Get ready, Chiikawa fans worldwide, because something huge just happened at McDonald’s Japan! If you thought a regular Happy Meal was fun, wait until you see the adorable surprises that came with it this time.
As a massive Chiikawa enthusiast, I recently embarked on a mission to collect the highly anticipated Chiikawa Happy Meal toys. Both the first and second waves of this collaboration brought incredible excitement, and believe me, it was quite the experience!
I’m thrilled to share my top picks from this Happy Meal haul with you, including details on my absolute favorite items and the incredible frenzy surrounding their release. You won’t want to miss seeing what these Japan-exclusive treasures are all about!
My Chiikawa Happy Meal Adventure: The Launch Day Frenzy
A Glimpse into the Chaos: Hunting for Happy Meals in Japan!
The Chiikawa Happy Meal collaboration at McDonald’s Japan was released in two waves, each featuring four different types of toys. On both launch days, I headed to McDonald’s around noon, only to find the stores absolutely packed with people. To my surprise, the lines even stretched outside!
While many customers used mobile orders, the sheer number of people waiting to pick up their orders made the restaurants incredibly crowded. Happy Meal sales actually started at 5 AM on both days, and I heard that Chiikawa fans were lining up at McDonald’s locations nationwide from early morning. It was truly a scene that showed just how immense Chiikawa’s popularity is here in Japan!
ちいかわハッピーセット買うのに80人待ちになってて泣いちゃった pic.twitter.com/w3g3LDC71q
— HK (@hk1305) May 16, 2025
Here’s a glimpse of the incredible crowds – a real testament to Chiikawa’s massive popularity!
仙台駅東口、ちいかわハッピーセット
朝5時に着いて注文して出てきたの45分後。ハッピーセットのサンプルを表にする余裕ないくらいシールの時と違って現場がパニックになってた。お疲れ様です。 pic.twitter.com/ZVPvMAS2Wj— KELLY (@shamneko666) May 15, 2025
Here’s a glimpse into the dedication of Japanese Chiikawa fans: Happy Meals lined up at 5 AM, ready for the earliest birds!
Collector’s Dream Come True: How Japan’s McDonald’s Prevents Duplicates
Japanese McDonald’s is a Collector’s Dream! For this Chiikawa Happy Meal collaboration, both the first and second waves featured four different types of toys each.
While I’m not sure about the situation in other countries, McDonald’s Japan is truly thoughtful and considerate! Despite the overwhelming crowds, many stores allowed customers to complete their set of all four toys without any duplicates if they purchased four Happy Meals. Although I heard some people occasionally received random toys and ended up with duplicates, most customers found that buying four guaranteed a complete set.
Thankfully, I was able to smoothly collect all four toys in both the first and second waves without any duplicates myself! This kind of consideration is truly a collector’s dream come true!
My Absolute Favorites: The Must-Have Chiikawa Happy Meal Toys
Among them, my absolute favorites are the Chiikawa memo set and the Hachiware photo frame.
Adorable and Functional: Chiikawa’s McDonald’s Hat Memo Set
The Chiikawa memo set comes in a case shaped like Chiikawa’s face, with memos inside. What makes it extra cute is Chiikawa wearing a McDonald’s hat!
Capturing Memories: The Hachiware Photo Frame Detail
Hachiware’s photo frame features an illustration of Chiikawa and Usagi enjoying a meal at McDonald’s. Since there are three trays depicted, it’s likely this illustration is set up as a photo taken by Hachiware – such a charming little detail that really makes you smile!
This photo frame allows you to swap out the inner illustration. It’s perfectly sized for instant camera prints (like Instax/Cheki photos), so many fans immediately started using it to display photos of their “Oshi” (beloved characters or idols). What’s more, it gained extra buzz online because it was also the perfect size for horse racing betting tickets, adding another layer of unique fun for collectors!
第2弾ちいかわハッピーセットの
｢ハチワレのハッピーセットフォトフレーム｣
馬券がピッタリ入るサイズなので競馬民はゲットした方がいいです pic.twitter.com/KKX9YwzSJv— 🐢。 (@kame_215txt) May 22, 2025
ちいかわのハッピーセット、チェキ入るサイズだった！！！嬉☺️☺️☺️ pic.twitter.com/Bt7kAMAdVv
— みちゃ__ (@x_reichankawaii) May 23, 2025
Beyond the Toys: The Charming Happy Meal Box Art!
I’ve also included photos of the Happy Meal boxes because their designs are incredibly cute! Each side of the box features a different illustration. Chiikawa and friends are dressed up as McDonald’s crew members, making them absolutely delightful!
Sold Out Overnight: The Dark Side of Popularity
Due to this immense popularity, both the first and second waves of the Chiikawa Happy Meal sold out at many McDonald’s locations by the very next day.
It seems many people purchased the items not just as fans, but also for resale purposes. The internet, particularly flea market apps, became flooded with these resold items. This sparked a huge debate online, with many questioning whether it was appropriate for adults to buy up toys intended for children. I believe the criticism was amplified because a similar situation occurred previously with Kirby plushie mascots in Happy Meals, which also saw widespread reselling. The continuation of this trend certainly fueled the public’s concern.
So, that wraps up my experience with the incredibly popular Chiikawa Happy Meal collaboration in Japan. While the excitement of collecting these adorable items was immense, it also highlighted a common challenge with highly sought-after limited editions: the issue of reselling. It’s truly a shame when items intended for children, and meant to bring joy to fans, end up in the hands of resellers who are just in it for profit, rather than genuine appreciation for the characters.
This debate certainly reminds us of the true spirit of collecting and fandom. As a dedicated fan myself, I believe that if you genuinely love a character like Chiikawa, then acquiring these items for your own collection, regardless of age, is perfectly valid. What are your thoughts on these kinds of situations? Have you experienced similar frenzies in your country? Let me know in the comments below!
Despite these challenges, my love for Chiikawa and the unique charm of Japanese collaborations remains strong. I’m already looking forward to seeing what delightful surprises Japan has in store for us next. Thank you for joining me on this deep dive into the world of Chiikawa Happy Meals!