Pokemon Cards Meet Government Guardrails as Japan Battles Scalpers
The quest to catch 'em all is about to require a government-issued ID as Japan tightens its grip on the booming trading card market.
By Blip Tech
1 min read
Beginning in August 2026, Pokemon Japan will introduce a mandatory identity verification system for purchasing select Trading Card Game products. Customers will need to utilize their government-issued 'My Number Card' to enter product lotteries, a move specifically designed to eliminate professional scalpers and restrict overseas buyers from depleting local stock. This initiative marks a significant shift in retail policy, leveraging official national identification to prioritize domestic fans and maintain fair market pricing amidst unprecedented demand for rare cards.
