McDonald’s Company (Japan) cancelled a three-day Happy Meal giveaway of Pokémon trading cards less than 24 hours after it began on 9 August, citing unmanageable demand that left many outlets out of stock and prompted scenes of crowding and discarded food. The promotion, run with The Pokémon Company, offered two cards—including a limited-edition Pikachu design—with every Happy Meal priced from about ¥510. Although customers were restricted to five meals each, the cap was frequently circumvented through repeat purchases and mobile orders. Asahi Shimbun reported the company had printed close to three million cards, yet stocks at roughly 3,000 restaurants were largely exhausted on the first day. Social-media images showed long queues, unopened meals dumped outside stores and, in some locations, police responding to disputes among would-be buyers. In statements issued on 11–12 August, McDonald’s apologised for the disruption, admitting its controls were “insufficient”. The chain said it will tighten purchase limits, consider restricting mobile and delivery orders, and ask online marketplaces to help deter resellers. It also warned it may refuse sales to repeat purchasers in future promotions.