Japanese Pokémon Cards

Why Collect Japanese Pokémon Cards?

New Pokémon sets launch in Japan first, often months before their English versions. Many collectors also prefer the card stock, finish and centring of Japanese prints, and the boxes are smaller and quicker to open.

What’s Inside a Japanese Box?

Pack counts depend on the type of set, so it helps to know the main formats:

• Main expansions usually come as 30 packs of 5 cards.
• High class sets, such as VSTAR Universe, Shiny Star V, VMAX Climax, Shiny Treasure ex and Terastal Festival ex, usually have 10 packs of 10 cards and focus on rare and shiny cards.
• Special sets use their own layouts. Pokémon 151, for example, has 20 packs of 7 cards.

Our Japanese Pokémon Range

The Scarlet & Violet era is well covered, from Scarlet ex and Violet ex through Clay Burst, Raging Surf, Ancient Roar, Future Flash, Cyber Judge, Wild Force, Crimson Haze, Mask of Change, Night Wanderer, Stellar Miracle, Paradise Dragona, Super Electric Breaker, Battle Partners, Heat Wave Arena and Glory of Team Rocket, finishing with Black Bolt and White Flare.

The newest releases include Mega Brave, Mega Symphonia, Inferno X, Mega Dream ex, Nihil Zero, Ninja Spinner, Abyss Eye and Storm Emeralda. Sword & Shield collectors will find Towering Perfection, Silver Lance, Jet Black Spirit, Star Birth, Battle Region, Time Gazer, Space Juggler, Dark Phantasma, Incandescent Arcana and Paradigm Trigger.

Special Boxes, Decks and Collector Pieces

Beyond booster boxes, the Japanese range includes:

• Special boxes such as the Pearl Clan and Diamond Clan boxes and the Glory of Team Rocket briefcase.
• MEGA starter sets and decks, including Eevee ex, Zorua and Zoroark ex, Sprigatito and Meowscarada ex, and Mega Diancie ex.
• Regional special location boxes from Fukuoka, Hiroshima and Tohoku.
• The Japanese 30th Celebration booster box, Premium Deck Set, Futuristic Box and starter card sets.
• AR and RRR bulk lots of 50 cards, ideal for binders (duplicates are possible).

Reading Japanese Cards

You don’t need to read Japanese to collect these cards. Every card shows its number and set code, so it’s easy to look up any card you pull. For box-only shopping, see Japanese booster boxes, or compare with Korean Pokémon cards, which follow the Japanese set list.

Japanese Pokémon FAQs

Do Japanese Pokémon sets come out before English ones?

Yes. Pokémon is a Japanese game, so new sets usually appear in Japan first. English sets often combine more than one Japanese release.

What is a high class set?

A high class set is a special Japanese release, usually 10 packs of 10 cards, built around rare cards from recent sets. Examples include VSTAR Universe and Shiny Treasure ex.

What are AR and RRR bulk lots?

They’re lots of 50 Japanese cards of one rarity: AR (art rare) or RRR (triple rare). They’re a budget-friendly way to fill a binder, and you may get duplicates.