Halloween (ハロウィーン), the well-known festivity of Anglo-Saxon origin, has also spread to Japan in the last few decades. The Disneyland park in Tokyo seems to have been the first to introduce Halloween to Japan in 2000 with a themed event and since then the Halloween holiday has become increasingly popular, especially among the youngest.
Halloween has acquired special characteristics in Japan compared to other countries where this occasion is celebrated.
A first and important difference is related to the date: in the West, Halloween is celebrated on the night of 31 October; in Japan, on the other hand, Halloween-themed parties and events can take place on any date in the last 10 days of October and especially on the last weekend of the month.
While in Western countries people dress up as scary figures in the spirit of the party, in Japan, on the other hand, the ‘horror’ theme is not so important and you can find people wearing costumes of any kind as characters from anime, manga and video games.
The custom of ‘trick-or-treat’ has never spread among children, and probably never will, because, due to the discretion and mutual respect present in Japanese culture, parents would never let their children ‘disturb’ their neighbors.
Source: via Pinterest
Various costume parades have been held in and around Tokyo for many years and it is good to find out the dates and times from year to year.
Here are some of the most popular parades:
Shibuya Parade
The Shibuya Parade is the most popular among foreign tourists as it is located in one of the city's most iconic districts. It gathers people celebrating on the streets of Shibuya wearing all kinds of costumes and it is generally held on the last Friday and Saturday of October from the afternoon until late night.
Source: https://voyapon.com/it/halloween-giappone-storia-curiosita/
Roppongi Hills Halloween Parade
Here you can find pumpkin menus in the various restaurants of the complex, as well as themed sweets. Thanks to the many decorations and masked people everywhere, including shop assistants, the atmosphere is perfect.
Source: https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/roppongi-hills-halloween-parade
Kawasaki Halloween Parade
This parade is the largest in Japan and is organised by a shopping centre called The Citadel located in Kawasaki, a large city just a few minutes by train from Tokyo.
Source: https://it.youinjapan.net/feste/halloween.php
Omotesando and Harajuku Omotesando Parade
This parade is known as the ‘pumpkin parade’ and children can then take part in the classic ‘trick-or-treat’, which is usual in Japan in local shops and shopping centres.
Source: https://voyapon.com/it/halloween-giappone-storia-curiosita/
Hyakki Yagyo
On the third Saturday of October each year, a Japanese version of the usual Western American-origin Halloween is celebrated.‘The “Hundred Demons Parade” (the literal translation of the name of this festivity) sees many terrifying costumes parading in many cities of the Land of the Rising Sun, surrounded by colourful costumes that provoke both fear and amusement.
Source: https://shop.tenoha.it/blogs/notizie/hyakki-yagyo-10-curiosita-sull-halloween-giapponese
Kobe
Kobe is located on Rokko Island and is perfect for those looking for a real festival that, in addition to the classic parade, also features workshops and festival-related initiatives, such as testing your courage by entering a haunted house full of spirits, creaking and howling.
Source: https://hyogojapan.com/halloween-in-kobe-2020/
During October, various theme parks in the country, such as Disneyland in Tokyo and Universal Studios in Osaka organise Halloween-themed days. In particular, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is more faithful to the horror themes typical of Western cultures.
Source: via Pinterest
At Halloween, it is never as important to find the perfect costume for the occasion and if you are in Japan, there are several shops with different price ranges where you can buy costumes and have a lot of choice; one of these is Don Quixote, a popular chain of discount shops where you can find many original and inexpensive masks. Two other popular shops for DIY lovers of accessories, decorations or make-up are Loft and Tokyu Hands in Tokyo. And lastly, the 100-yen Shops (where everything costs 100 yen or slightly more) are a good alternative for those on a lower budget.
Source: via Pinterest
People who know Japanese culture might think that Halloween has some connection with the summer festivity of Obon (お盆) in which the spirits of ancestors temporarily return to the world of the living by visiting their old homes. On this occasion, families get together and tell horror stories to each other. Halloween is also considered a time when spirits wander back to earth due to the temporary connection between our world and the world of the afterlife. However, the two holidays are very different: Obon spirits visit their families, while Halloween spirits in Japan come out to celebrate.
How to match Seishou shoes with Halloween costumes
This is what you can wear to your Halloween party adding a touch of glamour: our Barbara Mary Jane black but also Mary loafers are perfect to recreate the iconic Wednesday Addams character. Few clothes are needed to replicate the outfit and most of us already have them in the wardrobe; you will need a simple black dress, a white shirt and black tights.
Featured image: https://www.ohayo.it/notizie/curiosita/halloween-in-giappone-come/