Japanese Ice Sculptors Took First Prize in Sakhalin International Ice Art Championship

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. December 25. VOSTOK-MEDIA – The award winning ceremony of the 1st Sakhalin Ice Sculpture International Festival Ice Fantasy was held in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Region Administration told RIA Vostok-Media.

The festival was organized by Sakhalin Youth Policy Department. Sakhalin Administration Staff Deputy Manager, Natalia Korshunova, presented awards to the winners of the competition.

The event was held in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Dec. 18-24 and featured a contest and exhibition of ice sculptures. The Victory Square located in downtown Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk became the venue for the festival. The festival gathered ice sculptors from Japan, North Korea, Russian cities of Khabarovsk and Blagoveschensk as well as local ice sculptors.

Opening the awards ceremony, Natalya Korshunova thanked the audience, on behalf of the Governor and senior officials of the Sakhalin Region, for their participation in the event and wished them happy New Year.

“This is the first time that an ice sculpture festival is held in Sakhalin Region,” said Natalya Korshunova, “and I definitely hope the event will be held again next year. I wish to thank all participants in the festival, who helped to decorate the Victory Square.”

The 1st Sakhalin Ice Sculpture International Festival Ice Fantasy has a total prize fund of 1 million rubles. The team of ice sculptors from Sapporo led by the captain Yutaka Miyanishi became the winner of the competition and received the 350,000-rubles award. The team from Khabarovsk took the second prize, while Chinese sculptors received the third place.