Nov 02 (Japan Today) - A total of 13 men were arrested as the Halloween street event in Tokyo's Shibuya district reached its climax Wednesday night, while young people were seen collecting garbage left over from the revelry on Thursday morning.
The 13 men, aged from their teens to their 40s, allegedly committed offenses including groping and theft on Wednesday and Thursday during the annual street party that draws thousands of revelers, many clad in Halloween costumes. One was arrested for groping a woman's breasts while another allegedly snatched a wallet from a bag belonging to a man who was sleeping on the street, according to police. With the raucousness of the street party appearing to escalate every year, Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe said he would consider measures to avoid chaos next year, touching on ideas such as making it a paid event or using Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward as a venue. "Many people enjoying Halloween appropriately, but it turned out to be a disappointing event because of some people," the mayor told reporters Thursday morning. The district near the famous scramble crossing outside JR Shibuya Station was left covered in large amounts of trash including fast-food leftovers and discarded costumes. Manami Suzuki, a 27-year-old nail artist, was seen picking up garbage scattered on the street while still wearing a flashy costume. She said she brought her own garbage bag after learning that partygoers had left the area awash in trash. She was taking part in the cleanup, she said, because she "wants to enjoy Halloween next year and the year after that too." Since the past weekend, there have been a number of reports of antisocial behavior in the district. A small truck was overturned by a group of people early Sunday near Shibuya Station. Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe had called on event participants not to make a noise after midnight but the area remained chaotic through early Thursday with some continuing to dance or climb the Hachiko dog statue near the station.
Source: ANNnewsCH
