Japanese Pokémon Card Supplier: A Guide to Your First Order

If your shop has never stocked Japanese Pokémon cards, the first questions are always the same: what exactly is a Japanese product, which supplier can you trust, and how does a first order work? This guide answers them in order, for shops placing their first order with a Japanese Pokémon card supplier.

1. What "Japanese Pokémon cards" means

Japanese Pokémon cards are the Pokémon Trading Card Game as released in Japan: the same game, with the cards printed in Japanese and sold in Japanese sets. Those sets have their own names and codes — such as Mega Brave [M1L] — and they do not always match English sets one to one; an English expansion often combines more than one Japanese set. Our guide to Japanese vs English Pokémon booster boxes explains the differences in detail.

2. The main Japanese product types

The official Japanese Pokémon card site groups its products into booster packs, ready-to-play decks (60-card constructed decks), other products that contain cards, and accessories. For a shop, the products that matter most are sealed booster boxes, and Japanese boxes come in several formats:

Formats vary between product types, so read the configuration of each product rather than assuming every Japanese box is the same. Every Pokémon booster box in our Pokémon catalog shows its set code in the name. You can also stock Re-Ment Pokémon blind box figures next to the cards; with us, one case of a blind box is the complete set of every design in the series.

3. Choosing a Japanese Pokémon card supplier

You will usually pay before you receive the goods, to a business in another country. Before you do, check these points — with any supplier, including us:

The full details of each point — payment methods, transit times, HS codes and documents — are in our guide to sourcing Japanese trading cards from Japan.

4. Planning your first order

• Start smaller than you plan to scale. Generally there is no minimum order quantity; a few products have one, shown on that product's page. A smaller first order shows you how payment, transit and customs work for your country.
• A quote request is not an order. Nothing is committed until you approve the quotation. Once you approve it, the price is fixed — and the order cannot be cancelled or reduced, although items can be added.
• Pre-orders are final. A pre-order is confirmed only once full payment has been received, and it cannot be cancelled or refunded. Items with different release dates may ship separately.
• Cartons by request. If you want sealed cartons of several boxes, contact us and we will discuss availability directly.

5. Explaining Japanese cards to your customers

• Language. The cards are in Japanese. For collectors, that does not change what they are buying.
• Print quality. Japanese Pokémon cards have a strong reputation among collectors worldwide for print quality — card stock, cut and centering, and the finish of holographic cards — although quality can still vary from card to card.
• Tournament play. At Play! Pokémon premier events in Europe and North America, players use English cards or cards in the language of their home country, so Japanese cards cannot be used there. Casual play is not affected. Rules are updated from time to time, so check the current Play! Pokémon rules.

6. How to start with us

1. Register a free B2B account — approval usually takes less than 24 hours.
2. Browse the Pokémon catalog and add items to your cart.
3. Send a quote request and receive a formal quotation by WhatsApp, Facebook or email.
4. Approve the quotation and pay by Wise or PayPal.
5. We ship by FedEx or DHL, typically 1–3 business days after payment, and send you the tracking number.

We sell Japanese versions, plus a small selection of Chinese versions; we do not sell English-language product. Questions before your first order? Email team@sora-cardshop.com or use the contact form — we typically respond within 1 business day.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a Japanese Pokémon card supplier for my shop?

Look for a business based in Japan that sells sealed Japanese Pokémon product to shops abroad, issues a formal quotation before you pay, ships with a tracked courier and has a written damage policy. SORA CardShop is a B2B supplier in Tokyo: you register a free account, usually approved within 24 hours, and order from the catalog.

Is there a minimum order for Japanese Pokémon cards?

At SORA CardShop there is generally no minimum order quantity. A few products have one, and it is shown on that product's page. We recommend a smaller first order to see how payment, shipping and customs work for your country.

What Japanese Pokémon products can a shop order?

Mainly sealed booster boxes, such as expansion pack boxes and high class pack boxes, plus special sets, decks and Re-Ment Pokémon blind box figures. Japanese boxes are built differently from English ones, so check the packs and cards per box of each product.

Can my customers play Japanese Pokémon cards at tournaments?

Not at Play! Pokémon premier events in Europe and North America, where players use English cards or cards in the language of their home country. Casual play is not affected. Check the current Play! Pokémon rules before advising a customer.

How do I pay a Japanese Pokémon card supplier?

SORA CardShop invoices in Japanese yen. You can pay by Wise bank transfer, with no additional fee from our side, or by PayPal, which adds a 5% processing fee; PayPal availability depends on your country.

Do you sell English Pokémon cards?

No. SORA CardShop sells Japanese versions, plus a small selection of Chinese versions.