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A 61-year-old woman was injured after a snow sculpture fell off its pedestal and hit her while she was visiting the Sapporo Snow Festival on Tuesday afternoon.
According to NTV, the woman, who was a tourist, suffered a broken pelvic bone when the 3-meter-tall statue of popular vocaloid character Hatsune Miku toppled over at about 4 p.m. in Odori Park in the city's Chuo Ward. Officials said the higher temperature on Tuesday must have melted the base of the statue, causing it to fall.
The 63rd annual festival, which will be held until Feb 12, features about 220 ice and snow sculptures in Odori Park, the grounds of Community Dome Tsudome and the main street in Susukino.
© Japan Today
14 Comments
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Ben_Jackinoff
Another case of neglect.
Nicky Washida
Poor woman, that must have been painful. Hope she recovers soon!
MaboDofuIsSpicy
This is earthquake country. How come no tetsuba in these sculptures?
Elbuda Mexicano
I completely agree with Nicky!!
Ben_Jackinoff
Not considering that ice and snow might melt and not protecting people is neglect.
smithinjapan
This is the first I've heard of this kind of thing happening at the Snow Festival, but the fact that it was not accounted for and there were no preventative measures in place is indeed neglect. I sometimes wish Japan were a more litigious society, and I hope this woman at least has her hospital and recovery bills all covered, as well as money for the time she suffers. With what these things must weigh she's lucky she got away with only those injuries.
randomenigma
The important thing is that Miku is being re-sculpted at a new location.
Ranger_Miffy2
There are so many crazy ways to go in Japan. Ice sculpture falling on old people. Getting crushed against a wall at the Kyoto Gion festival. Falling off a log hurtling down slope in a "festival" of total craziness. It's just part of living (and ending thereon) in Japan. Unique indeed!
Parmen
61 is not old. The organizers will look after her for sure. At least 100 tourists visiting the snow festival (and commuters) were stranded on several JR trains yesterday for 8.5 hours just 20 minutes north of Sapporo. It was warm and the melt made the tracks unserviceable. That didn't stop JR letting all these people board the trains though.
nath
doesn't stop the show! lol love the plug at the end.
woman injured in snow sculpture accident, by the way come see the show.
Anyway, broken pelvis is bad. I hope she gets well soon.
noriyosan73
It is sad that she was injured. Is it global warming or what happened in another story about stuff falling sky?
Nessie
What is a "vocaloid character"?
Or do I not want to know?
Ben_Jackinoff
Vocaloid is software that synthesizes singing. It's made by Yamaha and used in animations and such.
tmarie
The organizers will look after her for sure.
You sure about that??
Poor thing. Sounds painful but yes, why was she able to be injured?