BODY: Japan's biggest flea-market app is stepping in before the resale frenzy starts. Mercari announced on September 15, 2026, that it will ban listings of products tied to the Pokémon Trading Card Game's "30th CELEBRATION" release. The ban starts September 16.
The company pointed to its "Basic Principles of the Marketplace" and to a new policy it adopted in 2025. Under that policy, Mercari can block listings when it decides it can't guarantee safe, secure trading. The ban applies to "30th CELEBRATION" items sold by The Pokémon Company. It will stay in place for as long as Mercari thinks those conditions last, and no end date was given.
Mercari isn't just changing the rules. It will also warn users, watch new listings, and delete posts that break the ban. This is the platform's usual approach when demand for a product far outstrips supply and prices on the secondary market jump well above retail.
The "30th CELEBRATION" line marks three decades of Pokémon, which began with Pocket Monsters Red and Green in 1996. Anniversary products tend to draw heavy demand from both collectors and resellers. Recent Pokémon card releases in Japan have come with store lotteries, purchase limits, and long lines. Some shops have even stopped selling new sets over the counter to avoid chaos.
The insider take
In Tokyo, "tenbaiyā" (転売ヤー, scalpers) has become a common word. Pokémon cards are a big reason why. Fans have watched booster boxes vanish from convenience stores and big electronics chains within minutes. Hours later, the same boxes show up on Mercari at two or three times the price. Mercari has faced public criticism for effectively hosting this trade. Its 2025 policy was the company's attempt to show it takes the problem seriously, and banning listings during the hottest part of a release is one of its strongest tools. The ban won't end scalping, since sellers can move to other apps, auction sites, or social media. Still, it removes the easiest place for resellers to cash in, which should help ordinary fans who just want to open a pack at retail price.
Originally reported by 4Gamer.net − 最新記事 (Japanese).