The Pokémon Company announced today that it is considering introducing an ID verification system in Japan to tackle scalping and cheating related to Pokémon Trading Card Game products and events. The system will utilize Japan’s “My Number” card, a government-issued social security card.
As spotted by Automaton, The Pokémon Company issued an official heads’ up to Pokémon TGC fans in Japan that from August 2026 this year, access to certain services will require an ID card scan in an effort to “provide all customers with a fair opportunity to safely and securely enjoy our services.”
The My Number Card is a government-issued plastic photo ID with the individual’s 12 digit social security number that residents of Japan can obtain. It’s typically used as an ID when accessing government services and doubles as a health insurance card.
The Pokémon Company’s ID check using the My Number card is slated to cover presale lotteries and sales of certain TCG products on The Pokémon Center’s official online store and also participation in official tournaments held within Japan. In these cases, the customer may be required to scan the chip in their My Number card with their smartphone to verify their Trainer Club account.
Although The Pokémon Company has not specified exactly which products will require an ID check, scalpers using multiple accounts to mass-buy up specific TCG card sets to resell has become a significant problem in Japan. Such was the demand for the SAR card-heavy Japan-exclusive Ninja Spinner expansion that a major Japanese electronics store would only sell it to customers who completed a Pokémon quiz.
As for tournaments, last September The Pokémon Company reported inappropriate participant behavior at the Yokohama Championships, including people using accounts that didn’t belong to them and faking their age to get into leagues they didn’t qualify for. Therefore, implementing a My Number Card-based ID check may help Pokémon TGC to counter some issues with cheaters and scalpers in the future.
Despite being introduced in 2016, Japan residents have been slow to adopt the My Number card for various reasons. However, in recent years, the government has tried to make the card more appealing, such as by offering reward points. Although the My Number card is currently not mandatory, Japan’s ruling LDP party is set to push for it to be made a legal requirement, as reported by Asahi News this week.
Photo by Martin LELIEVRE / AFP via Getty Images.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
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