Mayor of Tokyo’s Shibuya district asks Halloween partygoers to stay away

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — The mayor of Tokyo’s busy Shibuya shopping and entertainment district is asking Halloween celebrants not to visit, fearing that a large number of partygoers following the COVID-19 pandemic could cause a disaster similar to last year’s fatal crowd surge in South Korea’s capital. Mayor Ken Hasebe says he understands that Halloween is a fun celebration around the world, but noted that a crowd crush like the one that killed about 160 people celebrating Halloween last year in Seoul’s Itaewon district could happen in Shibuya. The district’s famed intersection has become a popular destination for residents and tourists on Halloween, drawing large crowds of young people in costumes.