In January 2019, snowfall in Hokkaido province occupied only 48% of the average, the lowest amount of the month since 1961.
In January the situation did not change: 7 cm Snow class, away from 42 cm in an average year.
Undoubtedly, an adverse setting for the organization of the Sapporo Snow Festival, the biggest of the season in Japan and having snow and ice sculpture was seen by more than 2.7 million visitors last year.
Organizations are struggling to get enough snow to make the festival possible.
Faced with a shortage of "raw materials", trucks are being used to pick up and transport snow from elsewhere and take them to Sapporo, the Mainichi Shimbun revealed.
The mission is arduous, as it takes about 6,000 trucks with 5 tons of snow to provide enough material for the sculptures. And that means going to distant places in Hokkaido province.
The event will begin on Jan. 31 and will take place in different situations. (International press)
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