Tag - halloween

 
 

HALLOWEEN

Police officers guard the site of a crowd crush in Seoul, on Oct. 30, 2022. Two police officers were sentenced on Wednesday for destroying evidence linked to the disaster on Oct. 29, 2022.
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 14, 2024
Two Seoul police officers convicted over deadly Halloween crush
The pair "deleted or arbitrarily destroyed internal reports written prior to the accident and destroyed evidence," a court said.
A crowded crossing near Shibuya Station in Tokyo on Tuesday
JAPAN / Society
Nov 1, 2023
Shibuya Halloween passes without fuss following ‘don’t come’ message
Shibuya's mayor has expressed satisfaction with the reduction in crowds and public drinking this year.
Trendy buzzwords tend to be most at risk of dying out as they often reflect ideas and trends that are fleeting.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 31, 2023
A foray into the realm of Japanese ‘dead words’
Old slang and problematic terms are prime candidates when it comes to slipping out of usage and disappearing from the Japanese lexicon.
Shibuya's local government has mounted a campaign to dissuade revelers from visiting the neighborhood for Halloween celebrations and has banned drinking in the streets.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 30, 2023
Shibuya wants to cancel Halloween. That's a mistake.
This year, Shibuya isn't dressing up for Halloween. The neighborhood is turning revelers away, ignoring its role as a youth culture hub.
People attend a vigil on Sunday in Seoul to mark the first anniversary of the tragic crowd crush that killed 159 people during Halloween celebrations in the city's popular Itaewon nightlife area a year ago.
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 29, 2023
Families hold mass commemoration for Seoul 2022 crush victims
A year on, victims' families say they are still seeking answers to what went wrong and who was responsible for the deadly crush.
People visit Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on Saturday, including a handful of costumed revelers gathering in the trendy area to celebrate the weekend before Halloween.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 29, 2023
Security tight for Halloween in Shibuya as costumed crowds fail to show
Measures to deter costumed revelers from gathering in the trendy area — including a ban on street drinking — appeared to be relatively effective.
A banner displayed at the entrance of Shibuya Ward’s Center Street makes clear that authorities do not want Halloween revelers to roam the streets as has become the custom.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 27, 2023
Why deal with the crowds when you can have a ‘mundane Halloween’ online?
People are busy thinking up costumes at Halloween, so will yours be flashy and outrageous? Well, an online trend proves "bland" can be just as fun.
A woman walks past newly unveiled lettering that references the Oct. 29 Itaewon crush in Seoul. A more fully developed memorial was later built to commemorate the event and the more than 150 people who lost their lives.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society / Longform
Oct 27, 2023
One year on, Itaewon's scars remain
A year on from the Itaewon crush, foot traffic in the Seoul neighborhood is picking back up. But what the future of the area is still in doubt.
A banner at the entrance to Shibuya’s Center Street makes it clear this is no place for a party.
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 26, 2023
The specter of Itaewon has Shibuya spooked
One year on, Elizabeth Beattie joins us to discuss where Itaewon stands after its Halloween disaster, and what its legacy means for celebrations in Japan.
Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe speaks during an interview at his office on Oct. 19.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 26, 2023
Can Shibuya's mayor turn his ward into a global icon?
For Mayor Ken Hasebe, reining in Halloween revelers is just one step on the way to transforming Shibuya.
People demonstrate against the government on Nov. 5, 2022, after nearly 160 people died in a crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon district on Halloween that year.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Oct 21, 2023
Little punishment or change after South Korea’s Halloween calamity
Families of the 159 people crushed to death last year say the government has never acknowledged its mistakes or accepted responsibility.
The classic Japanese ghost story often features a vengeful female ghost.
PODCAST / deep dive
Oct 12, 2023
[Rebroadcast] Japan’s got ghosts
This week we discuss a few horror movies before “Uncanny Japan” podcast host Thersa Matsuura tells a classic Japanese ghost story.
Police officers work to control a crowd gathering to celebrate Halloween in the Shibuya district of Tokyo on Oct. 31, 2022.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 5, 2023
Shibuya mayor vows to keep things civil as Halloween nears
The mayor made headlines last month when he told would-be partiers to stay away from the Tokyo ward this year for the occasion, citing safety concerns.
Police officers guide the Halloween crowd at the Shibuya scramble crossing in Tokyo on Oct. 31 last year.
JAPAN / Society
Sep 12, 2023
Shibuya’s mayor has a message for Halloween revelers: Don’t come
Shibuya’s scramble crossing has become the go-to spot for younger generations, but past incidents have fueled concern among officials.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 10, 2023
'Overwhelming' online abuse compounds families' grief after Seoul Halloween crush
The internet interpreted families' efforts to seek answers as an attack on the government, with right-wing trolls launching a coordinated counterattack.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 8, 2023
South Korea's parliament votes to impeach minister over Halloween crush
As many as 159 people were killed and 196 injured in the Oct. 29 incident, when revelers flooded narrow alleyways in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Jan 13, 2023
South Korea calls for 24 to be charged over deadly crowd crush
Most of the officers were there mainly for crime prevention and authorities have been faulted for not doing more to control the crowd.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 6, 2022
Candlelight vigils mourn victims of Seoul crowd crush
Law enforcement officials have conceded that there was insufficient safety planning, and opposition politicians have accused the government of not taking responsibility.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Nov 6, 2022
Recipe: Simmered kabocha
In honor of all the jack-o-lanterns headed for the trash heap this week, turn some kabocha in to a subtly sweet treat.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 1, 2022
Halloween tragedy is a test for a deeply unpopular leader
President Yoon Suk-yeol's political future greatly depends on how he deals with the Halloween tragedy that left over 150 people dead after a crowd surge over the weekend.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores