It may seem surprising, yet for several years now, Halloween celebrations in Japan have enjoyed astonishing popularity. The success is such that Halloween has become a cult holiday for a large segment of young Japanese adults. In this article, we explain the reasons for this success.
The Japanese have a real flair for celebration. Countless matsuri (Japanese festivals) take place throughout the year in every region of the archipelago. But apparently, that's not enough, because over time, Western holidays have been added to their traditions. And what's interesting is that the Japanese adapt everything they touch to fit their own customs (Christmas, for example). Furthermore, Halloween is no exception.
The essence of Halloween celebrations (American-style) rests on the simple phrase "trick or treat." While the Japanese enjoy the holiday, it's hard to imagine them throwing toilet paper and eggs at people's homes. Here, people are raised to be mindful of not offending or embarrassing others. As for sweets, the Japanese are very fond of them, but children aren't encouraged, even in exceptional circumstances like this, to gorge themselves on candy (not to mention that trick-or-treating isn't common practice either). The other aspect of Halloween is closely linked to the celebration of the dead. Again, this isn't really compatible with Japan, since here the dead are commemorated during the summer. So why do people celebrate Halloween in Japan?
As with Christmas, the main reason can be summed up in three words: marketing, marketing, and… marketing! Indeed, an entire industry has sprung up around this holiday. Restaurants, supermarkets, and all kinds of shops compete to offer exclusive products for this period in order to entice consumers. And it's safe to say it's a resounding success. From September until October 31st, Halloween is everywhere you go. In fact, we recommend trying Kabocha, the Japanese pumpkin, during this season (it's delicious!). The other aspect of Halloween's success stems from the tradition of dressing up. Japan is THE country of cosplay, let's not forget that. Halloween is therefore an excuse for a large number of Japanese to indulge in a national passion: dressing up. Obviously, this practice mainly concerns young people (older generations are generally a bit more resistant to this kind of holiday).
If you want to experience an atmosphere like you've never known before, we recommend visiting the Shibuya crossing on Halloween night (the street becomes pedestrianized for the occasion), you won't believe your eyes.
