Dog sleds have raced through a snow-covered field at a competition held in the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido.
The two-day event started on Saturday in the city of Fukagawa. It featured six types of races, and 30 teams from across the prefecture took part.
Some of the canines competing in the one-dog sled race went off the 500-meter course or stopped midway.
Spectators applauded the dog-and-human pairs who crossed the finish line.
One first-time participant said she is glad that her dog was able to complete the race.
The youngest entrant was a six-year-old boy. He won the two-dog sled event, following his victory in another dog sled race held in the prefecture last month.
The boy said he enjoys being pulled by dogs on a sled.
A spectator said she was impressed by the dogs’ power and that the races were fun to watch.
AloJapan.com