61st Tokamachi Snow Festival 第６１回十日町雪祭

More than one hundred people from the IUJ community piled in to buses, cars or trains on the third weekend of February to attend Tokamachi’s 61st Snow Festival. The Snow Festival in Tokamachi is not only one of the largest of its kind, second only to the Sapporo Snow Festival, but has the distinction of being the oldest snow festival still celebrated in all of Japan. This year the weather coordinated perfectly with the event, as there was steady snowfall throughout the Saturday event (of course, this wasn’t a happy coincidence to everyone).

Tokamachi, a town not far from Urasa that is well known throughout Japan for manufacturing very fine kimono, was filled in nearly every corner with snow sculptures large and small. The statues ranged from a precise, professional miniature of the snow stage, to tiny rudimentary snowmen made in plastic buckets with faces applied using spray paint. The subject matter varied as widely as the size, and the lineup featured different interpretations of the classic snowman, countless variations of the tiger honoring the current year, mascots commemorating the Vancouver Olympics, and even depictions of popular characters like Totoro, Hello Kitty, Chibi Maruko-chan and Anpanman! My personal favorite had to be the huge snow carvings of the temple guardians Agyō and Ungyō, laboriously wrenching a pair of doors, behind which a light was casting a warm glow. This sculpture had a truly magnificent presence, and the energy in the figures combined with the enticing glow of the light made it come alive! (The close second was definitely the Totoro mentioned earlier. He was perfect!)

Holiday Photopost Roundup

There are some very overdue photos I hadn’t gotten around to sharing yet! When Chris was here last December we had loads of fun! Here is some evidence of our shenanigans:

(Oh, and I dog-sat Yoyo too!)

Haiti Relief, Sweet Tea & Homesickness

I figure that at this point I can safely leave snow out of the titles – it kind of goes without saying by now, don’t you think?

Last week I joined a student organization called Global Concerns Forum to work on a campus-wide fundraiser to benefit the ongoing relief efforts in Haiti.  We’re currently raising money on campus, as well as planning a snow candle ceremony to wrap things up at the end of the week. More here and here.

(I’ve also assembled a few videos of heartbreaking footage for the sake of our fundraiser, so if you don’t know how badly Haitians need help, have a look – warning, graphic content)

Like some friends have said, it would be better if we would help our fellow man whenever we are able (John Wesley said it best).  But then if we at least help when the need is great, it is certainly better than never helping at all. I sincerely hope that everyone will provide whatever assistance they can. If you want to do your part and you are in need of some inspiration, take a look at google’s Haiti Crisis Response page.

Lately we’ve had some really gorgeous blue skies, and when coupled with the deep snow and the beautiful mountains I feel compelled to get outside. Sometimes when we take walks we use the snow to store our snacks or drinks in for a moment.

This weekend I managed to recycle a huge bag full of cans that I’ve collected over the past three or four months (keeping in character, some were rescued from trash bins). I’m also reusing some glass jars to store grains and dried beans in, as well as incense. And speaking of grains, I finally managed to try out the buckwheat and quinoa recipe that Donna gave me, in my rice cooker. It turned out wonderfully!! I also added a tiny bit of soy sauce and some chopped green onion. This may become my favorite breakfast.

School is going very well, although I’m busy. I am the closest to homesick that I think I’ve ever been in my life. I miss my family, and my cat. I really want one weekend to spend with my mom, drive to the store in my car, eat at a mexican restaraunt, and then watch some nice shows on demand together with Virgil curled up nearby. The closest thing I have found is eating my only box of macaroni and cheese and watching tv on my computer. Poor comparison, but hopefully I will get my fix in this department over the summer.

And, because it just would be the same on my blog this winter, here are some pictures of the lovely snow that is the IUJ student’s daily backdrop.

Winter in Urasa (a photo post)

Many photos taken in Urasa and on campus over the past two weeks. Rumor has it that the snow is going to end early this year, sometime in February instead of March. I’m not entirely convinced, but only time will tell.

(a view from my dorm)

(the sidewalk, nearly transformed into a tunnel)

(Urasa with blue skies as seen from the soba stall in the station.  This is basically the entire town.)

(someone’s bike)

(the view from Urasa)

(those rare blue skies allowed these trees to shed their frosting)

(a view from the bridge, down to the river)

おしまい