Chiikawa ‘Happy Meal’ coming to McDonald’s Japan this May
Chiikawa and McDonald’s Japan are set to team up this May, in what is likely to be one of the most anticipated collaborations of 2025.
The new collaboration is set to start shortly after the conclusion of the current ‘Happy Set’ promotions, which are based on Tomica and Licca-chan.
McDonald’s Japan announced on the 15th of April via their official X (formerly Twitter) account that popular character Chiikawa will be appearing in their ‘Happy Set’ meals, with exclusive toys set to be included with each purchase.
“Chiikawa” is a popular Japanese manga and anime series created by illustrator Nagano.
The series follows the daily lives of a group of small, cute, and somewhat melancholic characters, including the titular Chiikawa, a small, white, cat-like creature, along with his friends Hachiware, a cheerful dog, and Usagi, a more unpredictable rabbit.
Set in a world that appears initially gentle but occasionally reveals darker undertones, the stories often depict the characters navigating simple joys, everyday struggles, and unexpected challenges.
The endearing designs and relatable, often humorous, situations have garnered a significant following across Japan and beyond, appealing to a wide audience with its blend of sweetness and subtle poignancy.
Fans of Chiikawa can look forward to collecting 9 different toys, each of which feature Chiikawa and friends dressed in McDonald’s crew uniforms.
Chiikawa is so popular in Japan that limited edition goods often sell out immediately, with some unscrupulous scalpers going on to sell them on online marketplaces for significantly more than the value of the goods.
Many online commenters in Japan have expressed hopes that McDonald’s Japan will implement measures to counteract this behaviour, such as introducing purchase limits or ensuring that sufficient stock is available to effectively flood the market and make the new Chiikawa x McDonald’s toys less valuable to scalpers.
McDonald’s are yet to confirm any specific purchase limits, and with more details set to be announced closer to the collaboration start date of the 16th of May, Chiikawa fans can look forward to picking up the new toys in just under a months time.
Source: Official X