As the Halloween season approaches in Japan, cities transform: Shopping malls play eerie tunes over speakers while people shop. Soft drinks and confectionery makers update their packaging to reflect the Halloween spirit. Theme parks advertise Halloween-themed events to entice customers. As a country with a widely recognized reputation for adopting various western ideas and cultural celebrations, Halloween is a perfect example of this. And one of the best ways to experience Halloween in Japan<\/strong> is by attending the Kawasaki City Halloween Parade in late October.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
I arrived at the Kawasaki<\/a> train station to see a full display of decorations akin to that you might see during the Christmas season. The black, orange and green colour scheme adorned the station ceiling and every shop and cafe in the vicinity. The first attraction outside the station was a parked bus decorated to the nines with Halloween paraphernalia and a Halloween-themed tree. It was here that I met my first character, No-Face, from the studio Ghibli movie, Spirited Away. After leaving the bus with my gift of Hello Kitty stickers (Halloween-themed, of course!) and souvenir photo, I made my way to the parade route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kawasaki Halloween Parade takes a 1.5km route through the city<\/strong> on the last Sunday of October<\/strong>. Less than a 10-minute walk from the Kawasaki train station near the La Citadella shopping centre, the free event attracts around 120,000 spectators to observe the 2,000 participants who walk in the parade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to participate, a 1,000 JPY fee and application form are required to join. For those with the time, resources and imagination, there is a 500,000 JPY prize for best costume, so entry is worth it for those inspired to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I made it just in time for the start of the parade at 14:30, and to see the first float as it made its way down the street. Japanese party music blared from speakers to set the parade\u2019s atmosphere \u2013 fun, frantic, cheerful, and uniquely Japanese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first group of costumed participants to appear was a range of Disney characters brought to life. Woody and Buzz from Toy Story danced their way down the street alongside every Disney Princess imaginable. As they walked by, I was amazed by the meticulous detail and creativity that went into each costume<\/strong>. Every article of clothing was considered, from the pin in their hair down to the shoes on their feet. However, I was here to see some horror-inspired outfits. So, I was more than excited when the following group included all of my favourite horror icons!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every horror genre and movie I knew of danced their way past the crowds. The level of detail was impeccable and would not have looked out of place on a Hollywood film set. Despite the somewhat-gruesome nature of the outfits, the parade still managed to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere. I heard shouts from the children, \u201cKa-wa-i-i<\/em>\u201d (cute in Japanese), as they watched the characters pass by. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alongside the popular horror-themed outfits, a diverse range of other characters appeared. Every anime character imaginable (some I recognized, some I didn\u2019t) turned up to the event, as well as characters of Harry Potter, Doc from Back to the Future and Star Wars. A massive wave of nostalgia washed over me when a troop of Power Rangers<\/a> danced by and handed out sweets to waving children. As the parade drew to a close at around 16:00, I headed off to explore the nearby streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n