Sapporo is the only major city in the world with a population of more than one million that has an annual snowfall of more than five meters. I have visited many cities located at high latitudes around the world, and indeed, almost all of them gave me the impression of icy areas rather than areas of heavy snowfall. Perhaps it can be said that this city and its inhabitants know more than anyone else about urban life in heavy snowfall and how to deal with it.
人口が100万人以上いる大都市で、年間の積雪量が5メートルを超えるのは、世界中で札幌だけだという。世界の高緯度に位置する都市を多く訪れたことがあるが、確かにどこも「豪雪地域」というよりは、氷結した街といった印象が強い。この街とその住民は、雪の中での都市生活やそれとの付き合い方を、誰よりも知っていると言えるのかもしれない。
©K. K. Yam