Misawa Sailors create snow sculpture in Northern Japan

  • Published
  • By Chief Petty Officer Daniel Sanfrord
  • Naval Air Facility, Misawa
SAPPORO, Japan --  Sailors from Misawa Air Base will take part in Sapporo city's 62nd annual Snow Festival Jan. 31, 2011.

The Sailors, attached to Naval Air Facility Misawa and its tenant commands, will spend the week creating an ice sculpture for the festival, which officially begins Feb. 6.

"We've conducted office calls at the Sapporo Mayor's Office and with the Camp Sapporo commanding officer and thanked them for their hospitality and continued support of the U.S. Navy," said Chief Builder Billy Knox, Misawa Navy's ice team leader. "Now we will begin shaping a block of snow, and by the end of the week, hopefully, we'll have created an anchor."

"Or at least something that resembles one," he added with a smile.

U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa and its tenant commands annually send a team of Sailors to the Sapporo Snow Festival to represent the base, and to create a snow sculpture. This year marks the 28th year that  the Misawa NAF has taken part in this event.

The annual festival historically averages about two million visitors each year to the northern Japanese city. The event features ice and snow sculptures of all different shapes and sizes, and even includes a giant ski jump in the heart of the city.

"None of the guys on the team have ever done anything like this before so, it should be interesting and a lot of fun," Chief Knox said. "I've done a lot of building over the years as a Seabee, but dealing with snow and ice - I'm definitely stepping into some new territory here."