We visited the 59th Snow Festival in Sapporo in February 2008.
The snow festival is a big event in Japan. It is held annually during the first week of February. The planning for the sculptures begins much earlier. In the July of the previous year some ideas are requested from school children or the general public.
Each year several sculptures are dedicated to particular events or anniversaries. In 2008 the theme for the Snow Festival was freedom.
Two million people visit the snow festival every year. Thousands of people work in teams to create the gigantic snow sculptures that last for only one week. Some of the builders are amateurs but the majority of the builders are members of Japans self defense force.
The building of the sculptures is done over about 20 days prior to the opening of the festival. The short time spand means that the workers have to work long hours in freezing temperatures to complete the sculptures on time.
The snow festival is a big event in Japan. It is held annually during the first week of February. The planning for the sculptures begins much earlier. In the July of the previous year some ideas are requested from school children or the general public.
Each year several sculptures are dedicated to particular events or anniversaries. In 2008 the theme for the Snow Festival was freedom.
Two million people visit the snow festival every year. Thousands of people work in teams to create the gigantic snow sculptures that last for only one week. Some of the builders are amateurs but the majority of the builders are members of Japans self defense force.
The building of the sculptures is done over about 20 days prior to the opening of the festival. The short time spand means that the workers have to work long hours in freezing temperatures to complete the sculptures on time.
