By Hanae
Edited by Fasihah Zulkifli
The local government of Shibuya has initiated a campaign to discourage people from coming to the neighbourhood for Halloween festivities and has enforced a prohibition on public drinking.
SHIBUYA, JAPAN, 30 October 2023: Shibuya in Tokyo used to be known for its vibrant Halloween celebrations, but this year, it's a different story. It is now actively discouraging revellers from attending. For years, it was a hotspot for young people who gathered to drink and enjoy the colourful costumes.
However, this year, Shibuya is spending a significant sum on an information campaign to deter visitors. Posters proclaim "No events for Halloween on Shibuya streets," and the mayor is reaching out to foreign media to spread the message.
Shibuya's Halloween approach has changed since 2019, when they once encouraged good behaviour. Recent tragic events, like the 2022 Halloween crush in Seoul's Itaewon, which claimed nearly 160 lives, have prompted this shift.
Tokyo has also faced its share of Halloween-related incidents, including a man dressed as the Joker stabbing someone on a train two years ago; miraculously, no fatalities occurred.
Around 2011, Shibuya saw a surge in young people dressing up for Halloween, with numbers growing rapidly. Unlike the child-focused celebration elsewhere, it became a hit among Japanese university students and young adults, known for street revelry and bar hopping, with reasons for its rise ranging from social media to music videos.
Initially, Shibuya authorities embraced the trend. In the mid-2010s, they closed off Dogenzaka's main street for costumed pedestrians. As a long-time resident, I found the organic growth heartwarming, as it brought Tokyoites together in a unique, almost magical way. (Reidy, 2023)
As the pre-pandemic attendance reached its peak, Shibuya's tolerance waned. Negative publicity ensued after a small truck was flipped over in 2018, and media reports emphasised instances of sexual harassment and other assaults, even though major incidents were rare.
Mayor Hasebe noted a decline in the event's quality as attendance reached around 40,000 in 2019, with more spectators than costumed participants. To manage the rowdiness, the city started asking stores not to sell alcohol, even though street drinking is generally allowed in Japan.
While COVID-19 toned down the event recently, it's now drawing foreign tourists again, with around 25% more in the capital than in 2019. Hasebe is concerned about a potential crowd of 60,000 in the area this year.
While some concerns are valid, the decision to curb Halloween festivities might backfire. Shibuya's charm is its vibrant atmosphere and the bars and restaurants that draw tourists. It's a reputation built on youth culture, and heavy-handed measures risk damaging the neighbourhood's appeal.
Hasebe aims to elevate Shibuya's status to that of a global icon like Paris or New York, though some argue it's already ahead in many ways. Instead of turning people away, authorities should manage the event, taking cues from New York's approach to large gatherings.
Embracing the event and implementing better planning and crowd control would be wiser, as the Itaewon incident was a result of inadequate preparations. This can ensure a lively Halloween season next year without severe restrictions.***
Comments