Japanese Pokémon cards: what's different and why collectors buy them

Japanese Pokémon cards are the original version of every modern Pokémon Trading Card Game set. The same cards are later released in English, but many collectors — and plenty of players — prefer to buy Japanese. Here's what's different, and what to know before you buy.

Japanese sets come out first

New Pokémon card sets are designed and released in Japan first. English versions usually follow months later, and are often built by combining or reworking Japanese sets, so set names don't always match. The Japanese 151 set became "Scarlet & Violet—151" in English, and Terastal Festival ex became "Prismatic Evolutions". If you want the newest cards as early as possible, Japanese is the way to get them. Every Japanese set we stock, with its set code, is listed in our Pokémon card database.

Same size, different packs

Japanese and English Pokémon cards are exactly the same size — 63 × 88 mm — so they fit the same sleeves and binders. What differs is the packaging:

• Most Japanese main-set booster boxes hold 30 packs of 5 cards, compared with 36 packs of 10 cards in an English booster box.
• Japanese special sets vary: a 151 box holds 20 packs of 7 cards, and a Terastal Festival ex box holds 10 packs of 10.
• Japanese boxes cost less per box, so they are a popular way to open more sets on the same budget.

Why collectors choose Japanese cards

Many collectors say Japanese cards have more consistent printing, cutting and centering, which matters when a card is sent for grading. Some cards and promos only ever appear in Japanese. And because Japanese sets release first, the newest Mega Evolution cards are often only available in Japanese for months.

Can you play with Japanese cards?

Japanese cards work exactly like English ones in casual play — the attacks, HP and rules are the same, just written in Japanese. Official tournaments have their own rules on card language, so check with your organiser before bringing Japanese cards to an event. Our guides to how to read a Pokémon card and how to play Pokémon cards work for both languages.

Buying Japanese Pokémon cards in the USA

US stores such as Walmart and Target sell English cards (where to buy Pokémon cards), so Japanese cards mostly come from importers. Official Chinese-language cards are a different product again: see Chinese Pokémon cards.

We source every booster box and single card in Japan and ship it to the USA with tracking. Shipping is calculated at checkout and free on orders over $2,000, orders start at $100.00 including shipping, and US import duty may be charged on delivery — see Shipping & Returns for details.