The Pokémon Company Considers Government ID Check to Combat Trading Card Scalping in Japan

The Pokémon Company announced contiguous that it is considering introducing an ID verification strategy successful Japan to tackle scalping and cheating related to Pokémon Trading Card Game products and events. The strategy volition utilize Japan’s “My Number” card, a government-issued societal information card.

As spotted by Automaton, The Pokémon Company issued an authoritative heads’ up to Pokémon TGC fans successful Japan that from August 2026 this year, entree to definite services volition necessitate an ID paper scan successful an effort to “provide each customers with a just accidental to safely and securely bask our services.”

The My Number Card is simply a government-issued integrative photograph ID with the individual’s 12 digit societal information fig that residents of Japan tin obtain. It’s typically utilized arsenic an ID erstwhile accessing authorities services and doubles arsenic a wellness security card.

The Pokémon Company’s ID cheque utilizing the My Number paper is slated to screen presale lotteries and income of definite TCG products connected The Pokémon Center’s authoritative online store and besides information successful authoritative tournaments held wrong Japan. In these cases, the lawsuit whitethorn beryllium required to scan the spot successful their My Number paper with their smartphone to verify their Trainer Club account.

Although The Pokémon Company has not specified precisely which products volition necessitate an ID check, scalpers utilizing aggregate accounts to mass-buy up circumstantial TCG paper sets to resell has go a important occupation successful Japan. Such was the request for the SAR card-heavy Japan-exclusive Ninja Spinner enlargement that a large Japanese electronics store would lone merchantability it to customers who completed a Pokémon quiz.

As for tournaments, past September The Pokémon Company reported inappropriate subordinate behaviour astatine the Yokohama Championships, including radical utilizing accounts that didn't beryllium to them and faking their property to get into leagues they didn't suffice for. Therefore, implementing a My Number Card-based ID cheque whitethorn assistance Pokémon TGC to antagonistic immoderate issues with cheaters and scalpers successful the future.

Despite being introduced successful 2016, Japan residents person been dilatory to follow the My Number paper for assorted reasons. However, successful caller years, the authorities has tried to marque the paper much appealing, specified arsenic by offering reward points. Although the My Number paper is presently not mandatory, Japan’s ruling LDP enactment is acceptable to propulsion for it to beryllium made a ineligible requirement, arsenic reported by Asahi News this week.

Photo by Martin LELIEVRE / AFP via Getty Images.

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.