Author: Daisuke Ishizuka Aomori Prefecture is located at the top of mainland Japan. I once lived in Aomori for about a year for my business, and return once a year to see friends of mine there.

The village of Inakadate-mura in Aomori is famous for its tanbo art, which is large-scale artwork created in rice fields using different-colored rice. Inakadate has hosted annual tanbo art displays since 1993, which attendees can see from a 22 meter tall observation tower. Usually, the theme for the tanbo displays has been chosen from famous works of Japanese art or historical characters. But this summer the theme for the main stage was iconic female entertainers of Japan and U.S. with oiran -- the title for top courtesans in the Edo period -- and the Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe. After viewing the main stage I moved to the second stage to see more tanbo art. What I saw was a big surprise for me, because the theme of the second stage was Ultraman! Unfortunately, the observation tower for the second stage was not high so I could not photograph all of the art in one shot. I estimated the Ultraman tanbo art field was 400m wide, and it showed (from left side to right) the earth, Ultraman, Kanegon, Gyango, Pigmon, Alien Baltan and Tsuburaya Productions` 50th anniversary mark. Much of the original art and character designs for the first ULTRAMAN television series were created by the late Mr. Toru "Tohl" Narita. Mr. Narita was born in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, but his family moved to Aomori shortly after his birth so he called Aomori his home. The Ultraman tanbo art was done as a sign of respect for Mr. Narita from his homeland. The tanbo art will be displayed in Inakadate-mura until October.