Shibuya New Year’s Eve countdown event canceled for 3rd consecutive year

Immature and regressive decision made by out of touch officials with May 2020 mindsets.

Killjoys.

In a statement on the ward website, Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe said: “While the area will not be adding anything to the New Year festivities, if you still plan to celebrate here, please observe good manners and morals.”

I think these are more like .....guidelines than rules as there were the same prescriptions on Halloween yet the 7/11 50 meters from the xing had a regular selection of adult beverages.

It would be nice too if the political leaders observed "good morals" as well in their own conduct.

Instead they hector and nanny the public while demonstrating many defects of character in their own actions.

Possibly the real reason is because of what happened in Seoul recently.

Roy SophveasonToday  07:09 am JST

So, kindly remind us, what about that has changed since May 2020?

The restrictions were useless in 2020 as they are in 2022, so on that front not much has changed. Currently in Japan the influenza is more deadly than covid, even with the inflated “with covid” included. For 0-70 year olds, the risk is essentially still 0.

Good manners and morals?

I dont think this guy gets to define morality.

I thought in Japan drinking was a sacred protected act done after overwork!

Possibly the real reason is because of what happened in Seoul recently.

Why? Really now, why?

@Yubaru. Like Seoul, Tokyo is opening up after two to three years of restrictions for events which lead to mass gatherings. Young people quite naturally want to get out and revel now that things are normalising. The awful tragedy in Itawon demonstrates what can happen when too many people descend on one area in such a short space of time.

Today  07:29 am JST “ Possibly the real reason is because of what happened in Seoul recently. “

Today  08:52 am JST “ Like Seoul, Tokyo is opening up after two to three years of restrictions for events which lead to mass gatherings. Young people quite naturally want to get out and revel now that things are normalising. The awful tragedy in Itawon demonstrates what can happen when too many people descend on one area in such a short space of time. “

..

( O_O )

um… do you know Itaewon(?); … Shibuya isn’t Itaewon.

Good Idea.

@rcch. No Shibuya is not Itawon. (In answer to your question, I do know Itawon, all but many years ago). My point is, anywhere, any place where you could get a situation where there is more than 6 people per square metre, there is a real possibility of a tragedy. I think that the authorities quite rightly want more controls in place.

Yes, you certainly don't want large crowds around Shibuya, even when they are vaccinated 4 times, wear those face covers and surround themselves with plastic screens.

Today  09:15 am JST “ @rcch. No Shibuya is not Itawon. (In answer to your question, I do know Itawon, all but many years ago). My point is, anywhere, any place where you could get a situation where there is more than 6 people per square metre, there is a real possibility of a tragedy. I think that the authorities quite rightly want more controls in place. “

No, no, no, excuse me, people are not gonna get crushed/suffocate to death in Shibuya; the reason why they wanna keep canceling Halloween and New Year is because they don’t want stupid people to do stupid things in the middle of the street; the virus is just an excuse.

Good, safe precaution as cases in Tokyo are on the rise. Nobody listens to the government including myself and I am Japanese and also grew up in the US. It is more about common sense when people do go out to crowded places, no different than going to disney land or tourist hot spots.

Just so happens a few bad apples or muppets get out of control and ruins it for everyone else. Otherwise, try and enjoy and for those who complain about to many restrictions, don't go out.....simple!!!

Poor Japan. Perpetually stuck in 2020 like an episode of Groundhog Day - Covid Edition. If they're so worried about clusters of people spreading the virus while out ringing in the New Year then why are their trains packed to the brim every day with commuters? Surely it's safer to have clusters of people outside instead of in a tight, confined space like a train carriage.

I think at this point Japan should update their tourism campaign - "Wanna know what it's like to live in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world? Come to Japan where everyone wears a mask, even alone in their cars! And when you're out socializing please talk through these plastic sheets! A wild, once in a lifetime experience for all!"

The youth of japan are not following the rules, no other action but to close things down. They must continue to obey and this closure will surely teach them what disobedience means. Play nicely or don't play at all

Japan is forever stuck in 2020. The rest of the world will celebrate the new year and embrace a time when Covid is an afterthought. Japan is still driving in cars fully masked and hiding behind plastic dividers.

Agree ridiculous to wear in a car when you are the only one in the car or even walking down the street when nobody is around.

I will wear a mask in crowded trains, planes and in large crowds. Again, common sense and those who are anti-masking for the sake of complaining about it......muppet!

@bo The majority of young people in Japan have been extremely tolerant in putting up with all the draconian measures, especially given that Omicron has a death rate of 0% for their age group. I would even argue that they have become annoyingly submissive and compliant (when it’s not necessary anymore).

You know what would be interesting? If you answered that rhetoric question yourself. Why doesn't Japan shut down its singular most important means of mass transport, what do you think? What are your theories?

No need to be a drama queen. They don't need to shut down but companies should implement staggered working hours and WFH options more. And to avoid overcrowding why not introduce more bus routes or car-share options? Japan at this point is just using Covid as the go-to excuse to suck the fun and normality out of everything.

Shibuya countdown, not my idea of fun.

Prefer kicking it around Uguisudani with someone special.

Oh wait, that was last week.

Young people are so dumb. Just go and party somewhere else and drink and dance and act as normal human beings.

vendingmachinemusicToday  12:14 pm JST

Shibuya countdown, not my idea of fun.

Prefer kicking it around Uguisudani with someone special. 

Oh wait, that was last week.

Ikebukuro is surprisingly cheaper.

The current government rules are masks are not necessary while walking on the street.

What happens when a million people decide to gather outside on the Shibuya streets during New Years Eve and no mask?

My baby like too party all the time ,party all time until she went to Shibuya Party Pooper

Fair enough. Will the Fun Police also ban large gatherings of people outside of Senso-Ji Temple?

Or Kawasaki Dai-shi?

Or any other religious gathering house which rakes in billions of O-Shogatsu donations every year and sends a large slice to the LDP?

No, of course not. This is simply an exercise in trying to make sure young people learn to watch crappy TV every New Year and following obligatory non-celebrations, rather than having a good time before they sell their souls to J-Inc.

Fun is not to be tolerated in the land of Gaman.

Banning the countdown is counterproductive. In the end Omicron will do what it is designed to do - infect everyone on the planet - just as China has realized. Most people now recognize the craziness of full masking outside and no masking in bars / restaurants / coffee shops where the virus spreads easily. Just end all restrictive measures and let individuals make their own decisions.

Just recovering (95%) now from flu and can say that it is/was for me, many times worse than Covid (Omicron)

Dizziness,vomiting and loss of appetite were the symptoms.

Funnily, no fever as partially with Corona though.

Try and avoid this one if you can!

Ikebukuro is surprisingly cheaper.

Yes, much more value for money. In the 70's, 80's, it was a very characterless, bland area, but went more upmarket in the 90's. It has declined again in the last 10 years, but it would be nice to see it rebound again.

Wise and responsible decision made by adults .!. Following the science .!.

Has anyone set the alarm??? it’s time to wake up from the Covid nightmare….

NumanToday  01:29 pm

What happens when a million people decide to gather outside on the Shibuya streets during New Years Eve and no mask?

…..Fun….

As I have stated in the past: they are singling out and punishing Shibuya exclusively because for the past three years, young people have gone there to ignore Covid and live their lives. Bars and clubs remained opened even during the SoEs, costumed revellers still showed up on Halloween, tons of people without masks on, young people meeting up, Love Hotel businesses booming... the list goes on.

It is time for Japanese people to abandon the Church of Public Health Consciousness.

It's the best decision..

Wise, responsible and mature..

Well done..

TokyoLivingDec. 29  12:48 am JST

It's the best decision..

Wise, responsible and mature..

Well done..

In 2020, the virus was spreading across the US but those 'freedumb' 'protests' that the Insurrectionist Iscariot was stirring up at state capital cities only made it worse. Then came the unrest he stirred up, and treasonous militia scum from the sticks came to stir up violence in the midst of it all. The virus spread out to rural areas afterwards, including western Kentucky. My uncle from there, an honorable Korean War veteran and retired police trooper got CoVid from all this mayhem and died during Christmas Week 2020.

Yes, he was in a high-risk group because of his age (89) but even though I have been vaxxed 5 times at my local VA, I don't want to be a carrier. And children are getting sick as well. Japan seems to be doing a better job battling this. I don't like this situation either but we need to use our heads until this pandemic is over. And it won't last forever, they never do.