The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) opened on February 6th this year. It is held for one week and is one of the most popular winter events in Japan. Every year, about two million people visit Sapporo to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures.

The Sapporo Snow Festival started in 1950, with only six snow statues made by high school students. In 1955, the Self Defense Force, joined in and built the first giant snow sculpture, which brought great notoriety to the festival. Since then it has developed into a commercialized event and has gained worldwide recognition.

I have never been to the festival, but I would love to visit it some day. Try learning the kanji character for "snow (yuki)" and "festival (matsuri)" with the step-by-step kanji stroke order in my Kanji Land Lesson.

This month's phrases, from "Phrase of the Day," are for skiing. Learn how to say, "I haven't skied for a long time."

More About Japanese Phrases

February 3rd (or 4th) is "Setsubun." .On setsubun there is special ritual called, "mamemaki (bean-throwing)" to expel "oni" and invite fortune. Learn the Japanese kanji character for "oni (ogre)". Learn more about "oni" in Japanese culture.

Learn how to express a desire or wish in Japanese. Desire can be expressed in two ways "hoshii" and "~ tai".