No Screaming on Rollercoasters & Hantus Need to Maintain Social Distancing in Japan’s Amusement Parks

By Ammar Haziq  •  28 May 2020 in News

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Probably the most enjoyable aspect of riding rollercoasters is hearing the screams – all that pent up anger, fear, or whatever emotions you and your fellow riders have suppressed finally get to be released. At the end of those swooshes and twirls comes a new person. I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t at least shriek when riding them.

However, we’re living in a different time now. We need to obliged the rules, even if some of them might sound like a cruel joke. As Japan slowly reopens their amusement parks, thrill-seekers can finally jump back at the excitement of a park’s attractions… but don’t get too excited just yet.

A group of Japanese park operators have released a guide of proper behaviours designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 inside the amusement parks, according to Mothership SG.

The East Japan and West Japan Theme Park Associations (which includes the management companies of Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Sea and Universal Studios, Japan) recently shared their “Guidelines to Prevent the Spread of Infection of the Novel Coronavirus”.

Among the guidelines are no screaming on rollercoasters, social distancing for all hantu in haunted houses, and for park staff members including those who dress up as mascots and superheroes, no shaking hands or giving high-fives to their young fans. Yes, this is how amusement parks look like in the pandemic era.

It’s not just rollercoasters that guests need to watch their levels of excitement on, they’re also advised to “refrain from shouting or screaming” at indoor attractions and costumed character shows.

All park staff must wear masks, and have been instructed to create gestures to convey warmth and friendliness since their smiles are now hidden.

The park operators association admits that these guidelines “will not bring infections to zero, but will reduce the risk of infection.”

This news comes after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted a nationwide state of emergency, which had been place since mid-April after seeing a sharp drop in the number of COVID-19 cases in Japan. According to AFP, Japan’s most famous theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan – in the western city of Osaka, remain closed with no date yet set to reopen.

Well, jerit dalam hati je lah ye…

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