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Tokyo’s Shibuya district has long been a place to spot Japan’s latest youth fashions. In recent years, though, it’s also become the prime place in Japan to see Halloween costumes, as it’s become an annual custom for partiers to gather on the streets that spiderweb out from Shibuya Station on the nights of the weekend before Halloween, as well on October 31 itself.
But speaking at a recent press conference Shibuya Ward head Ken Hasebe announced that the ward government will be actively telling people not to gather in Shibuya for Halloween this year, citing the coronavirus transmission risks the all-night celebrations pose.
In addition, Hasabe said that Shibuya Ward will be cancelling all of its previously planned New Year’s Eve events, which annually draw crowds of some 100,000 people (the Halloween parties, as unofficial gatherings, aren’t something the government can cancel). “We must not allow an infection cluster to occur on the streets of Shibuya,” Hasabe asserted while announcing the decision.
Shibuya does intend to offer an alternative, though. The ward is currently in the planning stages for a “virtual Shibuya” Halloween event, which might resemble the virtual Akihabara dojinshi convention and virtual Pokémon theme park from this summer.
Sources: NHK News Web via Hachima Kiko, Nitele News 24 via Livedoor News
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2020/09/13/tokyos-number-one-halloween-party-spot-asks-people-to-stay-away-this-year/
18 Comments
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divinda
Yet just 2 days ago the government also announced that the crowd size limits for events will be removed this week.
nintendogirl
IDK if lol will follo
kyushubill
Nope, go out and have fun.
Abbey
Thank god and lets hope they do .
kurisupisu
Get your cluster on the Yamanote line-no problem!
NOMINATION
I highly doubt Halloween revelers read or watch the news on government announcements.
Goodlucktoyou
How about to “advise” or “suggest” or “recommend” that these young healthy people wear a Halloween mask for Halloween?
Goodlucktoyou
@knik. Or instead of assaulting people having fun because of personal fear, just stay home safely in front of the Tele and let others decide their lives.
Toshihiro
Unless they cordon off the area or deploy more police to disperse crowds from gathering, I'm willing to bet this would become a mass gathering despite from all the pleading of the government. People throughout the world have been restricted from living their usual lives for months and are itching to go somewhere outside their home despite the risks to themselves or to other people. I know it's not a fair comparison but imagine telling the Mexicans not to celebrate their Dia De Los Muertos or the United States their Halloween trick or treating.
commanteer
Authorities in the US actually are telling people not to go trick or treating. But I do agree that if you keep people penned in long enough they will eventually go wild in frustration.
Sal Affist
Don't just ask. Do more of what they did last year - closing the ancillary subway station exits, barricading the streets and stores, having many police - and maybe impose a very early curfew too (such as 7pm).
PhantomAgent
This is the fall of us!
Kyo Hiromitsu
Last year I was in shibuya Halloween party great time I had. O would go there again if I had the chance. with covid or not.