Halloween @Shibuya: Oct. 31, 2020

 

 

Many young people gather at Shibuya on the Halloween day every year. The famous scramble is crowded with thousands of people in the Halloween costumes. It is seen as one of important cultural event in Tokyo.

 The situation is different this year. People were asked not to gather as the CVID-19 pandemic continued.

 

I visited the area in the afternoon. I found many visitors there, but it was less crowded than before.

 

Only a few people were in the Halloween costumes. (See also the top photo)

Some costumed persons were moving ahead to the scramble.

 

There were many signs to ask people self-restraint of their behavior -- not to join the event. Slogans of  “no annoying behavior” and “no infection” were displayed in many  places. (See also the 2nd photo from the top)

 

I found hundreds of policemen at the scramble. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

I also saw many cameramen there.

 

The situation did not change much in the evening, according to news reports. More people gathered in the evening than in the daytime, but the number was far smaller than the one recorded in the previous years.

 

While asking self-restraint of behaviors, the government is eager to promote domestic travels. It started the “Go To campaign” in summer, which provides financial supports for the travelers.

 I watched the notices and advertisements of the campaign in the travel agents and tourist offices.

The situation of the COVID-19 infection in Japan is not so bad as the situations in the U.S. and Europe.

Still, the infection risk remains high and the government has to chase two contradictory targets – infection prevention and reopening of the economy – at the same time. The scenes to chase two rabbits are observed everywhere.