Using a strain of rice called Kodaimai the farmers in the town of Inakadate in the prefecture of Aomori create some fascinating works of art. I would call it the Japanese version of crop circles that we see here in the corn fields of America. Except this looks more like art and less like geometry.

I have always been fascinated how some folks will take the time in there live(s) to create something really beautiful and/or interesting even when the work to do so makes a difficult task more difficult, in this case rice farming.

I found these images and story(in English) at Pink Tentacle(interesting name). Many thanks. Oh; check out the story about fragrant pencil lead-seriously.