Cool Japan: Snow

 ■Cool Japan: Snow

NHK Cool Japan: "Snow" edition.

Approximately half of Japan's land area is subject to heavy snowfall.

It is rare for a country to have so much snow, especially in populated areas.

That's why there are so many cultures and ingenuity involved in living with snow.

"Big city"

Japan is one of the snowiest countries in the world, but because it is a small country, it is impossible to avoid it.

In some places, snow falls for as long as six months, from November to April.

Since ancient times, people have continued to use wisdom and ingenuity to find ways to live comfortably and enjoyably during the snowy season.

Snowball fights and snow huts. We had fun playing in the snow.

Even in cities, there is a long-standing culture of enjoying snow, such as snow viewing.

The book Edo Meisho Zue describes a snow-viewing banquet held at a high-class restaurant at Tomioka Hachiman Shrine in Fukagawa.

This culture of enjoying snow is surely what makes Japan, a snowy country, so appealing to foreigners, unlike anywhere else.

"Snow Removal Team"

Mastering snow removal. A truly Japanese style.

Not only Aomori Airport has White Impulse, but Akita Airport also has a snow removal team called Yuki Sentai Namahage.

Asahikawa Airport in Hokkaido also has a snow removal team, most of which is done by local farmers, providing an important source of income during the winter.

White Impulse also holds tours, and many people visit to see their tricks.

It also contributes to revitalizing the local community.

If we master snow removal, we can create new jobs and tourism, turning the severe heavy snowfall into an advantage.

"Japanese paper"

It whitens paper and cloth and sweetens vegetables.

This is wisdom and ingenuity that can only be discovered by living deeply in snow.

It was born out of a long relationship with harsh snow.

"Risetsu," which I introduced previously, is one of them.

Snow can be used for storage, as refrigeration energy, and for tourism and local development.

I'm familiar with snow.

I believe there is still a lot of potential hidden in Japan's snow.

I used to have the image that snowy countries were difficult and gloomy, but I feel like that has been turned around and is now becoming more interesting, more work-oriented and more positive.

I thought we might be able to discover more of the power that snow has.