Pokémon Event at Controversial Shrine Canceled Amid Backlash

Mon Feb 02 2026 16:53:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Pokémon Company has canceled a planned event at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine following public outrage, particularly from China. Despite being organized by a third party, the company acknowledged the error and has issued an apology.

A Pokémon card game event at the contentious Yasukuni Shrine in Japan has been canceled after facing significant backlash, especially from Chinese audiences. The Pokémon Company stated that the event should never have been held and committed to strengthening its approval processes to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Pokémon Event at Controversial Shrine Canceled Amid Backlash

The Pokémon Company has canceled a planned event at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine following public outrage, particularly from China. Despite being organized by a third party, the company acknowledged the error and has issued an apology.

The Pokémon Company stated that the event, intended for Saturday, should not have been held in the first place after receiving backlash once it was announced. The Yasukuni Shrine is known for honoring Japan's war dead, including more than 1,000 convicted war criminals, and has been a contentious site, especially for nations affected by Japanese wartime actions.

This decision to cancel the event highlights the sensitive nature of historical sentiments between Japan and other Asian nations, particularly China, where the event sparked severe criticism. The company's statement regretfully noted that the event was mistakenly listed on their website due to a lack of due diligence and confirmed that they would review their approval protocols to prevent future errors.

Earlier this week, Chinese media criticized the Pokémon brand for displaying what they called a disregard for historical sensitivities.

Relations between China and Japan have been strained, particularly regarding political statements over Taiwan, which adds another layer of complexity to public responses in both countries. This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the intertwining of history, marketing, and international relations in today's globalized world.