Knowledge base
All about Japanese sets
Which set for what, what a case does and doesn't get you, and how to store sealed product. Written by Chris de Rooden, with help from AI, and checked by him. 86 articles.
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JapaneseDelta Reign or Storm Emeralda? The differences at a glance
Storm Emeralda (M6) is the Japanese version of Delta Reign and has been out since July. Box layout, card list, Mega Rayquaza ex and odds compared, and which one to buy.
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JapaneseAscended Heroes or Mega Dream ex? The differences at a glance
Mega Dream ex (M2a) is the Japanese version of Ascended Heroes. Box structure, the Mega Attack Rare per box and the SAR odds compared, and which one to buy.
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JapaneseScarlet & Violet 151 or Japanese Pokémon 151? The differences at a glance
Pokémon 151 (SV2a) is the Japanese version of Scarlet & Violet 151. Box structure, the Master Ball card only the Japanese set has, odds and prices compared, and which one to buy.
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JapanesePrismatic Evolutions or Terastal Festival ex? The differences at a glance
Terastal Festival ex (SV8a) is the Japanese version of Prismatic Evolutions. Release dates, box structure, the guaranteed SAR per box, Master Ball and God Pack compared, and which one to buy.
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BuyingInsured shipping of Pokémon cards: how to arrange it
Insured shipping of Pokémon cards and sealed boxes: who bears the risk, what PostNL registered or insured costs and how to pack safely?
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BuyingKid-friendly Japanese Pokémon sets: what suits your child?
Which Japanese Pokémon set suits your child? Advice by age, buying safely in the Netherlands, agreements about trading and Japanese gift alternatives.
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BuyingDelivery times at a Pokémon webshop: what you can really expect
How long does a Pokémon order take? How to read delivery times, pre-orders and your rights, and when to order for Sinterklaas and Christmas.
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BuyingShopping without a lottery: how to order Japanese Pokémon products
Order Japanese Pokémon cards without a lottery through pre-orders, mystery boxes or bundles. With a European webshop you also have more consumer rights.
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Chinese cardsChinese Pokémon cards: what are they and which sets are there?
Chinese Pokémon cards have their own sets and exclusive illustrations you will not find anywhere else. Read what Gem Pack and Collect 151 are.
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AuthenticityHow to recognize a genuine Japanese booster box: JAN code, logo and print
Does a Japanese booster box really come from The Pokémon Company? With these 6 checks (JAN barcode, logo in the shrink wrap, print, contents, seller and cards) you will know. Including our own process.
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BuyingAvailability of Japanese boxes: where do you buy them sealed?
Find out where to buy sealed Japanese booster boxes, compare import webshops and Dutch stores, and see direct options and the right of withdrawal.
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BuyingBuying second-hand sealed Pokémon: the risks and how to avoid them
Buy second-hand sealed Pokémon products with more confidence. Check authenticity, the factory seal, damage and payment safety with practical checks.
Answered in short
Popular search questions
The questions people search for most, each with a short answer and the numbers from our shop.
Odds and pull rates
- How many boxes do you need to open for one specific card?
- Which Pokémon set has the highest hit rate?
- What are the odds of an AR in a Japanese pack?
- What are the odds of a God Pack?
- What are the odds of a gold card (UR) in a Japanese box?
- What are the odds of a Master Ball card?
- How rare is a Mega Ultra Rare (MUR)?
- What are the odds of an SAR in a Japanese booster box?
- What are the odds of a Super Rare (SR) in a Japanese box?
- Does a single pack have the same odds as a pack from a box?
Contents and price
Sets and English names
Value
Authenticity
Buying and import
Knowledge base
Everything we know about Japanese Pokémon cards, in one place. From explanations of rarities to price overviews per set and buying guides — written from our own experience importing and selling.
New here? Start with these three
- Getting started collecting Pokémon cards — goal, budget and your first set
- Japanese or English: the differences at a glance
- AR, SAR, SR and UR: Japanese rarities explained
Explained: how Japanese cards work
The basics. No prices, no sales pitch — just how it all fits together.
- How to read a Japanese Pokémon card
- What's in a Japanese booster box?
- AR, SAR, SR and UR: Japanese rarities explained
- How do you read a Japanese set code?
- What is a Master Ball card?
- What is a God Pack?
- What is a BWR (Black White Rare)?
- What is a High Class Pack?
- Japanese promo cards: what are they?
- Japanese or English: the differences at a glance
- Glossary of Japanese Pokémon cards
- Japanese Pokémon release calendar 2026
Authenticity and grading
- Recognizing genuine Japanese Pokémon cards: how to check them
- Checking a factory-sealed booster box
- Pack weighing explained
- Grading Japanese cards: PSA, BGS or CGC?
- Why Japanese cards score better in grading
Card quality, opening and storage
What's normal, what's a defect and how to keep your cards in top condition.
- Print lines, scratches and whitening: what's normal?
- Curled cards (curling): cause and solution
- Opening a booster pack without damage
- Storing Pokémon cards properly
- Print lines, holo patterns and factory variation: how we handle them
Buying guides
Which box suits what you want to do with it?
- Buying Japanese Pokémon cards in the Netherlands and Belgium
- Best Japanese booster boxes to buy in 2026
- Best Japanese sets for beginners
- Which Japanese set is the most fun to open?
- Best Japanese sets to keep sealed
- A sealed box as an investment?
- Booster box or complete case?
Gifts and for kids
What is a set worth?
The most expensive cards per set, with current market value in ungraded condition. Prices move — use them as a guideline, not a valuation.
MEGA block
- All sets of the MEGA block at a glance
- Mega Brave (M1L)
- Mega Symphonia (M1S)
- Inferno X (M2)
- Mega Dream ex (M2a)
- Nihil Zero (M3)
- Ninja Spinner (M4)
- Abyss Eye (M5)
- Storm Emeralda (M6)
Scarlet & Violet and older
- Pokémon 151 (SV2a)
- Shiny Treasure ex (SV4a)
- Super Electric Breaker (SV8)
- Terastal Festival ex (SV8a)
- Glory of Team Rocket (SV10)
- Black Bolt (SV11B)
- White Flare (SV11W)
- VSTAR Universe (S12a)
By Pokémon
Set guides
Per set: what's inside, what it's about and what you can expect per box.
- Mega Brave (M1L): Mega Lucario in four rarities
- Mega Symphonia (M1S): Mega Gardevoir
- Inferno X (M2): Mega Charizard X
- Mega Dream ex (M2a): what's in the box?
- Nihil Zero (M3): also known as Munikis Zero
- Ninja Spinner (M4): Mega Greninja
- Abyss Eye (M5): the darkest part of the MEGA block
- Storm Emeralda (M6): Mega Rayquaza
- 30th Celebration (M6a): the anniversary set explained
- Pokémon 151 (SV2a): the Master Ball explained
- Terastal Festival ex (SV8a): all nine Eeveelutions
- Glory of Team Rocket (SV10): Mewtwo & Giovanni
- Black Bolt (SV11B): Zekrom ex BWR
- White Flare (SV11W): Reshiram ex BWR
- VSTAR Universe (S12a): the God Pack explained
How we work
- How we ship and pack your order
- What does "sealed" mean?
- Why storage matters
- Frequently asked questions
And then on to the shop
Everything above is about choosing. Below is what you can buy from us.
- All Japanese sets — whole booster boxes, factory sealed from our own import
- Single booster packs — by the piece, with a volume discount from 3 packs
- Build your own — choose how many packs you want per set
- Mystery boxes — we put it together, you open it
- Case deals — 12 or 20 boxes in one go, cheaper per box
Prices in the set overviews are market values of ungraded cards and move with the market. They are intended as a guideline, not as a valuation or investment advice. Buy a box for the set and the opening — not for one specific card.
The difference
Japanese or English
We only sell Japanese. Not out of preference, but because the card stock is thicker, the cut sharper and the chance of a hit higher. Below, you'll see them side by side.
- Grading works the same. PSA, CGC and BGS grade Japanese cards just like English ones.
- Everything is official Pokémon TCG. Bought sealed, shipped sealed — never searched.
- You don't need to read Japanese. The set code and card number are printed in the Latin alphabet on every card.
- The illustrations are identical. The same artwork, the same artists — only the text differs.
Frequently asked questions
Are Japanese cards worth less?
No. Japanese cards are collected and graded worldwide. For many sets, prices of graded Japanese cards are actually higher, because the quality of the card stock makes a high grade more likely.
Can I have Japanese cards graded?
Yes. PSA, CGC and BGS accept Japanese cards and use the same scale. The label shows the Japanese set name.
Can I use them in a tournament?
For official tournaments in Europe, your card must be in a language of the tournament region. For collecting, trading and playing at home, it makes no difference.
And then to the shop
Everything above is about choosing. Below is what you can buy from us — all from our own import and factory sealed.
Single booster packs
Try a set without buying a whole box right away. From factory sealed boxes that we open ourselves — not weighed, not sorted.
Booster boxes and cases
The complete set experience. Open it or keep it sealed — both are fine, and a case is cheaper per box than buying separately.
Mystery Boxes
We put the bundle together, you open it. Better value per pack than buying separately, precisely because you leave the choice to us.
Build your own
Choose how many packs you want per set and watch the discount update live. From 20 packs, we add a free mystery pack.