Inakadate relies on Tambo Art to attract visitors
Inakadate village is located in Tohoku region, Japan. Its economy is based mainly on agriculture and in particular the cultivation of rice which has existed in the region for more than 2000 years. To attract tourists to their town while honoring its history, the villagers have embarked on Tambo Art since 1993 or the art of rice paddies.
What is Tambo Art?
Tambo Art, the art of rice paddies, consists of transforming fields of rice cultivation into giant works of art. For this, a canvas is drawn on the ground and different varieties of rice are then planted to give the work its different colors. New varieties of rice have been developed specifically for Tambo Art in order to obtain specific colors. The work also takes shape thanks to the different lengths of the rice plants. A 22-meter tower was built in Inakadate to allow the view of the works in their entirety.
Inakadate's works
Initially, the works mainly represented traditional or classical figures such as samurai or landscapes. The works then evolved into more modern representations of manga heroes for example. In 2015, a tribute to the Star Wars saga was even made!
Tambo Art is so successful that it has won over other Japanese villages as well as China and France (in the Camargue). It must be said that this gives rise to unusual photos of great beauty!
