Pokemon cancels controversial Shrine event

Pokémon has apologized in Japanese and Chinese after a planned card game event sparked backlash in China. The event was originally scheduled to be held at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday but was ultimately cancelled. The site commemorates Japan’s 2.4 million war dead, including convicted war criminals. Chinese media condemned the choice of location.

Chinese media condemns Pokémon event at Yasukuni Shrine

“Those brands that ignore history and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will eventually be abandoned.” People’s Dailythe official news website of the Chinese Communist Party. He added, “Relevant companies must assume social responsibilities accordingly and cannot underestimate the weight of history in the name of entertainment.”

State-owned global times “Holding any entertainment or leisure activities in such a venue is a blatant insult to historical truth, and holding activities for children is even more shocking.” It also praised “young Chinese netizens” for criticizing the incident.

It is hosted by a certified third party through the official Pokemon website. The company said in a statement on Friday that the incident was “erroneously published due to a lack of due diligence.” “As soon as the incident was discovered, the event was canceled,” the statement added.

relationship deteriorates

The incident comes amid rising tensions between Japan and China. In November, Japan’s new Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae stated that an emergency situation involving the use of force in Taiwan could pose an “existential threat” to Japan. The comments angered Chinese officials, with the country’s foreign ministry urging its citizens not to travel to Japan.

Japan’s Defense Ministry reiterated its warning in a social media post last Monday, saying “Chinese citizens in Japan face serious security threats.” On the same day, information platform Flight Master revealed that all scheduled flights on 49 China-Japan routes in February 2026 were cancelled.

About Yasukuni Shrine

Yasukuni Shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and is regarded by other Asian countries as a symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression. It houses 1,066 convicted war criminals, 14 of whom were charged with Class A crimes. Official visits to Japan by Japan’s prime minister and cabinet members sparked protests from neighboring countries.

In May 2024, a Chinese man spray-painted the word “toilet” on a stone pillar engraved with the shrine’s name after urinating on it. Two and a half months later, more graffiti was discovered on the same pole. It was daubed with the words “die to”, “militarism” and “toilet”. In November of the same year, two Chinese characters with the word “death” engraved on the stone wall outside the shrine were discovered.

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Updated on February 3, 2026