Japanese Pokémon cards: value and how to price them
Japanese Pokémon cards come out months before English ones, often with a better finish, and many collectors buy them. Their prices are still hard to find. Here is how to identify a Japanese card, find its English equivalent and know what it is worth.
Identify the card
Three details at the bottom of the card are enough:
- The set code (for example M2a, M5, M6a): it names the Japanese set.
- The number (for example 240/193): above the total, it is a secret card.
- The rarity, in letters: C, U, R, RR, then the sought-after rarities.
| Japanese rarity | English equivalent |
|---|---|
| AR | Illustration Rare |
| SAR | Special Illustration Rare |
| SR | Ultra Rare |
| UR | Hyper Rare |
| MUR | Mega Hyper Rare |
Japanese sets and their English equivalents
An English set often combines one or two Japanese sets released months earlier. For the Mega Evolution era:
| Japanese set | Japan release | English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia (M1L, M1S) | August 1, 2025 | Mega Evolution |
| Inferno X (M2) | September 26, 2025 | Phantasmal Flames |
| MEGA Dream ex (M2a) | November 28, 2025 | Ascended Heroes |
| Nihil Zero (M3) | January 23, 2026 | Perfect Order |
| Ninja Spinner (M4) | March 13, 2026 | Chaos Rising |
| Abyss Eye (M5) | May 22, 2026 | Pitch Black |
| Storm Emeralda (M6) | July 31, 2026 | Delta Reign (November 6, 2026) |
| 30th CELEBRATION (M6a) | September 16, 2026 | 30th Celebration |
Careful: contents are not always identical. The Japanese 30th Celebration has 176 cards, the English one 199 (according to Vice). A card can exist in one language only.
Where to find a reliable Japanese price
- TCGplayer has sold Japanese cards under Pokemon Japan since October 18, 2024. Its market price is the average of recent sales: Kardz records it daily for every Japanese set.
- Japanese stores such as Card Rush serve as the yen reference in specialist media. These are store prices, often above sales between collectors.
- eBay shows listings worldwide: useful to check what is really offered in your country, shipping included.
English or Japanese: which is worth more?
There is no rule. For Mega Gengar ex, the Japanese version (M2a, 240/193) had a TCGplayer market price of $352 on September 29, 2026. Always compare the same card, in the same condition, on the same date: Kardz card pages give each version with its 30-day trend.
Vintage cards
Until the Pokémon VS set (July 2001), Japanese cards had a different back, known as the "old back" (per Samurai Sword Tokyo). Those 1996-2001 cards are unnumbered: Kardz does not price them one by one yet.
Price your Japanese card
Find your set in the Pokémon card price guide, under "Japanese sets". For a quick check, try Kardz for free. See also: Chinese and Korean cards and rarity symbols.
Sources: PokeGuardian (JP dates), Bulbapedia (set equivalents), Poképédia (rarities), TCGplayer, Vice, Samurai Sword Tokyo, TotalCards (Abyss Eye / Pitch Black). Prices: TCGplayer via Kardz, 09/29/2026.
Check it on your own cards
Scan a card, Kardz compares eBay listings from 8 countries and gives you its real raw and graded value, with the listings below market.
Scan a card