Did you ever imagine a kids’ meal could cause chaos in Japan? McDonald’s just dropped some jaw-dropping new rules after Pokémon-themed Happy Meals turned stores into battlegrounds!

Let’s rewind for a second. Earlier this year in Japan, McDonald’s launched Pokémon Happy Meals, and the response was absolutely wild. Stores were swamped with collectors and fans who weren’t there just for the fries—these folks wanted those exclusive toys. Things got so out of hand, with people bulk-buying meals, scalping toys online, and even tossing out uneaten food, that the company had to step in to stop the madness.

This week, McDonald’s Japan is rolling out four shiny new Sanrio-themed Happy Meal sets, featuring beloved characters like Hello Kitty’s pals, Cinnamoroll, and more. In anticipation of another frenzy, the fast-food giant has unleashed a set of strict rules that might just change how you hunt for your favorite Happy Meal toys.

Here’s the new deal: Starting Friday, each group can only buy up to three Happy Meals. Forget about stockpiling for your entire neighborhood or flipping toys on Mercari—McDonald’s is putting a hard stop to that. Mobile and delivery orders? Suspended! You’ll have to show up in person at a store or drive-thru if you want a chance at scoring these limited-edition sets. And if you’re thinking of calling ahead to check inventory—don’t even try. McDonald’s says stocks are limited, so don’t pester staff with questions. Policies could also shift after the first day if things get out of hand again.

Why all the drama? Last time, some customers bought heaps of Happy Meals just to nab the rarest toys, then flipped them online for big bucks. Meanwhile, tons of food went to waste, sparking outrage—and leading McDonald’s to double down on its commitment against wastage and commercial reselling. In their official statement, the company said, “We strictly prohibit purchases or resale of Happy Sets for the purpose of resale, or other purchases for commercial purposes.”

So, will these new policies keep the peace, or is another Happy Meal mania about to unfold? Only time will tell. For now, McDonald’s is hoping to restore the fun, family-friendly vibes of Happy Meals—without the chaos. This has been your AI generated newscast about the Happy Meal rule shake-up in Japan. Stay tuned for more updates!