We are well into what is the winter season but it is feeling quite unseasonable this year until finally this last week... Dosojin Fire Festival with all the ‘tenki-matsuri’ or weather festivals (which means getting together with friends to drink for good weather - in this village that means big snow), a show of respect to the Dosojin, literally ancestor gods who paved the path for us... they also deal out the snow along with the gods of the mountain. My daughters pointed out that it is actually snow gods who deal out the snow, but we have a difference of opinion on this because I have not heard of any snow gods nor seen any shrines or read any literature on them. Getting back to the discussion though, the powers watching over the village did hear the many prayers and strong desires in the village and produced a good outpouring from the day of the festival on Wednesday (always Jan 15 every year), on through to the next day and made us remember that it is, indeed, winter, despite the extremely unusual weather that has prevailed this season. Just to be clear, the resort is fully open and ski conditions are good despite there being much less of the fresh powder than usual. We do have some of some newly renovated units for late February and March and hoping the big powder will be on its way perhaps just late this year. We are still enjoying the cold season and as villagers frankly enjoying less snow shoveling so far! Happy New Year and best wishes for the new decade!