Fans in parkas, gloves, and hats surround the snowy field, cheering as their teams line up. [A] Players lob and fling snowballs at their opponents while trying to avoid getting hit. This is Yukigassen—a competitive snowball fight that combines elements of dodge ball and capture the flag.
[2]
Every year, thousands of people flock to the small Japanese town of Sobctsu for the Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen tournament. Fewer than thirty years ago, though, only a little visitors ventured to this mountainside town during its harsh winters. [B] Hoping to generate year-round tourism, community members created a unique winter sport: Yukigassell ("snow battle"). [C]
[3]
Yukigassen is played on a rectangular field with a wall of snow, called a "shelter" in the center. On both sides of the field stands other shelters一two that are used for cover and a centered back shelter (the "chateau"), where snowballs are stored. Each team's flag is planted in front of it’s chateau.
[4]
Yukigassen games have three periods that each last three minutes. To win a period, teams can grab the opponents’ flag, eliminate every player, on the other team, or have more players in the game when the period ends. The team that prevails in two of three periods wins the game.
[5]
Each Yukigassen team has seven players: four forwards and three defensive players. Forwards advance to the center of the field that's crouching behind shelters and trying to eliminate opponents by hitting them with snowballs. Meanwhile, defensive players supply his or her forwards with ammunition and bombard opponents from afar. Any player can attempt to snatch the other team’s flag. Defensive players ensure forwards have snowballs to throw.
[6]
In 1989, the first Yukigassen tournament drew 7,000 spectators and seven teams. When a number of years passed, 28,000 spectators came to watch 190 teams battle in the snow. [D] Withthe addition of tournaments in Europe, Australia, and the United States, Yukigassen is on the rise, encouraging visitors to enjoy Sobetsu despite the cold.