McDonald’s Japan Responds to Pokemon TCG Promotion Backlash with New Anti-Scalping Measures

In the wake of a recently launched and highly anticipated Pokemon TCG (Trading Card Game) campaign, McDonald’s Japan has confronted widespread criticism surrounding incidents of food waste and large-scale scalping.

The promotional event, which offered exclusive Pokemon TCG cards with the purchase of Happy Meals, quickly drew international attention after reports surfaced of excessive disposal of uneaten food and a surge of scalpers acquiring the collectible items for resale on secondary markets. McDonald’s Japan addressed the situation through an official statement published on its website.

The fast food giant extended a formal apology to its customers, staff members, nearby residents, and adjacent businesses, acknowledging the inconvenience and chaos resulting from the Pokemon TCG campaign.

The company emphasized that it does not condone the actions of scalpers or the wasteful discarding of food items witnessed during the promotion. To prevent similar issues from recurring in future campaigns, McDonald’s Japan has announced the immediate implementation of several corrective measures.

Stricter purchase limits will be introduced for select Happy Meal promotions, and when such restrictions are enforced, ordering through mobile takeout and delivery platforms may be temporarily suspended.

Specific details regarding these new purchasing guidelines will be communicated ahead of upcoming events. Additionally, McDonald’s Japan has committed to actively refusing service to customers who attempt to bypass purchase limits, engage in aggressive behavior toward staff, repeatedly queue at counters, or otherwise violate store rules.

The company will also take further measures against violators by suspending or banning McDonald’s Japan app accounts associated with disruptive conduct or excessive ordering during limited-time campaigns like the recent Pokemon TCG event. To address scalping on the secondary market, McDonald’s Japan is continuing its collaboration with major online marketplace platforms such as Mercari and Rakuma.

The company stated that it will pursue enhanced enforcement strategies to deter the resale of promotional Happy Meal items and will incorporate feedback from both customers and employees to strengthen these efforts. The official response comes after a public outcry from users across Japan, some of whom argue that additional steps—such as restricting Happy Meal sales only to families with children—may be necessary to deter scalping in the future. As McDonald’s Japan updates its policies to ensure more responsible handling of limited-edition promotions, the company aims to maintain the positive spirit of exclusive campaigns like the Pokemon TCG partnership while minimizing disruption and ensuring access for genuine fans.

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