A Halloween sales battle is getting heated in Japan toward a world-wide Halloween festival to be held on October 31.
Increased public recognition of the Halloween has been continuously expanding the Halloween sales market, which now exceeds 100 billion yen.
Halloween is becoming the most popular festival next to Christmas among the people of the country.
A number of young people celebrate Halloween by joining costume parades in many streets of big cities. On the other hand, people have increasingly celebrated Halloween by tasting autumn foods with their family members at home.
With a view to keeping up such trend, producers of related commodities and retailers are making efforts to cultivate new demands for Halloween goods.
According to Japan Anniversary Association, the Halloween sales market is expected to hit the record of 134.5 billion yen this year, 10 percent up over the previous year.
The business turnover of the market has seen a double-digit growth every year. Valentine’s Day sales of about 134 billion yen will get trumped by Halloween sales in 2016 for the first time in Japan.
“Halloween celebrators are still dominated by people demonstrating Halloween costumes in the streets to celebrate the festival. On the other hand, lots of people have increasingly enjoyed their time on October 31 by holding a Halloween home party with their family members,” Kiyoshi Kase, representative director of the Anniversary Association said.
Marutaka Co, Ltd., one of major manufactures of packaging materials, based at Osaka city, Osaka prefecture, is one of new entrants to the Halloween sales market this year, beginning to sell various rice packing materials designed with a monster pumpkin.
Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd., one of the most popular food companies in Japan, headquartered at Osaka city, Osaka prefecture, recently launched a new product of “pumpkin stew.”
Glico was successful in making the Japan Anniversary Association recognize October 31 of Halloween Day as “Stew’s Day,” expecting the stew will be a common dish at home parties for celebrating Halloween in a near future.