Latest news with #PokemonHappyMeal
Tokyo Weekender
4 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Hiker Attacked by Brown Bear on Hokkaido Mountain
In this week's news roundup we have the latest on the search for a hiker who was reportedly attacked by a brown bear on Mount Rausu in Eastern Hokkaido. A subway system malfunction leaves a huge number of visitors temporarily stranded at the Osaka Expo site. McDonald's Japan apologizes after the Pokemon Happy Meal campaign ends prematurely due to scalpers. Former J-pop idol Kenshin Kamimura is found guilty of indecent assault. Two Japanese boxers die from brain injuries sustained on the same night. And a lawsuit is filed against Shohei Ohtani and his agent over a $240 million Hawaii real estate project. List of Contents: Search Resumes for Hiker Attacked by a Brown Bear in Hokkaido Tickets Sales for Osaka Expo Surpass 18 Million Break-Even Point McDonald's Japan Apologizes as Pokemon Happy Meal Ends After One Day Due to Scalpers Former J-Pop Idol Found Guilty of Indecent Assault Japan's Boxing World in Crisis After Two Fighters Die From Brain Injuries Sustained on the Same Night Lawsuit Filed Against Ohtani and Agent Over $240m Hawaii Real Estate Project Related Posts Search Resumes for Hiker Attacked by a Brown Bear in Hokkaido On Friday morning, police officers and local hunters resumed the search for a man in his 20s who was reportedly attacked by a brown bear while hiking Mount Rausu in Shari town on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido. At approximately 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, a hiker called the emergency services to report that a male friend had been attacked and dragged away by the bear about 20 minutes before the call. The person who made the call was rescued, but the whereabouts of his friend remains unknown. He told the police that his friend, who was walking 200 meters ahead, called out his name. As he approached, the man saw the bear wrestling with his friend before dragging him into the woods. Climbing routes to the 1,661-meter mountain were closed after the report of the attack. According to NHK , around 70 people took refuge at observation decks and other locations on the mountain before being rescued by police helicopters. However, there have been reports that other hikers were near the summit. Tickets Sales for Osaka Expo Surpass 18 Million Break-Even Point On Monday, the Japan Association for the 2025 Osaka Expo announced that ticket sales for the event have exceeded 18 million, which was set as the guideline break-even point for operating expenses. The association is aiming to sell 23 million tickets by the time the event finishes on October 13. Organizers, though, will be hoping there will be no repeat of the chaos that ensued on Wednesday night after a subway system malfunction left a huge number of visitors temporarily stranded at the site. At approximately 9:30 p.m., a power failure hit the Osaka Metro's Chuo Line, which is the only direct train link from the city center to the site on the artificial island of Yumeshima. Around 30,000 people were said to have been at the venue at the time. The line returned to full operation early the next morning. By that point, 36 people had been transferred to nearby hospitals after complaining of headaches and other symptoms. With many people unable to go home, pavilions were opened as shelters. McDonald's Japan Apologizes as Pokemon Happy Meal Ends After One Day Due to Scalpers Starting on Saturday, August 9, McDonald's Japan launched a special collaboration with one of the world's most popular game franchises. The plan was that for three days, the fast-food chain's Happy Meal — known here as Happy Set — would come with two exclusive Pokemon cards: an original illustration of Pikachu eating a burger, plus one randomly selected card. Customers were limited to purchases of no more than five sets per person and McDonald's Japan shared information with the online marketplace app Mercari to help prevent the reselling of the cards. Unsurprisingly, it didn't work. The campaign lasted just one day as several outlets ran out of the cards. Some customers reportedly used multiple accounts to bypass the five‑meal limit. Footage spread online of chaotic scenes at stores that had to cope with extremely long lines and bulk buying. One video on X allegedly shows a customer attempting to purchase 40 Happy Meals, leading to a confrontation with other people in the line. The hysteria also led to food waste as customers dumped their set meals once they got the cards. Image via @onenonly_tokyo Instagram Former J-Pop Idol Found Guilty of Indecent Assault Kenshin Kamimura, a former member of the J-pop group One N' Only, was found guilty of indecent assault in a Hong Kong court on Wednesday. Presiding Judge Peter Yu handed down the conviction, stating that Kamimura touched the victim — a female interpreter — in a caressing manner that implicitly carried a sexual undertone. The singer allegedly fondled the woman's thigh several times and showed her a message on his smartphone, inviting her to the bathroom, even though she told him she had a boyfriend. The incident took place after a fan meet at a banquet in the Hong Kong district of Mong Kok on March 1. One N' Only were on a tour of Asia at the time. The interpreter filed a complaint with the provincial police the following day. Kamimura, whose contract was terminated by his agency, Stardust Promotions, pleaded not guilty at a court hearing in April. On Wednesday, Yu issued him with a fine of 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (just over ¥280,00). He won't serve a prison term. Hiromasa Urakawa (left) alongside fellow boxer Shigetoshi Kotari (right) Japan's Boxing World in Crisis After Two Fighters Die From Brain Injuries Sustained on the Same Night Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa passed away on Saturday due to injuries to his brain following a bout with Yoji Saito at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on August 2. He was 28. The news of Urakawa's death came just over 24 hours after the announcement that fellow boxer Shigetoshi Kotari had died. Also aged 28, he fought for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) belt against Yamato Hata on the same card. Kotari, who earned a draw with champion Hata, collapsed soon after the 12-round encounter finished. On Tuesday, the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA) and the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) announced that there will be stricter rules on weight loss moving forward. Urine tests to measure dehydration will also be introduced and ambulances will be required to be on site for all bouts. 'Officials have decided to take all possible measures to ensure that the deaths of these two boxers are not in vain,' said Tsuyoshi Yasukochi , secretary general of the JBC. An investigation into Kotari and Urakawa's deaths will take place later this month. Lawsuit Filed Against Ohtani and Agent Over $240m Hawaii Real Estate Project It's been another eventful week for baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. He smashed his 42nd and 43rd homers of the season on Monday and Tuesday, but also saw his name plastered over the front pages of newspapers after it was revealed that a Hawaii real estate investor and broker had issued a lawsuit against him and his agent. They claim the pair got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Hapuna Coast that Ohtani was brought in to endorse. According to The Associated Press (AP) , the lawsuit was filed in the Hawaii Circuit Court last Friday by Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto. They claim that Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, used their 'celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle' their role in the project. According to the suit, this was done 'for no reason other than their own financial self-interest.' Hayes and Matsumoto were subsequently dropped from the deal by their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital. Kingsbarn called the allegations 'completely frivolous and without merit.' Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts US To Amend Executive Order for Japan Tariffs Japan Swelters as Severe Tropical Storm Krosa Approaches Sanseito MP Saya Hits Back at 'Homewrecker Marriage' Accusations
Tokyo Weekender
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
McDonald's Japan Apologizes as Pokemon Happy Meal Ends After One Day Due to Scalpers
Starting on Saturday, August 9, McDonald's Japan launched a special collaboration with one of the world's most popular game franchises. The plan was that for three days, the fast-food chain's Happy Meal — known here as Happy Set — would come with two exclusive Pokemon cards. Customers were limited to purchases of no more than five sets per person and McDonald's Japan shared information with the online marketplace app Mercari to help prevent the reselling of the cards. List of Contents: Pokemon Happy Meal Campaign Lasts Just One Day McDonald's Japan Issues an Apology Related Posts Pokemon Happy Meal Campaign Lasts Just One Day Unsurprisingly, it didn't work. The campaign lasted just one day as several outlets ran out of the cards. Some customers reportedly used multiple accounts to bypass the five‑meal limit. It wasn't that they were very hungry or buying for a large family, they just wanted to get hold of the prized possessions: an original illustration of Pikachu eating a burger, in addition to one randomly selected card, as these items have a large resale value. Footage spread online of chaotic scenes at stores that had to cope with extremely long lines and bulk buying. One video on X allegedly shows a customer attempting to purchase 40 Happy Meals, leading to a confrontation with other people in the line. The hysteria also led to food waste as some people purchased the set meals just to get hold of the cards. Once they received them, they left the uneaten food in the restaurant or dumped it on the street. McDonald's Japan Issues an Apology On Saturday, McDonald's Japan posted an apology on its website for 'not meeting the expectations of customers.' The reason, the company said , was due to 'higher‑than‑expected sales.' Realizing this was an insufficient response, the fast-food chain released a statement on Monday: 'McDonald's does not tolerate the purchase of Happy Set for the purpose of resale, nor the wasting or disposal of food. This incident clearly goes against our long-standing philosophy of providing a fun dining experience for children and families, as well as our values as a restaurant. We sincerely acknowledge that our response was inadequate.' A similar situation occurred in May, when McDonald's Japan released its Happy Meal collaboration with the popular character Chiikawa . Social media posts showed scalpers bulk-ordering the meals solely to acquire the limited-edition toys to resell them. After getting hold of the item, they abandoned the food. The toys then appeared on resale websites for about six or seven times their original retail price. The special collaboration set meals sold out within two days. Related Posts Chiikawa's Dark Lore: The Shocking Stories of Japan's Cutest Characters On This Day in Japan: Nintendo Released the First Pokemon Games McDonald's Japan Announces Neon Genesis Evangelion Toy Collaboration
Straits Times
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
McDonald's Japan ends Pokemon card Happy Meal promotion early amid reports of food wastage, scalping
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Photos of piles of Happy Meals dumped haphazardly outside McDonald's outlets are circulating on social media. A promotional deal in Japan involving McDonald's and Pokemon ended prematurely on Aug 9, as reports of card resales and food wastage poured in from disgruntled social media users. From Aug 9 to 11, those who bought the fast-food chain's Happy Meals – a set meal targeted primarily at children – were to also receive a pack of exclusive Pokemon cards. Such collectible cards have seen a global resurgence of interest since the Covid-19 pandemic, with new launches sometimes accompanied by scenes of chaos. Each Happy Meal was bundled with a pack of two random picks from a pool of cards exclusive to the promotion. PHOTO: POKEMON Following the start of the promotion, pictures have surfaced online of bags of food left unclaimed in McDonald's Japan stores, or left haphazardly outside them. 'We regret to inform you that the distribution of Pokemon cards to customers who purchased the Pokemon Happy Meal, which was scheduled for three days only from Aug 9 to Aug 11, has ended at many stores due to higher than expected sales,' said McDonald's Japan in a statement on Aug 9. 'We sincerely apologise 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.' The statement did not address criticisms of McDonald's Japan's lack of crowd management or the improper allocation of stock, or the incidences of food wastage that had risen from the promotion. Many social media users denounced those who bought the Happy Meals only for the cards while leaving the food behind, sharing images of rows of unclaimed bags of meals lined up on tables at the stores, with only the card packs taken out. Others shared photos of piles of Happy Meals dumped haphazardly outside the outlets they were bought from and stuffed into the baskets of parked bicycles nearby. 'Early morning chaos in Shibuya. McDonald's burgers and fries scattered on the streets, turning into a feast for pigeons. We ask customers to take responsibility for the food they buy and properly dispose of trash,' said an X user. The post was accompanied by a video of flocks of pigeons pecking at presumably food scraps next to crumpled McDonald's bags. 'I don't know if you want to resell Happy Meals, but isn't it a bit much to keep buying them all up like this every time? And throwing away the burgers is just way too immoral, seriously, I wish something could be done about it. What a waste,' said another X user, posting a video of two individuals dumping bags of Happy Meals into rubbish bags. Happy Meals cost slightly more than 500 yen (S$4.35) per set, with an order limit of five meals per person during the Pokemon promotion. However, this did not appear to deter some buyers, who reportedly circumvented the limit by using multiple mobile accounts to place orders. The cards have been put up for sale on e-commerce platforms for several times the price of the meal.
