Photo/Illutration The New Year’s Eve countdown celebration in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward draws a jampacked crowd of revelers on Jan. 1, 2020. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The New Year’s Eve countdown event at Shibuya’s scramble crossing, a hugely popular tourist spot in Tokyo, has been canceled for the fifth consecutive year.

The decision was made by the event’s organizers, including local officials and businesses, due to concerns over public safety.

“Given our efforts to reduce public drinking, we have determined that it is not appropriate to hold an event that attracts large crowds,” said a Shibuya Ward official regarding the canceled countdown.

The annual event, which began in 2016, involved closing off the area around the iconic intersection and hosting a countdown celebration featuring celebrities and corporate sponsors.

In 2018, the event drew an estimated crowd of 120,000 people. However, it was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not resumed since.

With a significant increase in the number of foreign visitors to the area, ensuring the safety of attendees has become increasingly challenging, according to ward officials.

The latest cancellation comes as local authorities increase efforts to maintain order and public safety in the bustling district.

To address issues such as noise, littering and potential accidents, Shibuya officials implemented measures in October to discourage people from visiting the area for Halloween celebrations.

As part of these policies, the nighttime ban on street drinking, which had previously applied only to specific celebration days, was made permanent starting in October.

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