Although Japan has a festival of its own to celebrate the souls of its dead -- the midsummer Obon festival -- Halloween has become more and more popular in recent years among both young and old. 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. About 3,000 Japanese dressed in costumes take part in the ceremony to celebrate Halloween in Tokyo.

Halloween came a few days early in Japan this year, with a chronic cosplayers jumping at the opportunity to dress up and get down at a parade here!

Halloween Parade Pics:

A boy holds a pumpkin during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, October 28, 2007:

Participants take a break as they wait for the start of a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

Participants take a break as they wait for the start of a Halloween parade in Kawasaki:

A baby carried by a participant dressed in a Halloween costume cries at parade in Kawasaki:

Participants march during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

Girls react to a participant during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki:

Participants pose during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

Participants march during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

A participant (L) sits next to a child during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki:

Participants pose during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

A participant (C) sits down during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

People watch a participant dressed as a ghost during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki:

Participants march during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

Participants march during a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

Combination picture shows participants of a Halloween parade in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo:

Source: Mainichi