Living in the Japanese countryside has many advantages, from access to the freshest produce to breathing clean air, but for many who love the big city, the slow-paced lifestyle and lack of attractions can make rural life quite boring.
But one Japanese man living in a town outside of Fukuoka in southern Japan is showing us life doesn’t have to be boring when you have access to several dozen scarecrows, old softball uniforms and an open rice field. Every November after the rice is harvested, he dresses scarecrows up as softball players and has them “play” a month-long game, keeping score the entire time.
Local scarecrow aficionado Shinji Kuboi first came up with the slightly unsettling idea when he came across 20 elementary school softball uniforms at the local community center that were about to be thrown away. And when the 63-year-old construction worker realized his friend would have an empty rice field after the harvest in November, he naturally came up with an idea to dress the scarecrows in the uniforms and move them around every day to make it look like they are playing a softball game, albeit very slowly. Kuboi even found mannequin heads to put on top of the scarecrows to give them that extra lifelike feeling.
▼ Because why wouldn’t you have creepy human-like scarecrows play softball in an empty field?
Photo: goo blogs (ozadesuyo1940)
▼ A closer look at the face of one of the softball scarecrows
Photo: goo blogs (ozadesuyo1940)
Kuboi’s scarecrow softball game has been going on in Iizuka City in Fukuoka Prefecture every November since 2012. Besides the players, he also has set up a cheering section for scarecrows to cheer on their favorite team. The display gained enough popularity that he got a donation of 10 more softball uniforms and has been able to increase the roster to 30 players.
▼ Clearly, 20 of these scarecrows were not filling the creepy quota for Iizuka City
Photo: Yahoo! Japan blogs (kwkt66)
▼ What they lack in noise and movement, these loyal sports fans make up in perseverance
Photo: Yahoo! Japan blogs (kwkt66)
▼ A tense moment on home plate
Photo: Yahoo! Japan blogs (kwkt66)
▼ The scoreboard for the month-long game
Photo: Yahoo! Japan blogs (kwkt66)
Locals seem to love the annual softball game, with some telling a local newspaper that they look forward to it every year. But we assume these are not the members of the community who pass by the scarecrows at night when, as many netizens noticed, the game takes on a slightly more frightening look.
▼ Don’t worry, it’s just a softball game in complete darkness between two teams of humanoid scarecrows in the middle of the night. Wait, did number 12 just move?
Photo: Twitter (aokijuntarou)
Kuboi said he’s glad to bring a little joy to his town, and has even proposed a scarecrow softball tournament with other cities. While this year’s game is now drawing to a close, start making plans to visit Iizuka next November as part of your tour to Fukuoka for a softball game you won’t forget.
Source: Nishi Nippon Shimbun, Hamsoku
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Disney selling ultra-premium backpacks for Japanese schoolkids exclusively inside its Tokyo parks
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Stunning central Japan wisteria festival is like a purple fantasy straight out of a Ghibli movie
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Disney selling ultra-premium backpacks for Japanese schoolkids exclusively inside its Tokyo parks
Ghibli Museum Attracts 10 Million Visitors
Japan’s favorite ramen chain is vanishing from Tokyo, but its ramen sauce ice cream is a must-try
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
Snorlax Bead Sofa is the awesomely cozy living room furniture every Pokémon fan needs【Photos】
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Ghibli Museum Attracts 10 Million Visitors
Japan’s favorite ramen chain is vanishing from Tokyo, but its ramen sauce ice cream is a must-try
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
Snorlax Bead Sofa is the awesomely cozy living room furniture every Pokémon fan needs【Photos】
Big Hero 6 Baymax Cafe opening in Tokyo with adorable food that’s good for you too【Photos】
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Who needs fast food? Tokyo restaurant has awesome cutlet lunch sets for less than five bucks
Japan Super Budget Dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Saizeriya?
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
Visiting Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 anime locations in real-life Hakone【Photos】
Studio Ghibli gives anime lovers a happy ending with new Whisper of the Heart music box