Every autumn in Japan’s Niigata prefecture, massive straw creatures emerge from the fields and wander the evolving landscape. Art students transform the leftover straw, known as wara, from the rice harvest into colossal figures for the Wara Art Festival. Past festivals have showcased dragons, a bonsai-inspired tree, and the highly acclaimed maneki-neko, also referred to as the beckoning cat.

Currently on display at Uwasekigata Park, this year’s festival showcases the theme of Echigo no Umi, meaning Sea of Echigo. Numerous artworks depict marine creatures emerging from the water or soaring above its surface. These include an octopus with raised tentacles, diving dolphins, and a crested ibis which, as per Spoon & Tamago, is believed to have a symbiotic connection with the sea.

If you’re in Niigata, you can see the thatched beasts until the end of October.