The village of Inakadate, Aomori Prefecture is hoping to drive tourism with a Star Wars-themed rice paddy. The image of R2-D2, C-3PO, and the newly introduced BB-8 take up a 1-hectare field. The varying colors are created using 11 varieties of rice.
Village leader Koyu Suzuki presented the art on Wednesday with the image’s artisans: local students that planted the rice in June. Storm Troopers were also on hand to oversee the proceedings.
The image will last until October when the rice is harvested.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens opens in theaters in December. The hype over the next installment knows no boundaries. A Japanese crowdfunding campaign to make official licensedukiyo-e prints of Darth Vader, the Battle of Hoth, and Queen Amidala has raised 12,798,000 yen (US$103,827) to date. Other ecent merchandise has gone back to Darth Vadar’s samurai roots with dolls and coins.
[Via The Japan Times]
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