News On Japan

'Virtual Shibuya' for Halloween revelers

Oct 02 (NHK) - Officials in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward are asking people to visit a virtual version of the scramble crossing and the surrounding streets during the Halloween season.

In recent years, Shibuya has become the prime location for crowds of revelers who gather on the streets to show off their Halloween costumes.

But the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the officials to provide a virtual space recreating streets and buildings in Shibuya for Halloween.

Telecom giant KDDI and the tourism association in Shibuya say they will hold online events for the "Virtual Shibuya" from October 26 through 31. Popular artists and comedians are expected to take part.

People who want to join them are asked to download an app to move within the virtual space and participate in the events by controlling their avatars.

The scramble crossing near Shibuya Station is normally crowded with people during the Halloween celebrations.

Shibuya Ward Mayor Hasebe Ken says this will be an opportunity for everyone to celebrate Halloween while staying at home, and he hopes many people will enjoy the virtual version of Shibuya.

Source: ANNnewsCH

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Japanese government has decided to expand its tuition-free high school program this spring. Public high school tuition is now completely free regardless of household income, and starting next academic year, the scope of support for private schools will also be broadened.

Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa's Ryukyu heritage, suffered extensive damage in a devastating fire in October 2019 that destroyed the main hall and many other structures. The cause of the blaze remains unknown.

A deepening labor shortage in Japan’s construction industry is beginning to impact homebuyers, with some experiencing delays of more than six months before construction can even begin due to a lack of available carpenters.

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

In response to a sharp rise in women soliciting prostitution on the streets of Osaka's Kita entertainment district, police and local authorities implemented countermeasures last year. But how effective have those measures been?

As Japan marks 80 years since the end of World War II, Angelita Oshiro, an 86-year-old second-generation Japanese woman living in Davao on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, was finally granted the restoration of her long-awaited Japanese citizenship on April 2nd.

Cherry blossoms are now in full bloom. On April 2nd, crowds gathered along the Okawa River in Osaka to enjoy the hanami season. While spring typically lifts spirits, this year’s celebrations come with a pinch.While moods may be rising, so are prices.

A fire broke out on the morning of April 2nd at a farm in Kamishihoro, a town in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, killing approximately 20 cattle housed in a barn.

A special unit dedicated to investigating "lone offenders"—individuals who commit acts of terrorism without belonging to any specific organization—has been established for the first time in Japan within the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

Downtown, the popular comedy duo, has stepped down as official ambassadors for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, according to an announcement by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.

A tour bus carrying over 20 foreign tourists collided with a van inside the Tokiwa Tunnel on the Dōō Expressway on March 31st, sending several people to the hospital.