Halloween & the Japanese economy
The Japan Times reports that Halloween is growing in popularity among Japanese, with businesses seeing increasing sales of Halloween-related products:
“When the economy slumps, people stay home and celebrate anniversaries for their families. Halloween is about kids and parents spending money on them,” Kase said. “And after all, candy and costumes are cheap. Halloween is a reasonable indulgence.”
Spokeswoman Mayumi Funaki of online mall Rakuten Inc. said sales of Halloween goods jumped 45 percent this year thanks to brisk interest in costumes for women and kids.
Discount chain Don Quijote Co. saw its sales of Halloween-related goods rise 20 percent this year, spokeswoman Aya Suzuki said. She also cited increased demand for costumes.
Daiso Sangyo, which runs ¥100 shops, began Halloween campaigns three years ago and the popularity of goods such as witch’s hats, presents bags and stickers has been growing ever since, spokeswoman Hiroko Kusaka said.
Morinaga & Co., a major confectionary maker, is selling 11 Halloween-related products, up from nine last year, and sales have increased 20 percent from a year ago, spokeswoman Kaori Nakamura said.
Here’s a FTV news report about new snack products and the Halloween events at Tokyo Disney:
This is the first year that Tokyo Disney Sea has held special events marking Halloween. At both Tokyo Disney Sea and Disneyland, Halloween festivities will be continuing until November 3rd. If you approach Halloween uniform-wearing staff members and give a “trick or treat” greeting, you’ll receive some free candy.
During the snack portion of the news report, it is mentioned that more companies are now releasing special Halloween products. Sometimes it only involves changing the outside packaging of products, a move that apparently boosts sales.
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