At this time of year, the industrial districts of Sanjo are blanketed in snow. When night falls, snowplows run through the quiet town without rest, all through the night. They do this to protect the roads, to keep logistics moving, and to support the industries that sustain this town. For some reason, seeing snowplows at work late at night always brings a quiet sense of excitement. As a child, I remember feeling a strange thrill knowing that people were still awake, working at such an hour. Even now, as an adult, that feeling returns whenever I see a snowplow pass by. It’s probably a sensation only those who live in snowy regions can truly understand. In the darkness of the night, the yellow lights of the snowplows glow.　They are a symbol of winter—and an indispensable light protecting the town’s infrastructure.

This town, shaped by its long winters, has another face. Many of its industrial districts are lined with cherry trees. During winter, these roads lie buried beneath snow. But when spring arrives, they reveal a completely different expression. As the snow melts and the seasons shift, the industrial area becomes almost cinematic in its beauty. The snow has disappeared from the ground, yet the mountains in the distance remain pure white. Spring in the lowlands, winter in the mountains—this contrast creates a landscape unique to this town.

After enduring a long, harsh winter, spring finally comes.
The warmth of the sun and the beauty of cherry blossoms gently heal both body and mind.
Here, the cherry blossoms bloom in April—the beginning of a new fiscal year.
In factories and warehouses, work for the new year begins in earnest.
The people who support this town’s industries continue their work beneath the blooming cherry trees, their expressions focused and sincere.
As petals drift down, it almost feels as if each one carries a quiet wish for the year ahead.
Spring is still a few months away.

Along with the anticipation, there is a small sense of sadness, knowing that the swans will soon depart. Still, as a Japanese person, cherry blossoms always stir something special in the heart. Winter, with its snowplows, and spring, with its blossoms—both are part of everyday life here. In a town where cherry blossoms and snowplows coexist, the seasons quietly continue their cycle.