Breaking
Trump Administration Creates $1.8 Billion 'Slush Fund' for Allies, Critics Say GOP Weaponizes Budget Rule to Ram Through Immigration Spending Climate Activists Buyer's Remorse: Carney's Canada Goes All-In on Fossil Fuels High Court Clears Path for Companies to Sue Cuba Over Cold War Seizures Trump health officials warn of screen time threat to children's sleep and development Trump Administration Creates $1.8 Billion 'Slush Fund' for Allies, Critics Say GOP Weaponizes Budget Rule to Ram Through Immigration Spending Climate Activists Buyer's Remorse: Carney's Canada Goes All-In on Fossil Fuels High Court Clears Path for Companies to Sue Cuba Over Cold War Seizures Trump health officials warn of screen time threat to children's sleep and development
Gaming

Pokémon Japan to Scan Government ID at Card Shops, Tournaments Starting 2026

Emily Chen 0 comments 6 min read
Pokémon Japan to Scan Government ID at Card Shops, Tournaments Starting 2026

The Pokémon Company is moving to lock down its trading card marketplace in Japan by requiring government-issued identification scans as early as August 2026. The verification system will use Japan's My Number card, a social security ID that doubles as a health insurance document, to gate access to presale lotteries, specific product sales on the official Pokémon Center online store, and official tournament participation.

The company framed the measure as a way to "provide all customers with a fair opportunity to safely and securely enjoy our services." Customers will scan their My Number card's chip using a smartphone to confirm their Trainer Club account identity.

Scalping has become a genuine headache for the company in Japan. Resellers using multiple accounts have systematically bought up limited card sets, forcing retailers to get creative with prevention. When demand for the Japan-exclusive Ninja Spinner expansion spiked, one major electronics chain resorted to making customers answer Pokémon trivia before completing a purchase.

Tournament integrity has also deteriorated. At last September's Yokohama Championships, The Pokémon Company documented instances of participants using accounts belonging to other people and misrepresenting their age to enter age groups they didn't qualify for. The ID verification system is designed to prevent this kind of fraud.

The My Number card, issued since 2016, has faced slow adoption among Japanese residents despite government incentives like reward point programs. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is now pushing to make it legally mandatory, according to reporting this week from Asahi News.

The Pokémon Company has not yet specified which products will trigger the ID check requirement, leaving open questions about how broadly the system will apply across the TCG lineup.

Author Emily Chen: "Using a government ID to buy trading cards feels extreme, but when tournament cheaters and scalper networks are running organized plays, sometimes only friction at the entry point stops the chaos."

Comments