Tokyo's Halloween Crackdown: Samurai Trash Collectors Clean Streets

The Shibuya district in Tokyo, known for its vibrant pop culture, has cracked down on Halloween festivities due to concerns over safety and complaints of excessive noise and litter. Last year's Halloween tragedy in Seoul, where over 150 people were crushed to death, heightened officials' fears of a similar disaster in Shibuya's narrow alleys. The ban on Halloween celebrations, along with restrictions on public alcohol consumption, has been seen by some as an overreaction against youthful spirits by heavy-handed and often aged officials.