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Mr. Mime's design got a fifth finger after parents complained of an unintended Yakuza connection

Man, that's dark!
by rawmeatcowboy
15 August 2019
GN Version 5.0

Here's an odd bit of Pokemon trivia for you that you might not know. Mr. Mime's original design sported 4 fingers, much like many other cartoon characters out there. This was his design in the original games, promo artwork, and more. This ended up getting changed though, as there was a bit of a backlash to the design in Japan. A number of Japanese parents ended up complaining about Mr. Mime not having a fifth finger, as they saw this as being associated with the Yakuza.

For those who don't know, the Yakuza participate in the act of cutting off one's pinky, which is called yubitsume. Yakuza gang members are expected to cut off their pinky fingers to show remorse for an offence that they have previously committed. After cutting a portion of the pinky off, the gang member wraps it, and presents it to his boss.

Game Freak obviously didn't choose this design path for Mr. Mime as a way to pay tribute to the Yakuza, but they decided to change the design anyway and stop any further complaints.

[Link]