How to read and sell Japanese Pokémon cards

How can I tell if a Pokémon card is Japanese, Korean, or Chinese?

Start with the back. English, Korean, and Chinese Pokémon cards share one card back. Japanese cards have their own, which is why the official tournament rules count them as marked cards.

Then read the front. Japanese text mixes rounded and angular letters (kana) with Chinese characters (kanji). Korean uses Hangul, made of circles and short lines. Chinese cards use only Chinese characters. One old trick no longer works: since Scarlet and Violet, English cards have the same gray border as Japanese ones.

How do I read the set code and number?

Look at the bottom left corner. Modern Japanese cards print a short set code, such as SV5K, and a card number, such as 062/071: the card's place in the set, then how many cards the set has. Promo cards end in a promo code instead, like 217/SV-P. Pokémon's own card guide (in Japanese) labels every part.

That set code and number are the best way to pin down a card. Japanese sets do not match English sets one to one, and the names are often different too, so searching by the English name goes wrong. Type the set code and number into a web search, then match the picture to your card. The official Japanese card search can confirm it, but it is in Japanese and finds cards by name or set, not by number.

What do the letters on a Japanese Pokémon card mean?

They tell you how rare the card is. These are the codes you are likely to find:

Codes checked on pokemon-card.com on October 4, 2026. The K, A, and TR meanings and the rough years come from collector guides.

What about old Japanese cards with no letters?

Japanese cards from 1996 to about 2010 use the same circle, diamond, and star as English cards. The oldest ones, printed until 2001, have an older back with the words "Pocket Monsters" on it. Early copies of the very first Japanese set were printed with no rarity symbol at all, and those "no rarity" cards are worth checking closely. Our card value guide covers holos and condition, which work the same way.

Are Japanese Pokémon cards worth more than English ones?

It depends on the card. Popular Pokémon in the rarer codes, cards that only came out in Japan, and clean vintage cards draw the most interest. Japanese commons and trainers draw less, because US players cannot use them in official events, and several mail-in bulk buyers turn down any card that is not in English. Japanese cards also tend to come out of the pack in very clean shape, so buyers look closely at corners and edges.

How do I photograph Japanese cards for an offer?

• Start with whole binder pages, so we can see everything at once.
• For each card that might matter, a photo of the front, flat, in daylight, with no glare.
• One close-up of the bottom left corner, so the set code, number, and letters are sharp.
• The back of any old card, or any card you are unsure about.

How do I avoid fake Japanese cards?

Look up the set code and number, and make sure the picture and name match the card in your hand. Be wary of English text with Japanese rarity letters, a back that does not fit the card's age, blurry printing, thin or very glossy card stock, and shine in the wrong place. Never bend, tear, or shine a light through a card you might sell. If something looks off, send a photo and ask.