"The 11th Yuki Onna Contest - Tsugaru Legend" will be held on February 17th at the "Aomori City Medieval Hall" (Namioka, Aomori City, TEL 0172-62-1020 ).

This contest involves competing in a 5-minute skit based on the story of the Yuki-onna legend passed down in the Tsugaru region. Last year, which was held for the first time in three years, approximately 350 spectators from all over Aomori Prefecture gathered at the venue, eagerly awaiting the reopening.

On the day of the event, competitions will be judged in two categories: general category and children's category. The criteria is ``how much you can entertain the audience'' with your expressiveness as a Yuki-onna and your makeup, hair, and make-up. The winners will receive prizes worth 50,000 yen for the general category and 10,000 yen for the children's category. Hideki Fukushima, chairman of the contest's executive committee, says, ``We want the audience who come to see us to laugh a lot.We want all of the contestants to have a lot of fun with the audience.''

There will also be stalls selling sweets and Tsugaru soba, and live performances by guest artists. Snow lanterns will be set up outside the venue so that it can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors.

The contest is accepting entries until January 31st. According to Tadayuki Sato, one of the executive committee members and director of the Medieval Hall, there were not many applications this year. Ms. Sato said, ``Tsugaru people may seem shy at first glance, but there are many people who are ``motsuke'' (meaning cheerful in the Tsugaru dialect).I want them to participate in the Yuki-onna contest and demonstrate their ``motsuke'' skills.People from outside the prefecture also participate. It's possible, so I want as many people as possible to participate," he said, calling for applications.

The event will be held from 15:00 to 20:30. free entrance.