Pokémon cancels event at controversial Japan shrine following backlash

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 31, 2026 at 01:08 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The Pokémon Company cancelled a card game event scheduled to be held at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, following criticism from China. The Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japanese war dead including convicted war criminals, is a controversial site for nations that suffered under Japanese occupation. The Pokémon Company apologized for advertising the event, organized by a third party, on its official website, stating it should not have been planned in the first place. Chinese state media and online users condemned the event as disrespectful to historical truth, especially given the current strained relations between China and Japan over Taiwan. The Pokémon Company stated the event was mistakenly posted and promised to strengthen its approval process to prevent future incidents.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Tokyo 35% Global Times 40% Chinese Communist Party 40% People's Daily 50% Taiwan 60% Japan ×275% China ×280% Pokémon Company ×490% Yasukuni Shrine ×495%

Keywords

yasukuni shrine 100% pokémon card game event 90% china-japan relations 80% backlash 70% controversy 70% war criminals 60% cancellation 60% historical truth 50% social responsibility 40%