Record snowfall in northern Japan has claimed 35 lives since January 20. Nearly 400 people have been injured, with 126 seriously hurt. Most deaths happened when people fell from roofs or while clearing snow around their homes. Foreign tourists were also affected. A 27-year-old Australian man, Michael Hurst, died skiing in the Niseko resort, and a 22-year-old woman from Queensland, Brooke Day, died after a ski lift accident in Nagano. The heavy snow hit 15 of Japan's 47 prefectures, especially near the Sea of Japan. Some places saw snow as deep as 6.5 feet (2 meters). In Aomori prefecture, over 1,700 homes lost electricity, and trains were canceled. Emergency vehicles struggled to reach people, with workers sometimes walking on foot, said Aomori's governor, Soichiro Miyashita. Twelve snow-related deaths occurred in Niigata prefecture, including a man found collapsed on his roof and a 70-year-old who likely fell from his roof. More snow is expected this weekend, but officials warn that melting snow will increase risks of avalanches and slippery surfaces. Japan’s chief spokesperson, Minoru Kihara, advised, "Please pay close attention to your safety, wearing a helmet or using a lifeline rope, especially when working on clearing snow." Last year, 68 people died from snow-related causes over six winter months in Japan.