Rice Field Art of Ohtani Nears Peak Viewing Season

Jun 24, 2026 | News On Japan

IWATE - Rice field art depicting Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy is nearing its best viewing period in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Ohtani’s hometown.

The artwork shows Ohtani in a pitching pose, with Decoy clearly visible beside him. The project has been organized since 2008 by local residents around the rice field, who formed an executive committee to oversee the annual display.

The roughly 30-are rice field has been planted with colorful rice seedlings in shades including yellow, red and purple. Visitors can view the full design from an observation tower overlooking the field.

According to the executive committee, the artwork is usually at its best from early July to mid-August. During busy periods, about 2,000 people visit in a single day.

Source: TBS

Double Typhoons Near Japan as Typhoon No. 13 Set to Strike Okinawa

A large and strong Typhoon No. 13 is expected to strike Okinawa's main island on August 7, bringing destructive winds, torrential rain and widespread flight cancellations, while a newly formed Typhoon No. 15 could approach the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Kanto during the Obon holiday period.

Instant Houses Installed in Kumamoto Disaster Area

Requests for rapidly constructed "instant houses" are growing across areas of Kumamoto Prefecture devastated by the recent earthquake, providing air-conditioned temporary shelter for residents who have been sleeping in tents and vehicles beside their damaged homes.

Toyota Futuristic City Begins Recruiting Residents

Toyota Motor has begun recruiting residents of Shizuoka Prefecture to live in Woven City, its experimental community for developing future technologies, with about 25 households expected to move into the site for two years from March 2027.

Supermarket Becomes Lifeline for Quake-Stricken Kumamoto

Nine days after the Kumamoto earthquake, a supermarket in Hikawa, where the strongest seismic intensity of 7 was recorded, is moving toward reopening while providing free groundwater to residents as about 3,200 households remain without running water.

Japan Plans Stricter Permanent Residency Rules for Foreign Nationals

Japan's Immigration Services Agency on August 4 released draft guidelines that would tighten the requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency, including new income and pension standards designed to ensure applicants have economic conditions equal to or better than those of Japanese people.

MEDIA CHANNELS