Marilyn Monroe in the Rice Fields
Marilyn Monroe in the Rice Fields Rice paddy art began in the early 1990s in Inakadate, Aomori, Japan. Inspired by crop circles to boost the local economy, the village has staged large‑scale rice art since 1993 with themes ranging from samurai to Mona Lisa, Napoleon, and even Doraemon—now a tourism icon drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Topics: Startup, Innovation.
Rice paddy art originated in the early 1990s in Inakadate, Minamitsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Inspired by crop circles and aimed at revitalizing the local economy through tourism, the village began creating large‑scale designs in 1993 and has since held a Rice Paddy Art Festival every July. The themes change annually and span a wide range, from famed Japanese samurai to the Mona Lisa and Napoleon, and even anime icons like Doraemon. Today, paddy art has become a calling card of Aomori tourism, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world each year and significantly boosting the local economy.
In 2010, Taiwan’s Taoyuan (Pingzhen District, Xinguiri) saw the emergence of colorful rice fields featuring patterns like a jet trail sketch and phrases such as “Love and Harmony” and “Together,” covering roughly three hectares. In November 2015, a giant “Tmall” image appeared in rice fields in Hualien, Taiwan. Tmall Global, under Alibaba Group, signed with farmers in Yuli to reserve 15 hectares of rice. More than 40 farmers transplanted seedlings over four days to grow a 0.6‑hectare Tmall logo in the fields.
In August 2012, a massive 150‑mu (approx. 10 hectares) rice paddy artwork titled “Seven‑Star Dragon Soaring” appeared in the Shenbei New District of Shenyang, Liaoning. Planning began in early 2011. The design used purple, yellow, and green varieties of rice. Through five stages—varietal selection, pattern design, surveying and positioning, seedling transplanting, and field management—the intricate rice field artwork took shape over roughly three months.
