A Tokyo district cracks down on Halloween
Japan’s ageing society is limiting youthful pleasures
SHIBUYA, A DISTRICT in Tokyo known for its zesty pop culture, is a place to find strange clothes and youthful frolics most days. Yet on Halloween the capital’s top tourist attraction traditionally takes it up a gear. For years crowds of partygoers in fancy dress have filled Shibuya’s neon-lit streets and celebrated Scramble Crossing. In 2019 around 40,000 flocked to the district on Halloween. But this October 31st the mood was much less joyous. The killjoys of Shibuya’s local government had banned Halloween festivities in the ward.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Dog days for Halloween”
From the November 4th 2023 edition
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