Halloween "Please refrain from coming to Shibuya" Mayor makes an unusual call October 22, 17:20
Ken Hasebe, the mayor of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, held a press conference before Halloween next weekend, and every year during Halloween, the area around Shibuya Station is crowded with many young people, so the spread of the new coronavirus infection To prevent this, we made an unusual call to "please refrain from coming to Shibuya."
Every year in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, a large number of young people and foreigners gather around Shibuya Station during Halloween, causing troubles, and next weekend, Mayor Hasebe holds a press conference before Halloween. I did.
In this, Mayor Hasebe said, "This time, the coronavirus has spread and we must avoid denseness. We want you to refrain from coming to Shibuya to ensure safety and security while the event is also refrained." I made an unusual call.
On top of that, as a way to enjoy Halloween without coming to Shibuya, we will introduce how to enjoy using "Virtual Shibuya", a virtual space that reproduces the city of Shibuya on the Internet, or at an online music festival held on the day of Halloween. I called for participation.
Mayor Hasebe said, "Regardless of whether you dress up or not, please refrain from making noise or drinking alcohol on the streets all night. I devised a way to feel Shibuya even if you do not come. I want you to enjoy it at home, etc. "
This will change like this
In Shibuya Ward, in order to clarify the position of calling for refraining from visiting for Halloween, we will take different measures from last year.
Specifically, we will not install temporary toilets or spaces for changing clothes that were installed until last year.
In the future, we will raise signs and flags such as "HOME HALLOWEEN" and "Refrain from going out" in front of JR Shibuya Station to encourage people to enjoy Halloween at home.
On the other hand, in order to prepare for people visiting Shibuya for Halloween even if such a call is made, we will spend about 100 million yen to strengthen the security system and at 42 liquor stores in the ward on the afternoon of the 31st. From 6:00 to 5:00 am on November 1st, we are calling for refraining from selling alcohol.
Garbage bags are transparent from "pumpkin"
In Shibuya Ward, which calls for refraining from visiting during Halloween, different measures have been taken to try to keep the atmosphere of the city modest.
Every year during Halloween, the executive committee that creates Shibuya Ward and local shopping streets volunteers to pick up trash, and oranges that are made by hollowing out pumpkins for people who visited Shibuya. I was handing out colored garbage bags.
However, this year we stopped distributing this garbage bag and decided to prepare about 10,000 colorless and transparent garbage bags instead.
Kazuo Morita, chief of the Shibuya Ward Environmental Improvement Division, said, "Until last year, we prepared a pumpkin garbage bag to call for a modest Halloween. However, since we are calling for self-restraint, we decided to use a transparent garbage bag. I don't feel like a festival anymore. "
A series of troubles such as garbage and drinking on the street
Shibuya Ward attracts a large number of young people and foreigners every year during Halloween, but there are no events organized by the ward, and every year, people spontaneously gather to enjoy the extraordinary atmosphere.
It is said that tens of thousands of people gather in Shibuya Ward every year, and not only on the day of Halloween on October 31st, but also on the latest weekend, a large number of people gather, and the area around the scrambled intersection in front of Shibuya Station is so immobile. It will be crowded.
Due to a series of troubles such as noise, a large amount of garbage, and drinking on the street, the ward budgeted about 90 million yen for the first time last year as a measure for Halloween such as security expenses.
Shibuya Ward started measures in 2015.
The reason for this was the complaints, such as the fact that the toilets in stations and commercial buildings were flooded with people disguised, mainly young people, and the surrounding walls and floors were stained with blood.
We have taken measures such as preparing a special tent for changing clothes and making makeup in a nearby park, but two years ago, on the weekend just before Halloween, a light truck was overturned and alcohol was used. Last year, the ward enacted an ordinance prohibiting drinking on the streets and in parks, such as on the day of Halloween, and has strengthened measures to prevent troubles involved.