Pokemon Cards – Born in Japan

As an avid Pokemon card collector since 1999, I get asked often – are Pokemon cards Chinese or Japanese in origin? After buying, selling and trading countless cards for over 20 years, I can definitively state that Pokemon cards originated from Japan in 1996.

History of Pokemon‘s Japanese Roots

Let‘s go back to the source – Pokemon was created in 1996 in Japan by Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo. Tajiri founded the company Game Freak and conceived the idea that would become Pokemon. Given this Japanese genesis, the original Pokemon video games and concurrent trading card game launched there first.

In fact, the Pokemon Trading Card Game first released in Japan in October 1996 – a full two and half years before the English version arrived in North America in June 1999. So Japanese Pokemon cards predate English and Chinese ones from the outset.

When Pokemon Cards Launched Across Regions

As this timeline illustrates, Japan enjoys over 2 years of lead time with Pokemon trading cards over other major markets. This allows Japanese sets to showcase exclusive promos and variants that builders buzz in collector communities.

Why Japanese Pokemon Cards Reign Supreme

In my experience scouring card shops from Tokyo to small-town USA, Japanese Pokemon cards command greater collector appeal. Beyond launch date advantages, key reasons driving this dominance include:

• Improved card stock – Japanese cards utilize thicker paper stock, allowing vivid colors and clearer prints
• Textured finishes – Select Japanese sets feature textured foil finishes that enhance aesthetic beauty
• Early access to promos – Being first to market allows Japanese sets early and exclusive access to promo releases
• Cultural cache – As Pokemon‘s home market, Japanese cards capture an intangible exotic nature

According to estimates, the value of rare Japanese Pokemon cards can exceed early edition English versions by over 50% in some cases.

Let‘s compare the specs of sample Japanese and Chinese Pokemon cards:

The Verdict – Born in Japan

While Chinese Pokemon cards constitute valid licensed releases, they can‘t match the collector credentials of the Japanese originals. As the figures above showcase, Japanese cards clearly excel in production quality, exclusivity and cache with collectors.

So for the passionate Pokemon enthusiast seeking high caliber additions to add to your collection, try acquiring some Japanese cards. You may pay a premium, but the unparalleled aesthetics and exclusivity justify the extra investment.

And if anyone ever asks you "Are Pokemon cards Chinese or Japanese?", you can proudly respond they originated from Japan over 25 years ago!

What is your take – do you prefer collecting Japanese or Chinese Pokemon cards? Share your thoughts below!