The Sankei Shimbun 
Sculpture-making begins at Odori Park in Sapporo on the afternoon of January 29.
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The much-anticipated Sapporo Snow Festival will run from February 4 to 11. Known for its impressive snow sculptures, the annual festival is held at Odori Park, Susukino, and Tsudome.
Ahead of the event, locals began creating snow sculptures at Odori Park on January 29.
200 Sculptures to Be Displayed
Despite relatively warm weather and little snow accumulation in the city, the event is expected to proceed without issues. The locals involved in the sculpture-making said they hoped many tourists would come to take photos with their creations.
According to the organizing committee, approximately 200 ice and snow sculptures are planned, with 80 of them created by Sapporo residents. These sculptures typically feature famous figures, including sports stars and anime characters.
This year, the exhibits will include a sculpture of Haruka Kitaguchi, who won a gold medal in women's javelin at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Amid heavy snowfall at Odori Park, company executive Jun Igarashi worked with his team on the creation of "Yabee Bear," a character he designed to promote the Hokkaido dialect. His sculpture of the character won second place in a voting contest in 2024. "This year, I want to win first place," Igarashi said.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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