Japan and Pokémon have been inextricably linked for years. From rare cards to exclusive events, anything Pokémon-related generates massive interest. But this time, things got out of hand. A major fast-food chain in Japan recently had to abruptly cancel a popular Pokémon card promotion… all because of the chaos it caused.
What Exactly Happened at Fast Food Chain in Japan
The fast-food chain launched a new campaign offering customers an exclusive Pokémon card with the purchase of a children's menu. It seemed like a simple and innocent promotion. But the reality was different. Soon, restaurants were filled with collectors, resellers, and even people who had no interest in Pokémon but still wanted to get in on the action.
Some people bought ten or more children's menus at once, just to increase their chances of getting that one rare item. And what happened to the food? It was simply thrown away. Photos of trash bins overflowing with unopened meals and sidewalks littered with fries, burgers, and packaging appeared on social media. A thorn in the side of many passersby and, of course, bad for the environment.
Why were these cards so popular?
As is often the case with limited-edition promotions in Japan, the cards featuredpopular Pokémon cards that were only available during the campaign. Some of these cards can fetch hundreds of euros on the secondary market, especially if kept in mint condition and later graded as PSA 10.
The campaign therefore attracted not only children, but especially adult collectors and pinball players who bought in droves with one goal: to make a profit.
The consequences: action immediately stopped
The fast-food chain decided to halt the event after just a few hours. The disruption was simply too great. Employees couldn't handle the crowds, trash piled up, and the atmosphere became grim.
In an official statement, the company publicly apologized for the chaos and inconvenience. They also announced that future promotions will have stricter rules, such as a limit of one children's menu per customer, to prevent a recurrence.
What does this situation teach us?
This incident demonstrates once again how much impact Pokémon still has—not just as a franchise, but also as a cultural phenomenon. A simple card can spark a frenzy. And while that underscores the brand's strength, it also raises questions about responsibility, sustainability, and how brands handle collection hype.
Van Gogh
This isn't the first time a Pokémon promotion has caused chaos. Two years ago, things went terribly wrong in the Netherlands at the Van Gogh Museum. We wrote this blog post about it at the time:
