The biggest story about Halloween in Japan this year has been Shibuya's attempt to cancel it with an insane police presence, another (unenforceable) ban on drinking in the streets for several days (actually in place since 2019), and large amounts of public money spent on advertising and billboards declaring that street parties and people in costumes are not allowed. They even fenced up poor old Hachiko -- what did he do?! -- in an effort to prevent people gathering in the district.
It hasn't stopped people going there, of course, but in lesser numbers and with lower degrees of energy. The ...
