How to Source Japanese Trading Cards from Japan: A Guide for Card Shops

Card shops outside Japan can buy sealed Japanese product straight from a supplier in Japan. This guide walks through how that works in practice with SORA CardShop — opening an account, the quote-based ordering process, payment, shipping, customs paperwork and what happens if something arrives damaged — so you know every step before your first order.

1. Opening a B2B account

B2B prices are not public. They are shown only to registered and approved business accounts. Registration is free and approval usually takes less than 24 hours. Once approved, you can see prices across the whole catalog.

What you can order: sealed Japanese trading card product — mainly Pokémon and One Piece booster boxes, plus a small selection of Dragon Ball and Yu-Gi-Oh! — and blind box collectibles. We sell Japanese versions, plus a small selection of Chinese versions; we do not sell English-language product. If you want to buy by the carton, contact us and we will discuss availability and pricing with you directly.

2. How ordering works: quote first, then order

B2B ordering is not a consumer checkout. You do not pay the moment you pick items:

Step 3 is the one first-time buyers misread: a quote request is not a confirmed order. It sends us your selection so we can prepare a formal quotation. Nothing is committed until you approve it.

Two rules matter once you approve:

• The quoted price is locked. Japanese TCG market prices change frequently, so catalog prices reflect the most recent update. Once a quotation is issued and confirmed, the price on it is fixed for that order.
• A confirmed order cannot be cancelled or reduced. You can add items to an existing order, but requests made close to the shipment date may not be accommodated.

Generally there is no minimum order quantity; a few products do have one, shown on that product's page. For a first order we recommend starting with a smaller quantity, so you can see how payment, transit and customs work for your country before scaling up.

Pre-orders are accepted. A pre-order is confirmed only once full payment has been received, and pre-orders are final — no cancellations or refunds. If you order items with different release dates together, they may ship as separate shipments.

3. Payment

All B2B orders are invoiced in Japanese yen (JPY). There are two main methods:

Every B2B order comes with PDF documents for your records: the quotation, the invoice and, once payment is confirmed, a receipt.

4. Shipping from Japan

We ship to businesses worldwide by FedEx or DHL, depending on your location (UPS is available on request), and send the tracking number by your preferred contact method when the order ships. We do not sell within Japan at all, and a few regions cannot be served because of cargo safety restrictions — ask us to confirm your country.

Delivery times depend on customs clearance in your country. We do not ship on weekends or Japanese public holidays because of carrier schedules, but orders are accepted and processed every day.

Products are wrapped in bubble wrap, with extra padding filling the gaps in the outer box. Multiple orders can be combined into one shipment. Items with different release dates may ship separately.

5. Import duty and customs documents

How import charges work depends on where the goods are going:

United States — DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)

A 12.5% customs duty and a 1% carrier handling fee — 13.5% in total — are charged in advance and included in your payment. Nothing further is due on delivery.

Every other country — duty not included

Customs duty and import taxes are not included in our price. They are assessed on arrival under your country's rules, and you pay them. The amount depends on your country's regulations, so check your local customs rules before ordering. National tariff databases such as the UK Trade Tariff and the EU's TARIC let you look up the rate for an HS code.

HS codes we declare

The HS code decides which tariff line your goods fall under. These are the codes on our documents:

Note that a magazine is declared as a magazine even when a promo card comes with it. Classification is ultimately decided by your own customs authority, so confirm with your broker if you are unsure.

Documents

• Commercial invoice and packing list — provided for B2B shipments to help customs clearance.
• Statement on origin (EU) — for deliveries to the European Union, and to destinations that apply the EU tariff such as Monaco, San Marino and Andorra, you can download a statement on origin under the EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement alongside your invoice. It covers new trading cards made in Japan only. Graded cards such as PSA slabs are not covered, because the plastic slab is not of Japanese origin, and blind boxes are not covered because they are made in China. Your customs broker can use the statement when the goods qualify for preferential treatment.

6. Damaged, wrong or missing items

We photograph all package contents before shipping. If something goes wrong:

• Damage in transit. If the damage is caused by our packaging, we compensate you. You need to record a video before opening the package showing its condition on arrival; we compare it with our pre-shipment photos.
• Wrong or missing items. Contact us within 24 hours of receipt. If items are incorrect or missing, we refund them or ship the missing items. Recording a video while opening the package helps prevent any dispute.

7. Checklist for choosing a Japanese supplier

Whoever you buy from — including us — these are the questions worth asking before you pay:

1. Can you see who you are paying? A business name, an address in Japan and a working email, not only a messaging handle.
2. Do you get a formal quotation before paying, and an invoice and receipt after?
3. Which carrier ships the goods, and do you get a tracking number?
4. Is the damage and missing-item policy written down, including what evidence is required and the deadline to report?
5. Are import charges handled clearly for your country — included in advance, or paid on arrival?
6. Which customs documents come with the shipment? Commercial invoice, packing list, and for the EU a statement on origin.

Frequently asked questions

Can a card shop outside Japan buy Japanese trading cards directly from a Japanese supplier?

Yes. A Japanese supplier can sell and ship sealed Japanese product directly to a business abroad; you do not need a distributor in your own country. At SORA CardShop you register a free B2B account, which is usually approved within 24 hours, and order from the catalog.

How do you pay a Japanese trading card supplier?

SORA CardShop invoices in Japanese yen (JPY). You can pay by Wise bank transfer, with no additional fee from our side (Wise's own transfer fee applies), or by PayPal, which adds a 5% processing fee to the order total.

Do I pay import duty on trading cards shipped from Japan?

For the United States, SORA CardShop ships DDP: a 12.5% customs duty and a 1% carrier handling fee (13.5% in total) are charged in advance with your order, and nothing more is due on delivery. For every other country, duty and import taxes are not included; they are assessed on arrival under your country's rules and paid by you.

How long does shipping from Japan take?

Orders are typically shipped within 1 to 3 business days after payment confirmation, by FedEx or DHL (UPS on request) with tracking. After shipping, delivery usually takes 1 to 3 business days to the USA and Canada and 2 to 6 business days to Europe, depending on customs clearance.

Is there a minimum order quantity?

Generally there is no minimum order quantity. A few products do have one, and it is shown on that product's page.

Can I cancel or reduce an order after confirming it?

No. Once an order is confirmed, cancellations and reductions in quantity are not possible. Items can be added to an existing order, although requests made close to the shipment date may not be accommodated.

Does SORA CardShop sell English-language Pokémon cards?

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

Next steps

Register for a free B2B account to see your prices and request a quote, or read How to Order and the FAQ. Questions first? Email team@sora-cardshop.com or use the contact form — we typically respond within 1 business day.