August is the month of the traditional Buddhist Obon festival. During this time, ancestral spirits return home for their annual visit from the netherworld to dance and celebrate, and families reunite in their hometowns to greet them and join in on the festivities.

But dancing with the ghost of great great grandma isn’t the only way the Japanese celebrate the season of spirits. Blood-curdling flicks flood the cinemas, Kabuki theaters revive traditional ghost plays, adrenaline-junkie teenagers test their courage with late-night trips to the local cemetery (I double-dog dare you!), and you can’t turn on the TV without catching a rerun of “The Haunting of Hanako-chan’s Toilet.”

Even though it’s still 2 months from Halloween, the ghost season has already started in Japan, and with so much paranormal activity going on, you’ve got to be ready. In this article, I’m gong to layout the basics of Japanese ghosts so you can be prepared for your next encounter with a supernatural (and possibly vengeful) spirit.

Ghosts Back in the Day

Kodama are harmless spirits who inhabit trees.

The word for ghost in Japanese, yuurei（幽霊), roughly translates into “dim spirit” or “faint soul.” It’s believed that stories of the supernatural were commonly shared in Japan even before documentation. The country is inundated with spine-chilling tales.

According to Haruo Suwa, a professor at Gakushiun Univeristy, the first recorded ghost stories date back to the Heian Period in the early eighth century. One of the first documented spirits appeared in the tenth century novel, “The Tale of Genji.” At this time, yuurei were considered to be harmless spirits. In fact, some believed that seeing one was a sign of good fortune (“Yes! I saw a wondering corpse! Today’s gonna be a good day.”)

While many Western religions believe in the existence of one, supreme deity, the ancient Japanese believed in omnipresent divinity. This included the idea that humans can transform into supernatural beings after death. So, while Western ghosts may be thought of as the shadow of one’s self, yuurei were believed to be like gods.

The humanoid form of a Kodama – a godlike spirit.

However, as the religious beliefs of Japan began to change, so did the ideas around the status of the human soul after death. With the spread of Buddhism, yuurei slowly became the manifestations of vengeful souls.

The Influence of Buddhism

The introduction of the concepts of heaven and hell, supernatural beasts, and reincarnation in Buddhism completely changed the face of the Japanese yuurei. Rumors of apparitions became more and more exaggerated and prevalent, inspiring a ghost story renaissance.

According to the Japanese beliefs of this era, every human possesses a reikon, or a soul. After a person dies, their soul goes through a form of purgatory where it waits to be released to its ancestors by means of a traditional Buddhist funeral ceremony. If all goes right, the person’s soul becomes a loving protector of the living family.

However, if the person dies in an sudden, unnatural manner, whether it be by suicide or murder, or if the proper burial ceremony is not preformed, the person is said to transform into a yuurei – a being which has the power to bridge the supernatural world and the physical world. A person may also become a yuurei if they are weighed down by overwhelming negative emotions such as hate, sorrow, or vengeance in their life, and that’s when things start to get scary.

While most yuurei don’t wander around, terrorizing every pet and small child in sight, they will haunt locations specifically tied to their negative emotions. In fact, there are several classifications of yuurei based upon the way they died and their reason for returning to Earth. They are:

Onryō: Vengeful ghosts who were wrong during their lifetimes and come back from purgatory for some pay back.

Ubume: The ghost of a mother who died in childbirth, or died leaving her children behind. Instead of bringing wrath, this yuurei brings sweets and longs to take care of her children.

Goryō: Ghosts of the aristocratic class, especially those who were martyred. Goryō are also mainly interested in vengeance.

Funayūrei: The ghosts of those who died at sea. These ghosts are said to have a scaly complexion – some might even resemble mermaids. Is the Little Mermaid a ghost? Must be.

Zashiki-warashi: The ghosts of children. These guys are often more mischievous than dangerous (like Peeves from Harry Potter).

Samurai Ghosts: The ghosts of soldiers who fell in battle, especially the Genpei war. Unlike most other yuurei, these ghosts usually have legs and are almost exclusively shown in Noh theater.

Seductress Ghosts: The ghost of a vengeful man or woman who comes back to start a post-death love affair with a human (as seen in Botan Dōrō).

One of the most famous ghost stories, or kaidan, in Japanese history is known as Yotsuya Kaidan. In this tale of revenge, a husband poisons his wife, Oiwa, out of longing to marry an affluent neighbor. Oiwa’s hair falls out, her face becomes disfigured, and she eventually dies, but not without coming back for revenge on her unsuspecting husband.

This eerie tale has been revived countless times in the theater and has become a timeless classic. Thanks to the magical powers of YouTube, you can watch the entire play here:

Now that you know the different kinds of yuurei, let’s take a look at how to identify them.

How to Identify a Yuurei

And it looks like we’ve got a ghost in the pitching position today.

The Japanese tradition of telling ghost stories hit its peak in the Edo era (1600-1868). Many ghost stories came from the Bunka-Bunsei period in the early 19th century, an era of creative decadence, as it became a traditional way to pass the hours on hot summer nights.

It was during this period that the image of a typical Japanese ghost was really solidified. Ghost-revelers and those in the arts alike started attributing certain physical characteristics to spirits, making it easier to distinguish humans from those of the next world. If you’re in a situation where you need to identify a ghost, look out for these features:

White clothing

Ghosts usually are depicted in white – a symbol of the white kimonos used in Edo era burial practices. White also happens to be the color of ritual purity in Shinto and was reserved for priests and the dead. Japanese ghosts might also have a white, triangular piece of fabric on their heads called a hitaikakushi.

Black hair

This is one of the most obvious trademarks of a Japanese ghost. A yuurei’s hair is usually long, black and disheveled. Traditionally Japanese women grew their hair out long and wore it up, but it was let down for a funeral ritual. Even in modern times ghosts are said to have this type of hair, and sometimes it even attacks!

Hands and Feet

Another feature of yuurei is that they have no feet. Instead of walking, they drift about supernaturally, arms extended and wrists limp (almost like a zombie). This image was first depict in Edo era Ukiyo-e prints and later adopted in kabuki theater. Actors would either wear long kimonos or be lifted into the air by a system of pulleys. I shouldn’t have to say this, but if someone is coming toward you in the dead of night and you notice they are lacking the appendages to do so with, you should be very skeptical.

Hitodama

Yuurei are often shown with a pair of floating flames or will o’ the wisps (hitodama) in colors such as blue, green, or purple. These flames look like little ghost friends, but they are actually separate parts of the spirit.

Ghosts in Modern Day

Although the concept of ghosts took a major turn with the introduction of Buddhism in Japan hundreds of years ago, most aspects of traditional ghost stories have stood the test of time. Even the ghost in “The Ring” looks like an accurate depiction of a traditional Japanese ghost.

Even so, the motivation for haunting and the appearance of ghosts has changed slightly at times as new issues have arisen with globalization and modernization. During World War II rumors of ghost soldiers could be heard about, and terrifying tales of radiated souls roaming the land weren’t uncommon.

These days ghost stories are often motivated by contemporary problems, such as violent incidents of suicide and murder in Japan. Another common theme is technology, as can be seen in “The Ring.” In general, ghosts have become more violent. The general rule of thumb these days is: the bloodier, the better. If buckets of blood aren’t involved, ghosts just aren’t scary it seems. More violence! Below is an example of a ghost story about suicide – a very real problem in contemporary Japan:

In short, ghosts keep getting scarier and scarier, and I don’t know about you, but that means I want them around less and less. This calls for an exorcism lesson.

Exorcism 101

So you’re in Japan and Hanako-chan won’t leave you alone in the toilet – what are you going to do? Call the Ghost Busters? I don’t think they fly internationally. Whip out the good ‘ol holy water and crucifix? Sorry, that doesn’t work in Japan.

Traditionally, the best way to keep a ghost at bay is with ofuda, or strips inscribed with Buddhist sutras, which are believed to chase evil spirits away. There are also some Shinto shrines that can perform purification rituals called ofurai that have the power to rid you of any bad omens.

But let’s be serious, people don’t believe in purification rituals anymore, and more effective methods have been discovered. A hot topic in Japan recently is the exorcising powers of Febreze. Yup, that’s right. You know that stuff your mom uses to keep the pizza roll odors fuming from your brother’s room at bay? That very same stuff can send a ghost straight into the netherworld, wishing it never decided to step foot back on Earth. No wonder it smells so fresh.

Febreze. Freshen the Air, Refresh Fabrics, Exorcise Linda Blair.

Don’t believe me? Try it out yourself. For only 1,980 yen, you can buy a Baketan 2, a ghost detector from Tokyo-based Solid Alliance Corp., find a ghost, and let them have it. No more worries about ghosts, spirits, or whatever you may call them.

Let me know if you’ve ever seen a ghost in Japan in comments section below. Or, share with us a scary story! I’m sure everyone would love to share in goose-bump inducing lore. If you’d like to check out some more ghost stories for yourself, you can do so here.

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Sources:
Japanese Ghosts: The Bloodier the Better
It’s Ghost Season in Japan – Who You Gonna Call?
Yūrei

Holiday Overload

Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays within a week. Instead of just giving people those four holidays off, many offices end up closing for about 7-10 days, giving their employees a full week of freedom. Even if they’re not given the whole week, many employees will just take time off anyway. The holiday week starts on April 29th and goes through May 5th.

Since everyone is pretty much free to do what they want during this time, many will take the opportunity to travel. Since everyone is traveling at the same time, places get pretty crowded and travel conditions can be less than ideal. Airports and train stations become flooded with more people than ever and reservations fill up fast. You need to plan way in advance for Golden Week.

AKB48 is here to help.

Unfortunately, Golden Week in Japan also brings a spike in suicides for whatever reason. Suicide hotlines are specially set up during this time in an attempt to prevent these sad and unnecessary deaths.

The four holidays that make up Golden week are exclusive to Japan, so they might not be all that familiar to you. Those holidays are Showa Day, Constitution Day, Greenery Day, and Children’s Day.

April 29th: Showa Day (Showa no Hi)

April 29th was the birthday of the Showa Emperor Hirohito who died in 1989. Until 2006, Greenery Day (see below) used to be celebrated on this day. The purpose of this holiday is to remind Japan of Hirohito’s 63 years of rule and the hardships they faced during those times. This means that the day is more for reflecting on Japan’s past than honoring Hirohito himself.

During his reign Japan saw the end of Taisho Democracy, the May 15th Incident, the February 26th Incident, the rise of Fascism, World War II, the post-war occupation, and Japan’s rise as a world power.

May 3rd: Constitution Day (Kenpo Kinenbi)

As you might have guessed, Constitution Day celebrates the Constitution of Japan. It has been a holiday since the Japanese constitution came into effect on May 3rd, 1947. On this day, Japan is called to reflect on democracy and government. Sounds like a party to me.

May 4th: Greenery Day (Midori no Hi)

This day is a celebration of nature. Japan is supposed to become more in tune with nature and thank mother earth for her many blessings on this day. This holiday indirectly acknowledges Emperor Akihito because he has a great love of plants. However, most people in Japan just see this as another day that keeps Golden Week going and are thankful for that.

May 5th: Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi)

Designated as a national holiday in 1948, Children’s Day is a day to celebrate children’s personalities and their general happiness. The festival is also celebrated in a handful of other Asian countries as well. It was originally just for boys, but has since been expanded to include girls too. The symbol of this day is the carp, and you’ll see many carp shaped flags flying around during this time.

The carp is part of a Chinese legend stating that when carp swim upstream they eventually become a dragon. The carp are said to represent the children swimming to adulthood and growing as human beings. When the carp flags flap in the wind, they look as if they are swimming.

My Personal Experiences With Golden Week

This street in Tokyo was so busy they had to close it off to cars.

When I was studying abroad in Japan, it was during the spring so we were all there during Golden Week. Fortunately my friends and I planned in advance, so traveling to Yokohama and Tokyo from Kobe wasn’t too much of a headache. Again, I highly recommend planning and booking things as far in advance as you can for this time of year in Japan if you decide to travel during it. You’ll be glad you did.

Now I’ve never been to Tokyo when it wasn’t Golden Week, but I never felt like any place was too crowded or like I missed out on anything or became overwhelmed because of it. I’m sure it’s a different story if you’re flying in or out of the country or don’t already have plans set up, but maybe we just got lucky.

Our lavish two person hostel in Yokohama. Yes, that is the whole room.

I didn’t really see anyone out and about actually “celebrating” any of the individual days comprising Golden Week, so I’m fairly confident that not too many Japanese people really take notice of the individual days and are just stoked to have an entire week off from work. Here’s what some of my friends currently living in Japan have to say about Golden Week.

Golden Week is a blessing and a curse. Sure the extra days off from work are great, but try to actually go anywhere and you’re going to have a bad time. I just use Golden Week to relax and recharge.

I went to the aquarium in Nagoya last Friday. Every restaurant in the city had lines out the door, even fast food places. The aquarium itself felt like it was going to be my final resting place as I was slowly consumed by the mass of Japanese people talking about how delicious the fish look.

And since Golden Week is such a hectic time for travel in Japan, I wouldn’t recommend going there at the end of April or beginning of May. Instead, you should look into Tofugu’s best times to visit Japan. Koichi knows best, after all.

So tell me, have you ever been in Japan during Golden Week? What are your personal experiences with it? Wish you had a week-long holiday in your home country? Let us know in the comments!

It’s only natural that these festivals are as popular as they are: there’s the shock value, of course, along with a good dose of point-and-laugh. But, to paraphrase Hashi, they have been done to death – and all this limelight-hogging means other Japanese festivals never get the attention and exposure they deserve.

So today I’m going to try and change the status quo. I’ve put together a list of a few lesser-known Japanese festivals; I hope you’ll find them interesting and spread the word.

Let’s get to it!

#1 Hetomato Festival (ヘトマト)

Where: Goto City, Fukue Island
When: The third Sunday of January
Why: Bumper crops, big catches of fish, prosperous offspring

Claim to fame: Certified important intangible folk culture asset

The Hetomato Festival is a curiously mishmashed little beastie. It’s basically a procession from one shrine to another, with a little bit of everything in between.

All the events during the festival appear completely unrelated, and any significance they have, whether singly or together, seem lost even to the locals. Ritual sumo matches? Check. A match of hanetsuki while standing atop sake casks? Check. Random guys running around and smearing charcoal on people? Check!

The highlight of the Hetomato Festival has to be the finale. A giant zouri slipper is shouldered by several men and the procession heads for Shiroyama Shrine. The fun bit? Girls and young women encountered along the way are heaved into the slipper and given a few good tosses before they are let go.

Recommended for: People who like variety.

#2 Kasedori Festival (カセ鳥)

Where: Kaminoyama City, Yamagata
When: February 11th
Why: Thriving business and safety from fire

This festival gets its name from the bird-shaped straw coats that the participants wear. Or at least they’re supposed to resemble birds, but I honestly just don’t see it.

Anyway, the Kasedori Festival dates all the way back to the Edo period, and used to be a type of New Year festival. For some reason, people stopped celebrating it in the late 1800s, but in 1959 it was revived and reinvented as a festival for thriving business and fire safety.

The heart of this festival is a procession that starts at Kaminoyama Castle and moves around the city. During the procession, the participants chant “Thriving business!” and “Beware of fire!” or break out into a distinctive kakkaka song. All the while, onlookers splash them with cold water – never mind that it’s the middle of winter!

Once the procession is over, there is celebratory sake all around, and the participants head off to an onsen for a well-deserved soak.

Recommended for: People with a sadistic streak.

#3 Marimo Festival (まりも祭り)

Where: Akan Lake, Hokkaido
When: October 8th-10th
Why: To conserve marimo

Claim to fame: Marimo are certified special natural monuments

Marimo are just round balls of algae – what makes them special is their rarity. It seems that the only significant natural colony left in the world is in Akan Lake, so not surprisingly, the official purpose attached to this festival is to conserve marimo.

Left: marimo at Akan Lake; Right: Marimokkori, Hokkaido’s marimo mascot.

The Marimo Festival is relatively new, and was held for the first time in 1950. It’s a three-day event, but the good stuff is on days two and three: several marimo are taken from Akan Lake, guarded overnight at the nearby Ainu village or kotan, and then returned to the lake. As you’ll see in the following video, there is an air of celebration throughout, with a lot of songs and traditional dances being performed:

Critics of this festival claim it was created just for tourism and money-making purposes, and I have to admit the nearby Ainu village does look kind of artificial: lots of souvenir shops, coffee shops and restaurants. But to be fair, all festivals and rituals were “just made up” at some stage, and I’m sure tourists drop coin at other festivals too.

Recommended for: Algae lovers and those interested in the Ainu.

#4 Hitori Zumo (一人相撲)

Where: Omi Island, Ehime
When: May 5th and September 9th
Why: Abundant harvest and giving thanks

All right, this one’s for all you mime fans out there. The name, literally “one person sumo,” says it all, really. Don’t confuse it with the yojijukugo though!

A sumo ring is set up on the grounds of Oyamazumi Shrine, and a lone sumo wrestler has a match with… air. Or ostensibly with with the spirit of the rice plant. It’s a three-bout match, and if the spirit wins two bouts, it promises that there will bumper crops for the year.

It looks like the sumo wrestler is giving it all he’s got, but say what you like, I still think it smells of match-fixing.

Recommended for: Mime enthusiasts.

#5 Paantu Festival (パーントゥ祭り)

Where: Miyako Island, Okinawa
When: Various times; depends on the location
Why: Ritual exorcism

Claim to fame: Certified important intangible folk culture asset

Once widespread throughout Okinawa, this festival now only survives on the remote Miyako Island for that selfsame reason. Not for too much longer, though – most women now prefer having jobs instead of becoming priestesses. So if you want to go, the time is now.

Some people believe this festival has its roots in Papua New Guinea because of the distinctive wooden mask with the slit eyes and long nose.

There are at least two locations on the island where the Paantu Festival is still held. In Hirara City, paantus are celebrated as the bringers of joy. In this version, the paantus are three young men covered in leafy vines and mud from a certain spring. They run amok getting mud on other people, and in doing so chase away any evil spirits that might be near.

In contrast, in the Ueno version of the Paantu Festival, the paantu is considered evil. Priestesses bedecked in palm leaves and armed with camphor sprigs shout, “Hoi, Hoi!” and ritualistically henpeck the paantu out of town.

Recommended for: People who don’t mind getting dirty.

I hope the five festivals I’ve covered in today’s post has piqued your interest for Japan’s lesser-known festivals. Which ones did you like? Which would you be interested in going to?

If you’ve attended one of these festivals, tell us what you thought about it in the comments! Or if there’s a festival you think I should have covered, let me know and maybe I’ll write about it in a future post.

※ Dates for some of these festivals are based on the lunar calendar.
※ Although natural colonies of marimo are rare, they are also sold in souvenir shops nowadays.

Though there are a few festivals that are celebrated across Japan, there are a few that are very regional, and very specific. But sometimes they’re so strange that they attract people from across the country or even across the world.

Metallic Genatalia

Where: Kanayama shrine, Kawasaki
When: First Sunday in April

Probably the most well-known of these festivals is the かなまら祭り, or “Festival of the Metal Penis” (talk about a mouthful!). I won’t go too far into detail about this festival, because it’s a topic that’s been beaten to death, and I don’t want to end up with a mess on my hands.

I thought it’s at least worth mentioning since it’s so widely covered in western media, though God forbid I play with this topic too much and end up stroking my own ego. Long story short, the festival is a mixed bag of symbolism, ranging from protection against STDs to various other protections and blessings.

Crying Sumo

Where: Various locations
When: Throughout the year

The premise of 泣き相撲, or Crying Sumo festivals held across Japan is somewhat baffling. Two sumo wrestlers are given a baby each and hold them in front of each other. People see which baby cries first and, following that, which baby cries louder. Shinto priests egg on the babies by making faces, noises, and putting on masks to provoke more tears.

Why is there a festival dedicated to upsetting children? Supposedly, there is a Japanese saying that goes “Crying babies grow fast.” Nothing to kick start your child’s growth like terrifying and upsetting them.

Why is Pomp and Circumstance playing in the background? Nobody knows.

At first, I was a bit skeptical about this festival. After all, it kinda seems mean to make all of these babies cry. But I suppose if the US can hold toddler beauty pageants, then a crying baby festival seems kind of tame in comparison.

Naked Festival

Where: Various locations
When: Throughout the year

Excuse the pun, but we covered naked festivals a few years back, but it doesn’t seem right to have a list of strange festivals without at least mentioning it.

Like Crying Sumo festivals, Japan’s naked festivals happen all around Japan at different times of the year. Men strip down to just a loincloth (although sometimes even less) and participate in purifying rituals. It involves touching a sacred object or person, with a lot of freezing, purifying water being thrown on participants and crowds alike.

Belly Button Festival

Where: Furano, Hokkaido
When: Late July

Smack in the middle of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the town of Furano decided years ago to create a festival to bring its people together. Festival organizers chose to celebrate something that was also positioned right in the middle: the belly button.

Thus was born 臍祭り, or the Belly Button Festival. Revelers paint faces on their stomachs and hide their heads under giant hats, making bizarre stomach people.

The highlight of the festival is, of course, the famous Belly Button Dance, but don’t miss other festival highlights like the baby crawling race and watermelon splitting competition.

This is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty more offbeat and niche Japanese festivals out there, and I’m sure that I’m missing a ton of them. If you’ve got one you think I should have covered, drop me a line and maybe in the future, I’ll be covering the next strange Japanese festival.

So What’s Up With The Log Riding?

Are those… legs sticking out?? D:

I first heard about this festival in high school (that’s a long time ago), and couldn’t believe my ears. “This sounds radical,” I probably said (we probably said “radical” a lot back then, I’m guessing). The more I read about it the more I wanted to go. I hope you get the same feeling when I tell you about Onbashira as well. This really is the greatest festival in Japan, I think.

There are actually two parts to this festival, and each part takes quite a bit of time (meaning you can party-hardy for a while if you get out here). Luckily for you and your primal side, both parts are pretty dangerous, I’d say. Let’s find out what they are.

Yamadashi

The yamadashi is the first part. This means “exiting the mountains” or “coming out the of the mountains.” This is where you cut down 16 previously chosen trees by hand using tools from the iron age, then drag them out of the mountains for ten kilometers until you get to the Suwa Grand Shrine. This involves a lot of people, ropes, dragging, and, of course, riding. When a slope gets steep enough (and muddy/slippery enough), a few lucky team members get chosen to sit on top of the log to have the ride of their lives. You know that ride at Disneyland with the log that goes down the waterfall? This is like that, but deadly.

That’s pretty insane, let’s watch another one. Skip to about 8:00 for this one, unless you like a lot of foreplay with your Onbashira.

I don’t think my mother would let me do this…

Each team spends approximately three days moving their 20,000 pound logs down the mountain. The goal is the Suwa Grand Shrine, where they will take these logs and replace the pillars at the four corners of the four main buildings. That brings us to the next part of the festival:

Satobiki

The satobiki is when they parade the logs through the village and to the Suwa Grand Shrine. There’s people on horses, people riding the logs, and people people people. Wow, there are a lot of people. That’s one of the main things this festival is known for, actually.

The idea is that by putting up new pillars every six years, the area around the shrine gets renewed spiritually (renewing and rebuilding things are both very Shinto).

Even the parading and erecting of pillars can be dangerous, too. Last time (2010), a rope snapped killing one person and injuring several others. Just when you think the terrifying part is done, too…

When all is said and done, though, you have yourself 16 new pillars and a bunch of happy people. This festival brings a ton of people to the Nagano area, which is awesome for people who enjoy traveling and cities that enjoy being traveled to. In fact, it’s one of the most famous festivals in Japan. No wonder half a million people made their way here in 2010.

The next onbashira festival won’t be until 2016 though, but I’m hoping to pop in for a look-see. Unfortunately, as someone who isn’t a Japanese citizen, I’m not allowed to participate in any log riding (booo). But, joining the festivities and checking out the finished product is something I can do, so maybe I’ll see you there.

Speaking of finished products…

Not all that amazing for all the fanfare, danger, and so on… but, I guess it’s the journey, not the destination, am I right?

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Not all of their festivals are conceptually odd.

It may surprise some of you that not all Japanese activities are way out there. Take for example, the さっぽろ雪祭り (さっぽろゆきまつり, Sapporo Snow Festival). The name itself sounds innocent enough, right? Innocent enough to be able to take the family or date to, at least.

What is the Snow Festival?

The Sapporo Snow Festival is held annually every February for a week in the Hokkaido city that brings you the oldest Japanese brand of premium beers, *drum roll* Sapporo.

Sapporo hanging out in Hokkaido. Japan’s fourth largest city.

If you have read my YukiGassen article, then you may have come to the conclusion that the Hokkaido area receives a hefty amount of snow every winter. You, sir and/or madam, are correct. With all the snow, art such as these are born.

Can you guess who this is?

Why settle for a commoner’s igloo when you can have a palace?

Check out the level of detail!

Before we dive into the details, let’s go through a brief history lesson of the festival.

When and how did it originate?

There must be something about Japanese high school students being very proactive. Similar to how YukiGassen started, the origins of the Sapporo Snow Festival began at Sapporo’s Odori Park, where in 1950, several high school students built snow statues.

Five years later, the festival’s first massive snow structure was built (by none other than the Japanese Self Defense Force). JSDF is Japan’s national military, for those who are unaware.

The festival began to see it’s international popularity skyrocket when the Winter Olympics came to town in 1972. Responding to the international recognition of the event, in 1974, the International Snow Sculpture Contest was born. Many teams of many nationalities joined the yearly festivities. Sapporo’s sister cities, Portland (OR, USA), Munich (Germany), Shenyang (China), Novosibirsk (Russia), and Daejeon (South Korea), are consistent participants of the contest.

63rd Annual Sapporo Snow Festival Poster

This year makes the Sapporo’s 63rd Snow Festival. And guess what? It’s happening this week!

Sapporo Snow Festival: Would you like to know more?

On average for the last five years, the event brings in over two million visitors. The last two years, numbers were nearing two-and-a-half million. This is quite an achievement, if you compare the number against Sapporo’s population of 1.9 million. That’s a paltry ~125% of the city’s population.

This year, 228 snow sculptures are expected to be on display. You may be asking yourself, “Is there even enough snow to go around? It can’t snow THAT much in one area out in boondocks Hokkaido.” Dear reader, thank you for asking the relevant questions.

Indeed, there is usually not enough snow in the event area to supply sculptures the needed snow. So what is the solution? Have the JSDF truck in the snow from outside the city.

Japanese Self Defense Force: Professional snow sculptures?

While it may seem to be not a good use of military resources, the JSDF does consider it a training exercise. So it’s a win-win for civilians and the military. Just how much snow is hauled into the city annually? Numbers for this year are estimated to be 6,500 five-ton truck loads. In other words, 32,500 metric tons of snow (29,500 tons, for our North American friends).

Personally, I would hire dekotoras to haul in the snow. Do it in style, am I right?

Dressed for the festivities!

The process of building a massive snow sculpture takes months of planning. To build the framework, haul the snow, and do the sculpting is usually done a month leading to the event. Click on the image below to see an animated timeline of the construction of one of these sculptures.

Click on Chopper to see an animated timeline of the construction of this sculpture.

This year, sixteen international teams are competing in the international snow sculpture event. The teams and their sculpture ideas are listed below.

India	Indonesia
Singapore	Sweden
Thailand	Chile
Daejeon (South Korea; Sister City)	New Zealand
Novosibirsk (Russia; Sister City)	Hawaii (USA)
Portland (Oregon, USA; Sister City)	Malaysia
Finland	Hong Kong
Lithuania

Additional details about each concept can be found on Sapporo’s Snow Festival event website.

Unlike the non-competition massive sculptures, the international teams only have four days to complete their creations. It’s great to see a lot of hot climate nations participating the event, especially Hawaii. Didn’t expect to see them on the list, but I guess Hawaiians can do sand sculptures, right?

Who are you all rooting for? There are a lot of interesting sculpture concepts, but I’ll be rooting for Tofugu’s home city, Portland. I have to say, Sweden’s concept got a chuckle out of me. It reminds me of the Trojan Horse, but in moose form. Better watch out Sapporo!