Nov 01, 2019 (Japan Today) - Tokyo's famous Shibuya district was bustling with costume-clad Halloween revelers on Thursday night as the area remained under a street drinking ban and heavy police surveillance in efforts to prevent a possible repeat of last year's anti-social behavior.
The iconic scramble crossing and shopping district near JR Shibuya Station were crammed with people dressed in all manner of elaborate costumes, including popular superheroes, zombies and fairy-tale characters.
"This is crazier than Saturday, and it's a Thursday night. I can't imagine what it will be like next year, when Halloween falls on a Friday night," said Wade Funderburg, an American who has lived in Tokyo for four years and came dressed as James Bond. "There's a lot more police oversight this year."
His friend, Ryan, who came dressed as Deadpool, agreed there were more people this year. "It's still insane," he said, despite the heavy police presence.
Members of the city's security forces were mobilized to keep close tabs on the crowds through early Friday, amid growing concern over the raucousness of the increasingly popular Halloween street party.
Special police officers dubbed "DJ police," who aim to marshal crowds with a spirit of goodwill, were dispatched to the area and requested people keep moving away from the scramble crossing toward Shibuya 109, a popular department store for young women.
