On March 26, a woman was fatally stabbed inside the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Japan. According to Reuters, the attacker, who was in his 20s, sneaked behind the counter with knives in both hands. He stabbed the clerk, also in her 20s, in the neck, then turned the blade on himself and stabbed himself in the same spot. Paramedics were called to the scene, and both the victim and the attacker were transported to the hospital in critical condition. However, they were pronounced dead within an hour.
The local police are currently investigating the incident. The Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and Pikachu Sweets are temporarily closed due to the incident until further notice. A statement from the Pokémon Company has been issued on social media. Although the comment was originally written in Japanese, it translates to:
“Thank you for your continued patronage of Pokémon Centers. Due to the incident that occurred on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Sunshine City, Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, we will be temporarily closed until further notice, prioritizing our full cooperation with the police and the physical and mental well-being of our staff. We sincerely apologize for the great concern and inconvenience this has caused everyone. We will inform you again when we will be reopening for business. We kindly ask for your understanding.”
The Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is considered the largest flagship store in Japan. It offers a wide selection of Pokémon-themed merchandise, including plushies and apparel. It also contains life-size statues of different Pokémon and frequently holds special events for fans.
The shop is located in Sunshine City, which is a tourist-heavy area. It is located only a few hundred meters from the Ikebukuro terminal, which is one of the busiest train stations in Tokyo. According to videos posted to social media, more than 100 other shoppers were present at the time of the incident, including children.
