大雪像 凱旋門 / Large snow sculpture: The Arc de Triomphe in Paris

大雪像 凱旋門
羅馬帝國時代以後，各式各樣的凱旋門在歐洲全處興建，但世界上最有名的凱旋門仍然是法國·巴黎的雄獅凱旋門。而純種賽馬和騎手的雪像則是以法國賽馬的凱旋門奬項為設計概念。這個雪像包含著想在著名的馬產地-北海道生產出能在世界最高峰的比賽中獲勝的純種馬的願望。

Large snow sculpture: The Arc de Triomphe in Paris
Since the Ancient Roman Era, a variety of triumphal arches have been built throughout in Europe. However, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, is the most famous. Also, the snow sculptures of a horse and jockey refer to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which is one of the biggest horse races in the world, and is held every year in France. Hokkaido is well known as a good place for thoroughbred breeding. A Japanese horse is favored to win the French race. The sponsor of this big snow sculpture is the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

大雪像 興福寺中金堂 / Large snow sculpture: The Central Golden Hall of Kohfukuji Temple

大雪像 興福寺中金堂
興福寺的中金堂是由構築日本的法治政治基礎的藤原不比等（Fuziwara Fuhito)於西元710年，下令在奈良（當時的首都）所建造的。中金堂雖然是貴重的寺院但歷史上曾反覆7次被銷毀又重建。在1717年的銷毀後有好長一段時間都沒有重建。然而，在2000年時開始重建工程，目標為於2018年落成。

Large snow sculpture: The Central Golden Hall of Kohfukuji Temple
The Central Golden Hall of Kohfukuji Temple was built in 710 in Nara, the capital city at that time. This was under the order of Fuhito Fujiwara, who set up the basis of Japan’s first political system under the sovereignty of rational laws and civic rights. The Central Golden Hall was the most important cathedral of the three for trainee monks, but it burned down seven times and was reconstructed each time. After 1717, the reconstruction work didn’t start for a long time. However, the project to reconstruct the central golden hall started in 2000, and will finish in 2018.

大雪像 星際大戰 / Large snow sculpture: Star Wars

大雪像 星際大戰
2017年是著名科幻電影「星際大戰四部曲：曙光乍現」全美公開上映40週年。在12月時全球影迷引頸期盼的新作品的也搶先曝光。為了電影的周年紀念，決定重新製作在2015年札幌雪祭也有展出的「星際大戰」系列的大雪像。

Large snow sculpture: Star Wars
Everyone can agree that Star Wars is one of the most famous and popular science fiction series. The first film of the Star Wars series was "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope" and this was on a road show throughout in U.S.A. 40 years ago. To celebrate the 40th anniversary, a big snow sculpture featuring the Star Wars characters has been built. Also, in December 2017, the new film is going to be released, and fans are looking forward to seeing it. As for Sapporo Snow Festival, a big Star Wars snow sculpture was built in 2015, so 2017 is the second time.

大冰雕 台北賓館 / Large ice sculpture: Taipei Guest House

大冰雕 台北賓館
台北賓館是在1901年所完成的建築物，位在台北市中心。建築物的設計有多位日本人參與。台北賓館作為迎賓館來使用因此設計上使用十分華麗的裝飾。外觀雖然採用西洋式但庭院為日本風格。有很長一段時間不公開對外參觀，但從2006年開始每月一次也開放給一般民眾參觀。至今台北賓館仍作為台灣的迎賓館來擔當重任。

Large ice sculpture: Taipei Guest House
Taipei Guest House, located in the central area in Taipei, is a historical building which was completed in 1901. A number of Japanese men worked on the construction design. Impressive decorations were applied on the exterior walls as this building was built as a reception hall for VIPs from abroad. The exterior design has a Western style, but the interior garden is like a Japanese garden. The building is usually closed to the public, but it admits visitors once a month to have a look inside. This historical building is still used as a reception hall for VIPs who visit Taiwan.

大雪像 Totto 商店街 / Large snow sculpture: Totto Shopping Street

大雪像 Totto 商店街
以黑柳徹子所扮演的天女抱著位在架空的商店街中的街頭電視機為設計主軸。在1950年代，電視機因為十分貴重因此在街頭設置街坊共用的電視機。黑柳女士在日本是從電視開始播放到現今也活躍在螢光幕上的著名人士。這是一個可以傳達到電視歷史的作品。此作品是預計在2017年8月～10月所舉辦的札幌國際藝術祭的相關作品。

Large snow sculpture: Totto Shopping Street
Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, wearing a heavenly maiden costume and holding a television in her arms, is featured at the corner of an imaginary shopping street. She is known in Japan as a first actress in TV dramas. She is now over eighty, but she still actively appears on television. In the 1950s, television was so expensive and was only for high class people. Common people enjoyed watching public TV. Through this large snow sculpture, the history of television is presented. This is also related to the theme of Sapporo International Art Festival 2017 - which runs from August to October.

大雪像 決戰！雪之最終幻想 / Large snow sculpture: A final battle on snow - Final Fantasy

大雪像 決戰！雪之最終幻想
最終幻想（台港電玩業者舊譯成太空戰士）是約在20年前開始販售，至今為止全世界累積販售數量超過11,00萬套的超熱門遊戲軟體。以再生和創造為主題，使用最新的音響系統來演繹敬畏著大地，與破壞自然的科學戰鬥，保護新生命的誕生等故事。

Large snow sculpture: A final battle on snow - Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is a role-playing video game series which was first released about twenty years ago. It became a world-wide hit and more than eleven million copies have been sold. The main theme of this snow sculpture is rebirth and creation. A story of "respecting Mother Earth, fighting against science and technology which can sometimes destroy nature, and protecting birth as new life" is played via the most up-to-date acoustic system, which has never used in Sapporo Snow Festival before.

大冰雕「鯨魚之家」/ Large ice sculpture: Whale Home

大冰雕「鯨魚之家」
募集北海道內的小學生自身所描繪的「夢想之家」，總共收集了444件徵選作品。被選出最優秀的作品就是「鯨魚之家」。鯨魚形狀的家是可以操縱移動的。可以邊在海中遊走邊露營。背部上的樹木會結出很多蘋果的果實。

Large ice sculpture: Whale Home
This design was decided via the "Dream House" design competition. The concept was for elementary school students throughout Hokkaido to design an ideal, imaginary house. The winner, out of 444 entries was Whale Home. The shape of the house is a whale as the title indicates, and it is possible to navigate this house and move it anywhere. Even camping in the sea is possible with the house moving in the sea as if it was swimming. On the back of the whale, there is a tree and apples come out like the whale is blowing its spout.

亞洲冬季運動會 / The Asian Winter Games

亞洲冬季運動會是從1986年以後幾乎每四年舉行一次。2017年在札幌舉辦，總共有31個國家和地區參加比賽。比賽期間為2月19日到26日，也有可以免費參觀的競賽。詳細資訊請參考官方網站，只有競速滑冰在帶廣市舉行（免費參觀）。




The Asian Winter Games are held nearly once every four years; depending on the organizational situation. This is a huge winter sports extravaganza. The first Games were in Sapporo in 1986. This year, the eighth games are being held in Sapporo, following the seventh in Kazakhstan in 2011. 31 countries will take part in the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games. Eleven events encompassing five sports are held mainly in Sapporo from February 19 to February 26. There are some events which people can watch free of charge. Details are on the official website (https://sapporo2017.org). Only the speed skating is held in Obihiro City, and anyone can enjoy watching it for free.

昆布 / Kombu

北海道生產的昆布因品質高而著名，其歷史十分悠久。在13世紀時，由阿伊努民族所採收的昆布被運送到當時的首都-京都，成為了宮廷中和武士的珍寶。到17世紀以後昆布成為庶民都可以獲得的物品，擴大它的消費量。近年來養殖昆布也很盛行。北海道生產昆布第一名的是函館市，其次是根室市、Erimo町、浜中町、厚岸町。

Hokkaido is famous for kombu, or kelp in English. Kombu contains glutamic acid and has a good flavor. The history of kombu harvesting is long. In the 13th century, kombu which the Ainu , Hokkaido's indigenous people, collected  was sent to Kyoto, the capital city at that time for the high-class people. After the 17th century, kombu became popular among all citizens, and consumption increased. Now, kombu farming in the sea is commonplace. The top production locationn in Hokkaido is Hakodate City. The next four largest, in order, are Nemuro City, Erimo Town, Hamanaka Town, and Akkeshi Town.

冬季祭典 / Winter festivals

從1月到2月這段期間北海道各地都會舉辦冬季祭典。除了在各個祭典當中可以看到雪雕和冰雕之外，也會舉辦冬季特有的活動。在這些冬季祭典當中，也可以看到販賣當地著名料理的店家。預計於˙二月上旬舉辦的「札幌雪祭」是規模最大而且最著名的祭典，新年過後就開始準備製作大型的雪雕像。

Throughout January and February, many local winter festivals are held in Hokkaido. Each festival is unique but most of them pertain to making snow or ice sculptures or structures. Interesting and unique events on snow are held as festivals mostly. Also, temporary food stands selling local specialty foods are highlights at the events. In Hokkaido, the Sapporo Snow Festival, which is held in the beginning of February every year, is the biggest winter festival and is world famous. For this snow festival, preparations for big snow or ice sculptures start from soon after the New Year holidays.

1月上旬的札幌 / In Sapporo at the beginning of January

1月上旬的札幌的一日當中的最高氣溫在0度以下的日子很多。最高氣溫在0度以下的日子日文被稱作真冬日。在20～30年前雖然無法想像，可能是因為近幾年地球暖化的影響，冬季極少數有幾天最高氣溫是在零度以上的。札幌的1月最低氣溫約在負5度～負10度之間。1月1日～5日新年假期期間休息的店家也很多。

In Sapporo at the beginning of January, the highest temperature during the day is almost always below zero. If the highest temperature is below zero, the day is called Mafuyubi in Japanese, which literally means mid-winter day. About 20 to 30 years ago, highest temperatures above zero during a day were rare. In recent years though, it's more common. This is probably because of global warming. The lowest temperature can fall to -5 to -10 degrees. Shops, except for supermarkets and department stores, usually close from January 1st to 5th over the New Year holidays in Japan.

元旦日出 / Hatsuhinode

元旦日出是指在元旦（1月1日）早晨迎接天明的太陽。在日本新的一年一開始最初的日出被認為是十分吉利的，專程去看元旦日出的人也非常的多。北海道內有名的元旦日出觀賞景點有好幾個，室蘭市的地球岬就是其中之一。從水平線緩緩上升的太陽是受到歡迎的理由。元旦日出也是當地新聞報導的王道題材。

Hatsuhinode is the sunrise on New Year's Day, called ganjitsu in Japanese. "Hatsu" means the first and "hinode" means the sunrise. In Japan, hatsuhinode is regarded to be a happy and lucky thing, as the sun has been worshipped since ancient ages. It is popular to see hatsuhinode in Japan, and there are some famous spots in Hokkaido. Cape Chikyu in Muroran City is one of them. Chikyu means the earth. Here, it is possible to see the sun rise over the horizon of the sea. Hatsuhinode at Cape Chikyu is typically broadcast on Hokkaido's local news on TV.

日勝隘口 / Nisshou Pass

日勝隘口是位在日高町和清水町界線的隘口。夏天多霧，冬天降雪，一旦路面結冰行駛的道路狀況就會變得很危險，但它是連結札幌所在地的道央地區和帶廣、釧路所在地的道東地區的道路要衝。2016年8月30日因颱風來襲，造成日勝隘口路面崩塌、橋樑中斷。以2017年秋季搶修完成為目標目前還在施工中。因此作為替代道路的高速公路從占冠到音更帶廣這一區間是不收過路費的。

Nisshou Pass is between Hidaka Town and Shimizu Town, and is the border between them. As driving conditions are difficult due to dense fog in summer, and snow and ice on the road in winter, drivers have to be careful. This pass is important for transportation, connecting the Douou area (including Sapporo), and the Doutou area (including Obihiro and Kushiro). On August 30, 2016, a big typhoon hit, with landslides, road damage and bridge collapses occurring. As of December, 2016, construction work is still being undertaken, and will be finished in autumn 2017. During the construction, the paid express way between Shimukappu and Otofuke Obihiro is free.

丹頂鶴 / The red-crowned crane

丹頂鶴是居住在寒冷地區的鶴，是日本和中國大陸自古以來很熟悉的鳥類。丹頂鶴的頭部因為沒有羽毛皮膚直覺裸露出來而呈現紅色。而紃路濕原一帶是有名的丹頂鶴棲息地區，一整年都可以看得到。道東的鶴居村是有名的撒餌地，冬天可以看到上百隻的丹頂鶴。從2月到3月則是可以看到丹頂鶴跳求偶舞。

The red-crowned crane lives in relatively cool areas of the Far East, and is loved by people in China and Japan because of its elegant look. As there are no feathers on the top of its head, this part of the bare skin looks red. Kushiro Marsh and its surroundings are their most famous habitat, and the red-crowned crane can be seen through the year. In Tsurui Village, which literally means crane-living village, there is a big, famous sanctuary for feeding them, with more than one hundred cranes present in winter. In February and March, the cranes dance to find a mate.