It seems that things have sure gone crazy with the world’s weather. From a Winter Olympics in 61-degree Russia to ice storms in the American South to floods brought on by torrential rains in England to a U.S. Eastern seaboard that has been slammed by one snowicane after another, it seems that Mother Nature is being a real bitch this winter. Here in California, the governor declared a drought emergency back in January, and then, last weekend, we got drenched by two straight days of heavy rain, and the forecast calls for more this weekend.
Why, even Tokyo got it’s first significant snowfall in 45 years as that city was hit hard by heavy snowstorms the past two weekends, causing chaos throughout the region and prompting Tokyoites to start referring to their city as Snowkyo. Snow fell hard in many other parts of Japan as well, and our blog friend Cocomino at Life In Kawagoe documented what it looked like in his neighborhood in his latest blog post.
They say that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well, it seems that when Mother Nature gives the Japanese snow, they make snow sculptures that are typically fun, clever, cute and incredibly imaginative, all the hallmarks of great Japanese creativity.
So of course this week the Internet and Twitter were all lit up with people posting pics of snow sculptures from various parts of Japan, and they’re so much fun that I really had to share! Whether you’re like me and living in a place where it never snows, or if you’re in my hometown of Philadelphia, digging out yet again, I hope you enjoy this gallery of really witty and ingenious snow art from Japan! Check it out after the jump!
Stephen Kelly Creative 
So many of those are very clever – couldn’t click ‘like’ on all of them, but love the penguins under the sun lamp!
yah, these are so cool … I like all of them, but the giant squid blows me away!!! Who thought of that? So clever!
I just can’t pick out one above the others…they are all so great
Hi jo … I know! it’s collection of snowy awesomeness!!!
Thanks for writing about my blog. Yes, we like making snow sculptures. I like Hachiko one. 🙂
You’re welcome, my friend! I really loved how you used garden tools for the arms and an empty planter as a hat. Like I said, really clever!!!
All are great! These sculptures are beautifully done! Then, I don’t know if Japanese make anything that is not detailed and beautiful 🙂
Hi Amy! Right? It came as no surprise that these would be richly creative and wildly imaginative!
Very creative and imaginative sculptures. Many seem to be of small, cute animals en masse, which makes me wonder if Japanese keep a lot of guinea pigs or mice or hamsters or something.
hi victoria … i know that the Japanese really love cats, but I’m not so sure about small rodents. perhaps it has something to do with the small, cramped Japanese living spaces. not sure, but some really fun, creative stuff!
These are so funny – especially when there’s still 4 feet of snow here and everyone seems to have lost their sense of humour in my neighbourhood…
Hi ideflex … thanks for the visit. i’m a transplanted philadelphian living in a city where it never snows, and I have to say that I sometimes miss a big, ol’ snowstorm. of course, it’s easy to say that from afar, but I know what you mean about the lack of humor. It’s nice to see that some people actually celebrate winter.
Snowstorms rule – they calm everything down…
Reblogged this on Swackhammer.
Cute snow sculptures! 😀 It’s really a pity that I live in a tropical country. I have never seen snow in person. 😦
well, hello rambling philosopher, and thanks for visiting.
i feel your pain, living in a region of the united states where it never, ever snows.
i grew up on the east coast where it snowed a lot, and it can be quite beautiful. sometimes i miss it!
Brilliant finds ….. it looks like Japan has got all our snow .. because we only had winter for 7 days total this year.
Amazing art … my pick has to be the little happy face on the balcony railing.