Last weekend in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, thousands of hardcore cosplayers and Halloween lovers descended on the streets of Kawasaki City to take part in the Kawasaki Halloween Parade 2013, the 17th of its kind and Japan’s largest public parade dedicated to the Western festival.
The 1.5 km course was flanked by food stalls and specially decorated shops catering to the tourists and locals vying to get the best shots of the coolest outfits, and despite the somewhat inclement weather last weekend, thousands turned up to witness and take part in the event, proving once and for all that Halloween has most definitely found a permanent home in Japan.
We weren’t able to make it over to Kanagawa Prefecture to check out the parade for ourselves, but thankfully Japan’s smartphone-loving Twitter army came to the rescue and supplied us with dozens of great pictures, so let’s sit back, relax, and enjoy the parade in photo form!
▼ Shoulder-to-shoulder ghouls, ghosts and sexy vampires.
Photo: KAZU
▼ Predator came out to scare some kids.
Photo: stk_aktk
Photo: Jasmine_Makoto
▼ The “No More!” anti-piracy guys had a baby with an Instagram camera
Photo: Hazelhasi
▼ Keepin’ it classic
Photo: Akijok
Photo: Saorikalavinka
▼ And there were of course plenty of masked heroes to meet!
Photo: 9923kawab
Photo: _Je3_
Photo: Syun_ta_x
▼ Is this the Free! team we see here!? Either way this is amazing.
Photo: Komayo_j_u_r
▼ This Mario Kart group’s outfits are simply inspired.
Photo: Komayo_j_u_r
▼ Hayao Miyazaki inhabits a handful of his own creations. Now that’s scary!
Photo: yoneemon
Photo: mao_block
▼ Cute Japanese Alice and pals.
Photo: a_seara45
▼ We didn’t expect to see you guys here!
Photo: Simpsons333
Photo: Mask_jpn
▼ Good to see the pups getting involved too!
Photo: Mask_jpn
▼ It looks like these girls only eat right legs…
Photo: Mask_jpn
▼ “Halloween is fun,” writes this Twitter user. Yes, yes it is.
Photo: tattoo724
Photo: Momocky1989
Photo: DarkKnightArmer
▼ Why go as a comic book character when you can go as the entire comic book?
Photo: Chipdele0904
▼ It’s a giant Umaibou corn snack!
Photo: Slotgonta
▼ The Attack on Titan crew even showed up!
Photo: vhsic_mkll
▼ And here’s a nice close-up shot
Photo: Maejimaeji
▼ A battle-hardened stormtrooper
Photo: h_tsukago
▼ Ol’ Spidey’s looking a bit bored without anyone to fight
Photo: Kusumin_rei
▼ Over-protective boyfriends?
Photo: Moon_913
▼ The gang from Castle in the Sky looking smiley!
Photo: hanagasakutoki
▼ Killer(s) bee
Photo: hanagasakutoki
▼ Zombie military police.
Photo: Macoto_kato
▼ At least someone remembered to keep Halloween scary!
Photo: Oidonbx
Just two more days until it’s officially halloween, boys and girls. We hope you’ve been making the most of the chance to get creepy!