Farmers and volunteers started planting rice on Saturday at terraced paddies on the coast of the Noto Peninsula, central Japan, which were hit by a powerful earthquake and torrential downpours last year.



The picturesque Shiroyone Senmaida in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which consists of small paddies along a slope overlooking the Sea of Japan, was heavily damaged by the quake and rain.



A group of farmers managing the paddies has been working to restore them.



About 100 volunteers from around Japan carefully planted seedlings of the Koshihikari variety with the farmers.



Wajima officials say rice will be planted this year on about 250 of the 1,000 paddies that have been restored.



A 44-year-old woman from Nara Prefecture said she took part because she wanted to help people in disaster-affected areas.



Shirao Tomokazu, who heads a group that manages the paddies, said he is grateful that so many volunteers came to help.



He said his group will continue to work to restore the paddies, so that people will get to see them in their original form.



The rice planting will continue till Sunday with harvesting planned for September.