Winter’s Coda

寒冬序幕

Every March, the farmers disperse charcoal powder on their snow-cover fields to accelerate snow melting. For smaller fields, they cast the powder by hand. If the fields are larger, they release the powder as they traverse the fields on snowmobiles. This black powder helps to melt the snow more rapidly. The fields serve as canvas for the farmers to create their works for art.

In Central Hokkaido, the temperatures tend to be lower and snowfall tend to be less than areas by the sea. The mountain ranges shields the area from heavy snowfall. As average temperatures rise globally, we are seeing less snowfall in the region. We had so little snowfall in January this year that the farmers questioned the necessity of spreading charcoal powder over their fields. There is a possibility that this practice will die off completely someday.