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In some of the world’s coldest climates, teams of men and women don helmets, eye protection, and warm clothes, and head out into the snowy terrain, to prepare for a battle against the elements, and each other. What is this form of frigid weather fighting, you ask? They call it Yukigassen.

Yuki means snow. Gassen is war. That’s why we are here now.

Established in 1988 as a way to encourage tourism to Japan in the winter months, what was once a kid’s game is now a hard core sport played in eight countries.

They gave us a present, this is Yukigassen. We are now here in Kemijarvi, in arctic circle. Because we are so north, we have snow and we can just play Yukigassen every day or every weekend.

Kemijarvi is famous for holding the European Yukigassen tournament each year. It is here that three Japanese players have flown in for a scrimmage against three local Finnish Yukigassen players.

Take your position.

They have one snowball each hand, and referee whistle, and they try to hit.

Yukigassen is a best of three rounds game. Players who are hit by a single snowball are out of the round. To win, players must either steal the flag from the opposing team, or eliminate all their players with snowballs. Yukigassen is very tactical play.

You don’t have to be strong. You must be small and very quickly. And you must have a very good hand.

Teams play with regulation approved snowballs made by machines. The perfect playing condition is just below freezing, so the snowballs have enough moisture to hold their form.

They are quite heavy, but not too heavy, so they can’t be very hard. They must be broken when they hit.

The sport is not without its hazards.

The most important thing is the helmet. If we hit in the head, it doesn’t hurt.

The Finnish team might have won this game, but win or lose, the battlefields of Yukigassen have the power to unite, not divide.

Yukigassen is now in my heart. I love Yukigassen, so I’d like to spread this Yukigassen. I want that kids and adults they play and say that this is fun, that people like it.

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climate   気候
terrain   地域
against the elements   厳しい自然に耐えて/悪天候にもかかわらず/雨風になか
In some of the world’s coldest climates, teams of men and women don helmets, eye protection, and warm clothes, and head out into the snowy terrain, to prepare for a battle against the elements, and each other.

frigid   極寒の
What is this form of frigid weather fighting, you ask? They call it Yukigassen.

establish   設立する
encourage   促進する
Established in 1988 as a way to encourage tourism to Japan in the winter months, what was once a kid’s game is now a hard core sport played in eight countries.

be famous for ….   ～として有名である
Kemijarvi is famous for holding the European Yukigassen tournament each year.

scrimmage   本気ではない戦い/練習試合
It is here that three Japanese players have flown in for a scrimmage against three local Finnish Yukigassen players.

snowball   雪玉
Players who are hit by a single snowball are out of the round.

either A or B   AかBかどちらか
eliminate   たおす
To win, players must either steal the flag from the opposing team, or eliminate all their players with snowballs.

tactical   戦術的な
Yukigassen is a very tactical game.

regulation   ルール/規則
Teams play with regulation approved snowballs made by machines.

unite   団結させる/結束させる
divide   分裂させる/引き離す
The Finnish team might have won this game, but win or lose, the battlefields of Yukigassen have the power to unite, not divide.