Japan’s Snowball Fight Fever: From Play to Sport

What’s cooler than a snowball fight? A hyper-organized, team-based snowball WAR with referees, tactics, and trophies! In Japan, Yukigassen (literally \"snow battle\") has turned a classic winter pastime into a next-level competitive sport. Think Fortnite meets frosty teamwork!

Meet Yuzuki Sugimoto, Naoki Futakawame, and Koki Ito—three students at Muroran Institute of Technology who live for Yukigassen. They train like athletes, strategize like chess masters, and throw snowballs like it’s the Hunger Games (but way friendlier).

Here’s the scoop: Teams of seven face off on a court with 90 snowballs per side. Goals? Eliminate opponents by hitting them or capturing the rival flag—all in 3-minute rounds. No wonder Japan’s youth are ditching TikTok (temporarily!) for this adrenaline-packed tradition!

\"It’s not just throwing—it’s geometry, speed, and trust,\" says Yuzuki. With national championships and even international interest, Yukigassen proves winter fun can be SERIOUS business. Who’s ready to squad up?

Reference(s):

World's Interesting Winter Sports: A serious snowball fight in Japan

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