News>Misawa Sailors create snow sculpture in Northern Japan
Photos
U.S. Navy Members of the Misawa Navy Snow Team attend an office call with the Sapporo Chief of Tourist Secretariat Jan. 31, 2011, Sapporo, Japan. The team is in the city to take part in the 62nd Annual Sapporo Snow Festival and will create a snow sculpture shaped like an anchor. This years marks the 28th year Naval Air Facility Misawa and its tenant commands have taken part in the northern-Japan located festival. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford/Released)
U.S. Navy Chief Builder Billy Knox, Misawa Navy Snow Team Leader, chops away at a block of snow Feb. 1, 2011, Sapporo, Japan. Knox and his five-man team will spend the week sculpting the snow into an "ice anchor," which is slated for display at the 62nd Annual Sapporo Snow Festival. Knox is stationed on board Misawa Air Base and is attached to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East's Public Works Department Misawa. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford/Released)
U.S. Navy Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Seaman Johnny Tran chops his way into a compacted block of snow as he and his Misawa Navy Snow Team members work toward creating an ice sculpture for the 62nd Annual Sapporo Snow Festival Feb. 1, 2011, Sapporo, Japan. Tran is stationed at Misawa Air Base and is attached to the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Misawa. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford/Released)
U.S. Navy Informations Systems Technician 3rd Class Daniel Grimes, Misawa Navy Snow Team member, clears snow away from a nine-foot tall block of compacted snow Feb. 1, 2011, Sapporo, Japan. Grimes and his team members are in Sapporo for the city's annual snow festival and are creating an anchor-shaped snow sculpture for display at the event. More than five feet of snow fell upon Sapporo overnight, which meant the team had to clear the way to their entry just to get started. Grimes is stationed at Misawa Air Base and is attached to Navy Information Operations Command, Misawa. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford/Released)
U.S. Navy Operations Specialist 3rd Class Draylon Polk, Misawa Navy Snow Team member, removes residual snow from a nine-foot compacted block of snow Feb. 1, 2011, Sapporo, Japan. Polk and his team members will spend the week sculpting the snow into an "ice anchor," which is slated for display at the 62nd Annual Sapporo Snow Festival. Polk is stationed on board Misawa Air Base and is attached to Commander Task Force 72. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford/Released)
by Chief Petty Officer Daniel Sanfrord
Naval Air Facility, Misawa
2/1/2011 - SAPPORO, Japan -- Sailors from Misawa Air Base will take part in Sapporo city's 62nd annual Snow Festival Jan. 31, 2011.
The Sailors, attached to Naval Air Facility Misawa and its tenant commands, will spend the week creating an ice sculpture for the festival, which officially begins Feb. 6.
"We've conducted office calls at the Sapporo Mayor's Office and with the Camp Sapporo commanding officer and thanked them for their hospitality and continued support of the U.S. Navy," said Chief Builder Billy Knox, Misawa Navy's ice team leader. "Now we will begin shaping a block of snow, and by the end of the week, hopefully, we'll have created an anchor.
"Or at least something that resembles one," he added with a smile.
U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa and its tenant commands annually send a team of Sailors to the Sapporo Snow Festival to represent the base, and to create a snow sculpture. This year marks the 28th year that the Misawa NAF has taken part in this event.
The annual festival historically averages about two million visitors each year to the northern Japanese city. The event features ice and snow sculptures of all different shapes and sizes, and even includes a giant ski jump in the heart of the city.
"None of the guys on the team have ever done anything like this before so, it should be interesting and a lot of fun," said Chief Knox. "I've done a lot of building over the years as a Seabee, but dealing with snow and ice - I'm definitely stepping into some new territory here."
