The pandemic is causing Sapporo to reconsider holding this year's festival. It is expected to be canceled for the first time in history due to the recent coronavirus spikes in Hokkaido's biggest city. Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto told reporters on Thursday that "it may be difficult to set up the venue and hold it." (I have learned that Japanese people don't say "no", they say "it may be difficult".)
This will be the first time for the festival to be canceled since the first one was held in 1950. The city had already decided to scale down the event, but has been experiencing rising numbers of infections in recent weeks.
The mayor also said the city is exporing the possibility of holding an online event. I'm not sure how that would work. Maybe show snow sculptures from previous years? You can check out updates on the official Snow Festival website here.
I attended the festival every year when I lived in Hokkaido. Here are a few photos from back then.
The pandemic has turned the world upside down and changed so many other things. I think they should cancel the show to mark this. Then they can come back with an even more spectacular show in the coming years and 2021 will be outstanding in its own right.
It's really sad how many events need to be cancelled this year, but human lives are clearly more important than any of them. Hopefully the festival can resume next year!
Amazing images there.
ReplyDeleteThe pandemic has turned the world upside down and changed so many other things. I think they should cancel the show to mark this. Then they can come back with an even more spectacular show in the coming years and 2021 will be outstanding in its own right.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a year of crossing everything off the calendar. Amazing photos to look back on previous years! Love the ice Taj Mahal.
ReplyDeleteIt's really sad how many events need to be cancelled this year, but human lives are clearly more important than any of them. Hopefully the festival can resume next year!
ReplyDelete