Pokemon Japan to Require Government ID for Select TCG Purchases
To combat scalping, Pokemon Japan
announced that starting around August 2026, customers will need to verify their identity using the government-issued My Number Card to enter lotteries and purchase select TCG products from Pokemon Center Online. The requirement will also apply to registering for certain official events.
The system will effectively limit affected purchases and lottery entries to Japanese residents, as the My Number Card is issued primarily to Japanese citizens and long-term foreign residents with a residency record. Verification will use a smartphone's NFC reader to scan the card via an external government-approved service, linking the user to their Pokemon Player Club account without Pokemon collecting or storing personal data. More details on the exact start date, targeted products and events, and age-based rules will follow.
