A Week of Change, Reflection, and Everyday Japan

Life in Japan - Issue 002

Thank you for reading Spiritual Japan Journal.
This Saturday’s Life in Japan series marks its second installment.
On Tuesdays, we share in-depth stories about Japan’s culture and history,
and on Saturdays, we bring you glimpses of everyday life in Japan.
Through the changing seasons, stories from the streets, and moments from daily living,
I hope to share with you a sense of Japan not as a place to travel through,
but as a place to live.

In the previous Life in Japan, I wrote about the plastic packaging often seen in Japanese supermarkets.
The question I asked was, “Why did my overseas friend seem shocked after seeing those photos?”
The answer is that in Japan, fruits and vegetables are carefully wrapped one by one in plastic.
Behind this lies a cultural sensitivity toward cleanliness and safety.
Packaging provides reassurance that what we buy has been protected from outside contact,
and that sense of hygiene brings people comfort.
However, this same mindset may have led to excessive plastic use.

At the same time, Japan has established a nationwide recycling system
under the Container and Packaging Recycling Law.
According to government data, about 87% of plastic waste in Japan is said to be “recycled.”
Yet, only around 25% of that total is actually reused as material,
while most of the rest is incinerated to generate energy.
This balance between a culture that seeks cleanliness and a system that sustains it through recycling
reflects a certain aspect of Japan itself—an everyday scene that may seem curious from the outside.

This week, every television network in Japan seemed to focus on the new administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
It felt like a week in which Japan’s politics took a noticeable turn.
Meanwhile, in the streets, people were out celebrating Halloween.
This seasonal event has now become a familiar tradition, yet it looks quite different from just a few years ago.

This week’s issue takes a closer look at these topics.

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Recently, Japan welcomed its first female Prime Minister,
and it seems the atmosphere across the country has brightened just a little.
According to reports, her cabinet’s initial approval rating stands somewhere between the 60% and 70% range.
Considering that the previous Ishiba Cabinet’s approval was in the 20–30% range,
many people seem to feel a renewed sense of possibility—that perhaps a new era is beginning.
Even around me, I’ve heard people say, “It finally feels like things are starting to change.”

That sense of optimism has appeared in unexpected ways.
Attention has turned to the pen and handbag Prime Minister Takaichi used during her inaugural press conference,
and many people have rushed to purchase the same items.
Reports say that orders for her leather tote bag have surged so much that there is now a six-month waiting list.
It’s striking how something from the world of politics can become a kind of fashion icon—
perhaps it reflects how personally people relate to her presence.

Soon after taking office, Prime Minister Takaichi met with President Trump.
According to media coverage, their discussion included topics such as cooperation on rare-earth supplies
and economic security, emphasizing the two countries’ ongoing partnership.
It was also reported that a golf putter once owned by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
was presented to Mr. Trump, and that the atmosphere between them was cordial.

BBC NEWS JAPAN

This news has been widely reported overseas as well.
In the U.S., much of the attention has focused on her role as “Japan’s first female leader.”
Perhaps you have already heard about it.
I wonder what kind of impression Prime Minister Takaichi has left on you.

The conversation reportedly even turned to baseball.
Mr. Trump praised Shohei Ohtani’s achievements and expressed his admiration for Japan’s sports culture.
Amid political and economic discussions, such moments of warmth feel very characteristic of Japan.

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How did you spend Halloween this year?
In Japan, it has become an established part of the autumn season,
but in fact, it only became widely known here quite recently.

Before the 1980s, Halloween was almost nonexistent in Japan.
At that time, it was mainly celebrated by foreign residents and children attending international schools.
From there, the celebration slowly spread into the broader public.

In 1983, a children’s costume parade held in Harajuku, Tokyo,
became Japan’s first large-scale Halloween event.
After that, interest grew gradually,
and in 1997, Tokyo Disneyland launched its full Halloween program,
firmly establishing the event as part of Japan’s autumn traditions.

Japan often embraces foreign customs and reshapes them in its own way.
For example, Christmas—originally a religious holiday—
has become a warm occasion for couples and families to spend time together.
Because Japan is often described as a non-religious country,
it may have the flexibility to celebrate many cultural or spiritual traditions as “events.”
Yet that doesn’t mean there is a lack of respect.
Rather, people in Japan seem to genuinely appreciate and accept what they find beautiful in other cultures.

In recent years, Halloween in Japan has become most closely associated with Shibuya.
Around the mid-2010s, the slogan “Make Halloween a source of Shibuya’s pride” was widely promoted,
and the district organized community parades and festive events.
However, as the crowds grew larger each year, issues such as public drinking, noise, and minor incidents increased,
prompting the Shibuya Ward government to ban public drinking during the Halloween period in 2019.

After the crowd disaster in Itaewon, South Korea, in 2022,
concerns about public safety intensified, and security measures were significantly strengthened.
This year, Shibuya introduced a new slogan: “No Nuisance Halloween.”
Authorities have called on people to refrain from loud behavior or street drinking
and to take a step back from viewing Shibuya itself as a venue for partying.

BUSINESS INSIDER

Japan’s version of Halloween differs from the original custom of “trick-or-treating.”
Here, the focus is mainly on enjoying costumes.
People dress up, take photos, and gather with friends to experience a sense of the extraordinary.
Although giving out candy is rare, shops and restaurants decorate their spaces
and release seasonal Halloween-themed items.
The result is a notable economic boost in areas like Shibuya and other major cities.
At the same time, some cafés and apparel stores choose to close early on Halloween night
to avoid getting caught in the crowds.

According to the news, two people were arrested near Shibuya Station that night
on suspicion of obstructing police duties.
While the situation did not escalate into the kind of large-scale chaos seen in past years,
concerns about public safety remain.

It is wonderful that so many people from around the world come to Japan,
but accidents and injuries can still happen during these celebrations.
I sincerely hope that Halloween—and every cultural event—
can become something both Japanese and foreign visitors enjoy safely,
with mutual respect and care for one another.

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Next Tuesday, as always, we will share a story from “Deep Japan.”
This time, I’ll be taking you to Takachiho Gorge in Kyushu,
to explore its nature and spirituality—the setting of Japan’s ancient myths—based on my on-site research.
And next Saturday, I’ll return with another Life in Japan piece,
bringing you more glimpses of everyday life here in Japan.
I hope you’ll look forward to it.

—Written by Sumire

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