As Tokyo braces for Halloween, when its streets are thronged by weekend partygoers dressed up in costumes, the metropolitan government is preparing to give away 300,000 special garbage bags.
The "HALLOWEEN&TOKYO" campaign is partly about litter, but also about boosting the city's name.
Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe said he hopes revelers will use the bags to take their garbage home, telling a news conference he wants Tokyo to be known as a "clean and comfortable" city.
The orange plastic bags with a horror pumpkin motif will be given away for free this month at locations including Shibuya, Roppongi, Shinjuku and Akihabara — popular destinations for Halloween costume street parties.
The Halloween garbage bags are part of the "&TOKYO" strategy announced by the metropolitan government earlier this month. Individuals and companies are encouraged to use the catchphrase and an associated logo free of charge in a bid to spread the Tokyo brand and establish its position as a city of international tourism ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.