BODY: Japan's hottest collectible just got a bureaucratic upgrade. The Pokémon Company announced on May 21 that it will introduce an identity verification system using Japan's My Number Card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, with rollout targeted for August 2026. The system will apply to a portion of product sales and official events.
The move responds to years of escalating scalper activity that has made flagship sets nearly impossible for ordinary fans to buy at retail. Booster boxes for hit expansions routinely sell out within seconds of release, only to reappear on resale platforms at multiples of their list price. Lottery-based sales at convenience stores and specialty shops have been overwhelmed by bulk entries from organized resellers using throwaway accounts.
My Number Card is Japan's government-issued digital ID, embedded with an IC chip that enables cryptographically verified identity checks. By tying purchases and event entries to a single verified individual, The Pokémon Company aims to prevent the multi-account, multi-entry tactics that have defined the resale ecosystem. Details on exactly which products and events will require verification have not yet been disclosed.
The timing is notable: August typically brings major TCG releases ahead of the autumn competitive season, and the company appears to want the system live before the next demand spike. Foreign residents with My Number Cards should, in principle, be eligible, though operational specifics remain unclear.
The insider take
This is a striking escalation. Japanese retailers have tried purchase limits, lottery systems, and even handwritten application forms, and none of it has dented the resale machine — Mercari and Yahoo Auctions listings for sealed Pokémon product remain a small industry unto themselves. Leaning on My Number Card is the strongest tool available short of legislation, and it signals that The Pokémon Company sees the scalper problem as a genuine threat to the brand's relationship with everyday fans. Expect other Japanese collectibles makers, from Bandai to Square Enix's merch arm, to watch this rollout very closely.
Originally reported by AUTOMATON (Japanese).