Shiho Fujita, a Japanese fashion icon, holds rice stalks she harvested in a paddy in Ogata in the northeastern prefecture of Akita on Oct. 10, 2009. Fujita, clad in specially designed Edwin overalls, has encouraged women, including the fashion conscious, to give farming a try in a project called ''Agriculture Gal.'' Earlier in the day, when holding three packets of rice, Fujita commented, ''Rice is really heavy,'' but added, ''It's a weight to be thankful for, isn't it.'' (Kyodo)