Edit filter log

'{{primary sources|date=February 2018}} FUK OFF GAELEN U KUNT DON'T GET RID OF MY LINKS {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox recurring event |name=Sapporo Snow Festival |image=SapporoFestival8.JPG | imagesize = 300px |caption=Central Sapporo, 2007 |location=[[Sapporo]], Japan |years_active=1950–present |dates=February |genre=Snow Festival |website= {{URL|www.snowfes.com/english}} }} [[File:SapporoFestival6.JPG|right|thumb|]] [[File:US Navy 060209-N-7526R-205 Illuminated trees and ice sculptures line the streets leading up to Sapporo's TV Tower during the Sapporo Ice Festival.jpg|right|thumb|]] [[File:Sapporo Snow Festival Odori-Site At Night Panorama 1.jpg|right|thumb|]] The {{Nihongo|'''Sapporo Snow Festival'''|さっぽろ雪まつり|Sapporo Yuki-matsuri}} is a festival held annually in [[Sapporo]], Japan, over seven days in February. [[Odori Park]], [[Susukino]], and [[Tsudome]] are the main sites of the festival. This is one of the largest and most distinctive winter events.<ref>[http://www.snowfes.com/english/useinfo/history_e.html History of the Sapporo Snow Festival, English page] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.is/20120630021321/http://www.snowfes.com/english/useinfo/history_e.html |date=30 June 2012 }}</ref> In 2007 (57th Festival), about two million people visited Sapporo to see the hundreds of snow statues and ice sculptures at the Odori Park and Susukino sites, in central Sapporo, and at the Satoland site.<ref name=outline>[http://www.snowfes.com/contents/about/outline.html The outline of the Sapporo Snow Festival] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013201403/http://www.snowfes.com/contents/about/outline.html |date=13 October 2007 }}</ref> An International Snow Sculpture Contest has been held at the Odori Park site since 1974, and 14 teams from various regions of the world participated in 2008.<ref>[http://www.snowfes.com/english/contest/index.html International Snow Sculpture Contest, English page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513214048/http://www.snowfes.com/english/contest/index.html |date=13 May 2008 }}</ref> The subject of the statues varies and often features an event, famous building or person from the previous year. For example, in 2004, there were statues of [[Hideki Matsui]], the famous [[baseball]] player who at that time played for the [[New York Yankees]]. A number of stages made out of snow are also constructed and some events including musical performances are held. At the Satoland site, visitors can enjoy the long snow and ice slides as well as a huge maze made of snow. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of regional foods from all over [[Hokkaidō]] at the Odori Park and Satoland sites, such as fresh seafood, potatoes and corn, and fresh dairy products.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} Every year the number of statues displayed is around 400 in total.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} In 2007, there were 307 statues created at the [[Odori Park]] site, 32 at the Satoland site and 100 at the Susukino site. A good view of the creations can be had from the TV Tower at the Odori Park site.<ref name=outline/> ==History== The Snow Festival began as a one-day event in 1950, when six local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. In 1955 the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces]] from the nearby Makomanai base joined in and built the first massive [[snow sculpture]]s, for which the Snow Festival has now become famous. Several snow festivals existed in Sapporo prior to the Sapporo Snow Festival, however, all of these were suspended during [[World War II]].<ref name=history>Sapporo Board of Education. "''Sapporo Bunko No.47''" Hokkaidō News Bureau, 1998.</ref> On February 4, 1966, a flight from Sapporo to Tokyo [[All Nippon Airways Flight 60|crashed into Tokyo Bay]] killing all 126 passengers and 7 crew on board. Many of the passengers were returning to Tokyo after visiting the snow festival. Owing to the [[Energy crisis]] of 1974, snow statues were built using [[Drum (container)|drums]]. This was due to the shortage of gasoline caused by the crisis and many of the [[truck]]s used to carry snow to the site were unavailable. In the same year, the International Snow Statue Competition started and since that year many snow statues built by teams from other countries have featured; especially from [[sister cities]] of Sapporo such as [[Sapporo#Sister cities|Munich]].{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} In years when the accumulated snowfall is low, the Self-Defense Force, for whom participation is considered a training exercise, brings in snow from outside Sapporo. The Makomanai base, one of three main sites from 1965,<ref name=Yukimatsurihist>[http://www.snowfes.com/contents/about/history.html History of the Sapporo Snow Festival]</ref> hosted the largest sculptures, with an emphasis on providing play space for children. Use of the Makomanai site was suspended in 2005 and moved to the [[Sapporo Satoland]] site located in [[Higashi-ku, Sapporo|Higashi-ku]] from 2006. In 2009, the Satoland site was moved to the {{nihongo|Tsudome|つどーむ|Tsudōmu|[[Sapporo Community Dome]]}} site. The Tsudome, located close to the Sapporo Satoland, is a dome for multiple sports events.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} Nakajima Park was established as one of the festival sites in 1990. However, it was removed as a site in 1992.<ref name=history/> The third site, known as the {{nihongo|Susukino Ice Festival|すすきの氷の祭典|Susukino Kōri no Saiten}}, is situated in the night-life district of [[Susukino]] and includes predominantly ice carvings. The site was approved as one of the festival sites in 1983.<ref name=Yukimatsurihist/> Every year, the Susukino Queen of Ice, a female [[beauty contest]], is held at the site.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} ==See also== * [[Winter festival]] ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} {{en icon}} {{coord missing|Hokkaidō Prefecture}} [[Category:Higashi-ku, Sapporo]] [[Category:Chūō-ku, Sapporo]] [[Category:Winter festivals in Japan]] [[Category:Outdoor sculptures]] [[Category:Recurring events established in 1950]] [[Category:February events]] [[Category:Festivals in Hokkaido]] [[Category:1950 establishments in Japan]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Sapporo]]'