Overview

• After adult collectors and resellers queued up to extract and resell exclusive Pokémon cards, McDonald’s Japan ended the initial three-day promo after just one day.
• The company issued a formal apology acknowledging that resale-driven bulk purchases led to piles of uneaten meals and violated its family-friendly philosophy.
• From August 15 to 17, customers are limited to three Happy Meals per group with mobile and delivery orders curtailed and potential service denials for rule-breakers.
• McDonald’s Japan has urged flea-market apps and e-commerce platforms to remove inflated listings where promo cards fetched around ¥4,000 each versus the ¥510 retail price.
• Images of discarded Happy Meals continue to circulate online, keeping pressure on the chain as it tests its tightened measures for future card drops.