Japanese Culture - The History of Halloween in Japan

As you might already know, Halloween is kind of a new thing in Japan, relatively speaking. In fact, it didn't really catch on until the 2010's. But, today, It's a $1 billion industry in Japan. So, what happened?

Largely, the increasing popularity of Halloween in Japan is due to celebrations by foreigners and expats that observed the holiday during their time in Japan. This usually meant dressing up and hosting private parties, going to bars, or organizing and participating in the infamous Halloween trains. But, as the trend slowly grew, western-based companies like Disney and Universal Studios began celebrating the holiday in their Japanese parks.

Of course, no one event or phenomenon can be attributed to the increasing popularity of Halloween in Japan, but, rather, a variety influences brought about by globalization and the spread of western culture into East Asia. But, Halloween and Japan don't seem like such an odd couple. After all, Japanese pop culture is characterized by its emphasis on mascots, cosplay, and garish colors that define the western holiday.

Naturally, there are some differences between Halloween in Japan and in the United States. Most notably, there is very little emphasis on trick-or-treating in Japan. Instead, there is a greater focus on merchandising and Halloween-themed events and parties. Also, while black and orange are iconic Halloween colors in the United States, purple is far more prominent in Japan on Halloween for its connection to traditional fall crops, like purple yams and sweet potatoes. This connection isn't lost on Japanese marketing departments, which churn out a variety of purple treats come October.

Here's hoping the Greatest Holiday Ever™ continues to make its way around the globe, spreading candy and costumes like a delicious, campy virus.

Source: Kotaku
Image Credit: Yuumaio