For the fourth consecutive year, Tokyo’s Shibuya district has canceled its New Year’s Eve countdown event, citing concerns over “safety and security at the event.” Typically attracting around 100,000 revelers, Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe conveyed the decision through an online notice. The mayor noted that the decision factors in “the increased number of visitors since the summer” and stressed the reinforcement of security measures compared to the previous year.
“To address potential accidents related to over crowding in Shibuya New Year’s Eve , the city aims to enhance security and implement safety measures in collaboration with the police, public transportation agencies, and fire departments,” Mayor Hasebe stated.
As an additional precaution, the mayor announced a ban on street drinking in the vicinity of Shibuya station from 6 pm on December 31 to 5 am on January 1. Authorities also requested kiosks, convenience stores, and mass merchandisers in the area to refrain from selling alcoholic beverages during this period.
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Further adjustments include turning off advertisements and displays around Shibuya’s renowned scramble crossing at 11 pm on December 31, an hour earlier than the usual cutoff time.
The district initially called off its New Year’s Eve countdown event, which began in 2016, in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They cited the same reason for cancellations in 2021 and 2022. Mayor Hasebe had earlier discouraged people from congregating around Shibuya station for Halloween celebrations, which historically attracted approximately 40,000 participants. A deadly incident of a crowd crush in South Korea the previous year resulted in nearly 160 people being fatally crushed in a narrow Seoul alleyway.
Highlighting Tokyo’s own past Halloween-related incidents, Mayor Hasebe referenced an episode two years ago when a man dressed as the Joker stabbed another person on a train and attempted to ignite a blaze, underscoring the importance of prioritizing safety during public gatherings.