Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward will not hold a year-end countdown event around its major train station for the sixth consecutive year.
The ward held a countdown event near Shibuya Station until 2019. It has been suspended to prevent crowd accidents and other issues.
Crowds are still expected to gather on New Year’s Eve as they have in years past. Ward officials say they will work with police to deploy security personnel and restrict traffic.
An area around the iconic Hachiko dog statue will be cordoned off from 6 a.m. on Wednesday to 1 a.m. on Thursday. The ward will also ask retailers near the station to refrain from selling alcohol. These measures have also been taken during the Halloween period.
Shibuya Mayor Hasebe Ken said the ward will work with police and public transportation companies to prevent crowd accidents. He asked people for their cooperation to create a safe environment around the station.
AloJapan.com