On March 26, a female store clerk working at Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Japan was stabbed by a man, who then turned the knife on himself. Both died of their injuries, according to Japanese outlet Jiji News’ latest report.
Around 7:15pm on Thursday evening, Japanese police received reports about a person wielding a knife at Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, in the capital’s Ikebukuro ward. The man (thought to be in his 20s or 30s) got behind the counter and stabbed a female store clerk of around the same age. He then stabbed himself in the neck. Although paramedics were called to the scene, it was subsequently reported by Japanese news outlets that both the victim and the perpetrator had died of their injuries.
The local police are currently investigating the incident. The Pokémon Company has issued a statement announcing the temporary closure of Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and Pikachu Sweets as a result.
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.
Developing…
Photographer: Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
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