For Today’s Japan Photo, we take another look at the heavy snowfall that is covering Japan in blankets of thick snow.

Many firemen and members of the self-defence force have been deployed to help residents who might have been trapped in their houses under snow just like what we see above.

Image Credit: MSN Sankei

It seems like many different regions in the world have been affected by the extreme cold weather. So have you been caught in the heavy snow too?

For Today’s Japan Photo, we visit the annual Asahikawa Winter Festival in Hokkaido to see this awesome snow statue of Optimus Prime from Transfomers. The snow sculpture is 20 meters tall and is a collaboration with TakaraTomy.

For Today’s Japan Photo, we attend an special promotional event for the Oricon Valentine Festa 2012, which featured “Kyary Pamyu Pamyu” (left) together with actress Yoshitaka Yoriko.

Kinda makes me wonder – would you ask Kyary Pamyu Pamyu out as your date for Valentine’s Day?

For those that are unfamiliar with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ), she is a model, blogger, and recording artist from the Harajuku district of Tokyo. In July 2011 she began a music career by releasing her first single, “PonPonPon”. The music video, a psychedelic tribute to Kawaisa and Decora culture, was released to YouTube and became a viral hit.

For Today’s Japan Photo, we take a look at this gorgeous and brightly colored manhole cover that is found in the Takamatsu City of Kagawa Prefecture.

The image depicts the heroics of Nasu no Yoichi, a samurai that found bravely alongside the Minamoto clan at the Battle of Yashima in 1184. The enemy Taira placed a fan atop the mast of one of their ships, claiming it protected the ship from arrows, and daring the Minamoto warriors to shoot it off. Sitting atop his mount in the waves, his target atop the ship rocking as well, Nasu managed to shoot the target fan down with just a single shot.

For Today’s Japan Photo, we are going to take about an interesting way to drink sake – using squid bottles called “Ika Tokkuri (イカ徳利)”.

“Ika tokkuri,” sake bottles made of dried squid, are seen being hung to dry at a traditional liquor manufacturer in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, in this recent photo. The “bottle”-making process begins with cleaning out the cuttlefish’s internal organs, followed by air-stuffing of the skin to form a round shape. The squid are then left to dry before they are shaped into their final form. The bottles are said to make the flavor of sake milder. (Mainichi)

Source: Mainichi Japan Photo Journal

Typically around this time of the year, the Japanese folks are celebrating Setsubun 節分, which is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan.

For Today’s Japan Photo, we will taking a look at the special bean throwing ritual. People try to catch good-luck beans thrown by apprentice geisha during the Setsubun Festival at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto and it is rather special this year because it is done in the freezing snow because Japan is facing heavy snowfall for the past week.

Image Credit: MSN Sankei

For the past few days, Japan has been experience heavy snowfall and in some areas snow has piled up to be even taller than humans. For Today’s Japan Photo, we take a look at the incredible snowfall that has piled up high on both sides of a road in Iiyama, Nagano Prefecture, where the snow depth reached 176 centimeters.

Image Credit: Asashi (Eijiro Morii)

For Today’s Japan Photo, we will be visiting Kitano Tenman-guu 北野天満宮, a shinto shrine that is popular with students praying for success in exams.

It was built in 947, to appease the angry spirit of bureaucrat, scholar and poet Sugawara no Michizane. And in 986, the scholar-bureaucrat was deified and the title of Tenjin (Heavenly Deity) was conferred.

Image Credit: David OMalley

Japan has quite a number of festivals involving bunch of naked men. For Today’s Japan Photo, we take a look at the annual Sominsai 蘇民祭 held in Iwate Prefecture where men wearing just fundoshi (traditional underwear) try to snatch a bag containing amulets for good harvests and health.

Image Credit: MSN Sankei

I would surely run the other way if I ever saw these bunch of men charging at me ^^

For Today’s Japan photo, we visit Nara City to witness the annual special event called “Burning of Mount Wakakusa”. It is a ritual called “Yamayaki (山焼き)” to appeasement those who have already passed way, as well as a prayer for peace. The burning is also said to help prevent wildfires and promote revitalization of the mountain’s vegetation – wakakusa literally translates as ‘young grass.

The event is also usually accompanied by fireworks as you can see in the photo. A really gorgeous sight to see the night being lit up so bright.