Snow Country: The Yukiguni Three

 

"Snow Country" (雪国, Yukiguni) is a term used to describe a region of Japan known for its heavy snowfall and distinct winter climate with the main three being: Niigata Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, and Nagano Prefecture. The term originally comes from the title of a famous novel by the Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata, Snow Country (Yukiguni), published in 1935. In the book, Kawabata vividly portrays the beauty and hardships of life in rural, snowy Japan.

Geographically, Yukiguni refers to several areas of Japan, primarily in the northern and central parts of Honshu, the main island, where winter snowfall is particularly heavy. These regions are characterized by cold temperatures, long winters, and large amounts of snow, sometimes reaching several meters in depth. Snow Country is to mark Japan’s snowiest areas that are on the west-side of the Japan Archipelago mountain chain where cold seasonal winds blow moisture towards the mountains where they then turn into snow. Snow falls day after day, so when snow piles up, it is an essential activity for people who live with the large amounts of snow. 

There is so much snow that there are even places that teach “The Art of Snow Shoveling”. People in the past used: (1) Rice Straw Boots, (2) Rice Straw Stomp Boots, (3) Spiked Snow Shoes, and are featured in museum exhibits that spread awareness of what was used historically.

The Heart of Snow Country is Niigata, so the prefecture has a strong snow country culture. In the 1800s Snow Era of Enduring, people had to endure the snow, use the snow that they couldn’t fight against, and use strategies to coexist with the snow to develop things like: snow-aged foods, pickled foods, stews and soups. In the 1900s Snow-Era of Resisting, Japan transformed into a modern capitalist country to resist the snow to be like the rest of Japan. In the Modern day Snow-Era of Reclaiming, where movements encourage rethinking the snow to improve people's lives. [Natsuo Numano]

Lifestyle of the Snow, in towns there are often: (1) Snow Country Infrastructure like: (A) Vertical Traffic Lights, (B) Snow Gutters, and (C) Snow Irrigation Waterways. There are also (2) Snow Country Raised Homes with Snow Home Enclosures, and more. Niigata Snow Country Culture has its own unique culture dealing with snow with people studying “Snow Country Studies”.

Yukiguni Japan https://yukigunijapan.com/category/snowjourney/culture/