[Throwback Article] Build your own cute snowman in Japan’s winter wonderland!

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Hey, everybody! 

When you think of winter in Japan, you think of snow. 

Everywhere looks so beautiful and magical when everything is white and the air is filled with fluttering snowflakes.

Have you heard of Japanese snowmen—yuki-daruma? 

Today I’m going to be explaining how to make yuki-daruma, which is loved by both children and adults alike, as well as showing you some photos!

Yuki-daruma are made by compacting snow and crafting it into figures. 

Like kamakura (igloo-like snow huts) and yuki-gassen (snowball fights,) making yuki-daruma is a traditional way of playing in winter that’s been practiced in Japan for hundreds of years. 

Japanese snowmen are usually made out of two balls of snow, one big and one small, placed on top of each other.

Yuki-daruma are very easy to make. 

First of all, you pack together a ball of snow in your palm, and then roll it along the surface of the snow to make it grow bigger. 

To create the head and the body, you make two balls of snow, one larger and one smaller. 

Bearing in mind the proportions you want your yuki-daruma to have, roll the two balls along until they’re the right size. 

Making the top and bottom balls at a ratio of around 2:3 should give them the right balance. 

Once they’re ready, place the smaller ball on top of the larger one, and you’re done! 

Now all you need to do is decorate your yuki-daruma! 

Find some twigs, stones or leaves from nearby, and use them to create the eyes and eyebrows, mouth, and so forth. 

You could also give your yuki-daruma gloves or a scarf to wear, or a hat made from a bucket!

©ume-y
Ideally, it's best to build with snow that's slightly moist, as it's easy to pack together. 
If you're using dry snow, you can pour water on it to moisten it before you start, making it easier to compact and better to build with.
The different possibilities for faces and shapes are infinite! 
There are no rules to the size of your yuki-daruma, or how you decorate it. 
Go on, give it a try and make a cute yuki-daruma of your very own!



©Yuichi Yasuda
This cute little yuki-daruma is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand!



©Spiegel
This yuki-daruma family is so cute!
Once you’re done building your yuki-daruma, how about taking a photo together with it to remember your winter in Japan by?