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Shibuya Halloween 2024

TOKYO - Following the main Halloween event on Thursday, Shibuya Ward's Chief remarked that while Halloween passed without significant disruption, 'engagement with foreign visitors remains a challenge for the future.'

According to Shibuya Ward, approximately 18,000 people visited Shibuya for Halloween on October 31st, an increase of about 3,000 from last year.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police reported that, in addition to Shibuya, there was no major disruption in other areas like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

Ken Hasebe, Shibuya Ward Chief: "The day after, I feel that the overall ban on public drinking was effective, and we managed to get through the event relatively well."

On the morning after Halloween, Hasebe also noted, "Most people in costume were foreigners, and it seems the public drinking ban hasn't been fully communicated." He indicated that strengthening outreach to foreign visitors will be a priority for next year.

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Typhoon No. 25 had left four people dead and six others missing in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures by September 22, as the storm moved away from Japan and the extent of flooding and landslide damage across the Kanto region became clearer.

Transport disruption from Typhoon No. 25 continued across Chiba Prefecture on September 22 even as flights and major highways returned toward normal, with entire sections of the JR network remaining suspended for the day and all Narita Express services canceled because of flooding, landslides and damage to railway infrastructure.

Japan's Asian Games campaign continued across a packed Day 4 schedule on September 22, with the women's badminton team securing another medal, the women's basketball team completing an unbeaten group stage, and Japan adding a historic bronze medal in mixed air rifle shooting as several of the host nation's biggest medal opportunities moved into the evening.

Japan collected another 12 medals on Day 3 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 21, with 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi and karateka Kakeru Nishiyama winning gold, while the host nation also advanced strongly in women's volleyball, baseball, soccer, handball and hockey.

People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan's population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.

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