TOKYO (TR) – Over the previous yr, there have been a number of incidents close to JR Shibuya Station wherein foreigners have been the supply of hassle.
In one case, two foreigners jumped on the again of rubbish truck. About six months earlier than, one other climbed on the roof of a comfort retailer.
Both of these instances concerned individuals who had been consuming — and with summer season right here, Fuji News Network (July 11) reviews that locals are upset at common avenue consuming by foreigners within the space, which is now prohibited.
The focus is a Family Mart outlet on Shibuya Center-gai avenue in Udagawacho. On the night time of July 10, the community introduced a digital camera to the world after a torrential downpour.
By round 8:00 p.m., a number of foreigners had gathered on the aforementioned comfort retailer. Bottles in hand, they have been consuming wine. (The community notes that there have been additionally Japanese folks consuming within the space.)
Before the community knew it, the variety of folks had swelled to about 20, fully blocking the doorway to the comfort retailer.
When the community confronted one male foreigner about avenue consuming, he insisted, “It’s okay. This is a convenience store, not the street. I don’t drink on the street. I don’t drink beer.”
“It’s only 300 yen and you can get drunk!”
Starting from October 2024, an ordinance banned consuming in public locations round JR Shibuya station between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. every day. The purpose is to cut back issues about security, noise and litter that comes with street-drinking.
This is the primary summer season because the restriction was put in place — and many don’t appear to be paying consideration.
When the community left the comfort retailer, there have been bottles and empty cans scattered in every single place.
Drinking on the road continued even after 1:00 a.m. Among these partaking have been some overseas girls sitting on the premises of a constructing.
“If you’re drinking in [inside a bar], you’re not getting drunk, so this is what you get,” mentioned one girl, who had missed her final practice dwelling. “It’s good value for the money! I mean, if you drink at a bar, it would cost thousands of yen. If you drink here, it’s only 300 yen and you can get this drunk!”
The community famous that there have been many complaints from occupants of neighboring buildings over nuisance habits.
Much like the person quoted earlier, the girl went on to say that she was not in violation of the ban since she was technically not standing on the street.
After saying she is going to eliminate her rubbish, she continued, “It’s to stay hydrated [to beat the heat]. I’m going to live my life the way I want to. You only live once!”
“It’s only 300 yen and you can get drunk!”
The clean-up afterward begins every morning. Everyday, representatives from the Shibuya Center Shopping District Promotion Association gather trash within the space.
The proprietor of a close-by restaurant instructed the community, “It’s because people don’t follow the rules. Smoking on the street is also prohibited, but there were about 30 cigarette butts on the stairs of our building today.”
Tatsuji Suzuki, the chairman of the Shibuya Center Shopping District Promotion Association, mentioned that the notion of avenue consuming wants to alter. “If you come to Shibuya and see a few people drinking on the street, people may misunderstand and think it is acceptable. So I think it’s important for tour companies to spread the word and make announcements.”