Universal Studios Japan launches special Christmas event amid pandemic

OSAKA — A Christmas event got underway at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in this western Japan city on Nov. 13, with adjustments made to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The popular theme park unveiled the event to the media a day ahead of its opening. A giant Christmas tree that had attracted attention every year has not been set up this year to avoid the “three Cs” of confined spaces, crowded places and close contact settings that increase the risks of transmitting the novel coronavirus. Instead, USJ has made efforts to conduct new events, including a show starring popular characters, and is distributing stickers for guests to put on their masks.

During the show, characters including those from “Sesame Street,” “Peanuts” and “Hello Kitty” appear in Christmas costumes and dance to songs. The performance was organized for the first time as the main feature of USJ’s Christmas event in place of the Christmas tree. The roughly 20-minute show is held two to three times every day.

While the event is underway, staffers are handing out stickers of Santa Claus mustaches and reindeer noses to guests who tell them, “Happy Christmas.” The stickers can be used to decorate masks. A music event consisting of violin performances and singing is also being held as the first of its kind at USJ this year.

The theme park has gathered attention every year for its huge Christmas tree decorated with many lights. The tree in 2019 measured over 30 meters, and had 591,840 lights — setting a Guinness World Record for the ninth year in a row. The 3.196-meter-tall snowflake ornament at the top of the tree also broke the Guinness record for being the world’s largest.

The Christmas event will run through Dec. 27.

source: https://bit.ly/3pOHwno