The U.S. Navy’s entry for the 2026 Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan has reminded visitors of the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.” (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
SAPPORO, Japan — Short on experience but not creativity, a U.S. Navy snow-sculpting team leaned into a playful design that’s got some people humming a popular Beatles tune at this city’s annual Snow Festival.
One of Japan’s largest winter events, the festival draws millions of visitors to Odori Park on the northern island of Hokkaido.
The four-member Navy team arrived planning to sculpt a submarine above a crest reading “250” to mark the semiquincentennial of U.S. independence. But a last-minute change left the sailors without their veteran sculptor, said team leader Chief Petty Officer Robert Guerra.
“The team understood that, given our inexperience, we would not be able to sculpt the more hyper realistic version of the Submarine,” he told Stars and Stripes in a text message Thursday.
The sailors opted for a simpler design that quickly drew comparisons to the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.”
“So far, the response has been positive, as many visitors have let us know they really enjoyed our yellow submarine, a reference to the Beatles song,” Guerra wrote.
Visitors take photos of a mammoth snow sculpture during the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 4, 2026. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
A 49-foot-high rendition of Tsuruga Castle draws a crowd during the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 4, 2026. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
A snow sculpture pays tribute to a popular Japanese mayonnaise brand at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 4, 2026. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
People “really took to the softer, more cartoonish style of it,” he said during a phone interview with the entire sculpting team on Thursday.
The team included Petty Officers 2nd Class Scott Flagg, Matthew Fischer, Wyatt Rivet and Mya Howard, along with Seaman Jalil Moorer, according to a Jan. 28 news release from Misawa Naval Air Facility, the team’s home station.
They carved the sculpture over three days beginning Jan. 30, working up to 11 hours daily, Guerra said.
This marks the Navy’s 41st year participating in the festival. Previous snow sculptures have included an F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
“I’m pretty patriotic, and I do love my country. I’m third-generation military,” Flagg said. “Being able to come out here and continue that relationship with this country is pretty awesome for me, personally.”
Those who stopped by the Navy’s sculpture were invited to don “cranial” head gear and “float coat” flotation vests — the safety gear typically seen on flight decks of aircraft carriers and large-deck amphibious assault ships.
Cosplayers and character mascots pose in front of a popular snow sculpture at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 4, 2026. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
A “Star Wars”-themed sculpture featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu draws a crowd at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan, Feb. 4, 2026. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
“A lot of the little kids enjoyed wearing the float coat and cranial,” Rivet said. “They did get into the shooter stance, and it was a good way to just have a laugh.”
He and the others said they were impressed with the other sculptures being displayed during the festival. Highlights include a 49-foot-high rendition of Tsuruga Castle, a landmark outside Fukushima.
Another popular stop is a sculpture of “Star Wars” characters Mandalorian and Grogu that is more than 30 feet high.
Founded in 1950, the Sapporo Snow Festival draws more than 2 million visitors annually, according to city tourism officials. Sculptures remain on display through Wednesday.
