cm/kewlstuff/rice_paddy016.jpg" alt="rice paddy art" width="450" height="277" /></p>

The different colours are due to strategically planted different types of rice grains. An ingenious idea! Sort of reminds me of the creativity of the crop circles of yesteryear with the grace of cultural specific imagery.

<em>images via <a href="http://www.designboom.com">designboom</a></em>