Drifting Ice of the Okhotsk Sea
The title photograph is a snapshot of Kumamoto station, Kyushu.(Jan, 1970)
A "Shimekazari" is being exhibited in front of the steam locomotive.
This "Shimekazari" is an ornament which celebrates the Japanese New Year.
Straw is the main construction material.
Drifting ice, [which I saw for the first time here], is ice which hasn't hardened yet, and which floats in individual floes.
They range in size from one meter to five meters in diameter.
I arrived at Kitahama station on February 2, 1972, and saw the Sea of Okhotsk, and I was very down-hearted.
There was a straight line of white drift ice all across the horizon.
I thought it would keep the trains from running, and I would not get any pictures.
"Surrounding drift ice may arrive at the shore tomorrow due to the direction of the wind," a station employee told me.
I thought in my mind, "Because the drift ice is so far out, it is impossible that it can arrive at the shore."
Next morning, the drift ice, which was so far out the night before, was now just beside me.
The sound that drift ice makes as it rubs against itself, "GU!
GU!
GI GI GI--" was loud and eery.
I was impressed at the power of nature which had moved such a huge quantity of ice in one night, and I was actually glad to be there on such a day so I could experience the bitterness of the Hokkaido winter again.
(click on each image for an enlargement)
She works on New Year's day cheerfully in the snow.
She was born in the United States 80 years ago [1917, manufactured by the Baldwin Co.].
She is working happily in the coal mining districts of Hokkaido.
The Iwanai line of Hokkaido is a region where there is lots of snow.
Notice that this engine has two headlights.
They were installed so that it would be easy to see even during a snowstorm.
Therefore, she is known as "two eyeball Kyuroku".
Drifting Ice of the Okhotsk Sea
"Shimekazari"
The Snow World
A Snow out of Season
Buried in the Snow
National Railroad type 4110
Difficult Cold Weather
osaka@slnet.gr.jp
