The morning after: Volunteers clean up the litter from Tokyo’s Halloween street party

Mr. Sato heads back to Shibuya, and is startled by what he sees.

The Shibuya Halloween celebrations are at a sort of crossroads. Yes, the unofficial street parties are bigger and livelier than ever, with massive crowds congregating around Shibuya Station as partiers come from all across Tokyo to show off their costumes (and drink) all night long. But on the other hand, the increased incidents of vandalism, violence, and littering are an embarrassing development in ordinarily safe and clean Japan, and are earning the parties negative attention from politicians who are mulling over stricter regulations on Halloween gatherings in the future.

While costumed superheroes are always a popular Halloween costume choice, it’s best to leave responses to vandalism and violence to the police. What volunteers can do, though, is help clean up after the parties are over. So just a couple hours after he’d been part of the Halloween night Shibuya party, our Japanese-language reporter Mr. Sato got up bright and early and headed back to Shibuya Station with an empty trash bag in hand.

Getting off the train at 8 a.m., he figured he’d dive right into picking up litter near the station, making the commute a little more pleasant for everyone on their way to work. But…

…the area around Shibuya Station was remarkably clean. Like, cleaner that it is on a normal weekday morning, let alone after one of the neighborhood’s rowdiest night of the year.

The welcome surprise was thanks to the efforts of other volunteers, who’d actually started working long before Mr. Sato was on the scene. Some of them were even dressed in costumes, suggesting that they’d simply stayed out all night, transitioning from partying to picking up trash at some point.

With the station vicinity already spruced up, Mr. Sato turned his steps towards Center-gai, the shopping street on the far side of the famous Shibuya Scramble intersection.

▼ The Scramble on the night of October 31…

▼ …and the morning of November 1.

The night before, there’d been enough people stuffed into Center-gai to turn the street into a solid mass of standing humanity. During the party, Mr. Sato had needed to go down side alleys to make any forward progress, and along the way he’d seen a number of people tossing empty drink containers and cigarette butts onto the pavement, and he was expecting a lot of them to still be there.

But again, the volunteers who’d already been on the scene had done an amazing job. Sure, there was trash, but it was all wrapped up in garbage bags, stacked into neat piles and awaiting pickup by garbage trucks. Even in front of the restaurant where a fire had broken out, there was no loose litter to be found.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shibuya so litter-free,” thought Mr. Sato. With nowhere else to check, we decided to do a sweep of the alleys that branch off of Center-gai…

…where he only managed to find a single empty bento box that someone had discarded, which he picked up and placed into his trash bag.

As he walked back to Shibuya Station to hop on the train to Shinjuku and clock in at the office, Mr. Sato had a complex mix of emotions. He was still upset by all the littering he’d seen taking place the night before, and embarrassed for the handful of still-drunk partiers who were drifting around Shibuya in the morning. He also couldn’t help feeling sorry for not coming earlier to pitch in with the other volunteers. Still, he was touched to see how many people were willing to spend their time cleaning up the town, even if he hopes that someday they won’t have to.

Photos ©SoraNews24



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The Twilight Zone & TMNT

Brennan Lee Mulligan, Siobhan Thompson, and Adam Conover dissect comic book movies and parse what it means to be a monster.

The Twilight Zone & TMNT


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Hello Kitty’s Retouch Design Series pumps up the 1970’s nostalgia

 

Who knew that Hello Kitty could stay so cute at 45 years old?

You may have thought the Hello Kitty Shinkansen was a big deal, but 2019 is going to be an even bigger deal. Why, you ask? 2019 is the year that Sanrio celebrates the 45th anniversary of Hello Kitty’s creation!

That being said, though, Sanrio couldn’t wait all the way until January to unleash this cuteness. On October 31st, Sanrio is rolling out their Hello Kitty Action Retouch Design Series of merchandise, consisting of items that are retouched versions of some of the earliest Hello Kitty swag, released in the 1970s. They feature classic designs in a chic palette of red, white, and black.

The Hello Kitty Action Retouch Design Series will be available at Sanrio Stores and Corners throughout Japan, as well as the Sanrio Online Shop. Items will range from 378 yen (US$3.40) to 5,184 yen.

▼ Seen at the bottom is a mini wallet (3,456 yen) that was modeled after the very first piece of Hello Kitty goodness ever released: a mini vinyl purse. Vintage, darling!

▼ This multi-color Boston handbag was remodeled into a one-tone, more contemporary two-way bag (5,184 yen). In addition to a hand strap, it also has a shoulder strap.

▼ And here’s something that definitely didn’t exist in the 1970s but still has a super cute and nostalgic design: an iPhone 7/8 case (3,024 yen). It comes with a handle, so you can give the optical illusion that you have an ultra tiny purse!

▼ Also in the lineup are items such as hoodies, clear files, and key chains. You ‘ll probably notice a pattern with the vintage camera, scissors, and pen logos.

As you can see, the Retouch Design Series is just about contemporary functionality for today’s fashionistas as it is about the nostalgia factor. If this is just the first step of Hello Kitty’s 45th birthday bash, we’re not sure if we can handle how cute the rest of it will be!

Sources: Japaaan Magazine, Sanrio Online Shop
Images: PR Times



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Seven arrests, restaurant fire occur during Tokyo’s Halloween night Shibuya street party

Scary sights, and not because of any ghosts or goblins.


While the streets of the Shibuya neighborhood remain the most energetic and exciting place to celebrate Halloween in Japan, this year the unofficial street parties had an ugly side to them as well. On the Saturday before Halloween, five people partying in the area around Shibuya Station were arrested, and the tally was even higher on the night of October 31.

The evening got off to a scary start. Shortly after 6 p.m., a fire broke out in a building just a block from Center-gai, Shibuya’s most crowded shopping street and primary Halloween gathering spot, with flames dancing on its roof and smoke billowing into the streets.

However, the fire wasn’t caused by vandals or arsonists. Instead, it began in the second-floor yakiniku restaurant of a seven-story building, with flames and smoke making their way up through a ventilation duct to the roof some 30 meters (98 feet) up.

Thankfully, no one was injured, and within 90 minutes the fire department had the blaze extinguished. The police department, on the other hand, was just getting started with its night’s work. Counting arrests made in the predawn hours of November 1, the Tokyo Metropolitan police arrested seven people celebrating Halloween in Shibuya, including:
● A man in his 20s who groped a woman’s chest as she attempted to walk past him.
● A male pickpocket in his 30s who stole another man’s wallet.
● A man in his 40s who punched a police officer.
● Multiple men who indecently exposed their lower bodies to the crowds.

▼ A low-speed, lethargic, and yet still violent fight in Shibuya in the early hours of November 1.

It’s not clear if the higher arrest total for October 31 was because of even more lawless behavior than on the previous weekend, or because of an increased police presence and stricter enforcement on Halloween night, as promised by Shibuya Ward Mayor Ken Hasabe earlier in the week. A large number of officers remained on dispatch in the area through the night and until 8 a.m. the next morning.

▼ A shocking video of a woman dancing on a car hood in Shibuya on Saturday night, before being yanked off the vehicle and slammed into the pavement.

We should mention that despite the legitimate problems, the Shibuya Halloween parties can also be incredibly fun. We ourselves spent a couple hours on the street in costume on Halloween and didn’t run into anyone doing the sort of things police made arrests for during the night. However, we arrived early enough to have our fun and still make it back to Shibuya Station while the trains were still running. In Tokyo, the last trains of the night depart around midnight, after which there’s about a five-hour wait until they start running again. That’s a lot of time for an energizing buzz to turn into drunken belligerence, and also the sort of intoxicated inattentiveness that criminals and perverts love to prey on, so maybe the best strategy whether you’re dressed as Cinderella or not, is to head home before midnight.

Sources: NHK News Web (1, 2) via Hachima Kiko, TV Asa News/Livedoor News via Otakomu, NHK News Web (3) via Jin, YouTube/ANNnewsCH
Featured image: Twitter/@k_cubic



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Uniqlo teams up with Alexander Wang for a stylish Heat Tech collection

As the days get colder, this winning combo will help you stay trendy and toasty.

Uniqlo has called upon American fashion designer Alexander Wang to help out with their winter Heat Tech collection. The line will be released on November 9, and it includes everything from long-sleeved shirts to body suits. Yes, body suits.

The collection includes a total of six different items for men and ten for women. The best part? Despite the world-famous designer name attached to the clothing, it comes at totally affordable prices!

Let’s start with the pieces you’re probably most curious about – the body suits. They come in two styles.

▼ This “Rib Tank Body Suit” (2,990 yen [US$26]) looks like a really warm swimsuit. We don’t recommend you actually go swimming in it, though.

▼ Or you could go for the more wintry “Extra Warm Body Suit” (3,990 yen), which has long sleeves and a turtleneck.

If you’re like me, you might be wondering, “How am I supposed to wear this?” Picture this: you have a sweater, and underneath that is a long-sleeved shirt. You tuck the long-sleeved shirt into your jeans over and over, but even the slightest movement pulls it out and results in an undershirt that’s bunched up unattractively around your waist. It turns out that body suits prevent that!

▼ And if you’re worried about what to do when you go to the toilet, it comes with handy buttons.

Enough about body suits; let’s move on to the other items Uniqlo and Alexander Wang have come up with to keep you warm in any situation. Here’s a classic Heat Tech crew-neck, long-sleeved tee (1,990 yen).

And here’s an extra warm Heat Tech tank top (1,990 yen).

There’s even a Heat Tech underwear set! The bra will go for 1,990 yen and the underwear will only cost you 990 yen.

And of course, the line includes the item essential to keeping your legs nice and toasty: leggings (2,990 yen).

For those of you who dread the winter cold, then mark your calendars for November 9, because this season is shaping up to be an extra warm and extra fashionable one.

Source, images: Uniqlo 



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Quick-thinking Tokyo Disney Sea staff helps boyfriend propose with assist from a surprising cupid

Quite possibly the last Disney character we’d expect to be a love guru has the perfect answer to one young man’s dilemma.

While Disney characters are just as popular with kids in Japan as they are elsewhere, some of the most enthusiastic visitors to the company’s Tokyo-area theme parks are actually young adult couples. Tokyo Disney Sea, the companion park to Tokyo Disneyland, is laid out as much to provide romantic views as it is chances to frolic with Mickey and his pals.

Because of that, some Japanese sweethearts have had some very special dates at Disney Sea, like Japanese Twitter user @yomomoyogi.

@yomomoyogi’s story doesn’t take place in a particularly atmospheric part of the park, however. Instead, in a series of tweets he recalls how several years ago he and his then-girlfriend spent part of their date at Disney Sea’s Turtle Talk attraction, an interactive theater show where guests can talk with Crush, the laid-back surfer turtle from Finding Nemo.

▼ Turtle Talk

As part of the show, Disney employees randomly pick three people out of the audience to ask questions to Crush, who can be seen “swimming” on a screen at the front of the theater, and the character answers according to his unique brand of logic. When @yomomoyogi and his girlfriend visited, there were about 40 people in the room, and the staff said Crush could take three questions. The first of the three people picked was a little girl, followed by a female university student. But when it came time for the third lucky guest to be chosen, @yomomoyogi kept his hand up and Crush chose him, specifically calling on “The dude wearing jeans in the third row.”

“So what’s your question today, bro?” asked Crush, who usually gets queries about his lifestyle as a sea turtle/Disney character. @yomomoyogi, though, had a more interpersonal topic he wanted to ask about.

“My heart was pounding. I was so nervous, but the words started spilling out of me. I’m pretty sure the words I said were:

‘I’m here with my girlfriend, who’s sitting next to me. I want to marry her, so do you have any advice on how to propose?’”

Usually the silly questions at Turtle Talk are met with giggles from the audience, but the room fell totally silent after @yomomoyogi spoke. Even the ordinarily unflappable Crush was surprised and paused for a few moments before responding, as @yomomoyogi waited, happy that his blushing red face was obscured by the darkness of the theater.

Finally, Crush gave his answer:

“Gotcha. Actually, just coming right out and telling her direct is, like, the best way to go about it.”

The turtle then paused for dramatic effect, before winking and adding:

“So, how ‘bout if you ask her right here and now?”

A staff member quickly brought a microphone over to @yomomoyogi, who turned to face his girlfriend. “Go on, dude,” Crush prompted as they gazed into each other’s eyes, “Tell her how you feel,” and @yomomoyogi, flying high off the unexpected encouragement, asked his girlfriend to marry him.

His girlfriend, her mind racing to keep up with the sudden turn of events, was flustered for a moment. Then she shyly responded “Yes” into the mic, causing the audience to shower the newly engaged couple with applause as Crush swam loops of joy and told them “Congratulations!” over and over.

However, the show wasn’t actually over yet, so @yomomoyogi and is girlfriend retook their seats and watched the rest of it. As the lights came on and everyone filed out, Crush congratulated them once again, as did several of the other members of the audience.

At the risk of dispelling a bit of Disney magic, while Crush is the on-screen star of Turtle Talk, there’s actually a whole team of human employees who’re responsible for the audience’s interactions with the character. Guests speak their questions into a microphone, which transfers their voice to another room where a voice actor portraying Crush has to think of responses on the spot and technician have to select matching pre-crafted animations in real-time to be projected onto the screen. @yomomoyogi hadn’t called ahead and told anyone at Disney Sea of his intent to propose to his girlfriend, which means that the staff came up with their amazing response in just seconds, helping the young man create a perfect romantic moment with the love of his life.

Cynics may read this and scoff at the showy, public proposal, or question the commitment of a couple that partially owes their engagement to a push from a cartoon turtle. But the best part of @yomomoyogi’s story comes at the very end.

@yomomoyogi actually went on that Turtle Talk date several years ago, and he and the woman he proposed to are happily married to this day. What’s more, they’ve been blessed with a daughter, giving them one more reason to go back to Disney’s theme parks, and of course, @yomomoyogi hopes to go to Turtle Talk again, and hopes he once again gets picked to talk with Crush. Not to ask him a question, but to say thanks.

@yomomoyogi wraps up his lengthy Twitter tale by apologizing for the lack of jokes or gags. To borrow Crush’s vernacular, that’s OK, dude. It’s not like you promised any laughs at the star. But if you could have warned us that we’d need some tissues, that would have been nice.

Source: Twitter/@yomomoyogi via Jin
Top image: Wikipedia/Wpcpey



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