Guide · 5 min read
Japanese Pokémon cards: what's different and which booster box suits you?
You tear open a Japanese booster pack and start counting: one, two, three, four, five. That's it? Yes, but those five cards pack a punch. Japanese Pokémon cards are hugely popular with collectors, and for good reason. Here's what sets them apart from English cards and which booster box suits you.
At a glance
- A Japanese booster pack holds 5 cards, an English or German one 10.
- A Japanese booster box usually contains 30 packs, so 150 cards.
- New expansions come out in Japan first. The English versions follow weeks or months later, sometimes with two Japanese sets combined into one.
- The rarity is printed on the card as a code such as SAR or MUR.
- They are perfect for collecting and casual games with friends. At official tournaments in Europe, however, Japanese cards are not allowed.
Why Japan always comes first
Pokémon comes from Japan, and so does the trading card game. New expansions are released there first, sometimes as two smaller sister sets. For the rest of the world they are translated later and often merged into larger sets.
The start of the MEGA series is a good example: on 1 August 2025, Japan released “Mega Brave” featuring Mega Lucario ex and “Mega Symphonia” featuring Mega Gardevoir ex on the same day. The cards from both sets were later released in English in the “Mega Evolution” set. Collect in Japanese and you hold the new cards in your hands earlier.
2 → 1
The Japanese sister sets “Mega Brave” and “Mega Symphonia” became a single English set: “Mega Evolution”.
Japanese or English: the differences
At first glance the cards look the same, only the writing is different. Look more closely, though, and you'll spot a few differences:
| Feature | Japanese | English or German |
|---|---|---|
| Cards per pack | 5 | 10 |
| Packs per booster box | usually 30 (150 cards) | usually 36, sometimes 18 (360 or 180 cards) |
| Release | first, sometimes as two smaller sets | later, often merged into larger sets |
| Rarity | as a code on the card, e.g. SAR | as a symbol on the card |
| Official tournaments in Europe | not allowed | allowed |
With only five cards, each Japanese pack is opened in no time. In return, a booster box with 30 packs gives you plenty of opening fun, pack after pack.
What do SAR, SR, AR and MUR mean?
Japanese cards show their rarity openly: a letter code is printed right on the card. The common codes are easy to learn:
- C, U, R: common, uncommon and rare. These are the cards that fill every pack.
- RR: the powerful Pokémon ex, often the highlight of a pack.
- AR (Art Rare): cards with a large, lovingly designed illustration, often showing a little scene.
- SR (Super Rare): full-art cards where the artwork fills the whole card.
- SAR (Special Art Rare): special full-art cards with their own illustration, the most sought-after cards in many sets.
- UR and MUR: the top cards, often in gold. MUR stands for “Mega Ultra Rare” and is the highest tier of the MEGA series.
Tip: Sort your cards by their codes. That way you see straight after opening which treasures you've pulled, and the special cards can go straight into a sleeve.
Why collectors love Japanese cards
Many collectors rave about the finish of Japanese cards: clean cuts, well-centred artwork and vivid holo effects. Add to that the thrill of having the new cards before everyone else. And Japanese booster boxes simply look great standing open on a shelf.
Whether a card gains value later doesn't depend on its language, though. What matters most is the Pokémon, the rarity, the condition and how much demand there is. So buy what you enjoy and look after your cards.
Can I play with Japanese cards?
Of course, at home and with friends that's no problem at all. The rules are the same worldwide, and many fans know the attacks by heart anyway.
Note: At official Play! Pokémon tournaments in Europe, only cards in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese are allowed. Japanese cards don't belong in your deck there.
Which Japanese booster box suits you?
At Bodinos you'll find three booster boxes from the Japanese MEGA series, each with 30 packs of 5 cards:
- Mega Brave (M1L): the set that kicked off the MEGA series. The star is Mega Lucario ex.
- Mega Symphonia (M1S): the sister set, released on the same day. Here everything revolves around Mega Gardevoir ex. Perfect if you want to collect both halves of the series.
- MEGA Abyss Eye (M5): a newer expansion, released on 22 May 2026. The spotlight is on Mega Darkrai ex.
Good to know: besides the regular expansions, Japan also has special “High Class” sets such as “MEGA Dream ex”. Their booster boxes contain only 10 packs, but with 10 cards each.
What about One Piece?
With Bandai's One Piece Card Game, it's worth looking to Japan too. A Japanese pack holds 6 cards, an English one 12, and a booster box contains 24 packs either way. Brand new at Bodinos: the Japanese One Piece OP-16 booster box.
Keeping your cards in great shape
- Store booster boxes and cards somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight. Light fades the colours, damp makes the cards curl.
- Open packs carefully along the top edge so no card gets bent.
- Put special cards such as SAR or MUR straight into a sleeve and then into a toploader.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards are in a Japanese Pokémon booster pack?
A regular Japanese booster pack holds 5 cards, an English or German one 10. A Japanese booster box usually contains 30 packs, so 150 cards.
What does SAR mean on Pokémon cards?
SAR stands for “Special Art Rare”. These are special full-art cards with their own illustration. On Japanese cards the code is printed right on the card.
Are Japanese Pokémon cards worth more than English ones?
There's no general answer. Many collectors value the finish of Japanese cards, but a card's value mainly depends on the Pokémon, the rarity, the condition and the demand.
Can I use Japanese cards at tournaments?
Not at official Play! Pokémon tournaments in Europe. Only cards in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese are allowed there. At home and with friends, of course, you can play with any cards.
Where can I buy Japanese Pokémon cards?
The safest way is to buy them in their original packaging from a retailer with a full company address and a returns policy. At Bodinos you get Japanese booster boxes new in original packaging, shipped worldwide from Germany.
Read more about packs and booster boxes in our guide Pokémon card bundle or booster box. All Pokémon products are in the Pokémon collection.