Pokemon Store Set To Re-Open Five Months After Fatal Stabbing
Pokemon Center Store Where Employee Was Fatally Stabbed Is Finally Set To Re-Open
Since 2020, Sam has written over 2,500 articles and specializes in telling the stories of the people behind the games. He’s interviewed the biggest game directors, some of the industry’s top talents, told the stories of how indie games came to be, and spoken to players about what really makes them tick. He’s also interviewed some of the world’s biggest musical artists to find out how the medium has inspired their work, and TV and Film actors about their roles in video game adaptations. He even hosted a PAX panel in 2021 and made a documentary in 2024 surrounding the creation of a Disney game.
Alongside this, Sam focuses on breaking news. He got the scoop on Perfect Dark’s cancellation, got context around some AI drama, and revealed how Lady Dimitrescu’s actress would love to step back into the character’s giant shoes. These articles have been picked up by the biggest gaming sites, including IGN, GameSpot, and PC Gamer. He also loves to dive into the numbers behind the games.
Sam’s journey in games journalism has taken him all over the world. He’s covered Gamescom in Germany, Summer Game Fest in Los Angeles, and Tokyo Game Show in Japan, each on more than one occasion.
He’s been learning Japanese since 2024 with the intention of identifying and translating Japanese-language news and bringing it to English-language audiences first, something he’s done countless times.
Sam’s first review was 2020’s Battletoads reboot, and he’s since reviewed games in The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokemon franchises.
Earlier this year, in March, a Pokemon Center employee in Japan was fatally stabbed at her place of work. The assailant, a 26-year-old man, stabbed the employee multiple times before taking his own life in a targeted case of domestic violence and stalking. The victim, Moe Harukawa, had reported the culprit to the police in December 2025, and he was issued a restraining order the following month, before committing the heinous crime.
The Ikebukuro Mega Tokyo Pokemon Center and nearby Pokemon Cafe have remained closed since the incident. However, that closure is about to end, with the store set to reopen in August, with new safety measures in place.
Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo Set To Reopen Next Month After Fatal Stabbing
The incident at the Ikebukuro Mega Tokyo Pokemon Center took place on March 26, and the store has remained closed ever since. It's the biggest of the four Pokemon Center stores in Tokyo, and is surrounded by the Pikachu Sweets Cafe, a Pokemon Go lab, and a Pokemon Card Game Center, which I found doesn't sell much trading card game stock, outside of sleeves and playmats.
Four months after the murder took place, The Pokemon Company has announced the re-opening of the store.
"We sincerely appreciate your continued support for the Pokémon Center. We are pleased to announce that Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO and Pikachu Sweets by Pokémon Cafe, which had been temporarily closed, will reopen on Monday, August 24, 2026," it said in a blog post. "Prior to reopening, we are carrying out partial renovations at Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO, enhancing safety measures for our staff, and working to ensure a safe environment for our customers. Please note that entry restrictions will be in place for a period following the reopening. Entry procedures will be announced at a later date."
We are carrying out partial renovations at Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO, enhancing safety measures for our staff...
The post apologizes for "any concern or inconvenience you may have experienced during the temporary closure."
While it didn't announce what happened with its employees during the closure, there is hope that they received all the help they needed following the harrowing incident. I'm sure both they plus any customers will welcome all of the new safety measures in place.
If you're planning a trip to Tokyo, the Mega Tokyo Pokemon Center is great. It's in the Sunshine City mall, which has tons of other great shops, plus an aquarium well worth a visit.