蝦夷鹿 / Hokkaido Sika Deer, or Yezo Shka

蝦夷鹿只棲息在北海道，是棲息在本州的日本鹿的亞種。原本只棲息在降雪比較少的道東和道北的部分地區，在1990年代以後，漸漸往北海道西部擴散分布。目前棲息於整個北海道。蝦夷鹿因個體數量增加過多而造成社會問題。在道東也常出沒於住宅區。蝦夷鹿跳到道路或鐵路上，而被車子或火車撞到的事故也很多。

Hokkaido Sika Deer, or Yezo Shka in Japanese, are found only in Hokkaido, and are a subspecies of Sika Deer, or Nihon Jika in Japanese, which live in Honshu. Originally, Yezo Sika lived in the northern and eastern parts of Hokkaido but they spread into the western area in the 1990s. Now, they live throughout Hokkaido. Actually, their number has increased and they have started to reach pest status. They eat farm crops and the bark of trees. In the eastern Hokkaido, they commonly appear in residential areas and wreak havoc on gardens. They have no fear of venturing onto roads or train tracks, and have been known to cause traffic accidents.

虎頭海鵰 / Steller's Sea Eagle

虎頭海鵰是日本可看到的最大猛禽類。雄性體長約90公分，雌性體長約1公尺，如果張開雙翼的話，寬度可達2.5公尺。因為是越冬的侯鳥，會飛到日本北海道來過冬。整體的顏色呈現茶色，只有翅膀和尾巴是白色的。多會停留在流冰上或是降落到雪原上。在賞野鳥愛好家當中也很熱門。日本在1970年時指定為天然紀念物。

The Steller's Sea Eagle is the biggest raptor in Japan, with a length from head to tail of about 90 centimeters for male, and about 100 centimeters for female. In addition, they have a wingspan of about 250 centimeters. Being a migratory bird, they are only seen in Hokkaido in instances of resting on ice floes in the sea or snow fields on the land. Their bodies are predominantly brown, but a part of each wing and their tails are white. Birdwatching enthusiasts like to spot them, and they are popular as the subject of photos. In 1970, they were designated as a natural treasure of Japan.

長芋 / Nagaimo, or the Japanese yam

長芋是北海道特產品之一。事實上北海道是日本第一的長芋生產地，佔據了約50%的生產量。其中又以十勝地區為一大產地。北海道產的長芋會送往日本各地，然而近年因為向世界推廣和食以及藥膳料理的熱門，像海外輸出的量也持續增加。黏黏的口感為長芋的特徵。生食也不錯，也可以做成醬菜。用在御好燒上可達到蓬鬆的口感因此常被拿來使用。

Nagaimo, or the Japanese yam, is a specialty of Hokkaido. It is a little known fact that Hokkaido produces in the vicinity of 50% of Japan’s nagaimo crop, with the Tokachi area having the highest level of production by an overwhelmingly margin. Nagaimo are sent all over Japan, and their international export numbers have grown dramatically because of the recent popularity of Japanese cuisine and medicinal cooking. Raw nagaimo is possible to eat, with its signature sticky texture popular. Also,when making the famous Japanese pancake, Okonomiyaki, nagaimo is used to achieve a perfect degree of softness.

Photos from Wikipedia

本季的冬天 2019-2020 / The winter of 2019-2020

本季的冬天日本全國都很溫暖， 雪下的非常少。 理由為印度洋的海水水溫變暖。產生積雨雲，偏西風的流向也產生變化。 今年比起往年偏西風往北側移動，因此冷空氣沒有南下。因此雪下的比較少。往年即使在札幌市內的道路兩旁都有1~2公尺的積雪，今年並沒有看到這樣的景象。
The winter of 2019/2020 has been warm thus far, resulting in less snow, not only in Hokkaido but regions Japan-wide which usually experience a lot of snow in winter. This is due to the high temperature of the Indian Ocean. Many cumulonimbus clouds are emanating from there, changing the course of the westerly winds. The winds are running further north than usual, preventing cold air masses from coming south. This is the mechanism that has seen the lower snow levels. In Sapporo in late January, there is usually snow piled one or two meters deep on both sides of roads but we are yet to see it this year.