Ski Day

What Is Ski Day?

Every January 12th is "Ski Day" (スキーの日, Sukī no Hi) in Japan. On January 12, 1911, Austrian military officer Major Theodor Edler von Lerch (テオドール・エドラー・フォン・レルヒ) — stationed in Japan as a military advisor — conducted Japan's first ski instruction at Takada (now Jōetsu City) in Niigata Prefecture, teaching officers of the Japanese Imperial Army the fundamentals of skiing. Lerch's demonstration of this European winter sport on Japan's abundant snowy mountains planted the seed of what would grow into a major Japanese sports and tourism industry.

Major Lerch and Japan's Skiing Pioneer

Theodor von Lerch arrived in Japan in 1910 as part of the Austrian military mission and immediately recognized that Japan's mountainous terrain and heavy snowfall — particularly on the Sea of Japan side — were ideal for skiing, a sport that had been popular in Alpine Europe for decades. His demonstration at Takada on January 12, 1911 was not merely a military exercise but the introduction of an entirely new way of experiencing Japan's winter mountains. Lerch taught Japanese officers the fundamentals of skiing on a gentle slope in Takada, and his influence spread quickly to civilian enthusiasts.

Japan's Ski Industry

From Lerch's 1911 demonstration, Japan developed one of the world's great skiing nations. The country's heavy snowfall — particularly the famous "Japow" (Japanese powder snow) of the Hokkaido interior and the Sea of Japan coastal mountains — has made Japan a premier global skiing destination. Resorts like Niseko in Hokkaido, Hakuba in Nagano (host of the 1998 Winter Olympics), and Nozawa Onsen in Nagano attract both domestic and international skiers drawn by the quality of the snow, the mountain scenery, and the unique combination of ski resort with traditional Japanese onsen (hot spring) culture.

Japan's Winter Sports Legacy

Japan has hosted two Winter Olympics — Sapporo (1972) and Nagano (1998) — and has produced elite athletes in alpine skiing, ski jumping (where Japan has been particularly strong), speed skating, and figure skating. Japanese figure skaters Yuzuru Hanyu and Shoma Uno have been world and Olympic champions, making figure skating a massively popular sport in Japan with media coverage rivaling any other sporting pursuit.

Fun Facts

• Lerch Monument: A monument to Major Lerch stands in Jōetsu City (formerly Takada), Niigata Prefecture, honoring his role in introducing skiing to Japan. An annual "Lerch Festival" celebrates his legacy.
• Niseko's international fame: Niseko in Hokkaido has become one of Asia's premier ski resorts, attracting significant investment from Australian, Chinese, and other international buyers — a phenomenon that has transformed the town and generated both economic opportunity and debates about foreign ownership of Japanese land.