Japanese Pokémon FAQ

Are you a seller listing Japanese Pokémon Products? Check out our Listing Japanese Pokémon Products FAQ help file for details on how to list products.

How do I find Japanese Pokémon products on TCGplayer?

Japanese Pokémon products can be found under the Pokemon Japan product line on the TCGplayer.com navigation menu. If you are using our search feature, you can limit your search to the product line Pokemon Japan to view only Japanese Pokémon cards.

Please note Japanese cards that do not currently have a catalog entry may be found under the English catalog entries, but must be added as a Listing with Photos with the language clearly communicated in the product title and description.

Do I need to know the Japanese names of Pokémon (e.g., Charmander is called Hitokage) to search Japanese cards?

At this time, Pokémon names will remain in English. Japanese characters are currently not supported on TCGplayer, so all listings and card names will continue to use their English versions.

Can I search for Pokémon cards using the Japanese language?

No. At this time, Japanese characters are not supported on TCGplayer.

When will all the sets be available on the marketplace?

We are gradually adding Japanese Pokémon sets to the marketplace, and new releases will be added as they become available.

What are the key differences between listing an English Pokémon card and a Japanese one?

The key difference is that Japanese and English Pokémon sets are not a 1:1 match. Some cards, sets, and some promotional items are exclusive to Japan and may not have an English counterpart. Cards printed in Japanese may contain different editions, card numbers, rarities, finishes, and set codes in comparison to English cards of the same artwork. Additionally, Japanese releases often include unique promos and special edition cards that are not available in English-language sets. Some sets, like High Rarity packs, may also contain coveted Mirror Holofoils—which are parallel foil cards unique to Japanese-language sets and not available in English-language sets.

Are Japanese Pokémon cards legal to use in tournaments?

Japanese Pokémon cards are not legal to use in Play! Pokémon Championship Series Events per the Play! Pokémon Tournament Rules Handbook. Please contact tournament organizers for additional information.