The Scarecrow Festival or kakashi matsuri かかし祭 is usually best known as a custom of rice-producing Yamagata prefecture in Japan. It is, however, a popular festival with many villages elsewhere in the nation.

In Japan, scarecrows are placed in rice paddies to frighten away sparrows and other birds that come to eat the growing rice.

In addition to traditional one-legged scarecrows, there are also often scarecrow effigies satirizing politicians and scarecrow models of cartoon characters, these being quite popular.

It takes place in autumn from Sept. 8-16.  In 1981 a 21.8 meter scarecrow was created, making a new national record.

A great book to read for kids on this theme is Philip Pullman's "The Scarecrow and his servant" about a boy whose adventures begin with a turnip-headed scarescrow who comes to life after being struck by lightning.

To know more, refer to an interesting article on the scarescrow theme, entitled "The Great Scarescrow in Days Long Ago: Gothic Myths and Family Festivals, read it here.