Asian TCG Game Guides — Tokyofishmarket

Pokemon TCG (Japanese)

The king. $8-12B global market. Japanese cards are the original and the highest quality.

Chase cards: SAR (Special Art Rare), Illustration Rare (IR), Art Rare (AR). Full-art extended illustrations that define modern collecting
Box retail: ~5,400-7,200 JPY ($35-48 USD). Guaranteed hit rates per box
Key 2025-2026 sets: Battle Partners (sv9), Terastal Festival ex (sv8). 30th anniversary products expected 2026
Japanese exclusive promos: Pokemon Center sets, 7-Eleven campaigns, tournament prizes — no English equivalents
PSA 10 rate: 60-80% for well-handled modern JP cards. Superior centering and print quality
Investment: Japanese sealed boxes from popular sets (151, Eevee Heroes, VMAX Climax) have appreciated 50-300%

From zero to the #1 TCG in Japan in under 2 years. The fastest-growing card game in history.

Chase cards: Manga Art Rare (black-and-white manga panels), Special Art Rare (SAR), Comic Art. Stunning artwork
Launch: December 2022 in Japan, surpassed Pokemon in sales for multiple months 2023-2024
OP-01 through OP-04 sealed boxes now at 2-5x MSRP. Early sealed product has been a strong investment
Character-driven prices: Nami, Luffy Gear 5, Yamato, Boa Hancock cards command highest premiums
Counterfeits are a growing problem — be careful with One Piece cards from unverified sellers
Still growing: new player influx continues, international expansion ongoing

The original. 25+ years of history. OCG cards are smaller (59x86mm) and release months before TCG.

IMPORTANT: OCG cards are 59x86mm — need MINI/SMALL size sleeves and top loaders. Different from every other game
Chase cards: Quarter Century Secret Rare (QCR), Prismatic Secret Rare, Ultimate Rare (embossed texture)
OCG releases 3-9 months before TCG — OCG exclusives spike before TCG release
Box retail: ~4,950 JPY (~$33 USD). OCG boxes are cheap but chase card pull rates are low
Different card backs from TCG (silver vs brown) — not cross-compatible for tournaments
The vintage OCG market (1999-2003) is growing as international collectors discover Japanese-origin cards

The anime crossover TCG. If your favorite anime exists, there's probably a Weiss Schwarz set for it.

The game: licenses from 50+ anime/game properties — Hololive, SAO, Re:Zero, Fate, Bocchi the Rock!, Oshi no Ko, Frieren
Chase cards: SP (Signed) with voice actor autographs. $30-2,000+ depending on character/VA popularity
SP pull rate: ~1-2 per case (16 boxes). Genuinely scarce
Hololive sets are the biggest drivers — VTuber signed cards command extreme premiums
Box retail: 7,000-8,800 JPY (~$47-59 USD)
The market is driven by anime popularity — a hot new anime adaptation spikes the entire set
Many sets are Japanese-only with no English release

Based on the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE mobile game. The newest entry with serious collector potential.

Producer: Shift Up. Premium card quality with anime-style illustrations
Waifu collector market — character popularity (Modernia, Red Hood, Alice, Scarlet) drives pricing
Limited production runs create scarcity
Still establishing secondary market norms — early sealed product could appreciate significantly
Distribution primarily through Asian channels. International availability limited
If you play NIKKE, the cards are an extension of your fandom. If you don't, the art stands on its own

Digimon Card Game (Bandai) — strong competitive scene, Alternative Art and Secret Rare chase cards. Nostalgia factor for Agumon/Omnimon
Dragon Ball Super Card Game — Fusion World reboot (2024) injected new energy. God Rares are chase
Union Arena (Bandai) — Jujutsu Kaisen, Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, Demon Slayer. Multi-IP model means any hot anime drives set sales
Shadowverse: Evolve (Bushiroad) — Leader cards are chase. Strong in Japan, growing internationally
Gundam Card Game (Bandai) — launched 2025. Leveraging the massive Gundam franchise. Early interest high
Rebirth for You (Bushiroad) — anime crossover like Weiss Schwarz but different licenses. Hololive sets notable