Halloween revelers fill Shibuya with security tight after Seoul disaster

It’s so nice to see that people didn’t stay away after all the dramatic warnings last week!

I feel the police should join in and dress up a bit too. Maybe some decoration on their hat or uniform. Fun should be shared.

All's well that ends well.

and I really get the impression there are more people coming to see Halloween than there are people dressing up for it," he added.

That sums it up. It has turned in a letchers night out.

only a few photos here I know, but.... not many smiles in evidence..... apart from some costumes, the crowd doesn't look dfferent to the Scramble at any time day or night....

On the iconic pedestrian crossing, officers constantly urged people to keep moving....

Why don't they just close off the intersection to traffic? Forest for the trees.

That looks like so much fun!...why was I not there?

I actually went tricker treating,my friends had some free candy,where they worked,I can't turn down free chocolate

A large percentage of people in that photo are not in costumes. Like flies to honey. Just gotta be in the crowd.

Where's Waldo?

I keep wondering about how the people celebrating feel about the Seoul tragedy, obviously life still has to continue and everything, but it would not be strange to pause for a moment and consider the disaster. For obvious reasons security would be as good as possible in Shibuya so it would not be an important reason to be absent, but apart from that I would not feel comfortable celebrating so close (in time and kind of activity) to what just happened.

 I feel the police should join in and dress up a bit too. Maybe some decoration on their hat or uniform. Fun should be shared.

I thought they were in costume already.

I keep wondering about how the people celebrating feel about the Seoul tragedy, obviously life still has to continue and everything, but it would not be strange to pause for a moment and consider the disaster. 

Some certainly thought about it but we can not pause every time there is a disaster.

Japanese do not even pause for their own disasters. only locally.

Amazing scenes. Difficult to curb people attending Japan's now number one celebration and tradition on the calendar.

Japanese authorities learned well from the 2001 Akashi pedestrian bridge accident which killed 11 people. After that incident, guidelines were developed on crowd control, and this is why you see they haven't had an issue in past Halloween public gatherings.

Maybe just me, but that pretty girl reminds me of Britney Spears.

Good to know it passed safely after the tragedy in Seoul. So many young people lost. RIP.

Good to see some people sans masks. Maybe Japan is slowly returning to normal.

 I feel the police should join in and dress up a bit too. Maybe some decoration on their hat or uniform. Fun should be shared.

I thought they were in costume already.

Hahaha! Brilliant Yubaru! Brilliant buddy!

Most people WERE wearing masks ..and so they should be !

Happy Halloween, everyone; in Japan, November 1 is not a national holiday and people don’t take the day off like in other countries (and today is Tuesday), so most of the people in Shibuya last night were probably unemployed, part time workers, students and tourists; enjoy your “freedom” (it won’t last long).

Nice to know that entertainment and social life normalcy post " Covid -19" has returned in Japan.On my recent travel across Zimbabwe, Zambia,Botswana and Namibia came across numerous Japanese tourists on a African.Safari.Have wonderful memories of my visits to Japanese ports in the late 20th century.

Great to see so many Japanese no longer wearing the anti-social and restrictive face masks.

Glad to see everyone had a good time.

Great to see so many Japanese no longer wearing the anti-social and restrictive face masks.

What's so "restrictive" about the face masks? Are you going to claim that they prevent you from breathing? The only thing that the masks really restrict is the spread of the virus, which in some cases can literally stop people from breathing.

“Have wonderful memories of my visits to Japanese ports in the late 20th century.” Cool. I just call that decade the late 90’s but whatever floats your boat!

Young people who want to have fun should use social media to go to a different place with no police or alcohol restrictions. Back in the day with illegal raves in Europe, we did this and had amazing parties.

Judging from the videos I have seen about 95% of people dressed up as a youtube influencer. What a crumby event. If you are going to celebrate halloween, you should at least dress-up. Otherwise it's just a load of people milling about on the streets on a Monday night.

Interesting no posters were actually there. It would be great to hear what it was like there from a witness…

Not sure why this is a "thing" in Asia. Looks a bit creepy and desperate to me. Halloween is a childrens' holiday in North America- the whole "trick or treat" thing. Why grown-ass adults feel the need to wear costumes and wander around in public escapes me.

Didn’t go, but looking at some footage on YouTube it didn’t look anywhere near as good as pre-pandemic times. Most people not in costume - probably just the usual weekend punters not there specifically for Halloween. Unfortunately all the dire and unnecessary warnings doing every they could to stop people coming without actually banning it outright seems to have put most people off.

Freaks come out at night ,Freak come out at night

Yes indeed, the tragedy in S. Korea was just too much to bare, I hope it will never re accrue anywhere, so many young lives lost for lack of planning and preparation. Be safe everyone hope you had fun.

Good work by the police but people there to enjoy the party could’ve probably done without the non-stop bullhorn announcements.

For a generally quiet people, Japanese have diarrhea of the mouth when you put a microphone in front of them.

Nice to see a few maskless faces in the crowd.

"A tragedy happened in a different country this weekend. Aren't you worried it could happen here?" is an interesting take.

140 people died crossing a bridge in India this weekend too. Why aren't we checking every bridge in Japan?

Absent from this story are any details of any recent misadventures from Shibuya Halloween. It's just a lot of people in costume having a bit of fun. Trying to tie it to the tragedy in Korea is a pretty craven, bloodthirsty way to drive clicks and make a drama out of what amounts to Shibuya just being busier than usual.

Went out there last night for an hour and there's definitely more plainclothes normies have a gawp than actual costumed "revelers". Usually you can pick out some really good costumes but I didn't see any this time.

8 to 6 years ago it was a pretty good event and a lot more laid back but it's probably become a victim of its own success.

Why grown-ass adults feel the need to wear costumes and wander around in public escapes me.

Fun way of meeting and talking to people. Like most events. Also doesn't cost any money.

Attilathehungry:

Not sure why this is a "thing" in Asia. Looks a bit creepy and desperate to me. Halloween is a childrens' holiday in North America- the whole "trick or treat" thing. Why grown-ass adults feel the need to wear costumes and wander around in public escapes me.

A fair question. Here is a short answer.

Before Halloween became popular in Japan, there was a such thing in Japan called Cosplay (コスプレ), or Costume Play, "an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character". (Wikipedia)

Japanese Halloween is in fact nothing but a festival for cosplayers, without reference to stories behind Halloween.

For a long answer, see my comment in the article:

https://japantoday.com/category/national/tokyo-trains-ask-people-to-refrain-from-wearing-halloween-costumes-that-may-scare-other-passengers#comment-3318477

just one question-what is all of this "celebration" about?

sorry I dont get it...

They should close off the narrow alleyways or control the amount of people going into the narrow alleyways. Also, close the streets to cars like they do on the weekend in Ginza which would give much more room for the crowds.

Socrateos: I understand the concept of cosplay, but generally it is confined to specific private locations and venues- conventions and the like.

Grow up people.

Not sure why this is a "thing" in Asia. Looks a bit creepy and desperate to me. Halloween is a childrens' holiday in North America- the whole "trick or treat" thing. Why grown-ass adults feel the need to wear costumes and wander around in public escapes me.

Part of me agrees, but come on, girls in spicy costumes? We always need that.

Besides, Halloween is the best holiday next to Christmas.

just one question-what is all of this "celebration" about?

sorry I dont get it...

You’re literally posting this on the internet, from the comfort and ease of a super computer in the palm of your hand with answers to almost any question on earth or in history available to you in a matter of milliseconds.

But we get it. Googling “Halloween celebration history” or “History of Halloween celebrations” wouldn’t allow you to register your jealous indignation for all to see.

Nice to see the people celebrating in order and happy..

Happy Halloween people, not like some whiner's anti-halloween comments here..

On the news it’s all doom and gloom when it comes to Halloween in Japan. Where is the celebratory spirit? We heard nothing of the clubs in Shibuya. I really think the media missed out on a bunch of feel good stories. I hope this changes.

It seems like the crowd was on their best behavior. I think it was for two reasons. The first, obviously, is the shock of the Korean tragedy, and not wanting to experience anything like that., But, also, to demonstrate that these gatherings can be peaceful, fun, and trouble-free.

Personally, I find these sorts of things stupid. And, I would never attend. But, and this is a very big but, people should be free to partake in such events and have fun, as long as they remain peaceful and relatively trouble-free, regardless of how idiotic it may be.

I watched it for a while from the comfort of my sofa, with a beer. Large crowds but no signs of any problems. Also big crowds in Osaka.

Kniknak;

Actually I do, but I prefer to spend time with people I know. Not hordes of strangers trying desperately to belong.

Awa no Gaijin

Japanese don't know how to celebrate Halloween !

...and you do, I suspect....

Regarding the reason for costums and jack lanterns.... if you do you have to agree that, the US celebration of Halloween is also wrong

Was the costume theme "boring, drab, black salaryman suit" because that's what I mostly see. Doesn't look like a lot of revelry; more just another day where haggard, exhausted office workers are trudging home to their shoebox apartments.

Northiernlife: I challenge you to find one person in any of the photos accompanying the article who is "enjoying themselves". The sad ones look to be those trudging the streets trying so desperately to be noticed.

I'm glad people are able to enjoy themselves, but I'm the sort of person who hates crowds. I'd never go. I enjoy doing other things.

garypenToday  12:44 pm JST “ Personally, I find these sorts of things stupid. And, I would never attend. But, and this is a very big but, people should be free to partake in such events and have fun, as long as they remain peaceful and relatively trouble-free, regardless of how idiotic it may be. “

( interesting comment )

So, you respect their right to have fun, in other words, you accept the fact that they wanted to be there, but they’re all “ idiots “ and “ stupid “. Got it…

( lmao )

I found this one on Reddit...

https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/yijhul/how_halloween_is_celebrated_in_australia/

Grown ups, acting like kids, taking away child play.

I wonder it there is good enough technology whereby a drone could fly overhead and count the number of people in a given area?

Attilathehungry:

Socrateos: I understand the concept of cosplay, but generally it is confined to specific private locations and venues- conventions and the like.

Yes, you are correct.

Halloween just gave them a perfect excuse or chance to elevate it to an official festival day. It is now a Japanese matsuri (お祭り) for all.

Why don't they just close off the intersection to traffic? Forest for the trees.

Totally agree.

They did close off the intersection and the main roads in 2018. That’s when the truck got turned over and the crowds got out of hand

Watched a couple of youtube clips and looked like everyone was calm and having fun. The News however hyping up the scaremongering and pandering to the socially awkward negative nancy's.