IWATE, June 26 — Rice paddy art featuring Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Otani and his beloved dog Dekopin appeared in his hometown of Oshu, Iwate Prefecture.
A rice paddy art committee of the Atoroi district in the city formed by local farmers created the image by planting different colored seedlings of seven rice varieties, including Yukiasobi, Beniasobi and Hitomebore, on a 30-are rice field.
Many fans — not only from across Japan but also from other countries such as the United States and South Korea — visit the district to see the rice paddy art from an observation platform nearby.
The average number of visitors per day reached roughly 300 in the past week, according to the committee.
The committee hopes the paddy art will help revitalize the area.
The best time to see it is until mid-July.
Rice paddy art of Shohei Ohtani and his dog Dekopin is shown in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture. PHOTO COURTESY OF JA IWATE FURUSATO