Tanbo art (田んぼアート tanbo āto, also tambo āto) is a Japanese project in which people use rice of various types and colors to create a giant picture in rice fields.
In 1993, the people of Inakadate, Aomori
were looking for a way to revitalize their village. Archaeological
exploration led to a realization that rice had been grown in the area
for more than 2000 years.[1] To honor this history, the villagers started a rice field behind the town hall. With the paddy as a canvas, the villagers cultivated and used four different types[1]
of heirloom and modern strains of rice to create a giant picture in the
field. To allow viewing of the whole picture, a mock castle tower 22
meters high was erected at the village office.[1] In 2006, more than 200,000 people visited the village to see the art.[1]
Every April, the villagers meet and decide what to plant for the year.[1] Prior to planting, farmers sketch out the designs on computers to figure out where and how to plant the rice.[3] In 2007, 700 people helped plant rice.[1] In Inakadate, the fields used are approximately 15,000 square meters.[2] Agreements between landowners have allowed for larger pictures to be created.
Following Inakadate's example, other villages such as Yonezawa in Yamagata prefecture, have started to create their own tanbo art.[3]
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