Is it something wrong with Corona?
～ Halloween of this year 15:58 on October 2nd
The Halloween season has arrived.
It has become established in Japan as an autumn tradition, and every year on October 31, a large number of people gather at the scrambled intersection in Shibuya.
However, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, this is likely to be a different way of enjoying.
(Network News Department Reporter Risa Komiya Daisuke Narita Yasuyo Mabuchi)
CDC urgent call
In September, the CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced guidelines in the United States, where Halloween events are held every year, and the ripples spread.
He urged children to avoid trick-or-treats and indoor costume parties where they would go around their neighborhood homes to get sweets, as they were at high risk.
This year, we carve and decorate pumpkins at home and hold costume contests online to encourage them to enjoy themselves safely.
Don't come to Shibuya!
Even in Japan, there are a series of movements calling for the cancellation of events and self-restraint.
In Shibuya, Tokyo, the ward is calling for refraining from visiting the city by dressing up for Halloween to prevent it from becoming crowded.
Every year in Shibuya, a large number of young people and foreigners in disguise are rushing to the scrambled intersection in front of the station.
Shibuya Ward Public Relations Section Person in charge
"From the viewpoint of infection prevention, we will call on the ward's homepage and SNS so that people in disguise do not gather."
Oriental Land Co., Ltd., which operates Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, also announced the cancellation of its annual parade and decorations in the park to avoid crowding visitors.
Even junior high school students and above are prohibited from wearing full-body disguise, which they could enjoy only during the event.
Have fun with a costume mask!
On the other hand, "Yomiuri Land" in Inagi City, Tokyo.
Until last year, during the Halloween event, admission was free for visitors in disguise.
In order to prevent infection, this year, in addition to disguise, it is a condition of free admission to wear a mask that you have decorated yourself, such as sticking a sticker or embroidering.
The aim is to have people wear masks while having fun.
Yomiuri Land Public Relations Division
"I hope you can enjoy Halloween while preventing infection by wearing a disguise that uses a mask unique to this year."
Why Halloween in Japan?
Halloween originates from the Celtic festival that lived in ancient Europe.
Why did it spread even in Japan far away?
Originally, October is still early in the Christmas sales season and there are few events.
Meanwhile, it is said that the beginning was trying to create new demand, such as Valentine's Day, when the confectionery industry group spread the habit of giving chocolates.
Since around 1980, confectionery makers and cake companies have been conducting campaigns such as selling sweets in pumpkin-shaped cases.
In addition, a costume parade will begin in Omotesando, Tokyo.
Harajuku's Kiddy Land, which handles character products, called for children, and about 100 parents and children and foreigners paraded around the city.
At NHK, in 1987, the appearance of the fancy-dress parade around Ebisu and Daikanyama became news as a new movement.
However, the disguise at that time was ... Akaoni, Aooni, and even the Seven Lucky Gods, named after Ebisu.
A man from the store chairman at the time said,
"There are various festivals all over the country. As a result of searching for something that anyone can easily participate in and enjoy, I have to practice Awa Odori for a certain period of time. I started thinking that it was the best. "
After that, a parade was held at Tokyo Disneyland, and Halloween spread all over the country.
The advent of SNS has further increased the fever of disguise.
The number of searches for the word "Halloween" has skyrocketed in the 2010s.
I want everyone to see the extraordinary appearance in disguise, and I want to enjoy it together.
It has become established in Japan as an autumn tradition.
Sales of related goods are also increasing.
The Japan Anniversary Association estimates that the market size will reach 115.5 billion yen in 2019, exceeding 100 billion yen for the seventh consecutive year.
I still want to have fun!
In the United States, where the CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for, there is still a movement to enjoy Halloween.
The largest annual disguise parade in New York has been canceled, but an online event will be planned instead.
Michigan encourages people to stay 1.82 meters away and cover both their mouth and nose with a cloth mask when attending a candy trick or treat.
The corporate associations involved in Halloween have created maps that are color-coded in four colors according to the degree of infection risk throughout the United States so that they can be enjoyed safely.
We are proposing various ways to enjoy each area, and in the red area where the risk is highest, the whole family dresses up at home, eats dinner and seeks out sweets and toys hidden in the house. , We recommend you to enjoy it at your stay home.
Get excited online!
Halloween greeted by the corona wreck.
In Shibuya Ward, which is calling for refraining from gathering people in disguise, we have launched a virtual space called "Virtual Shibuya" that reproduces the city of Shibuya online with CG.
This means that you can stroll around the city with a character that looks like your own alter ego displayed in the virtual space, and participate in the Halloween event held in it.
Kawasaki Halloween, one of the largest Halloween events in Japan, where about 120,000 people gather every year, is held online.
Parades and disguise contests are held around JR Kawasaki Station every year, but this time we ask participants to take a video of their disguise and post it on SNS.
The video will be published on the web, and the best person in the disguise contest will receive a prize of 500,000 yen.
"Kawasaki Halloween Project" Yohei Yatabe
"Even those who are far away or have difficulty moving can participate from home. We are preparing for" beyond real events online ", so many people will participate. I want you to
Have fun at home
Halloween goods are also changing.
At discount stores that sell a lot of disguise goods, wigs and make-up goods are lined up in the sales floor so that the disguise can be seen online.
It is said that flashy products are more popular than usual because facial expressions are more noticeable online.
In addition, this year we expect more people to enjoy making sweets with their families rather than going to their friends' homes for sweets at trick or treat.
For this reason, we are focusing on takoyaki machines and products that make popcorn and cotton candy easy to make at home.
Don Quijote representative
"I think it's difficult to go out and spend time with Corona, but I would like to propose and liven up Halloween at home."
This year's Halloween.
How do you guys spend