TOKYO - At Tokyo DisneySea, a frenetic scramble for limited-edition merchandise, predominantly by groups believed to be Chinese, has sparked controversy, with their bulk purchasing behavior highlighted on social media. This frenzy has led to concerns about potential domestic and international reselling of these goods.
Despite warnings from staff that each individual could purchase only three of each item, scenes of intense competition and disregard for these limits were reported. Duffy, a beloved Disney character, is at the center of this phenomenon.
Students in their 20s expressed their affection for Duffy, describing the plush toy as comforting and relaxing. A pair of friends, seen with a large Duffy plush in their decorated car, echoed similar sentiments. A 60-year-old employee, who has been bringing a Duffy toy to the park for nearly a decade, likened it to a family member, with another self-employed individual in their 60s agreeing.
When these limited-edition Duffy-related goods are released at DisneySea, the park witnesses distressing scenes. Despite repeated pleas from staff for safety and order, crowds surged towards the merchandise, grabbing items indiscriminately.
One staff member was heard urgently requesting the crowd not to push, as people were getting crushed. Similar chaos ensued at other stores within the park, with witnesses describing scenes of customers aggressively reaching for items during restocking.
Videos on social media depicted individuals squatting in front of shelves, rapidly filling their baskets with Duffy merchandise, leading to overflowing carts. Despite the rule of a three-item limit per type of merchandise, with over 30 types available, shoppers swiftly filled their baskets with various items.
In another incident, a witness captured footage of individuals hurriedly sorting through large quantities of Duffy goods, throwing items into separate carts. By evening, shelves that had been fully stocked in the morning were left empty.
This is not the first instance of such pandemonium. In November 2022, similar scenes of bulk buying were recorded at DisneySea. A witness recounted the chaotic environment, where souvenirs were thrown into carts without regard.
People were seen dashing towards the entrance gates as early as 3:30 AM on a new merchandise release day, forming long queues to secure tickets for store entry.
Videos spreading on social media raise questions about who is behind these bulk purchases. Chinese was heard in one video, and the recorder indicated that several groups thought to be Chinese were involved in the mass buying, with transactions reaching up to 500,000 yen in a single purchase. The motive behind these bulk purchases remains unclear.
On Japanese resale sites and apps, the recently sold limited-edition merchandise was seen listed at higher prices than in-store. Similar activities were observed on Chinese social media, with videos showing boxes filled with limited goods.
A woman, believed to have purchased over 100 items, announced her intention to continue shopping the next day. A man receiving the goods in Shanghai showed off his haul, including a strawberry bag and plush toys, with more shipments on the way.
In response, Oriental Land Company, which operates Tokyo DisneySea, has imposed restrictions on the number of entries to merchandise stores, transactions, and quantities that can be purchased.
Oriental Land Company stated they are continuously working on improving measures to ensure a comfortable shopping experience and are considering more effective strategies.
Furthermore, Mercari, where resold limited-edition goods are suspected to appear, has cautioned on its website that listings in violation of guidelines will be removed.
Source: テレ朝「羽鳥慎一 モーニングショー
