Hey all you Snow Bunnies,

It's full-blown winter all over, especially with Season 4 of HBO's awesome series "True Detective". Moonshine, murder and mountains of snow in Alaska's outback!

However, if that's not your thing, there are plenty of other ways to spend the colder months, and that's zipping down the beautiful Japanese mountains. We dive headfirst into the history of skiing in Japan with a retrospective on its founder: Major Theodor Edler von Lerch (try saying that 9x fast) and the impact of his legacy in Niigata that spread like wildfire all over Japan.

Moreover, you can also experience the thrill of a ski-themed celebration in February around Joetsu, Niigata with the Lerch Festival. So, lace up your boots, strap on your skis and feel the rush of winter's most popular sport in Japan!

References:

-https://www.snowcountry-instructors.com/2015-8-30-major-theodor-von-lerch/

-https://joetsu-stories.jp/2022/03/10/theodor-von-lerch-the-spy-who-introduced-skiing-to-japan-and-made-niseko-famous/

-https://joetsukankonavi.jp/lerch-fest/

Stay warm this winter, you guys!