Halloween in Shibuya!

Be a good Monster Kid and don't drink, unlike Frankenstein. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Halloween in Shibuya has come and gone, and, having missed the last two years, I was interested in seeing how it had changed (if at all). I'd heard about how it'd apparently been "canceled," but I wasn't quite sure how you could stop people from walking around public sidewalks in costumes.

Goodbye, Bad Halloween, it's been nice. Hope you find your paradise. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Well, I guess I was really onto something because, indeed, it looked just about the same as I last saw it. It may not have been quite as crowded or rowdy, but the differences were rather minor.

The cast of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) always get in people's way. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I didn't wear a costume this year, but I wanted an excuse to wear my Nightmare Theatre sweatshirt while out on the town, and this was the perfect occasion. I'm sure the Tokyoites and international tourists enjoyed seeing El Sapo on my chest.

Sign? What sign? Photo by Brett Homenick.

Along most of the main areas were cops screaming into bullhorns (an apt device for them, given what they were spewing) and blowing whistles, ensuring that no dangerous congregating in front of closed shops by randos in Pokemon costumes would occur. Gotta hand it to the local fuzz for being totally on the ball there.

Any guesses as to which finger I'm holding up?

I think Halloween in Shibuya was at its peak in the early years, before it became too congested and some kind of worldwide cosplaying event for influencers. But fun can still be had. I guess it didn't help that I arrived right after work (and thus was dog-tired), but that's how it goes.

"What do you mean the Baron Mondo Von Doren won't take my collect call?"

Not much else to add, so, from here on out, I'll let the photos (and their captions) do the talking. Enjoy!

He had tons of stories about working with John Landis. Photo by Jacob Dow.

"Merry Christmas!" Photo by Jacob Dow.

Hanging out with the pride of Kentucky and Matthew Lillard's best friend. Photo by Jacob Dow.

Godzilla the Art by Parco Vol. 2!

Photo by Brett Homenick.

Godzilla the Art by Parco Vol. 2 runs from December 28 through January 9, and today (Thursday, January 4) I had the opportunity to stop by. A friend of mine in the U.S. told me about it, especially due to the blue 1991 Godzilla for sale at the event. (See photos below.) I wasn't too interested in that, but what really caught my attention was the Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) filming suit on display.

Yes, you read that correctly; the signage there said so! (Again, see below.) Apparently, this was in fact the Burning Godzilla suit sculpted by Godzilla suitmaker Tomoki Kobayashi and repainted "black" (their description, not mine) sometime after filming. Naturally, I had to photograph it from just about every angle. Check out the photos below. Enjoy! 

Shibuya Welcomes an Unexpected Visitor!

Just another day in Shibuya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

"Fucking Donald Trump Lotto." -- Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

While out and about in Shibuya today, I spotted a rather unusual sight. I've seen anti-vaxxers in Shibuya at the height of COVID, but I have to admit this was a new one on me. Quite frankly, it was too amusing to ignore. But it may also haunt my nightmares -- who knows.

Um, anybody got a spare murder board lying around? Photo by Brett Homenick.

Apparently, this activist wants Trump to reveal the truth about who "really" shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. I'm not sure how this gent knows what Trump knows on this subject, but I am society, so I judge ye not. 

If we can't get to the bottom of that case, do you think maybe Trump could tell us who shot CR? The late, great Charles Rocket would certainly like to know who, um, did it.

This isn't a political blog, so I won't say anything more than that. (I already have enough weirdos trying to leave their oddball comments on this blog without encouraging any more.) I just thought folks would get a kick out of seeing this surreal sight.

Halloween in Shibuya!

Shibuya "welcomes" you to Halloween. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tuesday, October 31, marked the return of Halloween to Shibuya. Unlike previous years, the presence of police and random security guards was beefed up to absurd proportions, resulting in incessant shouting and whistle-blowing from these so-called authorities. If you stood in place for more than a couple of seconds, you were hounded until you moved on. If you wanted to stop to take a picture, some rando sporting a uniform would get in your face and demand you keep walking. 

Still, despite the best efforts of Shibuya City to ruin everyone's Halloween, it seems a lot of people still managed to have a good time. I sure do hope they tone down the jackboots next year, though. It's really not a good look for Shibuya's powers that be, who otherwise try to project a "friendly" image. Anyway, with that stupidity out of the way, let's check out some highlights!

'Godzilla Minus One' Ballyhoo Stomps into Shibuya!

Toho Cinemas Shibuya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

While out and about in Shibuya on Halloween, I did manage to notice some promotion for Godzilla Minus One (2023). The photo above was, naturally, at Toho Cinemas Shibuya. 

The photo above was a Koala mattress advertisement with a promotional tie-in for Minus One inside Shibuya Station. Now you too can sleep like Godzilla!