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.
Shibuya bans drinking on street during New Year’s fete
December 27, 2019
Shibuya quieter as drinking ban kicks in weekend before Halloween
October 28, 2019
Costume-clad revelers pack Shibuya despite ban on alcohol
November 1, 2019
Keep your receipts: How to benefit from ‘Go To Travel’ plan
July 22, 2020
State to cover cancellation fees in slimmed-down ‘Go To’ campaign
July 21, 2020
Stories about memories of cherry blossoms solicited from readers
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
A series on the death of a Japanese woman that sparked a debate about criminal justice policy in the United States
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
