Exploring the Cultural Clash and Chaotic Beginnings of Halloween in Japan
When it comes to Japan and its celebrations of various festivals, you’ll find that this country is relatively flexible and open to embracing diverse cultures before incorporating them seamlessly. Anyone who wishes to celebrate any festival can do so almost year-round, whether it’s an original Japanese festival or one imported from the West.
However, ‘Halloween,’ the annual ghostly holiday celebrated on the night of October 31st, is an exception for some Japanese people. Despite sharing similarities with festivals like ‘Obon,’ what happened during its early days has left a lasting negative impression.
How did Halloween start in Japan?
It’s quite astonishing that awareness of Halloween in Japan only began about two decades ago. To put it in perspective, it’s a relatively recent addition to the Japanese cultural calendar, dating back to the late 1970s, or even later if you consider its full-fledged introduction. While there is no recorded history, it is believed that the first traces of Halloween in Japan appeared when a shop called ‘Kiddy Land’ in Harajuku started selling Halloween-themed items, such as small trinkets and cute witch and pumpkin dolls, before the trend crossed over to the mainstream in 1983 at Omotesando Hills, a famous Tokyo district. Here, the ‘Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade’ was organized, attracting a limited number of foreign participants.
The realization of Halloween by the Japanese people happened quite suddenly when Disneyland held its first Halloween event in 1997, followed by a grand celebration by Universal Studios Japan in 2002, which popularized the concept of Halloween across Japanese society.
So, what led some Japanese people to ‘hate’ Halloween?
As a relatively new concept in the eyes of the Japanese, Halloween began with expatriates and tourists introducing some disruptive elements to the festivities. Early Japanese impressions of Halloween often revolve around foreigners in outrageous costumes, indulging in drinking and partying, creating disturbances on trains, and making a lot of noise. These actions irritated the locals who were trying to lead their daily lives.
The breaking point came in 2009 with the ‘Halloween Train’ in Tokyo and Osaka. The exuberance of both international and Japanese revelers led to a lack of respect for rules and common decency, resulting in crimes, sexual misconduct, and even the destruction of property. Some Japanese people had had enough and took to the streets in protest with signs that read, “Foreigners, get out of our country now!” and “We don’t want Halloween!” This made headlines in newspapers and caused a considerable stir.
It’s understandable if you’re leading a normal, orderly life with well-defined social norms, and suddenly, on the night of October 31st, all rules seem to be thrown out the window, and people in bizarre costumes disrupt your everyday life. Halloween, a day meant to celebrate the return of departed souls to the human world in Western folklore, might not sit well with some Japanese, who perceive it as a day of chaos rather than a supernatural reunion.
Halloween and Modern Japan
Despite resistance and protests from some Japanese individuals who see Halloween as more disruptive than celebratory, an understanding and acceptance of Halloween have merged with modern Japanese culture. Japan’s celebrations focus on dressing up in various costumes and cosplaying, and many restaurants, bars, and businesses offer Halloween-themed products during the season. It has become a colorful and celebrated part of Japan’s cultural tapestry, coexisting with traditional festivals.
What’s in store for Halloween this year?
In recent years, Tokyo has seen a surge in law enforcement efforts to ensure safety during Halloween in key areas like Shibuya, Harajuku, Roppongi, and Omotesando. But it appears that this year, Tokyo will experience a toned-down Halloween due to the influence of the ‘Anticlockwise Ritual’ in South Korea, which ended up teaching the importance of prevention rather than cure. Even though significant areas like Shibuya, Harajuku, Roppongi, and Omotesando have been declared no-entry zones for Halloween, other neighborhoods still witnessed the enthusiastic celebrations of revelers, and we may have to wait and see if Tokyo’s strict measures prove effective.
In any case, Halloween remains an exciting and vibrant part of Japanese culture, attracting a massive number of tourists every year. While some Japanese people may still harbor a negative sentiment toward Halloween due to past disruptions, it has found its place in modern Japan, blending with traditional festivals and adding its unique flair to the nation’s rich cultural landscape.
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