The Pokémon Company cancels scheduled Pokémon Center events across all nationwide locations in April. Tournaments to be held without spectators 

On March 31, The Pokémon Company announced that all events scheduled to be held in Pokémon Center stores across Japan from April 1 to April 31 would be cancelled, with the exception of two tournaments (source: GameWatch). 

The announcements were made for each Pokémon Center location simultaneously through the official Pokémon Center Staff Voice portal. While Pokémon Centers normally host regular events like Pokémon Greetings (featuring costumed mascots) and Pokémon TCG Classrooms, all such events have been cancelled, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” The exceptions are the domestic City League TCG Tournament and the Preliminary Tournament for the Pokémon GO Japan Championships 2026. 

Additionally, likely due to safety reasons, the tournaments will be run differently. Matches will not be broadcast, and no spectators will be allowed. Consequently, the previously planned commemorative gifts for spectators will not be distributed. 

These announcements follow the temporary closure of Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo announced on March 27, which was directly related to the fatal stabbing incident that took place within the store and resulted in the death of an employee. The Pokémon Company stated that it would prioritize the mental well-being of its staff and cooperation with the police, which is possibly the reason for the new string of cancelled events. While the new announcement only affects events scheduled during April, it’s still not known when Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo will reopen its doors.