THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
September 15, 2020 at 18:07 JST
Revelers celebrate New Year's Eve at the famed scramble crossing in Tokyo’s Shibuya district on Jan. 1, 2019. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Shibuya Ward has canceled its annual packed New Year’s countdown event held around Shibuya Station this year to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.
Shibuya Ward Mayor Ken Hasebe made the announcement at a plenary session of the ward assembly on Sept. 9.
The ward government decided to scrap the event to prevent a situation where the 3Cs that raise the risk of infections--confined, crowded and close-contact settings--were present.
The executive committee, which comprises the ward government, local stores and other entities, started hosting the event from late at night on New Year’s Eve to the early morning hours four years ago.
The event attracts more than 100,000 revelers annually. During the countdown, traffic is restricted to pedestrians in areas near the station such as the famed scramble crossing and the Dogenzaka district.
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