Pokémon has apologised after plans for a card game event at a controversial shrine for Japanese war dead saw it accused of hurting “the feelings of the Chinese people”.
The event was due to be held on Saturday at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo – which honours Japan’s 2.5 million war dead, including convicted war criminals.
Neighbouring countries that were victims of Japan’s aggression, especially China and North and South Korea, see visits to the shrine as demonstrating a lack of remorse about the past.
The controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead. Pic: Associated Press
Chinese media was quick to condemn the choice of location.
The People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s official mouthpiece, said: “Brands that disregard history and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will ultimately be abandoned by the market.
“The relevant enterprises must accordingly take social responsibility and not make light of the heavy weight of history in the name of entertainment.”
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The Pokémon Company, an affiliate of Japanese game maker Nintendo, issued an apology in both Japanese and Chinese, trying to distance itself from the event.
It said it had been privately planned by a certified Pokémon card player for children – but its information was shared on the company’s official website.
“It was an event that should not have been held to begin with,” the company said, adding that the notice was shared on its website “by mistake because of the lack of our understanding”.
The event has been cancelled and its information removed from the website, it said.
The company, citing its motto of “connecting the world with Pokémon,” pledged to be considerate to everyone.
It comes amid rising tensions between Japan and China.
In November Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested the country could become involved if China takes military action against Taiwan, a self-governing island Beijing claims as its own.