Shibuya Ward Mayor Ken Hasebe and Shinjuku Ward Mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi have come together to address the issue of Halloween celebrations in their respective wards. During a joint press conference held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, they urged people to avoid causing disturbances on the streets during Halloween later this month.
The mayors specifically called for individuals to refrain from public drinking, littering, and engaging in other problematic behavior around Shibuya Station and in the Kabukicho district. To ensure compliance with these guidelines, both ward offices will dispatch over 100 officials to patrol these areas on Halloween.
Last year, ahead of the first Halloween since COVID-19 was downgraded as a category 5 infectious disease, the Shibuya Ward Office advised people against visiting busy districts for fun. They predicted a rapid increase in revelers and sought to prevent overcrowding. As a result of their urging, the crowd around Shibuya Station was significantly smaller than expected. However, approximately 3,000 people gathered in Kabukicho, Shinjuku Ward – an area that had not previously attracted large crowds during Halloween celebrations.
These individuals engaged in public drinking on the streets and caused disturbances while littering. Some have speculated that this shift towards Kabukicho occurred because of Shibuya’s call for refraining from visiting their ward. Consequently, this year both ward offices decided to issue a joint warning regarding appropriate behavior during Halloween festivities.
Starting this month, Shibuya Ward Office has implemented a local ordinance prohibiting public drinking throughout the ward at night all year round. On the other hand, Shinjuku Ward Office only prohibits public drinking on Halloween day but will request retail stores within prohibited areas to refrain from selling alcohol.
Yoshizumi expressed his concerns about people loitering in these areas and causing disturbances: “Halloween has become an event that makes us doubt whether people have common sense.” Hasebe emphasized that there would be no accommodation for large gatherings this year: “I want people to spend their time following rules and not drinking on the streets or causing disturbances.”
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