Pokémon Card Frenzy: McDonald’s Japan Pokémon TCG Promotion Sells Out Within 24 Hours

In August 2025, McDonald’s Japan partnered with The Pokémon Company to launch a special Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) promotion, generating unprecedented demand from both collectors and fans across the country.

The campaign, which coincided with McDonald’s seasonal specials, featured exclusive Pokémon cards—highlighted by a rare, limited-edition Pikachu card illustrated with the character enjoying a Happy Meal—distributed alongside Pokémon toys in Happy Meals for a single promotional weekend. The event’s overwhelming popularity saw McDonald’s Japan’s stock of the special Pokémon cards exhausted in under 24 hours, despite plans for the campaign to run throughout the weekend.

The rapid depletion of the promotional items led to significant customer frustration; many families and fans who visited McDonald’s locations in anticipation of the unique cards left empty-handed, with some expressing outrage both in-store and across social media platforms. Reports from IGN detailed the chaotic aftermath, noting widespread incidents where Happy Meals were discarded along public roadways as individuals sought only the coveted Pokémon cards, resulting in excessive and publicized food waste.

Meanwhile, the cards quickly surfaced on Japanese online auction sites, frequently fetching prices several times their original value. Law enforcement officials reportedly responded to incidents at certain McDonald’s outlets, including one case in which a disappointed customer became disruptive upon discovering the cards were out of stock.

The surge in demand, exacerbated by scalpers intent on reselling the collectibles, was highlighted by viral social media posts, including images and videos of bulk purchases and subsequent resales.

These trends sparked further criticism from Japanese citizens, who decried both the waste of food and the loss of the opportunity for children and legitimate collectors to obtain the limited-release merchandise. In response to the public backlash and rapid sell-out, McDonald’s Japan issued a statement on its official website: “We sincerely apologize for not being able to meet the expectations of our customers who were looking forward to the product due to the early end of distribution.

Please refrain from contacting stores regarding stock availability.” Company representatives confirmed the promotion concluded prematurely as a result of higher-than-anticipated demand across all participating locations. The Pokémon TCG collaboration with McDonald’s Japan underscores the immense popularity of both the Pokémon franchise and limited-edition merchandise in Japan, reflecting a broader trend observed in previous Nintendo-related promotions, including earlier McDonald’s Happy Meal tie-ins. This incident serves as a reminder for retailers and promotional partners to anticipate high demand for exclusive items—particularly when collaborating with influential brands such as Nintendo and The Pokémon Company—and to consider robust measures to manage distribution, minimize waste, and ensure a positive experience for all customers.

Pokémon Japan The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Pokémon Company Pikachu Happy Meal McDonald’s McDonald’s Japan