Japanese Pokémon cards are experiencing a bubble in America! — The shock of a card auctioned for approximately 50 million yen and the new demand created by the "translation app era"

Japanese Pokémon cards are experiencing a bubble in America! — The shock of a card auctioned for approximately 50 million yen and the new demand created by the "translation app era"

2025年07月23日 17:11

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction: Why "Japanese Pokémon Cards" in America Now?

  2. The Impact of a "50 Million Yen" Transaction: Deciphering Symbolic News

  3. Lowered "Language Barrier" and Entry Barrier Due to Translation App Proliferation

  4. Data-Driven Price "Uptrend": Market Indicators and Field Sensibilities

  5. Thieves on the Move! Theft Incidents and Security Challenges for Physical Stores

  6. Japanese Cards as Cultural Capital: Design, Originality, and Rarity

  7. Trading Cards as Alternative Assets: Investment and Risk Management

  8. Practical Guide ①: Buying—Where? How to Choose? Counterfeit Measures and Grading

  9. Practical Guide ②: Protecting—Storage, Insurance, Security, Digital Ledger

  10. Practical Guide ③: Selling—Taxation, Tariffs, Import/Export Regulations, Platform Comparison

  11. Ripple Effects on Both Japan and America

  12. Glossary (English-Japanese Translation)

  13. Conclusion: Enjoy and Protect Without Being Swayed by the Bubble


1. Introduction: Why "Japanese Pokémon Cards" in America Now?

The Pokémon Trading Card Game, born in 1996, has cross-generational popularity, but from 2024 to 2025, the craze for Japanese version cards accelerated in the U.S. TBS NEWS DIG reports that Japanese cards are being traded at high prices in America, with local shops stating, "The most expensive ones are Japanese cards." Furthermore, the spread of translation apps has lowered the barrier to understanding Japanese text, leading to an increase in demand for original language versions.TBS NEWS DIGTBS NEWS DIG



2. The Impact of a "50 Million Yen" Transaction: Deciphering Symbolic News

The headline "50 Million Yen for a Japanese Card" symbolizes market frenzy. This is not merely a story of a "high-priced collection" but an example of Japanese versions becoming investment targets in the global market. According to reports, even in New York stores, Japanese cards priced around 600,000 yen are on display.TBS NEWS DIGTBS NEWS DIG



3. Lowered "Language Barrier" and Entry Barrier Due to Translation App Proliferation

TBS states that the proliferation of translation apps is a tailwind for the popularity of Japanese cards. With the ability to instantly translate text on smartphones, playing and collecting is possible even without reading the effect text. In fact, translation apps have become commonplace as tools supporting the understanding of content in different languages through voice and text recognition.TBS NEWS DIGFellow Academy



4. Data-Driven Price "Uptrend": Market Indicators and Field Sensibilities

The online marketplace TCGplayer publishes a CSV of "cards whose market prices have dramatically increased over the past 30 days" monthly, and the reports from June and July 2025 also showed a notable rise in Pokémon cards. This supports how volatile short-term price movements can be.TCGplayerTCGplayer

Additionally, services like GemRate, which visualize grading numbers, track the increase in appraisals by PSA and others on a daily and monthly basis. Since mass appraisals could lead to price drops due to increased supply, it's necessary to read between the numbers.GemRateProfessional Sports Authenticator (PSA)



5. Thieves on the Move! Theft Incidents and Security Challenges for Physical Stores

On July 8, 2025, a card shop in Massachusetts, USA, suffered a theft of Pokémon cards worth approximately $113,000 (about 15 million yen). It was reported that high-value cards were targeted, and local newspapers and The Guardian covered the story. An overheated market means increased crime risk, making surveillance cameras, serial management, and insurance essential for stores.TBS NEWS DIGBoston.comThe Guardian



6. Japanese Cards as Cultural Capital: Design, Originality, and Rarity

The Japanese version is considered attractive for its "primality," "original art and fonts," and the "exoticism of kanji and katakana." The movement of U.S. collectors seeking the "authentic" atmosphere parallels the phenomenon of watching anime and manga in their original language. Testimonies from TBS reports also suggest that the difficulty of acquisition stimulates the desire for ownership and showing off (flex).TBS NEWS DIG



7. Trading Cards as Alternative Assets: Investment and Risk Management

Trading cards are now part of "alternative investments." Logan Paul's purchase of the "Pikachu Illustrator" for $5.3 million is a symbolic example of cards becoming financial assets.Investopedia

Furthermore, the overall expansion of the collectibles market is driving up card prices. eBay's collectible report and industry blogs also suggest the growth of the card market and the entry of individual investors.Cherry CollectablesChargeflow



8. Practical Guide ①: Buying—Where? How to Choose? Counterfeit Measures and Grading

  • Purchase Locations: Major platforms like eBay, TCGplayer, Goldin, Heritage Auctions.ha.comha.comTCGplayer

  • Grading: PSA, BGS, CGC, etc. Serialization also helps with theft and counterfeit prevention.Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)GemRate

  • Counterfeit Measures: Check seller ratings, verify graded serials, and be wary of prices significantly lower than the market.

  • Shipping & Tariffs: Be aware of potential tariffs and consumption tax when shipping between the U.S. and Japan. Check the latest regulations on each country's customs website (this article only outlines general risks).

  • Currency Risk: During yen depreciation, Japanese cards become more expensive, while yen appreciation presents a "buying opportunity" for Americans.



9. Practical Guide ②: Protecting—Storage, Insurance, Security, Digital Ledger

  • Storage: Sleeve → Top Loader → Card Safe → Fireproof Safe. Maintain humidity around 40-50%.

  • Insurance: Enroll in collectible-specific insurance or utilize a rider on home insurance. Covers theft, water damage, and fire.

  • Digital Ledger: Manage serials, purchase prices, appraised values, and photos in spreadsheets or NFT ledgers. Maintain links with grading certificate numbers.



10. Practical Guide ③: Selling—Taxation, Tariffs, Import/Export Regulations, Platform Comparison

  • Taxation: In the U.S., subject to capital gains tax; in Japan, possibly classified as miscellaneous income. Check country-specific tax systems.

  • Tariffs & Import/Export: High-value transactions risk being held at customs. Accurate HS code application and declaration amounts are crucial.

  • Platform Comparison:

    • eBay: One of the largest customer bases globally. Improved reliability with PSA integration.Chargeflow

    • TCGplayer: TCG specialized, rich in price trend data.TCGplayer

    • Heritage/Goldin: High-end auction platforms.##HTML_TAG_

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