SAPPORO—Organizers unveiled the upcoming Sapporo Snow Festival’s lineup of giant winter sculptures on Dec. 12 that will include a famous castle and a “Star Wars” creation.
A total of 210 snow and ice works of varying sizes will be displayed across the festival’s three main venues from Feb. 4 to 11.
One of the highlights is a large-scale re-creation of Aizu Tsuruga Castle in Fukushima Prefecture, underscoring the event’s tradition of blending cultural heritage with artistry.
The castle is one of five major snow sculptures to go up at the Odori venue. It will stand alongside works themed on Japan’s prehistoric era, Hokkaido’s famed thoroughbred horses, a historic hall at Hokkaido University and the latest “Star Wars” film.
Teams from the Ground Self-Defense Force, nonprofit organizations and local volunteers are tasked with creating these art pieces.
The GSDF has traditionally been responsible for creating two of the five giant snow sculptures at the festival. However, this will be scaled back to one starting in 2027 and the remaining piece is being entrusted to North Pacific Bank Ltd., according to the festival’s organizing committee.
The committee also addressed how to keep the festival afloat in the years to come as rising costs due to inflation and labor shortages have posed challenges.
Organizers are exploring new funding models, including seeking corporate sponsorships and requesting visitor donations, as well as developing new attractions to boost attendance.
Officials emphasized that rebranding and redefining the festival’s identity will be key to strengthening its appeal both domestically and internationally.
Detailed proposals are expected to be presented at a committee meeting next summer.
AloJapan.com