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© KYODOTokyo's Shibuya on high alert for return of Halloween crowds
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The Avenger
"I'm scared because I do not know what will happen this year, so I want to spend time quietly at home," she said.
Life goals
Monty
Everybody who goes to this Shibuya event knows that there is a risk of rowdies and a risk of catching Covid.
But the people who join this event knows these risks and they are accepting them.
So let them go and enjoy!
If you don't want to take these risks, don't go.
Simple and easy.
DudeDeuce
Americans do karate, eat sushi and play Nintendo. Should they not because those things are from Japan?
antifun
"People who follow the rules protect Shibuya"
From what exactly?
Rules are made by some bureaucrats and put in action by so called representatives. Well the people they "represent" want to be in Shibuya and they want to celebrate Halloween. So what exactly are you protecting Shibuya from?
Padraig Bohannan
@Starbucks
Eh... you might wanna fact check this mate.
It's from Scotland.
Kobe White Bar Owner
This country needs to learn the meaning of fun. My J in-laws were gob smacked when I mentioned the egg and flour fight we had on the last day of school and that our parents permitted it, dun dun daaa.
Letting people blow of some steam!!!
Better in the long run.
TokyoLiving
It may be, it applies to all the countries in the world that celebrate Halloween..
Well, I think that comes from a long time before Mexico and the US, look at the ancient history of Europe, especially the Germanic peoples, especially the Celts, as they already answered you..
And if the whole world celebrates Halloween, why not Japan??..
KazukoHarmony
This is apparently in response to the Halloween 2018 arrest of four people for destruction of property. About 20 in total were arrested that evening for various infractions.
All the hype makes you wonder whether the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is using this event for its own financial gain.
Kaowaiinekochanknaw
Tokio's Shibuya celebrating Halloween? Why? Halloween is American! Originally from Mexico celebrating the Dead!
Halloween's history is traced back to Europe. From the Celts. The Celtic New Year's Festival Samhain:
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1456/history-of-halloween/
Mexico also had a similar tradition of celebrating the dead, as did many other places but the Europeans got it from their own roots.
I say, let the Japanese youth enjoy their time in Shibuya - before they become actual skeletons in reality.
SweetKaori
Have a good time. But be cool with everyone, so everyone can a good time.
factchecker
The fun police on high alert to ruin people's evening of fun after 3 miserable years
Headline fixed, you're welcome.
Gaijinjland
I’m sure people will still be drinking on the streets, they’ll just bring it from somewhere else if the convenient shops are really going to lock the liquor aisles. Even pre pandemic Shibuya was harmless. I remember those drunks who flipped that car back in 2018, a couple tourists involved too if I recall. That was funny.
OnTheTrail
"rules" or "ordnances"? Bit of a difference to me, any Jack 'n apes can create a "rule" but that doesn't give it any authority in public spaces. Anyway, have fun kids!
purple_depressed_bacon
Overreact much? They act like The Purge is going to decend upon Shibuya. Get a grip.
shogun36
you want tourism, you don’t want tourism, make up your mind!
what they should be worrying about is getting more live street level video feeds from the area.
halloween in Shibuya is far more entertaining than anything on Japanese tv all year, that’s for sure.
Starbucks
Tokio's Shibuya celebrating Halloween? Why? Halloween is American! Originally from Mexico celebrating the Dead! I do not know what is the significance of offering sweets to children who knock at your door. But every year there are some wicked people who stick pine needles into pieces of candy they offer to the children.
Try Celtic champ.
garypen
It wasn't very long ago that nobody here knew what Halloween was. It seems like it went from 0 to 100 practically overnight, a few years back.
Starbucks
Padraig BohannanToday 08:35 am JST
@Starbucks
Eh... you might wanna fact check this mate.
It's from Scotland.
I didn’t write that . I was responding to another comment. My mistake for not highlighting that. But Scotland really.
purple_depressed_bacon
Might want to crack open a history book there, mate. Halloween finds its origins in a Celtic festival known as Samhain, a pagan holiday to celebrate the harvest. It's been celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries. People wore costumes to avoid be detected by the wandering spirits and food offerings were left out for said wandering spirits. These traditions have morphed into the costume wearing and trick-or-treating more commonly associated with Halloween nowadays.
Cricky
Shibuya on high alert, because Japanese young people or just Japanese want to have fun. HIGH ALERT not everyone is 70yo, well actually a majority are. But still give those younger a break. High Alert? What does that even mean? Riot squad,? A telling off, finger wagging?
wallace
Halloween or Hallowe'en, less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day.
Halloween was brought to the Americas by the British.
In fact, its origins appear to have come from different pagan and Christian traditions in the British Isles. Irish and Scottish immigrants first imported it over to the US in the 19th century.
The Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns wrote his famous poem “Halloween” in 1785.
It was not until after mass Irish and Scottish immigration in the 19th century that Halloween became a major holiday in America. Most American Halloween traditions were inherited from the Irish and Scots.
gogogo
High alert? Sounds like a normal weekend in Shibuya
WA4TKG
High Alert, lol.
Will the North Koreans be attending?
NCIS Reruns
I actually went there once, because it's not far from where I live and I was curious. Some of the costumes were extremely well done, and I got some great photos. But for me, once is enough.
thepersoniamnow
“High Alert”…
Oh Japan, how we like to embarass ourselves.
dagon
If it as in previous years the police presence will be excessive, unnecessary and a waste of money.
They act as if it is Hell Night.
Mark
Some people become total scums once they mask their face, others just what to have fun and enjoy the event.
Ricky Kaminski13
Let the children boogie, yeah! The aging geriatrics who are fearful of youthful energy, just stay away. Simpuru desu!
Elvis is here
Hope the masked ghouls wear a mask when they aren't playing dress-up!!
Azrul Hakim
After what happened to the tragic and horrible Halloween stampede in Itaewon South Korea that kills hundred of people Shibuya better take note and prepare with emergency and good crowd control.
Sanjinosebleed
No Fun, No Individual thought, no life....Kids in Japan have got so much to looks forward too the poor buggers!
jaebez
Some many “first world problems” we have to deal with that are “newsworthy.” It’s so nauseating that time was wasted to report this. The futility of politics trying to control a mutating virus is a fools errand. People need to wake up and move on. Vaccinated aren’t immune from infection. Shutdowns have unintended consequences that are worse than a functional society and economy. This virus is endemic (people have to live with). At some point, everyone will get it. Protect the most vulnerable, and let everyone else get on with their lives.
Padraig Bohannan
Brilliant comment!
dagon
Costumes are sexy, taking on different identities makes people get freaky so there are a lot hookups and debauchery.
There you go.
bass4funk
https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#:~:text=The%20tradition%20originated%20with%20the,of%20the%20traditions%20of%20Samhain.
Anonymous
Guy Fawkes Day and Halloween are different by a few thousand years - I’m referring to the original Celtic customs, not the faux scary activity of today.
That’s not to dismiss the way Halloween is marked today. Some costumes and sets are very clever and fun. Kind of like an autumnal Madri Gras without the music.
If I recall - from reading, not from personal memory - Halloween marked the eve of the ancient Celtic New Year which the Christians dubbed All Saints Day (November 1) even Christians liked to keep the friendly spirits close and the evil ones away. It seems the latter did not like the light emitted by bonfires.
So, go out and enjoy and try not to make an ass of yourself.
SDCA
I saw at least 10,000 people wearing a "Where's Waldo?" or "Wally" costume that year. That costume is cool if there is only a few amongst the crowd.
Alan Bogglesworth
Why is this downvoted ?
GillislowTier
One thing I keep noticing about japan is the misunderstanding of what an adult age party/party area is. Gather in Shibuya on Halloween to hangout, drink, and have fun is what people outside Japan think of, but Japanese people hear that and think “TIME TO GO NUTS WOOOOOO”
“no no… it’s what we said, just chill and have fun.”
”Wooo flip the truck and light fires like they do in foreign countries Halloween!”
Shibuya is more lite riot than a fun gathering just cause morons like this
Japantime
I heard in the past that foreigners used to gather on the Yamanote line and yell at the local Japanese to scare them on Halloween.
tamanegi
I pray for the people of Shibuya this weekend. I hope the Japanese public will obey local authorities but I fear the possibility of police intervention and violence.
mounted
Of all the things to be on high alert about! Get your priorities straight and let the kids have fun.
Nadrew
Shibuya should actually run an official Halloween event. Maybe a street concert. Fun for everyone. With proper event security. Surely, Japan has some experience running outdoor events? 40,000 doesn’t seem excessively large. The Stones played a free concert to 1.5 million people in 2006 in Rio.
Nadrew
Yoyogi koen could handle a rather large event. Food vendors, concerts, dancing. Weren’t they going to run a major even there during the Olympics?
CaptDingleheimer
Perhaps some exceptionally large Americans can dress up as NYPD officers and go on patrol to keep the peace.
kaimycahl
@Stephen Chin JUst blame it on America!!! Completely incorrect and misstated you said its American but from Mexico so how is it american?
Tokio's Shibuya celebrating Halloween? Why? Halloween is American! Originally from Mexico celebrating the
Jtsnose
The billboard sign in the photo seems to suggest during times like these, people need to protect their health, . . . by eating/ drinking kaki fruit . . . my family did so - supposed to help against Covid . . . .
Sanjinosebleed
Seriously anyone would think they were getting ready for a terrorist attack! Enough of this over reach already!
JTC
Yeah, but still Halloween has been now taken over by Adults. If you live in the Shibuya area, would you want your Kids going out arounds the local neighborhoods ?
Halloween has become a drunken disorderly situation within Shibuya, to the point its like being packed inside a commuter train.
CrashTestDummy
How crazy does Shibuya even get at Halloween? Never seen Japan get crazy. Japan is always very orderly.
rcch
Sixty eight percent of people in Shibuya on Halloween just wanna break free from their incredibly dull, hollow lives (they’re Japanese living in Japan, so there’s not much they can do), that includes getting drunk, walking around the scramble and… um, that’s it; fifty four percent – girls desperate for attention, showing off their bodies and perverts looking at them, trying to talk to them; ninety four percent doesn’t know the history and religious meaning behind Halloween and thirty five percent just wants destruction and fights. The whole thing is just ridiculous; and it’s ridiculous because it doesn’t have the support of the TMG.
diego
The Hollween street party should be banned! after Covid 19 better to avoid it! you'll see in a week time Covid 19 rise again!
Padraig Bohannan
The Keystones will use any mass gathering as an excuse to practice their riot training for which there is no need in a country with an apathetic attitude towards any type of change.
kurisupisu
Japan has perhaps the best behaved people in the world.
Let people enjoy themselves!
Any trouble is extremely minimal
Mark
So many people whining about the government trying to maintain safety. The comments here seem more paranoid.
Cricky
Some people become total scums once they mask their face, others just what to have fun and enjoy the evening.
well everyone in the photo is wearing a mask, as are most people I see outside, yet to see an increase in scums at play. I know what you meant it’s just masks are the new normal in Japan Hallowe'en or not.
Steven Mccarthy
Many of these masked names who’ve been whining about and spreading patently false information about masks , all of a sudden wanna wear a mask so they can what ? Cause trouble? Is life really so bland they need this event to go on with zero limitations? All while the 8th wave is just getting started? Really ?.!. This Sanji chick is off the charts with its daily dose of jgov bashing.!. And it lives in Australia.!.
Mocheake
Overreactions abound. There are drunk and disorderly up there every weekend and when vandalism, etc happen on those days, it isn't associated with anything. Anywhere you go, more people usually equals more trouble? Just have fun and don't be a party pooper.
garypen
Sounds pretty childish to me.
Jay
High alert... lol. Must be rough being a kid in Japan. Yeah it's not Halloween like you see in other countries but that doesn't matter at all. Let 'em have fun
Hideomi Kuze
Japanese authorities who repeats to fail responding Covid19 has increased domestic Covid19 deaths unlike other countries year by year.
But they learn nothing from own failures, their measures to next infection 8th waves are equal to nothing.
Japan cannot yet solve even shortage of free PCR testing.
It is no wonder even if this Halloween party will be one of triggers to domestic pandemic.
on the other hand, this week Shibuya district tried to eliminate homeless people from park by a way that ignored human rights.
smithinjapan
"Meanwhile, a 21-year-old female university student said she was hesitant to go out, citing an incident on Halloween night last year where a man dressed as Batman villain the Joker attacked people with a knife on a Tokyo train, leaving 17 people injured."
Paranoia at its worst. So, will she stop riding trains because it happened on a train? Will she stop watching movies with costumes because the nutter was wearing one? Stop using knives even? The boolean logic of such people never makes any sense.
They will make the bogeyman out of Hallowe'en once again while allowing the EXACT same behaviour during enkai season, even encouraging it. Many businesses and sales in general will profit from people celebrating and having fun, and then it'll be back to the lack of sales and profits when things go back to normal.
JTC
I've never really understood Halloween from an Adult's perspective, for Kids, however it's supposed to be a fun day of "trick or treating " - but even then, of recent years the "trick" side has become Sinister, as too the Adult version which has completely hijacked the whole event.
Best just drop it from the Calendar.
vendingmachinemusic
Adults, even young adults dressing up for a kids holiday is just weird.
More weird is the foreigners who partake in hijinks, and are drunk in public. In their own countries, they would be shamed by their families, put in jail, probably both.
Zizi
Very sad
Padraig Bohannan
Halloween is from Scotland. Scottish children would dress up and go "guising" saying " A penny for the Guy" they would tell a joke or sing a song in return for the money that would (traditionally...but not in reality:) be put towards funds for Guy Fawks day on the 5th of November. (To pay for the Guy Fawks dummy and fireworks but usually, the kids would keep the money for themselves) This tradition is now discouraged and children go Trick or Treat instead.
Ego Sum Lux Mundi
Hyper-commercialized 'Halloween' is yet another trashy American cultural import that undermines traditional Japanese society and manners.
Cricky
The government should ask companies to hold younger staff on unpaid overtime so they can’t go, problem solved. And culturally acceptable.
tora
40,000?? That's hardly and influx. The result of the falling birthrate hitting home. Back in the day (if Halloween were "popular") there would have been another zero, at least.
Now get back to work, you good for nothing young people.
sakurasuki
Actual pandemic is more powerful to avoid those crowd compared to those big billboard and expensive campaign.
Yubaru
(What this guy really wanted to say....)
All Japanese are law abiding citizens, never break the rules, "perfect" people. It's got to be those damn foreigners and their foreign influence that causes our cute, wonderful, children and young adults to act this way!
Ban the foreigners from Shibuya, then there will be no problems!
Meiyouwenti
In Japan, Halloween is an event enjoyed by people who don’t have anything better to do with their time.
Stephen Chin
Tokio's Shibuya celebrating Halloween? Why? Halloween is American! Originally from Mexico celebrating the Dead! I do not know what is the significance of offering sweets to children who knock at your door. But every year there are some wicked people who stick pine needles into pieces of candy they offer to the children.