TOKYO, Japan — A Pokémon card game event scheduled for Saturday at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, a memorial honoring Japan’s war dead, has been canceled following protests from China. The Pokémon Company issued an apology after the event notice was mistakenly posted on its official website.
The Yasukuni Shrine honors more than 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including convicted war criminals. Countries that were victims of Japanese aggression, particularly China and South Korea, view visits to the shrine as a sign of Japan’s lack of remorse for its wartime past.
The announcement drew strong reactions in Chinese state media, citing trending comments on social media. China’s social media environment is heavily censored, with the government controlling which topics are allowed to trend.
“Brands that disregard history and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will ultimately be abandoned by the market,” said People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official mouthpiece, on Weibo. “Relevant enterprises must take social responsibility and not make light of the weight of history in the name of entertainment.”
The Pokémon Company, an affiliate of Japanese game maker Nintendo, apologized in both Japanese and Chinese, explaining that the event was privately organized by a certified Pokémon card player for children, but the information was mistakenly shared on the company’s official website.
“It was an event that should not have been held to begin with,” the company said, adding that the notice was posted “by mistake because of our lack of understanding.” The event has now been canceled and all related information removed from the website.
The company emphasized its mission of “connecting the world with Pokémon” and pledged to be more considerate in the future.
Tensions between Japan and China have escalated since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene if China takes military action against Taiwan, an island Beijing claims as its own. In response, China imposed economic and diplomatic measures.
Takaichi, who was previously a regular visitor to Yasukuni Shrine, has not prayed at the site since taking office in October.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
