SAITAMA – A giant Mona Lisa replica was created Sunday with 24,000 sembei rice crackers in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, successfully winning recognition as the world's largest mosaic made of the treat. In a bid to promote local specialty "Soka Sembei" abroad, some 200 residents from the city took part in the event from Saturday at a gymnasium. Using the sembei in seven different colors -- in flavors of soy sauce, matcha green tea, sugar and others -- the residents created the artwork to resemble the shade and shadow of the Renaissance masterpiece. The final pieces were placed Sunday by the mayor and others, finishing off a 13-meter-long, 9-meter-wide mosaic reproduction of the painting by Leonardo da Vinci. When officials from Guinness World Records certified it as a record, participants applauded.