In Japan, autumn is a rice harvest season and every year, farmers use the leftover rice straw, known as “wara,” to other purposes to make sure it does not go to waste.
From improving the soil to feeding the cattle, the straw has many uses. But in Niigata province, people have a creative way of using these residues by making enormous straw sculptures exhibited at Uwasekigata Park during its annual event called, Wara Art Festival.”
The structures are handcrafted out of wooden rods that serves as the spine of the sculpture and dried straw molded on the frame. It takes around 1 week to finish the installation. The project is a collaborative effort between the Local Tourism Council of Niigata City and students of Musashino Art University.
