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Pokémon Center Japan said on September 29, 2026, that it is considering a phased facial-recognition system for sales of some products at some stores. This is a planned, limited in-store measure—not a new blanket ban on reselling Pokémon cards. The company has not yet named participating stores or products, or set out the procedures.
What Pokémon announced for Japan stores
The September 29 notice says Pokémon Centers will consider introducing facial recognition in stages when selling certain products at selected locations. Each participating store is expected to announce its locations, eligible products and sales details. Until those notices appear, shoppers do not have a confirmed list of stores or products, a start date, or a description of how the identity check will work. Pokémon Center Japan’s notice
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The scope matters: the announcement concerns a contemplated in-store check in Japan. It does not say that all resale is newly prohibited, apply the measure to every Pokémon Center, or establish a general rule for purchases from other sellers.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsOnline lottery rules are separate
A different Pokémon Center Online Japan notice, also dated September 29, sets out rules for a particular product lottery. It describes separate application lanes for Players Club members with and without completed identity verification. Each person may apply once per drawing, and a winning purchase right belongs only to the applicant and cannot be transferred. Pokémon Center Online says it may cancel orders for terms violations, duplicate orders or activity it judges inappropriate. Pokémon Center Online’s lottery notice
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The notice says the bulk of winners in that drawing were assigned to the identity-verified lane, but it gives no percentage. That allocation is specific to the drawing; it should not be read as a universal requirement for every Pokémon purchase or lottery.
Pokémon had resale-related terms before this announcement
In a notice for the July 28, 2023 Black Flame Ruler release, Pokémon’s Japanese TCG site said, in translation, “We firmly reject purchases of products for resale or other commercial purposes.” It also said Pokémon Center Online could cancel orders and restrict future use if it judged that purchases were for resale or violated its terms. Those statements were tied to that launch and predate the 2026 announcement; they are not evidence of a newly introduced, across-the-board resale ban. The 2023 Black Flame Ruler notice
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- The Pokémon TCG: Pokémon Day 2026 Collection includes 1 foil promo card featuring Pikachu with a Pokémon Day stamp.
- This also comes with 1 Pokémon coin.
- You will also receive 3 Pokémon TCG booster packs.
- Booster Packs May Vary from those pictured.
That 2023 notice warned that some marketplace products could be counterfeit, searched for valuable cards before resale, or sold as independently assembled “original packs” whose advertised hit rates might not be accurate. A related notice for Pokémon Card 151 raised similar cautions. These are warnings about risks, not proof that every resale listing is fraudulent. The Pokémon Card 151 notice
Availability and reported order cancellations
On March 27, 2025, The Pokémon Company International said very high demand was making some TCG products difficult to obtain. It said it was maximizing production for future expansions, continuing reprints of impacted products, and using a virtual queue for some high-traffic Pokémon Center releases. That statement describes the company’s response at the time; it is not a measure of current stock or a guarantee that a specific product will be available. The Pokémon Company International’s March 27, 2025 statement
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- 50+ Pokemon Cards
- 5 Holos Guaranteed minimium per order
- 1 GX, EX, V, VMax, Full Art, Tag Team, or Secret Rare
GamesRadar reported in September 2026 that customers claimed Pokémon Center had cancelled many orders. The outlet said it could not verify those accounts and noted overselling as another possible explanation. The available reporting does not establish how many orders were cancelled, why they were cancelled, or whether a particular buyer’s order was affected by anti-resale checks. GamesRadar’s report
Quick Recap
What shoppers should take from the rules
- For Japan store purchases, wait for the individual store’s notice to learn whether facial recognition will apply and what products it covers.
- For an online lottery, follow the drawing’s own terms: one application per person, and no transfer of a winning purchase right.
- If an order is cancelled, the cited notices do not establish the cause for any individual case. Check the order communication and the applicable terms rather than assuming it was a scalping-related cancellation.
- When buying on a marketplace, consider the specific risks Pokémon previously identified—counterfeits, searched packs or boxes, and assembled packs with unverified hit-rate claims—without assuming every reseller is dishonest.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
