Costume-loving Japan warms up for Halloween bash

A Halloween street party?

"Ah, no, this is cosplay," says 20-year-old Saori, referring to costume role-play, or the Japanese past-time of dressing up as their favorite animation movie character.

"Halloween is different," Saori says, giggling as she tugs at her hooded cape with cat ears.

The cult around fancy dress, and Japan's love of quirky festivals and eccentric trends in general, may go towards explaining why Halloween has turned from an obscure foreign celebration into a popular cultural event here.

"Japanese wear suits every day, so at the weekend they like to be different," says Saori's friend Akiko.

The two point the way to the real Halloween party, which is taking place a few streets away. Amid inflatable ghosts and pumpkins in all shapes and sizes, hundreds of spectators crowd around a singer wearing a pumpkin-shaped hat.

In fact, the street party in Kawasaki, on the outskirts of Tokyo, is just a warm-up to Halloween on October 31.

The big bash happens on the Sunday before Halloween, when thousands of Japanese witches, vampires, devils and ghouls fill the streets of Kawasaki in a giant street parade.

Similar extravaganzas are erupting all over town. Tokyo Disneyland has been throwing Halloween fetes since mid-September - starting even earlier than theme parks in the United States.