The “Thunder God” is alleged to be liable for Niigata’s distinctive local weather, the place figs, strawberries, grapes and different fruits of the gods develop
The 2024 Wara Artwork Competition in Niigata, Japan, options giant sculptures made out of rice straw, known as “wara,” created by Musashino Artwork College college students.
This yr’s sculptures are primarily based on legendary creatures from native folklore, together with a thunder god, wind god, cat yokai, spirit duck, and large snake. The competition, held yearly since 2008, transforms leftover rice straw into spectacular artwork and is open at Uwasekigata Park via October 31, 2024.
h/t: spoon&tamago
The “Nekomata,” a kind of cat yokai, stands in safety of the individuals of Niigata. Native folklore is stuffed with tales of cats, all of them vicious, however all loyal to those that deal with them with love, and mercilessly deal with those that don’t as prey
A “Spirit Duck” depicted, as native legend has it, therapeutic a damaged wing in a scorching spring
The “Wind God” is depicted right here having fun with Niigata sake and leaning again on an empty bottle
The “Giant Snake” has unimaginable energy over water and lubricates the land, typically to disastrous ends
