A giant snow sculpture inspired by Furukawa Memorial Hall, located on Hokkaido University’s Sapporo Campus, will appear at the 2026 Sapporo Snow Festival. Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the city’s most iconic winter events and will be held for eight days, from February 4 to February 11. Snow sculpture construction is currently underway throughout Odori Park.

Among the many snow sculptures displayed at the Odori Park, there are five large-scale sculptures in total, two of which are being created by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). The giant snow sculpture of Furukawa Memorial Hall, which will appear at Odori Park 7-chome (HBC square), is also being produced by JGSDF members. The massive sculpture will measure 22 meters wide and 12 meters high, and is built by a total of 130 personnel over a period of 28 days.

Behind the Snow Sculpture

The snow sculpture production is carried out as part of the JGSDF’s “field fortification training,” a long-standing training program focused on constructing defensive structures and protecting personnel in snowy environments. As part of this training, JGSDF units have been involved in snow sculpture construction in Sapporo for more than 70 years.

According to Kishinami of the JGSDF Northern Army System Signal Group, snow sculpture construction begins by piling up snow. “First, we create a snow mound roughly the same size as the final sculpture. Then we carve it down like a piece of sculpture,” he explains. “We also use what we call neriyuki (kneaded snow), which is clean snow brought from Nakayama Pass mixed with water. We then spread it over the surface to smooth out the walls before the carving begins.” 

The intricate details seen in the windows and entrance of Furukawa Memorial Hall are recreated by making small components separately and attaching them to the main structure. These components are produced using wooden molds, and the number of such parts exceeds 1,000. These detailed components are also made entirely by JGSDF members, and among those involved in the project, 10 personnel are responsible for drawing the plans and producing scale models.

Attention to Detail

One of the JGSDF personnel is Yuka Hatano, who is participating in snow sculpture production for the second year and has been involved in the project since the model-making stage. Her work highlights the level of precision required in snow sculpture production.

In addition to the Hall sculpture, the team is also creating a small snow sculpture of Dr. William S. Clark. The model is extremely small, with the face measuring only 2-3 millimeters. To recreate Dr. Clark’s deeply carved facial features, Hatano used a magnifying glass while working. 

This attention to detail is also reflected in the large sculpture. Since Furukawa Memorial Hall is symmetrical, precise measurements are essential throughout the process. Even minor inconsistencies can affect the structure’s overall balance, making careful measurement and verification a constant part of the work.

Originally from Sapporo, Hatano recalls being impressed by how the Hall preserves its historical design when she first saw it. “I’m very happy to be involved in creating a snow sculpture based on a historic local building,” she says with a smile. “We will do our best to recreate its fine details so visitors will be moved by it. Please look forward to it.”

Photos by Miho Nagao, PRC

Based on the original Japanese article by Ayumi Hasegawa, PRC
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