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Has Japan Run Out of Pokémon Cards?

The short answer is no, Japan has not run out of Pokémon cards. While reports of shortages and difficulties in obtaining specific sets, especially newly released ones, have been circulating both in Japan and globally, production continues. The Pokémon Company International, along with its Japanese counterpart, consistently produces new cards and reprints existing ones. The issues stem from high demand, fueled by nostalgia, investment opportunities, and the inherent collectibility of the cards, combined with distribution challenges and the pervasive problem of scalping. This combination of factors creates the perception of a shortage and makes it difficult for average consumers to purchase cards at retail prices.

The Factors Behind the Perceived Shortage

The “shortage” isn’t due to a halt in production, but rather a confluence of several factors:

Increased Popularity: The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) experienced a significant surge in popularity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people at home, nostalgia kicked in, and the hobby gained new participants, leading to a dramatic increase in demand.
Scalping and Reselling: The TCG market attracts scalpers who purchase large quantities of cards and resell them at significantly higher prices. This artificial inflation makes it difficult for genuine collectors and players to find cards at reasonable prices. Sophisticated bots and online strategies are often employed to buy up inventory as soon as it becomes available, leaving legitimate buyers empty-handed.
Investment Opportunities: Some view Pokémon cards as an investment, similar to stocks or precious metals. High-value cards, particularly those in pristine condition or from rare sets, can fetch exorbitant prices on the secondary market. This fuels the demand for certain products, further exacerbating the perceived scarcity.
Production and Distribution Challenges: While production continues, the supply chain has faced disruptions due to global events. These disruptions affect the timely distribution of cards, leading to delays and limited availability in certain regions and stores.
Regional Disparities: The availability of Pokémon cards can vary significantly between regions in Japan. Major cities may experience higher demand and therefore more frequent sell-outs, while rural areas might have more stock readily available.

The Pokémon Company’s Response

The Pokémon Company International has acknowledged the issues surrounding the availability of Pokémon cards and is actively working to address them. Their efforts include:

Increased Production: The company has stated that it is increasing production capacity to meet the growing demand. This involves ramping up manufacturing efforts to produce more cards and allocate them to various regions.
Combating Scalpers: Measures are being taken to combat scalping, such as implementing purchase limits per customer, requiring identification for large purchases, and working with retailers to identify and prevent bulk buying by resellers.
Raffle Systems and Lotteries: Some retailers have implemented raffle systems or lotteries to fairly distribute limited-edition products or highly sought-after sets. This gives everyone a chance to purchase the cards at retail prices, rather than being forced to buy from scalpers.
Reprinting Older Sets: To satisfy the nostalgic demand, The Pokémon Company occasionally reprints older sets, making them available to a new generation of collectors and players. This also helps to alleviate the pressure on the secondary market for vintage cards.
Promoting Fair Play: The company actively promotes fair play and ethical collecting within the community. This includes encouraging players to report scalping activities and supporting retailers who implement anti-scalping measures.