[January 19, 2006] Feature advisory for a series of three feature stories on snow+ Tweet (Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Jan. 19_(Kyodo) _ KWS is to move a series of three feature stories on Hokkaido people trying to make use of heavy snow next week. Call +81-3-6252-8318 (feature editor) or e-mail: [email protected]. ---------- (1) Wintering cabbages becoming popular Yuko Fukaya reports from Asahikawa, Japan: In a snow-covered field on the outskirts of Wassamu in northern Hokkaido, lie lush green cabbages, harvested in the fall and preserved in snow until spring. "Cabbages do not freeze even if the temperature drops to minus 20 C. Cabbages breathe in snow and grow," said Yuko Arai, 43, a cabbage farmer. In fall 1970, when there were only several households raising cabbages, their prices plummeted, forcing the farmers to abandon those not harvested in fields. (To move on Wednesday) ---------- (2) Practice on snow improves skills, physical strength Norihisa Makino reports from Asahikawa, Japan: Members of Asahikawa Jitsugyo High School baseball team in the central Hokkaido city of Asahikawa are hitting to the outfielders at the ballpark in temperatures of nearly minus 20 C. In the winter of 2004, in addition to indoor training, the team practiced on snow to overcome the handicap of being unable to train until April due to snow after hearing that the powerful team at Komazawa University Tomakomai High School in the southern Hokkaido city of Tomakomai practices on snow. At first, the Asahikawa school team was worried about injuries and frostbite but overcame the worry by carefully removing snow from the ballpark, shortening practice hours and frequently changing uniforms. At present, there are even games between two groups. (To move on Thursday) (3) Use of snow and ice to cool spreading Yuko Fukaya reports from Asahikawa, Japan: In the city of Bibai, Hokkaido Prefecture, a block of condominiums has a facility next to it that stores snow for later use to cool rooms in summer -- a world's first. The feature, which provides cool air at less than the cost of an air conditioner, is a selling point for the condominiums. With the city receiving the most snow in Hokkaido, the Bibai Natural Energy Study Group, created by industry, scholars and the local government, is taking the initiative in using "heat-cooling energy from snow and ice" for introduction into private houses and welfare facilities. An institute member said, "Bibai used to prosper with coal, called the 'black diamond.' This time, snow, called the 'white diamond,' is expected to play a large role in regional development." (To move on Friday) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]