If you’ve landed on this site, chances are you are one of close to 400 million native English speakers in the world.

We’re all naturally drawn to things we recognise in our native tongue – and Pokemon cards are no exception.

There’s comfort in seeing our favourite Pokemon cards in English. It feels like home.

But Pokemon cards, to the majority of people, are simply beautiful and nostalgic collectables with incredible artwork that immediately catches the eye.

Whether it’s the First Edition Base Set Charizard holo or the newest full art SIR, it’s the art and rarity of that item that pulls us in. Otherwise common cards would be far more popular.

And that’s where Japanese Pokemon cards offer something different to collectors. 

I’ve broken down four reasons why you should consider collecting Japanese Pokemon cards.

Superior Art

Art and print quality alone is enough to add Japanese Pokemon cards to any collection.

Comparing an English card and a Japanese print side by side, you’ll see a far superior texture on the latter.

The print quality of Japanese Pokemon cards is also much better, with far more gradable in a 10 (if that’s your thing!).

If it’s a card you want to showcase on a shelf or multiple cards in a display unit, Japanese Pokemon cards have the edge.

And for many collectors, the Japanese text is part of the overall appeal.

Hit Rates

One of the simplest joys of opening Pokemon cards is when you pull the big chase card from the set.

In English, that might never happen, making it even more exciting when it does. But modern English booster boxes don’t offer the same guaranteed hit structure found in Japanese booster boxes.

Japanese booster boxes offer more guaranteed hit rates, although that varies between Japanese Pokemon sets.

Buying and collecting chase cards is fun, but there is nothing that compares to the thrill of pulling it yourself and Japanese booster boxes give you the best chance to experience that.

Cost

Despite the shipping costs involved, there are several situations where it is cheaper to collect Japanese Pokemon cards over English cards.

That is largely due to the way Japanese Pokemon cards are produced and distributed, with Japanese booster boxes including one SAR guaranteed, whereas English Pokemon booster boxes do not have guaranteed hits.

Ultimately, that makes it easier to pull a Japanese chase card from a set than it does in the English version, therefore bringing down the price.

But does that matter if the sole purpose is to collect your favourite Pokemon cards? If the same Pokemon, with the same artwork, is available in the language it was originally created in and costs significantly less than the English version, then it’s a no-brainer isn’t it?

Origins

It was touched upon briefly above, but Japan is the birthplace of Pokemon and it is still seen as the mecca of all Pokemon card collectors.

Machida was where it all started for Pokemon, a suburban city in western Tokyo, where Pokemon creator Satoshi Tajiri says he drew most of his inspiration from his childhood.

Japanese booster boxes are always released first, a few months before the international versions, meaning Japanese Pokemon cards can also give collectors an early look at new artwork.

English Pokemon cards have their own place in the history of the hobby, but they are simply a translation of how the cards were originally meant to look and there’s something extra collectable about that.

Frequently Asked Questions