What is like Halloween in Japan?
I’m Nobu, the certificate English guide in Japan for 7 years.I show you hidden Japan which you have never seen and heard!
What is Halloween?
Halloween is celebrated on October 31st at the eve of All Saints Day in Christianity.
Some people may have an image of it as a costume party originating in the U.S., but it originated from a religious festival that existed in Europe Celtic culture over 2000 years ago.
Halloween in Japan
In Japan, In the 1970s, the toy and general merchandise store “Kiddy Land Harajuku” began to focus on selling Halloween goods as a seasonal event.
The store held a Halloween parade to promote sales on 1983 about 100 people attended it.
It is said that this was the first Halloween parade held in Japan.
Halloween in Japan is not a religious event like Christmas or Valentine’s Day in Japan.
It’s just a seasonal event that serves as a commercial trigger for all kinds of things, including sweets.
An essential feature of Halloween in Japan is that people can dress up in any kind of costume.
Halloween and cosplay ( costume play)
In Japan, cosplay, the practice of dressing up as manga or anime characters and having fun at events, was originally common .
So, you can dress up as Pokémon, heroes, Pawer Rangers, Naruto,Goku , celebrities of the moment, or people who are the talk of the town, anything.
Halloween in Japan is like a battlefield of cosplay, where people compete with each other in their eccentricities.
And people get together in a festive atmosphere, making it look like a costume and cosplay competition.
Japanese festivals and Halloween
It is thought to have a roots in Japanese culture because there are many festivals and the custom of having fun together at events.
And masqarad ( mask play) is practicing in Japanese festivals and events too.
These include masks, headgear, eccentric costumes, group performances with a storyline.
Then Shibuya crossing has become the largest Halloween event place in the world, with a million people get together.
If you want to enjoy Halloween in Japan, come to Japan in the last week of October.
And when you do, don’t forget to bring your costume!
I’m Nobu, one heart enjoy together!!!