Yukigassen

Yukigassen is a team sport that originated in Japan and combines snowball fights with tactics and teamwork. Since 2009, Luleå University of Technology has been a venue for this popular sport in Sweden, where students compete to capture the opponent's flag without being hit by snowballs.

Yukigassen was created in 1988 in the Japanese city of Subetsu and has become one of Japan's most popular winter activities, with thousands of teams participating annually in the Japanese championships. The game involves two teams competing to capture the opposing team's flag without being hit by snowballs. If a player is hit, they are out of the game.

The sport came to Sweden in 2009 through a student at Luleå University of Technology, who organised the first competition during the university's winter festival. The winning team earned the right to represent Sweden in the Nordic and European championships of Yukigassen. Since then, the sport has become a popular part of Luleå University of Technology's winter festival and established itself as an annual event at the university.

How the game works

Yukigassen is played on a field measuring 10 by 36 meters, where each team consists of 7 players on the field, with additional players as substitutes. The teams are divided into attackers, defenders, and reserves. The goal is to capture the opponent's flag twice, requiring speed, strategy, and teamwork.

Each match is played in three periods, with teams having 90 snowballs per period to use. Players must stay within their designated zones and are not allowed to cross certain lines on the field. If a player is hit by a snowball, they are out for the remainder of the period. Defenders have free movement across the entire field, while attackers must remain within their team's offensive zone.

To ensure fairness and safety, there are clear rules in place. Helmets are mandatory for all players, and only snowballs made before the game starts may be used. Players can be sent off for rule violations, and if the match ends in a draw, it can be decided by a "Victory Throw," where players throw snowballs at a target to determine the winner.

Previous competitions

2024

On March 2, 2024, the Swedish Championship in Yukigassen took place at Luleå University of Technology. Eight teams participated in an exciting competition, with both students and companies challenging each other in this popular Japanese sport. The event also featured a snowmobile show, fireworks, and a fire show, making it a festive day for spectators.

After winning the Swedish Championship in Luleå, the Luleå University of Technology student team went on to win bronze in the 2024 European Championship of Yukigassen, held in Finland. A remarkable achievement for the student competitors, who battled their way to the podium among the best teams in Europe.

2013

The 2013 Swedish Championship in Yukigassen, held on March 2 at Luleå University of Technology, attracted a large participation with a total of 16 teams, including the Norwegian team Yeti from Vardø, who ultimately claimed first place. The final, played in tough weather conditions with snowdrifts and strong winds, was a fierce contest where Yeti proved to be the strongest team.

First place awarded Yeti with travel vouchers worth 50,000 SEK. Despite the challenging weather, a large crowd gathered to cheer on the teams. Last year's silver medalists, KREWazion Invasion, made up of Luleå University of Technology students, finished in second place, while the students in Saurons Little Helpers secured third place.

In addition to the intense matches on the snow field, spectators were treated to a show with a snowmobile display, fire show, and fireworks. There was also a dance show featuring professional dancers that set the tone for the opening. The warmth in the cold surroundings came from the sale of hot sandwiches and coffee.

2012

In 2012, the Swedish Championship in Yukigassen took place at Luleå University of Technology on February 25, with the competition held on campus in the evening. The event was organized in collaboration with the Student Championship in fireworks, meaning the competitions were accompanied by pyrotechnics.

The new team I & Co, made up of Industrial Economics students from Luleå University of Technology, won the Swedish Championship that year after a final against the Piteå team KREWazion Invasion. Previous years had seen Team LTU take home the championship.

In addition to the competitions, free buses transported participants and spectators between Luleå city center and the university.

2011

At the Nordic Championships in Yukigassen in Vardø, Northern Norway, Team LTU from Luleå University of Technology fought their way to a respectable third place. The competition, which featured 64 teams, presented tough opponents and difficult weather conditions with snowstorms and poor visibility. Despite this, the atmosphere remained high, and hundreds of spectators followed the dramatic event.

Team LTU's success in the Nordic Championships in 2011 further solidified Luleå University of Technology's role in establishing Yukigassen in Sweden, following their participation in the Swedish, World, and Nordic Championships the year before.

2010

In 2010, students at Luleå University of Technology put Yukigassen on the map in Sweden. Through a tournament, the sport received significant attention both nationally and internationally.

The enthusiasm was so great that the Swedish Language Council designated "Yukigassen" as the first new word of the 2010s in the Swedish language. The tournament's winners, Team LTU, advanced to both the Nordic and European Championships, as well as the World Championships in Japan.

In Japan, Team LTU faced tough competition from teams that had been playing together for over a decade but still managed to win a set. The competition took place in Subetsu, on the island of Hokkaido, at the foot of the active volcano Showa-Shinzan. "There was even some smoke coming from the top," one of the team members said after returning home.

Additionally, on February 20-21, 2010, the Swedish Championship in Yukigassen was held at Luleå University of Technology, where Team LTU defended their title. With successes in both the Swedish and Nordic Championships, as well as a memorable World Championship trip, Luleå University of Technology further solidified its role in establishing Yukigassen in Sweden.

First Yukigassen - 2009

On February 12, 2009, a historic day for Yukigassen in Sweden occurred. For the first time, a competition in this organized snowball sport was held at Luleå University of Technology as part of the university's winter festival. The competition marked the beginning of Yukigassen in Sweden and was the first of its kind at a university level.

The sport, which originated in Japan, quickly gained popularity at Luleå University of Technology. The competition was initiated by students at the university, and Mikael Jansson, chairman of the Swedish Yukigassen Federation, expressed his joy over how a sport that began as a snowball fight had now been organized and established at Luleå University of Technology. Participants competed to capture the opponent's flag while avoiding being hit by snowballs. The winning team had the opportunity to represent Sweden in the Nordic and European Championships later that year.

The competition was held at Luleå University of Technology's campus in "Regnbågsallén" and attracted significant attention. Yukigassen, already a popular sport in Japan, had a strong start at Luleå University of Technology and has since become an annual tradition at the university's winter festival. The first competition also set the tone for the sport's future at Luleå University of Technology, where Yukigassen remains a popular and recurring activity for students every winter.