PRESS CONFERENCE
Hasebe Ken, Mayor of Shibuya

11:00-12:00 Thursday, October 5, 2023
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.

Stay Away from Shibuya in Halloween

In a horrifying tragedy last year, more than 150 people died in a crush in Seoul's Itaewon entertainment district during Halloween celebrations. Hasebe Ken, the mayor of Shibuya, says he wants to avoid a similar accident in his constituency. That puts him in potential conflict with Halloween revelers, who have gathered around Shibuya's Station every year for lively celebrations since the mid-2010s. 

Adding to the dangers, says Hasebe, the number of visitors – including foreign visitors – to the area has been rising since anti-Covid measures were lifted. Japanese television has featured several stories of hordes of unruly foreigners drunk on Shibuya's streets. Against that background, the mayor's message is simple: "Don't come to Shibuya for Halloween". 

To back up his message, Shibuya will deploy security guards around the area during the festival season. Drinking around the station will be banned from October 27 – November 1 and stores in the area have been asked to restrict sales of booze. Will it be enough, and should the city go further and ban the revelry altogether?

How to attend
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions attendance will be limited. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in, giving your name and contact details at the reception, and have your temperature taken before proceeding. 

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live 
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel. 

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/tDG3NPE1MWqv7bHJ8
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form.

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. 

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