Tokyo International News Agency

McDonald's Japan has announced the upcoming release of the "Hokkaido Potato & Pepper Tsukimi" burger starting September 24 for a limited time, as the second wave of its annual autumn "Tsukimi Family" lineup. Alongside this, it was revealed that entertainer Shingo Katori will star in the new TV commercial "Tsukimi Deta Deta - Shingo Katori Edition" (30 seconds), which will begin airing nationwide on September 22, generating significant buzz on social media. The newly introduced "Hokkaido Potato & Pepper Tsukimi" is an ambitious creation combining Hokkaido potatoes and peppery flavor with the beloved autumn Tsukimi series. Featuring a brand-new composition that puts potatoes front and center in the Tsukimi burger lineup, the news immediately sparked high expectations online with posts such as "It sounds delicious just by the name" and "The combination of pepper and potatoes is a must-eat." Furthermore, the announceme...

With the arrival of autumn comes the season for McDonald's immensely popular Tsukimi Burger. Alongside its return, social media has been flooded with cheers and excitement over the reappearance of a familiar character. At the center of the buzz is "Imadake Tsukimi Tamebi," a character that generated huge interest when introduced last year. On September 1, McDonald's official account posted, "Nice to meet you! My name is Imadake Tsukimi Tamebi! It's a short time, but I look forward to working with you!" This announcement quickly sent the character trending on X (formerly Twitter). Users flooded the platform with excited and welcoming comments such as, "Tamebi is hereeeee!", "I've been waiting for this", "This season is finally here again", and "It's practically a seasonal word for autumn." The timeline was filled with playful remarks about the character's recurring "Nice to meet you" greeting, ...

To celebrate the 55th anniversary of McDonald's Japan and the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, a massive collaboration campaign called "Pokémon Summer Mac" is set to launch sequentially starting tomorrow, Friday, July 10. This campaign, marked as one of their largest-ever tie-ups, will span four categories: the "Summer Chance Bag," "Tokuninarudo" (special promotional offers), "Burgers," and "Happy Meals." Key visuals showcasing Pikachu alongside the beloved original first-generation starter Pokémon—Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle—have already been released, igniting a massive wave of excitement across social media. The details for "Pokémon Summer Mac" will be unveiled gradually starting from mid-July. The current release schedule is as follows: Friday, July 10: Announcement of the "Summer Chance Bag" and "Tokuninarudo" details Thursday, July 16: Announcement of the "Burger" lineup Friday, July...

On the 22nd, McDonald's Japan Co., Ltd. released a new promotional video featuring the iconic internet anthem "Airman ga Taosenai" (I Can't Defeat Airman). The video has sparked a massive reaction on social media, particularly among former users of the video-sharing site Niconico Douga, with many commenting that it is "so nostalgic it brings tears to my eyes" and expressing shock at its "official corporate adoption." Produced as the "Team.Nekokan [Neko] Premium version," the project features a powerhouse lineup. Original creator Sera Mikaru returned to handle the lyrics, composition, and video production, while nyanyannya provided the vocals and arrangement. Furthermore, the collaboration is a fully sanctioned effort, with Capcom—the developer of the original Mega Man (Rockman) series—serving as supervisor. Nearly 20 years after the song first took the internet by storm in 2007, the masterpiece has been reborn in an official capacity. The...

McDonald's Japan will release the "Roasted Soy Sauce Style Egg & Bacon Double Thick Beef" as the latest addition to its popular "Samurai Mac" series for a limited time, starting May 7 at 5:00 PM. Along with the launch, a new commercial featuring Maika Sasaki, a member of the popular idol group "=LOVE," has been released, garnering significant attention on social media immediately upon its debut. The new product features a substantial thick beef patty topped with an egg and smoky bacon, all enhanced by a fragrant roasted soy sauce-style sauce. It will be available exclusively as part of the "Yoru Mac" (Night Mac) menu, served daily after 5:00 PM. On social media, fans have flooded platforms with enthusiastic comments about Sasaki’s adorable appearance while eating the burger, with reactions such as "It’s unfairly cute" and "I’m definitely going to eat this tomorrow." Furthermore, regarding the bold flavor characteristic...

McDonald's has announced that starting February 25th, it will launch "Shaka Shaka Potato Calbee Pizza Potato Flavor," a limited-time product marking its first-ever collaboration with the popular snack, "Calbee Pizza Potato." This dream collaboration has already generated significant buzz on social media. In response to McDonald's official X (formerly Twitter) account post, "What happens when Pizza Potato® meets McDonald's Fries®!?", users flooded the comments with excited anticipation: "A fusion of two delicious things!", "Pizza Potato flavor?! Sounds nothing but delicious!", "This is definitely going to be good." Long-time Pizza Potato fans also expressed passionate support, with comments like, "Pizza Potato is my baby's (son's) favorite," and "Pizza Potato and Caramel Corn are the two strongest snacks of all time." On the other hand, some expressed affectionate "dissent" stem...

In recent years, the phrase "Ranranruu," once a massive sensation, has resurfaced with significant attention on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Affectionately known as "Reiwa's Ranranruu," this phenomenon has brought both nostalgia and surprise to many users, dominating trending topics. Many posts originated from videos and images featuring McDonald's official character, Ronald McDonald, performing "Ranranruu." Comments like "I can't believe I'm seeing the original Ranranruu in Reiwa!" and "Did the person inside Ronald even know that Ranranruu was popular back then? lol" reveal users' delight and excitement that the official side has acknowledged and reused the phrase. There are also reactions calling McDonald's recognition of this "meme-ification" "super hot." However, this phrase carries a complex history. Numerous comments on X include remarks like "Ranranruu was a forb...

The nostalgic internet meme "Ionanazun Interview" has made a surprising comeback in the Reiwa era as an official commercial, generating significant buzz on social media. Released by McDonald's Japan to coincide with the launch of the "Dragon Quest Burger," the web commercial features a dream collaboration of star voice actors. Numerous comments like "too chaotic" and "too funny" have been posted, capturing the hearts of internet users. The star of this commercial is the "Ionanazun Interview," which originated from ASCII art and was once popular online. This unique interaction, where an interviewer asks a candidate about their special skills and ultimately demands "Ionanazun," has been beloved by many. This time, legendary voice actress Masako Nozawa appears as the candidate in this iconic content. Yuko Miyamura and Natsuki Hanae take on the roles of interviewers, and as soon as this overly lavish casting was announced, soc...

McDonald's Japan announced on October 27, 2025, that it will cease providing paper straws from November 19 of the same year. Cold beverage paper cup lids will be gradually replaced with a type designed for direct drinking without a straw. These new lids, introduced after over three years of development, are made from recycled PET. They aim to reduce environmental impact while addressing common complaints about traditional paper straws, such as becoming soggy and being difficult to drink from. Additionally, plastic take-out bags will also be progressively switched to biomass plastic. This bold change has already sparked a variety of opinions across social media platforms. Positive feedback includes numerous comments like, "I'm glad because I disliked the taste of paper straws," "Strawless lids are easier to drink from," and "This is a good, eco-conscious initiative." Some users who never needed straws in the first place expressed agreement, saying, ...

McDonald's popular "Tsukimi Burger" series, an annual autumn feature, has made its return this year, with the "Tsukimi Muffin" in particular garnering significant attention on social media. Ahead of its sale starting September 3rd, its popularity briefly made it the number one trending keyword on Yahoo! Japan. The biggest topic for this year's Tsukimi Muffin is the sauce renewal, the first in eight years. The new sauce features a creamy tomato flavor enhanced with a rich, mayonnaise-like umami and a hint of butter, further evolving its taste. Anticipation for this new sauce is already high, with many comments such as "I want to eat it even if I have to wake up early" and "It's too luxurious for breakfast" being shared. The Tsukimi Muffin consists of a juicy sausage patty, a soft, jiggly egg, smoked bacon, and the newly revamped sauce, all nestled within a chewy English muffin. It is priced at 400 yen for the single item and starts fro...

Today, "Hiru Mac" (Daytime Mac) suddenly surged as a trending topic on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), dominating discussions among many users. Known as an affordable weekday-only lunch set, "Hiru Mac" appears to be drawing renewed attention due to its pricing and popular menu lineup. What's particularly generating buzz is the overwhelming cost performance of "Hiru Mac." Many posts highlight its incredible value, with phrases like "L-size fries & drink included for around 600 yen." The appeal lies in being able to easily enjoy popular, usually higher-priced menu items such as the "Grilled Soy Sauce Double Thick Beef" and "Dabuchi (Double Cheeseburger)" as part of this set. Some users even shared their specific preferences, like "The Teriyaki Chicken Filet set without teriyaki sauce is the best Hiru Mac option," while others pointed out "secret custom" options like "less ice...