On Sunday, February 11, the Sapporo Snow Festival, a beloved winter tradition in Sapporo, came to a close for another year. In its wake, a particular video has been causing a stir on social media.

The ice sculptures are shattered to smithereens in an instant! This was filmed at the Susukino Site, where the ice sculptures are displayed. In contrast to the Odori Park Site, which is famous for its snow sculptures, the Susukino Site is lined with fantastical ice sculptures every year, including unique ones with crabs and fish frozen inside that always make a statement.

Ice sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival's Susukino Site (photo from a previous year)

The sight of these ice sculptures being spectacularly demolished has garnered surprised comments on social media, such as "the aesthetics of destruction," "incredibly satisfying," "an avant-garde form of wabi-sabi," and "ephemeral and beautiful..."

We spoke with Kurin, who posted the video, about the filming.

When was this video taken?

What was the atmosphere like during the demolition?

A crowd of spectators had gathered in the area where the demolition was taking place, forming two or three rows along the roadside fence.
Every time an ice sculpture was destroyed, a cheer went up, myself included. The energy was amazing!

The video conveys the intensity, but those who witnessed it live must have been truly astounded. In recent years, this demolition work has become a new tradition of the snow festival, and it seems many tourists now gather to watch the moment of destruction.

While it's a little sad to see the intricately crafted ice sculptures being dismantled, it's a captivating spectacle that's hard to look away from!