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Are Japanese Pokemon Cards Worth Anything

How To Identify First Edition Pokmon Cards

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The quickest way to tell if you are looking at a first edition Pokémon card is to look for the first edition symbol.

And remember there are three types of cards you can have in your deck:

  • Pokémon
  • Energy
  • Trainer
  • This is important because the first edition symbol will appear in different locations depending on the type of card.

    On Pokémon cards, it will appear to the lower-left of the Pokémon image while on Energy and Trainer cards it appears in the upper-right and lower-left corners of the cards, respectively:


    Pokémon

    Trainer

    Now that we got that out of the way, let’s go through the list.

    The first 16 cards on this list are known as “holographic” cards as their images are shinier.

    They’re also more rare as their prints runs were far more limited than the other cards in the 102-card checklist.


    And because their more rare, that greatly increases their values as well…

    Pokmon Trading Card Game Competitive Play

    If one of the main reasons that you are cracking booster packs is because you are looking for cards to complete your newest standard deck, buying Japanese Pokémon cards may not be for you.

    There are a handful of issues and rules when it comes to using Japanese cards in competitive play outside of Japan and its honestly best to avoid them if you are serious about playing in sanctioned tournaments.

    Black Star Ishihara Gx Promo Card

    Sold in April, 2021 for $247,230

    As a gift to top-level employees, Tsunekazu Ishihara, president of The Pokémon Company, gave out an estimated thirty copies of this card during his 60th birthday party at the 2018 Pokémon World Championship.


    As of this writing, only eight copies have ever been submitted to PSA for grading, making this one of the rarest Pokemon cards in existence.

    Making this particular example even rarer is the fact that Ishihara personally signed it as well.

    The artwork on the card is fantastic and the “60 Congratulations!” and GX attack of 1060 damage are nice touches to help commemorate his 60th birthday.

    Ishihara has been instrumental, to say the least, in building the Pokémon brand by contributing to the development of multiple video games and even initiating the creation of the Pokémon Trading Card Game itself.

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    Pokmon 1998 Japanese Promo Card

    $66,100

    This magisterial Magikarp promo card, described as “not a very common design” was distributed only to competitors at an exclusive tournament event in Osaka, Japan.

    To take part in this event, they were required to complete the “Tamamushi University Hyper Test,” briefly published in a select number of magazines.

    Umbreon And Espeon Gold Star Cards

    2002 Pokemon Japanese eCard Lottery Promo Holo Charizard ...

    These two cards are rare because the packs they are drawn from were never released in stores. Coming from POP Series 5, these packs were given to those who participated in the Pokémon Organized Play program. This set, Series 5, was one of the last Japanese promotional sets to be released in English and included these two Pokémon with a unique gold star next to their name. Because of the criteria to have an opportunity to draw one of these cards, they are some of the rarest in circulation today.

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    First Edition Holographic Machamp

    Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,000


    The final form of Machop that evolves from Machoke, Machop is an intimidating fighting-type Pokémon who looks like the last thing you’d want to fight.

    Known for its brute force and strength, Machamp is nothing but solid muscle and its four arms allow it to strike opponents from multiple angles at once.

    And not only is Machamp overpowering, it also possesses incredible speed making it capable of throwing as many as 500 punches in one second.

    Wearing a championship belt around its waste, the aptly named Machamp is frequently on the victorious side of the fight.

    Most Expensive Pokemon Cards Of All Time

    Initially released in Japan in the 1990s to accompany the Pokémon video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has transformed into one of the most popular trading card games of all-time.


    Because of the red-hot popularity of the franchise, some of the most expensive Pokemon cards can sell into the six-figure range…

    That may sound shocking, at first, but given that Pokémon is a worldwide phenom, there is a vast, passionate collector base around the globe just waiting to get their hands on these prized cards.

    From trophy cards, to First Edition Pokemon cards, to lesser-known rarities, the value of these cards is quite impressive.

    And in this guide, we take a look at the 50 most valuable of them all.

    Let’s jump right in!


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    Bulbasaur 1st Edition $450

    One of the most popular Pokemon, Bulbasaur delivers long term. Previously third in the pecking order for PSA 9’s, Bulbasaur is currently higher than Squirtle and Charmander. With low populations, be sure to make Bulbasaur a top priority.

    PSA Pop: 783 – 237 – 416

    Current Value: PSA 10 $3200 PSA 9 $450

    How Can I Tell If My Pokemon Cards Are Worth Money

    Are Japanese Pokémon Cards Worth It? (Collection Tour)

    Do you have a stack of Pokemon cards stashed away in the attic? Maybe you were an avid collector of all things Pokemon back in the day and have been wondering what to do with all of your old cards.


    First check them to see if they are worth something! But how can you easily check to see if they are valuable?

    The easiest way to check your Pokemon cards and see if they are worth anything is to head over to eBay and look at the completed listings for that specific card. You can easily look at the sold data to see whether there is any demand for your specific cards and how much they should sell for.

    Rare Pokemon cards can be worth a lot of money. If the card is kept in mint condition the value goes up.

    Some things to check for to see if a Pokemon card is valuable are the symbols on the bottom right hand corner of the cards. A circle is common, a diamond is uncommon, and a star is rare.

    Some cards made in 1999 to the early 2000s that say Wizards of the Coast on them should be examined more closely for a rarity check. First edition cards are rare too and can be sold for a good amount.


    These will feature a first edition stamp at the bottom of the card to the left of the artwork.

    The collectors number may give you a clue to how rare the card is. It is said that if a card has a collectors number higher than the total number of cards printed in it then it is a rare card.

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    Neo Genesis First Edition Holo Lugia

    Sold in May, 2021 for $144,300

    The 2000 Neo Genesis set was the first to feature second-generation Pokemon from the Gold and Silver video games that built off the massive success of the Red and Blue games.

    And Lugia had the great fortune of being chosen as the character to be featured on the box art of the Pokemon Silver game.

    Considering the massive boost in notoriety that Charizard and Blastoise received for being the box art characters for the Red and Blue games, respectively, the same is true for Lugia.

    However, the difficulty of finding this card in top condition propels it even further into the upper echelons of expensive Pokemon cards.

    Print issues are a problem for the entire Neo Genesis set, and the Lugia card is no exception.

    Around 2% of the Lugias graded by PSA have received the PSA 10 grade, while even fewer BGS have received the BGS 10 Pristine label.

    PSA 10 Lugias have sold for $76,000 and $129,000 before, but the BGS 10 brought home an even bigger price tag in May 2021 at $144,300.

    Are Japanese Pokemon Cards Worth Anything Price Guide And Top Collectibles

    It has been over twenty-five years since the first time fans memorized the Pokemon slogan, and since then, the Pokemon trading card game has taken root in the world. The competitive Pokemon card game is still a favourite for most people. Every new year, new Japanese Pokemon cards are printed. Apart from players meeting to compete in TCG, others are all about by the craze for collecting Japanese Pokemon cards. Do you believe the fuss around Japanese Pokemon cards being worth anything? How about reading on for more details about Japanese Pokemon cards?

    The life of every card in the Pokemon universe begins at Pokemon Card Laboratories in Japan, before their distribution to other countries for printing in different languages. As a result, the number of non-Japanese collectors has constantly been on the rise. While most of them are interested in collecting Pokemon cards, others focus on owning the Japanese originals. As a result, they are willing to part with a dime for them.

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    Whats The Most Valuable Pokemon Card

    The Pikachu Illustrator cards have sold for the highest amount, publicly at least. These cards were awarded to winners of a Pokemon contest held in Japan circa 1998. Less than 40 of these cards are known to exist. In recent years, a few have sold for between $100,000 and $375,000.

    Gem mint 10 first edition holographic Charizards from the 1999 base set are nearly as valuable. They have sold for as much as $369,000 at auction.

    Pokemon Trainer Deck B Blastoise

    Pokemon HD: Pokemon Pocket Monsters Card Values

    Sold in March, 2021 for $20,000

    This Blastoise card is one of the rarest in existence that was originally part of the Trainer Deck B or “Misty’s Deck” given out as a promotional piece to Pokemon League members ahead of the official launch of the Pokemon TCG in North America.

    The Trainer Deck B theme deck contained sixty base set cards in all, with the most desirable of them being Blastoise.

    Had Charizard been included in the Trainer Deck B set, it would have been the most desirable, but that’s beside the point.

    An easy way to recognize a Trainer Deck B Blastoise is that it is the only non-holographic base set Blastoise.

    And, if you’re still not 100% sure, you can flip the card over and you’ll see that the card’s reverse is printed with a distinct red border and “Misty’s Deck” verbiage.

    Standard Deck

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    Super Secret Battle No 1 Trainer

    The answer to “What’s the rarest Pokémon card of all time?”

    Sold for $90,000 in July 2020

    Its unlikely youve heard of Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer, and extremely unlikely youve ever seen a copy in person. When it comes to rare Pokémon cards, there are very few cards rarer than this.

    No. 1 Trainer is a holographic promotional card awarded to finalists in the Secret Super Battle tournament held in Tokyo, Japan in 1999. To earn a place in the competitions finals, which were held in a secret location, players had to first win a regional tournament. Their prize was the No. 1 Trainer card, which granted them access to the finals.

    The cards text translates to: The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament’s champion is recognised here, and this honour is praised. By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Secret Super Battle. The card features the Japanese logo for the Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game, along with artwork of original generation Pokémon Mewtwo by illustrator Hideki Kazama.

    This is a card so rare and valuable that Indiana Jones probably had to escape a crumbling temple with it at some point. Its counterpart cards No.2 Trainer and No. 3 Trainer, similarly awarded to winners in Japanese Pokémon tournaments during the late 1990s, are almost as rare and valuable.

    Backless Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Holo

    Sold in January, 2021 for $360,000

    Wizards of the Coast printed this extremely rare presentation card as a test run sometime during 1998 as it ramped up efforts to launch the English version of its base set in 1999.

    Though it has a similar appearance to the base set Blastoise, notice it has squared corners instead of rounded corners.

    Moreover, the back of the card is completely blank.

    Hobby experts believe that WOTC printed only two of these “backless Blastoise” cards, so the hobby was stunned when this card came up for auction in early 2021.

    Given that the market responded with a $360,000 selling price for this card, I can only imagine what it would have sold for had Charizard been on the front.

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    Blastoise 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set

    • Release Date: 1999
    • Grading: PSA Gem Mint 10
    • Pokemon card value at auction: $45,100

    Not only is Blastoise one of the most beloved characters in the Game Freak RPG, but the Water-type starter has also become one of the most valuable Pokemon cards currently on the market.

    Those who grew up with the 1999 Base Set easily equated the turtle on the same level as the highly sought-after Charizard, so it makes sense that decades later, many are willing to bust out their wallets for the iconic mon.

    While its 1st Edition Shadowless Pokemon card from 1999 has always brought in good money, the popular item has seen a massive jump in value recently. In a PWCC auction held in November 2020, the rare Base Set Blastoise sold for $45,100.

    Pokemon Snap Trainer Magazine Pikachu: $900

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    If you were a Pokemon fan back in the days of the Nintendo 64 console, you might just remember the classic spin-off game Pokemon Snap. The object of this Pokemon spin-off was to snap creative in-game photos of various creatures, and there were several tie-in cards in Japans Pokemon Trainer Magazine to help increase the hype among fans to try this new game.

    This card was a Pikachu card with the model from Pokemon Snap as the art, making for a relatively hilarious-looking card that only could be found within this magazine in 1999. Miyabihobby has a record of an unopened magazine being sold for 100,000, or about $900 USD, but PSA Card has records of auctions ranging between $300 and $1000 for perfect condition grades.

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    Shining Fates Set List

    The Pokemon Shining Fates set is unique it contains 73 base set cards, plus a Shiny Vault subset containing 122 Shiny Pokemon.

    The Shining Fates set was released on February 19, 2021. The fourth subset in the Sword & Shield Series is comprised of two part a base set containing 73 cards and a Shiny Vault set containing 122 cards. All the cards in the Shiny Vault subset are Shiny Pokemon.

    Cards from this set are sold in booster packs. Packs will contain a reverse holofoil OR a Shiny Pokemon from the Shiny Vault subset. Youll also find scores of Pokemon V, VMAX, Amazing Rare, Shiny Rare, Shiny Rare V, and Shiny Rare VMAX these cards tend to be the most valuable cards in the Shining Fates set.

    St Edition Pokmon Charizard Golf Label

    $369,000

    The record price for any Pokémon card, has been set by us tonight, this gold label charizard sold for $369,000 ..WE ARE ACCEPTING POKEMON CONSIGNMENTS please 1st edition cards only. Email [email protected]

    Goldin Auctions

    This Pokémon Charizard is popular among collectors because it is a shadowless holographic first edition card.

    Such extremely early cards usually lacked drop shadows behind art or text, and this tiny difference catapulted them in rarity and price

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    Charmander 1st Edition $330

    Charmander’s value has been all over the place in the last 12 months. After the 2020 summer of record sale after record sale, baby Zard’s value has taken a dip recently, but don’t be surprised if Charmander rebounds due to the power Charizard yields on the market.

    PSA Pop: 1521 – 652 – 661

    Current Value: PSA 10 $1186 PSA 9 $330

    What Pokemon Card Is The Most Rare

    Are Japanese Pokemon cards worth anything? Price guide and ...

    Pokemon has been a popular trading card game for over 23 years and many first edition cards are worth a lot of money. Some Pokemon cards are extremely rare making them even more valuable.

    Cards that are kept in mint condition will also go for more money if they are also among the first made.

    Pokemon cards that have a limited supply and some special cards are the most rare.

    Of all of the Pokemon cards ever made, the most rare is the Illustrator CoroCoro Comics Promo. This promo card was made in extremely limited quantities and many people think there are only a few still in existence.

    Lets take a look at the top five Pokemon cards that are the most rare.

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    Japanese Pokemon Cards Price Guide

    It might be tricky to evaluate whether you are looking at a deal or not in a Pokemon card community. However, there is an easy way to tell how much a Japanese standard format card is worth. Standard format cards are those that are used in current tournaments. While most western websites give a rough idea of how much the collectables are worth, this simple pricing rule will clear your doubts about the legitimacy of a deal.

    • English Pokemon EX Card Price x 5066% = Japanese Pokemon EX Card Price

    Alternatively, you could use this pricing rule, especially for Gold cards and Full Art cards.

    • English Trainer Card Price x 150200% = Japanese Trainer Card Price

    The difference in pricing is attributed to the significantly lower number of Japanese collectors and more players. Therefore, there is a higher demand for playable Pokemon cards and Trainer cards. Meanwhile, the pull rates for EX cards are way better than in English booster backs.

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