Japanese Soldiers Forced to Build Enormous Darth Vader Out of Snow

Okay, sorry for the sensationalist headline. While it’s true that members of the Japanese military are conscripted into building gigantic snow sculptures, it’s viewed as a team-building exercise, not punishment. Since 1955, troops in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces have been erecting them for the annual Sapporo Snow Festival.

This year’s festival is currently underway, and the JSDF 11th Brigade spent a month putting up this Disney-sponsored masterpiece paying homage to the Dark Side of the Force. Even cooler, Lucasfilm Ltd. documented the construction with these shots:

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Here’s a quick video shot by an attendee, showing what this thing looks like from the ground:

At night the festival organizers light it up with this kitschy light show:

Would’ve been cooler if they actually blew the Death Star up at the end, using real explosives.

Anyways, next time your kid tries to make a snowman, show ’em this entry and suggest that perhaps they could try a little harder.

Via Quartz