China’s Response to Pokemon Event Controversy

China’s state-run Global Times expressed satisfaction Tuesday after two clothing brands chose to remove Pokemon merchandise from their Chinese stores. This decision followed a promotional event involving Pokemon at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Japan.

According to reports, Japanese retailer Uniqlo and Chinese brand Li Ning have taken action to eliminate all Pokemon-related items from their platforms. Global Times stated that products linked to the franchise are no longer available in Uniqlo’s official app, as well as on major Chinese shopping sites like JD.com and Taobao.

“The paper confirmed that Pokemon-branded products are absent from Uniqlo’s major stores across the nation. A few inquiries to various locations confirmed this was indeed a widespread change,” it noted.

Li Ning also indicated to state media that they would stop selling Pokemon products for the foreseeable future. While neither brand provided specific reasons for the removal, reports strongly hinted that the backlash over the shrine event was the underlying cause.

Li Ning, known for its successful partnerships with NBA players, has been navigating political pressures regarding its affiliations. Uniqlo, although a Japanese entity, is notably reliant on the Chinese market. The brand has come under scrutiny, particularly related to allegations of its involvement in forced labor issues involving Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Uniqlo denies these claims regarding its sourcing practices.

The Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead, has been a focal point of controversy, particularly due to its association with World War II figures, some classified as war criminals. Both China and South Korea have criticized it fiercely, given the historical context of Japanese militarism in the region.

Despite government objections, many Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, continue to honor the shrine.

The Pokemon issue arose when some Chinese online users noticed an unofficial event listed at the shrine on the Pokemon website. The event was meant for fans of the Pokemon Trading Card Game. Following pushback, Pokemon quickly retracted the listing and issued an apology, asserting they had no knowledge of the event’s promotion.

“We truly apologize for the mixed reactions this has caused,” Pokemon conveyed in a statement. They pledged to enhance their event vetting processes to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Even after the apology asserting no official support for the shrine event, the Chinese Communist Party initiated calls for a boycott, with the People’s Daily denouncing Pokemon shortly after the company’s statement.

The People’s Daily remarked, “As a major global company, Pokemon must uphold proper values and respect local customs.” This sentiment was echoed with a cartoon by China Daily, which depicted Pikachu in a grave situation, hinting at tensions surrounding historical issues.

Adding to the frustration from the Chinese government are previous incidents, such as a 2019 picture of Creatures employees visiting the shrine, which drew outrage and led to its removal from social media.

The Chinese government often targets foreign businesses, imposing demands and influencing their operations in line with its political agenda. There have been instances where companies were pressured to change their branding or marketing strategies to align with the Communist Party’s views.