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Japan moves to regulate booming Pokémon card market
Japanese authorities are preparing new regulatory measures for the Pokémon trading‑card market as trading activity and prices have surged nationwide. The Liberal Democratic Party has set up a parliamentary task force, chaired by legislator Seiji Kihara, to study the industry and propose rules that could curb speculation, counterfeit sales, bulk purchases and potential money‑laundering.
Industry data show the primary market reached roughly $9 billion in 2025, with a secondary resale market estimated above $2.8 billion a year. Domestic sales grew about 90 % from 2021 to 2025, reaching 338 billion yen (around $2 billion). A single rare card fetched $16.5 million in February, underscoring the sector’s high‑value stakes. Proposed actions include transaction caps, mandatory authenticity disclosures and tighter oversight of secondary‑market platforms, though no legislation has been finalized yet.
Entities
Japan · Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) · Pokémon Card Market · Seiji Kihara · The Pokémon Company
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The secondary resale market for Pokémon cards exceeds $2.8 billion annually. www.pausa.com.ar
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Seiji Kihara chairs the parliamentary group overseeing Pokémon card regulation. www.pausa.com.ar
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Japan's domestic Pokémon card market grew about 90 % from 2021 to 2025, reaching 338 billion yen. www.vg.hu
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Japan's Liberal Democratic Party created a parliamentary task force to study the Pokémon card industry. www.pausa.com.ar
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The primary Pokémon card market reached about $9 billion in 2025. www.pausa.com.ar
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A rare Pokémon card sold for $16.492 million in February. www.vg.hu
- [● 2 SOURCES] Japan is considering new regulations on Pokémon card trading. www.mondialnews.com · www.vg.hu
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Proposed regulatory options include transaction caps, authenticity disclosures and limits on bulk purchases. www.mondialnews.com