Security tight for Halloween in Shibuya

I bet nothing happens. A drunk SM and a foreign YouTuber. And about 400 police. Silent night.

visited the Hachiko statue with her colleague from Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo in the Kanto region, said Shibuya Ward should have taken measures with more consideration for tourists.

Also foreign tourists who wish to go to Shibuya will only can see white sheet, they can thanks to 100 million yen cost measure for halloween Night in Shibuya

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191025/p2a/00m/0na/023000c

Even hachiko never be harm over several years but paranoid bureaucrat just do many things that unrelated to Halloween measures, in fact what they do with that sheets is shrinking Shibuya spaces and make more cramped

Killjoys out in force, instead of managing it so as to provide a safe, enjoyable, fun experience for everyone.

The rest of the word seems able to manage these mass moments , so I can only assume there is something “special” about crowds of Japanese that makes this impossible, or alternatively those responsible recognise they are too incompetent to do the job.

At the diagonal crosswalk on Saturday, special police officers, dubbed "DJ police," were mobilized to guide pedestrians, providing instructions in both Japanese and English.

Police and quasi security outnumbering costume wearers.

With loudspeakers and bullhorns blaring the repetitive hectoring , useless announcements. Barriers with the Halloween prohibition signage in awkward English placed everywhere.

Mayor Hasebe succeeded in turning Shibuya into a kind of haunted dystopian 1984 attraction.

Killjoys out in force, instead of managing it so as to provide a safe, enjoyable, fun experience for everyone.

Halloween in Shibuya is old hat.

Shibuya doesn't want it and considering the Korean disaster last year, we can hardly blame them.

Time to move on.

Closing streets is common in many area in Tokyo for festival that being granted permission by local government. They only thing they don't like Shibuya Haloween because they just can't make money from it, where many Japanese festival they'll have food stall that sales overprice things for one piece of meal.

The response is so dangerous. People are not sheep and cows to be forced into confined spaces and the crowed control measure were only endangering normal walking and viewing of the city. While shibuya has always been busy the lack of thought about basic safety in a mass transport areas. Complete overreaction and I hope all that money comes directly out of the mayors income. Not one tax dollar should be used for such nonsense.

Only in Tokyo it seems, where the mindless leaders behave like immature and regressive nut jobs. So glad I don’t live there and after visiting countless times, I’m sure im right, you see.

I get it for safety, but is sure looks like the anti fun police.

I remember years ago, back in the 90's I guess, when Shibuya would cordon off the whole area from the Scramble, up past 109.... on some Saturdays.... for people to party. there were bands playing, various activities, food and drink.... a real festive occasion, and great for people-watching. I guess Ken Hasabe wasn't around then.

“Also foreign tourists who wish to go to Shibuya will only can see white sheet, they can thanks to 100 million yen cost measure for halloween Night in Shibuya”. Can someone please translate that?

Closing streets is common in many area in Tokyo for festival that being granted permission by local government. They only thing they don't like Shibuya Haloween because they just can't make money from it, where many Japanese festival they'll have food stall that sales overprice things for one piece of meal.

Excellent excellent point. Hadn't thought of that.

And the Mayor is minimizing the Itaewon tragedy by comparing it with Shibuya.

Foreign residents and tourists alike, do not be put off by this attempt to stifle our fun.

People will still be heading out for Halloween, so come and join the once yearly excitement, which the experts and I foresee as being safe.

The rest of the word seems able to manage these mass moments , so I can only assume there is something “special” about crowds of Japanese that makes this impossible, or alternatively those responsible recognise they are too incompetent to do the job.

Well, Seoul couldn't 12 months ago and 159 people died. The authorities got absolutely smashed for not doing their jobs properly and I would venture to suggest that all of the people killed, and their families and friends whose lives have subsequently been destroyed by the event, would gladly substitute that Halloween party for their lives. I'm sure that is front and foremost in the minds of the authorities.

What's wrong with having smaller, dispersed gatherings in a range of places around the city? Lord knows there are enough quality locations in Tokyo/Yokohama to do it in.

They only thing they don't like Shibuya Haloween because they just can't make money from it

That's the thing though, they have a perfect opportunity to use these banners to promote an alternative event at a more appropriate location where they are able to make money on it. Instead they do they choose the lazy stupid option, that will most likely just repel the average law abiding participant but draw the attention of the attention seekers and trouble makers.

We were lied to again! In this edition of "Moral Panic in Tokyo", Halloween visitors evidently behaved incredibly well, just as they did last year. From all of the video footage I could find on both YouTube and X, nobody was out of control, and streets were never overly packed.

But you know who has not behaved particularly well and has been on an out control tantrum throughout this entire process? The mayor of Shibuya. This man is a fraud. He created a crisis out of literally NOTHING. He has had the entire Japanese media covering him and his antics for an entire month. Endlessly fearmongering, wasting taxpayer money on gross informational campaigns, and making himself the center of attention.

His measures, blocking off the Hachiko statue, shutting down exits for the Tokyo Metro, and blocking off streets did far more to make the area around Shibuya station more congested and cramped than ANY crowd of revellers. Ironically, he has made it closer to Itaewon than it ever was. And he is going to do it again in two months come New Years.

Ken Hasebe - resign!

@Newgirlintown

“Also foreign tourists who wish to go to Shibuya will only can see white sheet, they can thanks to 100 million yen cost measure for halloween Night in Shibuya”. Can someone please translate that?

Whole hachiko statue now is being covered with white sheets. So any traveler who wish to see hachiko just can't get it until next month. Not only that surrounding area near station entry also covered with white sheets.

Where they got money to do that, it's being provided by 100 million yen budget to secure Shibuya between October 28th to November 1st.

You can check it from the news

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/shutoken-news/20231028/1000098624.html

https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/804479

Hachiko covered by a white sheet....echoes of the Euro artiste Christo....he covers all manner of things with sheets...buildings, landscapes included.

I don't get it: they probably could have assigned a single guard for Hachiko and had the same effect. I think this is more of a political statement.

I don't get it: they probably could have assigned a single guard for Hachiko and had the same effect. I think this is more of a political statement.

A political statement that resonate with conservatives and Japan's greying politicians.

The response is more Chinese than Japanese. They might as well have shut the station and area down and flooded the place with the SDF.

Not sure what governments are up to but events in the UK (such as Lewes Bonfire night) are having trains cancelled to stop people from going to them.

Health and safety is being used to shut things down.

In an attempt to prevent young people and foreign visitors from engaging in vandalism and drunken behavior,

Yeah we get it guys. Another patronising low-resolution message from the screws. Is this the way? Why does the gaijin spectre need to be conjured constantly? Hitsuyou deshoka?

Do 'foreigners' really that cause that trouble or is this a projection of the pschological 'other'. May need to ask for some data!

Mayor Hasebe succeeded in turning Shibuya into a kind of haunted dystopian 1984 attraction

Exaggerating much? Godwin's law would apply in 2 o 3 more comments at this pace.

The response is so dangerous. People are not sheep and cows to be forced into confined spaces

Which completely justifies the response, because it avoid people being forced into confined spaces by the crowd except in hugely bigger degree.

Only in Tokyo it seems, where the mindless leaders behave like immature and regressive nut jobs. So glad I don’t live there and after visiting countless times, I’m sure im right, you see.

Many wrong people are sure they are right, which losses all its value when they just accuse others of being wrong without even giving arguments to prove it.

they have a perfect opportunity to use these banners to promote an alternative event at a more appropriate location where they are able to make money on it

Which appropriate location? I have not seen anyone raising their hands to hold the event and take the responsibility of guaranteed safety.

We were lied to again! In this edition of "Moral Panic in Tokyo", Halloween visitors evidently behaved incredibly well, just as they did last year. From all of the video footage I could find on both YouTube and X, nobody was out of control, and streets were never overly packed.

The problem is when you assume this happened without relationship with the many measures used to reduce the problems. Its like saying "see, the fire was controlled easily with the sprinklers, that means they were not even necessary in the first place "

Excellent excellent point. Hadn't thought of that.

That is probably because it makes no real sense, the reasons for stopping the celebration in Shibuya have been clearly exposed and they can easily outweight economic gains simply because of the related costs necessary to have it happen safely, specially with the previous incidents of violence that have happened, it makes it for an easy prediction of serious problems and even deaths if things go out of control, Shibuya is understandably worried about losing much more than money by letting this event take place.

Drove there with my bike. Witnessed how the place was turned into a 1984 Orwellian waste land.

This was done for the 20% elderly of Shibuya. Which are probably 50% of the voting population. It would've never happened back in the day when young people were the majority.

I pity young people in Japan. Things will only get worse.

What an embarrassment.

I bet there are better run Halloween activities in the retirement homes this season.

Laughable overreach to people trying to have some joy in their lives.

Like we saw during Corona pointless local politicians love a chance to grandstand.

The residents of Shibuya fully supported this measure. For the residents the Halloween crowd are like terrorist! That’s why they voted the current administration into power and they will continue to vote them into power in the future elections. Shibuya residents don’t want wild no mannered people going down there and trashing the place every Halloween and make the residents life miserable! Good on the authorities for tightening things this year. People who want dress up and celebrate Halloween could have and should have made plans with their friends to meet up elsewhere and enjoy the experience safely instead of just crowding up on the streets in Shibuya! These same commenters who criticize the authorities actions here and support the Halloween “ terrorist “ would have sang a different tune if some accident occurred if the authorities didn’t take any actions. Hopefully next year there is a complete ban on celebrating on the streets and instead parks around Tokyo and multiple other locations organize some sort of festive atmosphere so the crowds can spread out evenly instead of just gathering on the Shibuya streets!

Jim,

You sound like you are a load of fun.....jeez!

Good job the police and mayor doing the right thing. Halloween is not above having sex and alcohol for adults to trash the area.

Seriously - Halloween does not belong in Japan - it is not part of Japanese Culture,

Actually, I think Halloween belongs in Japan well. Cosplayers are big in Japan and what better opportunity to show off their talents than Halloween?

Plus ALT's and eikaiwas have been having Halloween & Christmas parties and events for their kids for a while. Now those kids are adults and young adults and Halloween is certainly in their minds.

For better or worse, those events are in Japan to stay. Unless of course Japan goes the China way, which we hope never happens.

This issue is truly gripping the nation. Mayor Hasebe must now be surely tempted to request the SDF to assist with arrests and detainment. Why wasn't the statue of Hachiko removed and transferred to a safe location before the expected trouble and violence occurs?

That is probably because it makes no real sense, the reasons for stopping the celebration in Shibuya have been clearly exposed and they can easily outweight economic gains simply because of the related costs necessary to have it happen safely, specially with the previous incidents of violence that have happened, it makes it for an easy prediction of serious problems and even deaths if things go out of control, Shibuya is understandably worried about losing much more than money by letting this event take place.

It makes perfect sense to anyone in Japan. I've been to festivals and other events with streets more densely packed than Shibuya. People vomiting and urinating in public. And then getting back in line to buy overpriced undercooked yakisoba.

Shibuya Halloween is safe, has a record of being safe, and the area where people congregate bears no resemblance to the street in Itaewon where the tragedy occurred.

Well, except that they are both in Asia. Maybe you are mixing up the countries.

Free the dog!

JimToday  08:47 am JST

The residents of Shibuya fully supported this measure. For the residents the Halloween crowd are like terrorist! That’s why they voted the current administration into power and they will continue to vote them into power in the future elections. Shibuya residents don’t want wild no mannered people going down there and trashing the place every Halloween and make the residents life miserable! Good on the authorities for tightening things this year. People who want dress up and celebrate Halloween could have and should have made plans with their friends to meet up elsewhere and enjoy the experience safely instead of just crowding up on the streets in Shibuya! These same commenters who criticize the authorities actions here and support the Halloween “ terrorist “ would have sang a different tune if some accident occurred if the authorities didn’t take any actions. Hopefully next year there is a complete ban on celebrating on the streets and instead parks around Tokyo and multiple other locations organize some sort of festive atmosphere so the crowds can spread out evenly instead of just gathering on the Shibuya streets!

I wouldn't go as far as to ban all outdoor events but I think one issue is that there is no organizer. It's basically a free for all with people with masks and costumes who often act out of character because they're disguised. It does change some people's behavior. Many businesses will close or won't sell alcohol because of the trouble.

But they sound like 10yrs old arguing with their parents.

The residents and businesses in Shibuya don't want you to come. 'Ahhh....they're no fun!! Bunch of party poopers.'

But there are hundreds of organized Halloween events with food, drinks, music, chairs, tables, etc throughout the city. 'I don't care! I wanna go I wanna go where I want when I want!!'

Why do you want to hang around and sit on filthy streets with no music, drink, or food? 'Because I just wanna!! They're taking away my freedom, my rights!!'

Will you clean up after yourself and not damage property or cause problems because that's another why residents and businesses in Shibuya don't want you to come. 'Why should I do that! It's not my job. Shibuya ward can pay to clean and repair things!!'

The mayor of Shibuya works for and was elected by the people who live and work in Shibuya and they don't want you to come. He's doing his job. 'He's a killjoy, a wet blanket. He's no fun!!'

People should go dressed up as security guards with glow wands just to mess with them

Halloween in Japan is a party for people who hardly party. It's a dangerous mix of the stupid and the naive, it's for amateurs. I can understand grown-ups' concern.

Real drinkers and party people are nowhere near any Halloween event.

because Japanese Halloween "only exists" in Shibuya.............

who cares about halloween... it's just part of the american culture forced to other countries.

i'm European and I don't give a **** to halloween

In the UK we have had Halloween for many many decades. Nothing to do with American culture.

"In an attempt to prevent young people and foreign visitors from engaging in vandalism and drunken behavior, convenience stores and supermarkets near the station have been asked by Shibuya Ward to suspend alcohol sales during the Halloween season."

How about all the old oyaji that get drunk and vomit all over the place, cause fights, get in taxis and don't pay, sleep on the street, etc. after enkais? This guy is unbelievable.

smithinjapanToday  11:22 am JST

How about all the old oyaji that get drunk and vomit all over the place, cause fights, get in taxis and don't pay, sleep on the street, etc. after enkais? This guy is unbelievable.

They definitely exist. I can attest to that but.....are there hundreds of them doing it at the same time in the same place on one night?

It makes perfect sense to anyone in Japan. I've been to festivals and other events with streets more densely packed than Shibuya. People vomiting and urinating in public. And then getting back in line to buy overpriced undercooked yakisoba.

You give no reasons for Shibuya to elect assuming the extra risk and costs, if anything those are perfectly valid reasons NOT to do it, if the residents of Shibuya do not want to be known as the place where people are vomiting and urinating in public every Halloween even important economic gains would not convince them of the contrary.

Shibuya Halloween is safe, has a record of being safe

On the opposite, reports of violence and disorderly conduct have been on the rise and they are predicted to increase with even more people attending the event, that also justifies the decision of the city of not allowing the event to be held.

and the area where people congregate bears no resemblance to the street in Itaewon where the tragedy occurred

Enought to justify taking care of it, not to forget that lethal incidents have also happened in Japan as well, pretending this is not the case completely disproves the claim that there is no reason to worry.

How about all the old oyaji that get drunk and vomit all over the place, cause fights, get in taxis and don't pay, sleep on the street, etc. after enkais? This guy is unbelievable

How does this compare with the Halloween event? Specially the necessary measures to avoid a much more limited degree of the problem happening all year long instead of just once?

“ Tight security was in place in Tokyo's vibrant Shibuya district on Saturday, just days before Halloween, with the famous Hachiko dog statue covered with a white curtain bearing the message that the area is "not a venue" for events. “

True (and good job protecting Hachiko, keeping everyone safe/and the area clean!)…; it’s getting “ worse “ every year with more people (many of them are Japanese desperate for attention/tired of the same old routine and foreigners–which can lead to some… “situations”) showing up, wanting to participate in this pseudo–Halloween event/party (if we can call it that)…; Shibuya is taking measures before something bad happens and(!) to send the message that, again, Shibuya and/or the scramble is “ not a venue for events “—the mayor simply feels like this is the right time to take those measures — he a) doesn’t want people to have a wrong image of Shibuya and b) he wants to maintain order and keep everyone safe— completely reasonable and understandable. (I’m all for having fun, btw.)

How long ago could a group, any group, young or old, be able on Halloween to simply dress up, enjoy the outdoor experience, together, sometime passing wine cheese, maybe a beer, just in carefree abandonment

Stroll through the wonders of Shibuya, a world class reputation for cutting edge fun bars, cafes, nightlife, experience Shibuya’s fashion paradise, shopping until you drop, Tokyo premier entertainment district.

Well on Halloween 2023 the suffocating dead hand of the badged tax payer funded special police officers, the billboards insisting you are unwelcome, shops closed, alcoholic beverages banned.

Let me introduce you the world of Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe, armed with a new and distinctive form of a busybody state.

Hasebe political ego driven vanity project the pushing prodding poking into your social life, the incessant toxic disrupting nagging, finger wagging, whistle blowing, shouting all things that people must never dare to do.

Ken Hasebe petty puritanism, a bureaucratic officialdom cattle prod mentality, to invade people’s everyday experience to be hassled by the uniformed badged official in public spaces.

All under the deceitful guise of scaremongering, that poisonous undemocratic scourge of local officialdom, self-righteous conceited pompous, self-important, holier than thou, manipulation that causing fear, rumour mongering, spread openly, raking over the bodies of South Korea’s capital tragedy.

All to tastelessly justify dishonestly a misguided threat of impending danger.

All courtesy of Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe, rules for the sake of a rule, Hasebe displays more than just a disdain towards the Halloween celebrations, there is a hint of snobbery,  

In an attempt to prevent young people and foreign visitors from engaging in vandalism and drunken behavior

Hasebe agenda is not to manage competently, but to exclude, hide behind a concocted media, billboard campaign, at local taxpayers’ expense.

It would be hilarious if no one went, and the mob just descended on the Tokyo station grounds instead.

Why would consumers want to venture into Shibuya?

Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe has clearly stated you are not wanted or welcome.

Your hard earned money would be better spent elsewhere.

Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe only wants your custom when it suits him.

Now, I wonder whether/if the proprietors of the fun bars, cafes, nightlife, the experience of Shibuya’s fashion paradise, shopping until you drop, Tokyo premier entertainment district traders and businesses agree with that.

If one wants to give Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe a sound kick up the jacksie, then take a leaf out the lobbyist playbook.

Hound/lobby Shibuya businesses relentlessly, I can assure you the message will find its way to Mayor Ken Hasebe office.

Even the slight drop in revenues can have a profound affect to the confidence of shareholders/pension/hedge funds.

The Akita dog statue? Couldn't just say Hachiko? Lol

prevent young people and foreign visitors from engaging in vandalism and drunken behavior

A dangerous statement. Are foreigners a threat? Is alcohol a dangerous drug? If so, close the borders and ban alcohol altogether. Wasn't this Shibuya thing all about preventing the tragic accident in South Korea from repeating? Why is this now about foreigners and alcohol?

it's just part of the american culture forced to other countries.

i'm European and I don't give a **** to halloween

To be accurate, Halloween is not American. Most scholars agree that Halloween originated around 2,000 years ago, when Celtic people in Europe celebrated the end of the harvest and the start of a new year in a festival called Samhain.

They definitely exist. I can attest to that but.....are there hundreds of them doing it at the same time in the same place on one night?

Yeah, it’s called Shimbashi.

Today  08:26 am JST “ Seriously - Halloween does not belong in Japan - it is not part of Japanese Culture, just as Christmas day isn't anything but a Commercial excuse here in Japan. “

Just because Japanese (well, most of them) do not know (or do not care about) the Christian/religious meaning behind Halloween (October 31—All Saints’ Eve + November 1 and 2—All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day = Allhallowtide or Hallowmas), Christmas (December 24 and 25—the birth of Christ (at midnight) ) and Easter (the crucifixion on Friday and resurrection on Sunday), that doesn’t mean they don’t have the right to have fun and celebrate whatever they want to celebrate. Btw, Christmas illuminations/decorations in Tokyo are pretty amazing. :)

RedemptionToday  01:14 pm JST

They definitely exist. I can attest to that but.....are there hundreds of them doing it at the same time in the same place on one night?

Yeah, it’s called Shimbashi.

If I didn't live in Japan and hadn't actually been there many times, I'd be foolish enough to believe your attempt at gross exaggeration.

The Yearly Halloween event in Shibuya harms local business operations - they have to close early. Even I, would not wish to take my Family to Dine out in Shibuya during such an event.

Would you take your family to dine in Shibuya anytime?

If I didn't live in Japan and hadn't actually been there many times, I'd be foolish enough to believe your attempt at gross exaggeration.

No, they're correct. I have absolutely seen outrageous behavior from the dudes in suits around that area.

People passed out in areas of the station where people need to walk, people puking on the street, people screaming and getting into fights in front of FamilyMart, ect. Shimbashi is quite out of control much of the time.

I went to three Shibuya Halloweens before this year (I did not go this year), and I literally never noticed any problems. There is one instance I remember off the top of my head, several years before I arrived in Japan, where a bunch of Japanese youths flipped over a truck. That's it. That single clip is essentially the origin for all of this hysteria and fearmongering. That was the old excuse, then Covid was the new excuse, and now Itaewon is the new-new excuse.

I avoid Shibuya (and Shinjuku) like the plague. Most Tokyoites do the same unless meeting people from out of town.

I would never socialise there and only use the stations. I might step into Shinjuku to browse the Disk Unions once in a blue moon. That is it.

Shibuya used to be a hoot. I've been here long enough to remember the yamaba in Shibuya who were professional loiterers, squatting everywhere.

It's sad really that a handful of powerful silver people feel they need to manages everyone's fun. Just cause they ain't getting a slice of the pumpkin pie. This is the future I guess.

Everyone should dress up as police/security for Halloween in Shibuya. It would be a funny sight.

I avoid Shibuya (and Shinjuku) like the plague. Most Tokyoites do the same unless meeting people from out of town.

I would never socialise there and only use the stations. I might step into Shinjuku to browse the Disk Unions once in a blue moon. That is it.

Thing is though, outside of the areas you mentioned, as well as Roppongi and potentially Ginza, Tokyo's nightlife is pretty mediocre. And I have given other areas a chance. I can't tell you how many times I've wandered around Ikebukuro or Naka Meguro for example, looking for something, anything fun looking. But there's literally nothing. Just smoke filled Izakayas where it's utterly impossible to approach or interact with new people. It's all practically anti-social nightlife. But I do find that Shibuya generally has better bars and pubs than the rest of the city.

Shibuya is for the youthful, not people in their forties with kids looking to meet up with their pals for that once a month occasion.

Oh for that masochistic thrill of being constantly buffeted by boisterous, inconsiderate juveniles and wannabes, the exquisite ecstasy of being herded by over-officious, hectoring, acoustical whip bearing police, there to keep the proles in line.

oyatoi

Oh for that masochistic thrill of being constantly buffeted by boisterous, inconsiderate juveniles and wannabes, the exquisite ecstasy of being herded by over-officious, hectoring, acoustical whip bearing police, there to keep the proles in line.

That sounds like so much fun! No wonder so many people wanna do it. The icing on the cake would be getting puked upon. You can't beat that with a (night)stick!

wolfshineToday  01:50 pm JST

If I didn't live in Japan and hadn't actually been there many times, I'd be foolish enough to believe your attempt at gross exaggeration.

No, they're correct. I have absolutely seen outrageous behavior from the dudes in suits around that area.

People passed out in areas of the station where people need to walk, people puking on the street, people screaming and getting into fights in front of FamilyMart, ect. Shimbashi is quite out of control much of the time.

I went to three Shibuya Halloweens before this year (I did not go this year), and I literally never noticed any problems. There is one instance I remember off the top of my head, several years before I arrived in Japan, where a bunch of Japanese youths flipped over a truck. That's it. That single clip is essentially the origin for all of this hysteria and fearmongering. That was the old excuse, then Covid was the new excuse, and now Itaewon is the new-new excuse.

I've been there drinking and eating many times albeit not lately and I haven't found it any worse than areas in Shinjuku, Roppongi, or Ikebukuro. I have noticed more swindlers jacking up the prices and heard about initial low offers that turn into much higher prices when it's time to leave.

“Security” ?!

Is THAT what you’re calling it ?

Halloween is not part of Japanese Culture. Just Like Christmas.

Most people celebrating these events don't do it because of religion etc, it's just tradition and fun.

I know many Americans are still very religious, but in most of Europe Santa and Jesus is basically the same thing, we enjoy all the events because it's fun and tradition, Japanese can do the same.

When I was kid my father used to work overseas a lot and he was always telling me that he is guest overseas and that all people going overseas should respect customs and wishes of the natives. Let’s be honest, most of the people commenting here are non-Japanese. Our wishes do not matter here. It seems that locals don’t want Halloween on the streets of Shibuya. However, there are still lots of alternatives although in much smaller scale like clubs, bars etc. if one wants to participate in it. Some are even calling Shibuya mayor to resign. Well, if this is really huge mistake as some people in the comments want to point out, he should be outvoted in the next ward elections.

Shibuya is for the youthful, not people in their forties with kids looking to meet up with their pals for that once a month occasion.

Youthful people can also be against having a risky event that has been getting out of control and paints their area in a bad light.

“Shibuya streets are not party venues for Halloween,” Mayor Ken Hasebe said in an Oct. 27 interview. “Anyone who is thinking about visiting Shibuya for Halloween, please be aware that the situation has changed this year. Security will be tighter and it won’t be enjoyable.”

That is end of that it seems.

They could very easily make this in to a profitable and very popular event. Maybe shift it to a park to make sure there are no dangers of a s. Korea style crush happening. I really think its a missed opportunity. Cool Japan? More like miserable partypooper Japan.

wolfshineToday  02:39 pm JST

Shibuya is for the youthful, not people in their forties with kids looking to meet up with their pals for that once a month occasion.

It used to be a very young area back when Tower Records was around. I recall seeing a lot of those silver-haired Shibuya gyaru's. But recently the area has undergone a major change with new buildings, more expensive shops, cafes, and restaurants attracting an older crowd. It's become much more upscale. Yes there are still some young people especially around 109 and the shoten gai but the higher priced establishments have made many move to other areas like Akihabara.

Lame.......I'm glad to be vacationing back home in North America this year where the attitude is soooo much more lax...since Friday we've been bouncing between countless Halloween celebrations/events in my city .

News articles like this almost convince me to want to up and leave Japan because its pretty much expected and you know they want to control how much fun one can have and obv. a big power-flex for the authorities

If you see someone in a costume, arrest them!

They could save themselves a lot of grief if they actually planned an official event somewhere, like in a park with proper security measures in palce. "Imploring people to stay away" instead of implementing and enforcing an actual law does nothing.