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'Snow Country' Region
-Yasunari Kawabata's 'Yukiguni' ('Snow Country') Japan's beloved novel is rooted here.-
Due to their geographical location,
Uonuma, Yuzawa, Tokamachi,
Tsunan in Niigata, Sakae in
Nagano and Minakami in Gunma
have the heaviest snow
accumulation in the country up to
six meters (18 ft). Spring, summer
and autumn in Japan's temperate
climate are present but over the
centuries local folks developed a
unique culture because of a
prolonged winter. |
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Life in 'Snow Country'
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Thatch roofed houses of the past, in
particular 'Nakamon-zukuri', farmer's
houses, were adapted to extremely heavy
snowfalls and built to connect the main
living quarters with the cattle and horse
shed and bathing facilities. In the past
half-century, new types of heavy snow
tolerant housing has gained popularity
including 'Rakusetsu-shiki' with a
pronounced steep roof for snow to slide
off easily and 'Taisetsu-shiki' with extra
strong pillar, beam and wall construction
calculated to support the weight of up to 3
meters of snow. Such homes are a wise
adaptation to six months of wintry weather
as is 'Yusetsu-shiki' that warms the rooftop
with solar batteries or heating oil to melt
snow as it falls thus preventing harmful
accumulations.
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* The area is isolated for several months with heavy accumulations of up to 5 or 6 meters of snow.
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Here local folks don't refer to 'Yuki-oroshi'
(getting the snow off) as in other snowy
areas of Japan but rather say, 'Yuki-hori'
meaning to 'dig the snow off' as they
dig and shovel the heavy, wet snow off
the roof. 'Kanjiki', Japanese style snowshoe
is ancient and essential footwear to get
about on snow and preventing falling off a
slippery roof. The shape and design of
'kanjiki' depend on the amount and quality
of snow along with the required usage.
Celebrating and planning the advent of
the New Year is the most looked forward to
and important festivity in 'Snow Country'
with the local citizenry. On 'koshogatsu'
(little New Year) a bevy of traditional snow
festivals such as 'kamakura' (snow hut) are
held in various locations to hope for an
abundant harvest in the coming year. The
local scenery turns into a dreamy, milky
white world with all of the landscape
cloaked in a blanket of pristine, sparkling
snow.
The vibrant, living culture of 'Snow Country'
is built around abundant and pure snow.
Attributable to global warming snow
accumulations have decreased in recent
years and a unique lifestyle is threatened - it
is vital to reverse this fearful trend to protect
cherished traditions.
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* Accumulations of snow has piled up as high as the lamppost light bulb. |
* The main floor of the house is below snow level and the inhabitant is pointing to the second floor.. |
* With so much deep snow on the roof, dwellers must dig to clear the roof and thus it's referred to as 'Yuki-hori'. |
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The Benefits of Snow
Heavy, abundant snowfall provides the essence of winter but also
contributes to the local specialties and lifestyle in 'Snow Country'
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| Premium Rice |
'Koshihikari' is a very popular variety of rice
cultivated throughout Japan for its delicious
texture and taste but the crop grown and
harvested in heavy snowy areas is most
highly reputed and traded at the most
expensive price. A primary reason resides in
the plentiful, clear snowmelt crucial to
producing delicious rice. Superior water quality and lots of it provides essential
water to rice paddies; in addition, the day to night temperature variations and
superior agricultural technology contribute to excellent 'Koshihikari' rice.
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| Locally Brewed Sake |
Closely related to the heavy annual snowfall in
Niigata Prefecture, the production of local sake is
reputed as being one of Japan's finest in quality.
Contributing a triple blessing, pure snow and high
quality rice along with cool ambient air contributes
to creating deep, pleasing flavorful sake. Along with
an unbeatable combination of know-how, superb,
locally brewed sakes are prized by 'jizake' lovers
across Japan as well as local fanciers.
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| Pickles |
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In a heavy, snowbound region locals found it expedient to pickle vegetables to
compensate for the lack of fresh vegetables in winter. 'Tsukemono' (pickles) were easily
kept fresh by preserving them outside with snow functioning as an efficient refrigerator.
Delicious pickle specialties made with vegetables and also local wild plants contribute
an important component to the daily diet of 'Snow Country' inhabitants.
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| Traditional Textile |
Weaving textiles has been a flourishing, ancient
and necessary traditional occupation in 'Snow
Country'. The process of weaving 'Asanuno' (hemp
cloth) was a long and wearisome task requiring
much patience. The process consisted of no less
than fifty different steps starting with splitting the
raw fiber using finger nails, then filature (spinning
into thread), followed by starching, creating
patterns, dying and yet more time consuming but
necessary steps before weaving a bolt of cloth using a loom, usually after two or
three months time of assiduous work.
The work still requires rinsing and exposing to
the snow for a natural bleaching action and final finishing touches before
becoming the final product prized as high quality fabric with
a fine texture for the creation of summer kimonos.
Also famous for unique elegance and grace are
'Tokamachi-orimono', 'Shiozawa-tsumugi',
'Akashi-chijimi' among other fabrics created
by this intricate process in this area.
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| The People of 'Snow Country' |
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 As others who live in remote areas, on
small islands or isolated mountainous
regions of the world, the local inhabitants
in 'Snow Country' have developed a
culture identity and unique sense of self.
Spending months in houses half buried in
snow, they intuitively allow nature to take
its predestined course until the inevitable
first day of spring shines once more upon
their cherished homes. Patience, fortitude
and resilience come naturally to these
hardy 'Snow Country' folks who better
than most understand nature's ways and
happily possess a gentle, sensitive heart to
cherish their pure, snowbound world.
* Patient 'Snow Country' folks understand nature's moods and posses a sensitive heart to cherish their snowbound world.
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Access to 'Snow Country' Region
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| * Black-and-white photos shown here were taken in 1950's. |
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