It is autumn in Japan, which means it is time for the annual rice harvest.
Every year after harvesting, farmers make sure the rice straw known as wara, can be recycled into something useful instead of going to waste. The straw was used to make various daily goods such as tatami mats, but many of them have been replaced by wood and plastic.
In Niigata Prefecture, Northern Japan, the locals have a unique approach to recycle the rice straw.
It was back in 2006, when the local farming community reached out to Musashino Art University to seek guidance on re-using their excessive amount of rice straw to create something new. After going through some thoughts and discussions, they decided to create art in the form of sculpture made of straw.
In 2008, the first Wara Art Matsuri was held at Uwasekigata Park. And since then, art students come to Niigata every year to help design and build rice straw sculptures.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Niigata’s Wara Art Festival and to celebrate it, participants have built animal sculptures twice as large as previous years.
More information about Wara Art Festival can be found at: Niigata City Website (Japanese) | Facebook
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
Image credit: Wara Art Matsuri
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Wasabee is a content editor, digital marketer and art enthusiast. He is also a jazz and bossa lover.