Today, the latest Pokémon expansion card set Super-Burst Impact went on sale in Japan. Long lines formed, and there were reports of sellouts.
A special Pokémon Center only bundle with two boxes of cards, organizers and more also went on sale.
As Japanese site Kai-You explains, the popularity of the Pokémon card games has been recently growing again in Japan. Earlier this summer, popular Japanese YouTuber Hajime did a video talking about he’s totally into the card game.
This latest Johto-based expansion set appears to have struck a nostalgic nerve with fans.
The boom could be because those who grew up with the card game are now adults and want to reconnect with those childhood memories. It could also be because the card game is, well, fun—something that people are rediscovering.
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Thirty minutes before this Pokémon Center opens.
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今日ポケカの新弾発売で、博多のポケセンに友人が開店凸したみたいだけど、人大杉でヤバかったみたい。ほぼ全員ポケカ狙いで、補充されたら即無くなってたそうな、、、おそるべしポケカブーム pic.twitter.com/FF6MSvPDrA
— マスクド@ (@Yon242) September 7, 2018
ポケセン横浜 並び200くらいですかね pic.twitter.com/VydTWUd9bf
— 寒波 (@na_lark1103) September 7, 2018
Around 200 people are reportedly in line at the Pokémon Center in Yokohama
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Even at 11am, after the stores were open, there were still lines
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Tokyo Bay.
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Ikebukuro at 11:10am.
12時現在
まだポケセン入れない人いるみたい pic.twitter.com/hm56bSh8pD— ぷらんと＠ポケモン好き🍁 (@plantkentan) September 7, 2018
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Unsurprisingly, there have been reports of sellouts across the country
#ポケカ 最新ブースター
超爆インパクト完売いたしました。 pic.twitter.com/O3ka0DaaoO— フルコンプ立川南口店 (@fctachikawa_vg) September 7, 2018
This sign reads “sold out.”
ポケセン発売日なのに超爆インパクト売り切れてて草 pic.twitter.com/5RW6au1uKU
— げーりー (@poke_geri) September 7, 2018
Sold out at another store
大阪ポケセン
ポケカ超爆インパクト
いかれました。この後補充されるらしい pic.twitter.com/BMZ1qrMVTA
— えくれあたると (@exsai001) September 7, 2018
The Pokémon Center in Osaka
ポケモンセンターフクオカ開店してから2分での現状 pic.twitter.com/drhQHIi6QQ
— くぷろ (@9P6_Valkyria) September 7, 2018
今日より発売のポケモンカードゲーム売り切れ pic.twitter.com/wfhs8vWBNt
— ラティオス (@PokeFansTaiwan) September 7, 2018
今日より発売のポケモンカードゲーム状態 pic.twitter.com/dXybCKKbla
— ラティオス (@PokeFansTaiwan) September 7, 2018
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However, packs could be found at regular toy stores
ポケモンセンター名古屋すごい人が並んでるのに、ひっそりと横のおもちゃ屋にも新パック売ってて草 pic.twitter.com/hGGcxnfuEp
— カイト (@Lets_yugioh) September 7, 2018
And apparently, the Pokémon Center in Fukuoka has loads
ポケモンセンター福岡、超爆インパクト自体はたくさんありますよ〜 pic.twitter.com/j4mHlbgaLf
— yuki@ (@yuki_f_go) September 7, 2018
As Kai-You also points out, the gray market got the early jump on Super-Burst Impact, with cards hitting online resellers a day before release. This could have also fueled speculators to snap up packs earlier today.
The retail price for a box of Super-Burst Impact is 4,860 yen ($44), but card shops have been buying them back for 5,000 yen ($45). Resellers are asking 6,000 to 7,000 yen ($54 to $63). Expect those prices to climb.
The English release of Super-Burst Impact is called Lost Thunder and will be released this November.
