Safer streets, stricter rules: “Stop Troublesome Halloweens” campaign

JStories ー Shibuya’s vibrant youth culture and famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing are among the many attractions that draw people from around the world to Japan’s iconic district. With Halloween just around the corner, problems like overcrowding, vandalism, and delinquency loom in everyone's minds. In response to past incidents such as the overturning of a small truck in 2018, the “Stop Troublesome Halloweens” campaign was launched by the Shibuya district to protect attendees. 

In an interview with district mayor Ken Hasebe, he shared what to expect from Shibuya Halloween 2025. Mr. Hasebe clarified that Shibuya Halloween 2025 is not entirely forbidden; rather, certain disruptive actions are prohibited. For the first time, public drinking around Shibuya Station has been banned year-round since last year. Activities such as public smoking, littering, excessive noise, and photo-taking in costumes that obstruct pedestrian flow will be closely monitored by security personnel between October 31st and November 1st. 

The Shibuya Ward Office has allocated 68 million yen to ensure Halloween is safe, secure, and orderly. Fifty-eight beverage retailers in the area will stop selling alcohol from October 31st to November 1st. To ensure public safety, 125 security guards will be deployed at 10 main locations around the station, and access to the Hachiko statue —a meeting hotspot in front of Shibuya Scramble Square — will be restricted to reduce loitering. Volunteers will walk the streets to help people and pick up trash.

For people who are eager to experience Shibuya Halloween this year, the Shibuya Ward Office is launching "Virtual Halloween" for them. Through popular video game platforms such as Fortnite and Roblox, Virtual Halloween aims to capture the essence of Shibuya’s Halloween. “On platforms like Fortnite, we're doing awareness campaigns and litter-picking games,” Hasebe said.

Mr. Hasabe expressed his concern that last year's number of “hardcore cosplayers, or serious cosplay enthusiasts” has increased, which he believes is due to a disconnect between locals' and tourists' perceptions of the event. However, Mr. Hasebe also brought up signs of improvement, thanks to the “Shibuya Good Manners Project”. Collaborations with My Hero Academia and Hatsune Miku have helped pique the interest of foreign tourists and get them to join cleanup efforts. Combined with the “significantly decreased number of warnings,” Mr. Hasebe seemed proud to state that there has been “a trend where awareness has spread and incidents are gradually decreasing.”

Written by Mizuki Nagakawa and Victor Ueki | JStories

Edited by Desiderio Luna, Lucas Maltzman, Takanori Isshiki

Top photo: Lucas Maltzman | JStories

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