Pokémon fans in Japan cash in on Happy Meal cards, causing massive food waste
The popular Japanese trading card game has landed at McDonald’s, with one huge issue.
The Pokémon craze strikes again. Japan’s McDonald’s sparked a very much expected storm when it unveiled a limited-edition Pokémon Happy Meal from August 9 to 11, featuring exclusive trading cards alongside their usual toy and food items.
What might have sounded like a nostalgic win turned into full-on chaos almost immediately. Long queues gathered outside restaurants as the bulk buyer community descended. This was not just enthusiastic fans — scalpers have been the real earthquake in the TCG arena.
As customers began mass-buying the meals for the cards, the discarded meals piled up: inside stores, at counters, and even scattered across the streets for pigeons.
McDonald's has announced the early end of a Happy Meal Pokémon card promotion in Japan, after the chain was swamped by fans buying up dozens of burgers just to extract the packs found within them. https://t.co/37ZdAT3j93 pic.twitter.com/oBj5rb8OcT
— IGN (@IGN) August 11, 2025
Pokémon cards go for high prices on secondary market
Understandably, McDonald’s Japan pulled the plug on the offer. Within hours of launch, they dropped the campaign, issuing apologies and promising stricter controls: limiting purchases, halting mobile or delivery orders, and refusing service to hoarders.
“We regret to inform you that the distribution of Pokémon cards to customers who purchased the Pokémon Happy Meal, which was scheduled for three days only from August 9 to 11, has ended at many stores due to higher than expected sales,” McDonald’s Japan posted on its official website.
Meanwhile, on resale platforms, Pokémon cards fetched eye-watering prices—some listings soared to ¥2,000–3,000 ($13-20), roughly four to six times the original Happy Meal cost of around ¥510 (~$3.50).
New rules were imposed from August 15 to 17: no more than three Happy Meals per group, applicable to in-store, app, and delivery orders alike. Plus, customers were told not to contact stores directly.
McDonald's announced that the Pokémon Card Happy Meal promotion in Japan ended early due to higher than expected sales.
— Stealth (@Stealth40k) August 10, 2025
This is for the best. The food waste was out of control.
People would buy Happy Meals, keep the cards, toss the food.https://t.co/bDsM0Ww387 pic.twitter.com/kO7Sq12zhf
“The recent situation clearly contradicts our long-held philosophy of providing enjoyable dining experiences for children and families,” the fast food chain said. “We take this matter seriously and acknowledge that our response was insufficient.”
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