The Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCG) is absolutely blowing up, with players flocking to it across Japan, Europe, and the US. Whether it's new booster pack drops or major tournaments, the hype is real. But let's be honest, card prices have gone through the roof lately, leading to a frustrating surge in scalping and chaotic buying frenzies.
On May 21, the official Pokémon Card Game team dropped a bombshell: they're exploring a new identity verification system for product sales and official events in Japan, leveraging the "My Number Card" (マイナンバーカード). The goal? To level the playing field for all players and create a safer, more secure environment for everyone.
So, what exactly is a "My Number Card"? It's a unique 12-digit ID issued to all residents in Japan, including foreign nationals with residence cards. Think of it as a super-powered national ID, functioning as a driver's license, health insurance card, and even letting you print official documents like residence certificates at convenience stores.
For now, this system is slated for specific uses: priority lotteries and sales for certain products on Pokémon Center Online, and registration for select official tournaments and events within Japan.
The official word is that players might soon need to complete identity verification via their My Number Card before they can even enter these lotteries or sign up for events.
How will it work? The plan is to use an external service where players can scan their My Number Card's IC chip with a smartphone, then link it to their Players Club account for verification.
And for all you privacy buffs out there, the official team is stressing that this system will "User Certificate Electronic Certificate" and "Facial Information Input Support" to confirm identity. Crucially, they won't be acquiring or storing anyone's actual "My Number" data. Phew!
Mark your calendars: the official rollout is tentatively set for around August 2026, kicking things off with online lottery sales and certain event registrations.
As for the nitty-gritty details—which products will be included, which events will adopt it, age restrictions, usage rules, and the full verification process—the official announcement promises more info will drop once everything's locked in.
Fans are already buzzing about this move, seeing it as a potential game-changer to block overseas scalpers. However, the exact scope is still TBD, and for now, it's only set to apply to priority lotteries/sales for select products and registrations for certain official tournaments and events within Japan.
Of course, the real impact won't be clear until the system actually goes live. Many online users also feel that forcing individual retailers to come up with their own anti-scalping measures is a huge burden, and that an official, centralized solution like this is definitely the way to go.
（ Related read: Japanese Stores Are SLICING Open Pokémon Card Packs at Checkout to Combat Scalpers!）
via： ポケモンカードゲーム