How much are Japanese Pokémon cards worth compared to English ones?

Cards for Pokémon Trading Card Game have been printed in English and Japanese since 1998, but not all cards are created equal. THE Pokémon The card flipping market has always existed to some extent. But it has taken off in recent years, catapulting the values ​​of some Pokémon cards at astronomical prices. As a result, many collectors thought about buying Japanese products Pokémon cardswhich, like their English counterparts, can become precious collectors’ objects in their own right.

Several factors determine a Pokémon the value of the card: its rarity, its condition and its usefulness in competitive play. Japanese Pokémon cards are subject to all of these values ​​- but because they are produced and sold in a different type of market, the Japanese Pokémon letters do not match the English value Pokémon cards. It varies from card to card, but here are some of the factors that influence the value of Japanese Pokémon cards, as well as some examples of direct price comparisons.

A variety of factors affect the value of Japanese Pokémon cards

Rarity, Japanese exclusives and competitive play

Most Japanese Pokémon cards are worth more than their English counterpartssimply due to its rarity in English markets. Still, the value of any Japanese individual Pokémon card is affected by the same factors as an English Pokémon card. It is impossible to say with any kind of general certainty whether Japanese Pokémon the letters as a whole are worth more than the English ones. However, there are some unique considerations resulting from inherent differences between the English and Japanese languages. Pokémon card markets, which affect the price of each individual card.

On the one hand, it is estimated that The Pokémon Company International prints more cards in English than in Japanese. This is due to the fact that the English market is much larger, covering several countries, while the Japanese market is limited to Japan. As a result, each individual Japanese Pokémon card is rarer than its English equivalent. However, rare pulls in English Pokémon booster packs are more common than in Japanesetherefore, purchasing sets in English will likely increase the number of rare pieces a collector finds overall.

There are also many Japan exclusives Pokémon cardswhich are inevitably more valuable than the average English card due to their inherent rarity. Many of these come from promotions, especially those launched in conjunction with companies like McDonald’s or Toys-R-Us. Although similar promotions exist in the West, not all of these promotional cards have been translated and released in English.

On the other hand, Japanese Pokémon cards cannot be legally used in English competitive games. Because of this, they aren’t as valuable to players who actually want to add them to their decks. Still, for collectors interested in their rarity or aesthetic value, exclusive Japanese products Pokémon cards can be worth significantly more.

Common Japanese Pokémon cards are worth a little more than English cards

Recent sets fetch the same prices

For recent sets and more common cards, Japanese Pokémon cards are worth a little more than their English equivalents. For example, take a regular Drifloon card from Scarlet and Violet basic set. The English version of this card sells for just $0.04 via TCGPlayerwhile its Japanese equivalent costs US$2.43 in eBay. A slightly rarer Pikachu card released as part of the Pokémon Celebrations set costs US$0.45 in English via TCGPlayeror US$20.13 in Japanese via eBay.

Naturally, this same trend affects much rarer cards to a greater degree. For example, Star CrownThe Special Illustration Rare Lacey card (set number 172/142) has a TCGPlayer market price of US$31.38, while its Japanese equivalent card (Star Miracle set number 131/102) can be found listed at eBay for $92.55. Of course, the base rarity of these cards undoubtedly contributes to their high prices, but it’s still notable that the Japanese version is worth nearly triple the English version on the secondary market.

Buying a recently released set of Japanese cards may or may not be cheaper than an English set. Although the price of most boosters is slightly lower in Japan than in the US, premiums and shipping costs must also be taken into consideration. Temporal Forces The booster pack can cost just US$2.59 in English via Forge and Firewhile the Japanese equivalent costs US$4.99 in this eBay listing. Yet, Due to the higher pull rates in English boosters, collectors will likely find more rare cards in the cheaper pack.

Of course, it’s also worth considering that most Pokémon sets are released in Japanese before being released in English. As a result, there is a brief period after each set’s release where some collectors will pay a premium for Japanese items. Pokémon cards that have not yet been released in your region. But once the set is officially released in English, the value of most of these cards will plummet as they become much more affordable for people living in the West.

The rarest Japanese Pokémon cards are worth much more than English cards

Including the most expensive Pokémon card of all time

However, when it comes to really rare cards, the Japanese Pokémon the cards are almost always worth significantly more than their English equivalents. For example, the Rare Charizard ex special illustration from Obsidian Flames (223/297) has a current market price of $54.85 in near-mint condition, according to TCGPlayer. Meanwhile, a eBay the listing values ​​the Japanese version of the same card at a whopping $600.

Furthermore, when it comes to setting records, the most valuable Japanese Pokémon card of all time is worth much more than the most valuable English card. The Most Expensive English Card, A Grade Perfect, First Edition Charizard from the 1998 Original Basic setwas auctioned for US$420,000 in March 2022. The most expensive Japanese card is also the most expensive Pokémon card of all time, according to the Guinness Book of World Records: A grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card from Professional Sports Authenticator, reportedly valued at $5,275,000.

Of course, The age of these two cards undoubtedly plays a large role in their overall value. As such, more modern cards may challenge this trend, or even reverse it, and the Terapagos Rare Special Illustration ex of Star Crown is a perfect example of the latter. TCGPlayer lists this beautiful card as having a street price of $95.21. However, the Japanese Star Miracle the set version only has a current market price of $68.33 in TCGPlayer. Both are also currently the highest value cards in their respective sets.

Most individual Japanese Pokémon the cards may be worth more than their English counterparts, but several factors complicate the comparison. Although boosters are cheaper in Japan, many sellers in the US charge extra for them. And although rare Japanese cards sell for more, collectors are more likely to find rare cards in English booster packs; more return for less money. As a result, there are pros and cons to Japanese Pokémon cards, whether based on resale value or just collecting for fun. The choice is everyone’s Pokémon Trading Card Game collector.

Sources: TCGPlayer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Forge and FireeBay (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), Guinness Book of World Records