Mayor Ken Hasebe of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, on Thursday urged people to refrain from coming to the popular entertainment area on Halloween night, Oct. 31, due to fears of spreading the novel coronavirus. In recent years, the area around Shibuya Station has attracted swarms of young revelers every Halloween, forming a gigantic, costumed street party.
"I would like people to refrain from gathering in Shibuya to show off their costumes or look at other people's costumes," Hasebe said in a press conference at the ward office on Thursday.
Calls for people to refrain from coming to the area will be published in publicity papers, the ward's website, social networking sites and the radio, Hasebe said. Also, the ward will put out flags on the street saying, "Stay safe by refraining from going out this year for Halloween!" and "Home Halloween."
In addition, 100 security guards will patrol the area around Shibuya Station from the evening of Oct. 31 until the early morning of Nov. 1, asking people not to stop on the street, to deal with people who will come to Shibuya despite the calls to do otherwise.
The ward will also dispatch 30 employees to remind people of the ordinance banning drinking on the street. The ward has already asked 42 stores in the vicinity of the station to refrain from selling alcoholic beverages. The temporary toilets and changing rooms that have been set up every Halloween will not be set up this year.
There has been a spate of troubling incidents around Halloween festivities in Shibuya in recent years, including one in which drunken youths overturned a light truck on the street.
"I would like people to refrain from going out on the street all night long, wandering around, drinking and making noise. I urge people who think they are allowed to carry out violent acts during Halloween not to come," Hasebe said.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
