The Print Run Timeline maps every tracked Japanese Pokémon TCG set to its current cycle phase. The four phases capture the reprint and supply-driven price trajectory that defines the Japanese market: lottery to launch hype to reprint trough to zetsuban climb.
The cycle framework is documented in detail in our case study on Pokémon Card 151 and the four-phase reprint model. Read that piece first if you're new to PMW's interpretive framework.
Phase 1: Pre-Launch Lottery
Active lottery / pre-order window. Allocation is intentionally constrained. Secondary market opens at 200-400% MSRP.
| Code | Set | Release (JP / EN) | MSRP (JPY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30C |
30th Celebration / 30周年セレブレーション
EN: 30th Celebration
Pikachu / Mewtwo / Mew
Currently in Pokemon Center pre-launch lottery for September 16, 2026 release. First worldwide near-simultaneous Pokemon TCG launch. All-foil 6-card packs at ¥360 (vs ¥200 standard). New rarity tier introduced.
|
2026-09-16 EN: 2026-09-18 |
Pack: ¥360 Box: ¥7,200 |
Phase 2: Launch Hype
First 30-90 days post-release. Secondary market 200-300% MSRP. Reprint timing is the dominant variable for the next 6 months.
| Code | Set | Release (JP / EN) | MSRP (JPY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5 |
Abyss Eye / アビスアイ
Mega Darkrai ex
First set at the new ¥200/pack tier (post-May 2026 hike). Mega Darkrai ex headliner.
|
2026-05-22 EN: — |
Pack: ¥200 Box: ¥6,000 |
| M4 |
Ninja Spinner / ニンジャスピナー
EN: Mega Evolution: Chaos Rising
Mega Greninja ex
Last JP set at old ¥180/pack tier. English equivalent (Chaos Rising) launched May 22, 2026.
|
2026-03-13 EN: 2026-05-22 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| M3 |
Nihil Zero / ニヒルゼロ
EN: Mega Evolution: Perfect Order
Mega Zoroark ex
|
2026-01-30 EN: — |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
Phase 3: Reprint Trough
Reprints absorbed. Secondary market 80-150% MSRP. Sets in this phase are accumulation candidates if their reprint cycle is ending.
| Code | Set | Release (JP / EN) | MSRP (JPY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2 |
Mega Symphonia / メガシンフォニア
EN: Mega Evolution
Mega Gardevoir ex
Launched same day as Mega Brave. Severe shortage at launch; re-lottery Sept-Oct 2025.
|
2025-08-01 EN: 2025-11-14 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| M1 |
Mega Brave / メガブレイブ
EN: Mega Evolution
Mega Lucario ex
Launched the Mega Evolution era. Mega Charizard Y ex MUR pull rate ~1/60 boxes. PSA10 trades ~¥4.1M as of May 2026.
|
2025-08-01 EN: 2025-11-14 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV11W |
White Flare / ホワイトフレア
EN: Black Bolt
Reshiram
|
2025-06-06 EN: 2025-07-18 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV11B |
Black Bolt / ブラックボルト
EN: White Flare
Zekrom
Paired set with White Flare; paired BW remake.
|
2025-06-06 EN: 2025-07-18 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV10 |
Glory of Team Rocket / ロケット団の栄光
EN: Destined Rivals
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex
Team Rocket nostalgia hit. Team Rocket's Mewtwo UR trades ¥35-90k (May 2026).
|
2025-04-18 EN: 2025-05-30 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV9A |
Heat Wave Arena / ヒートウェーブアリーナ
EN: Journey Together
|
2025-03-14 EN: 2025-03-28 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV9 |
Battle Partners / バトルパートナーズ
EN: Journey Together
Creatures Inc. committed to additional production through April 2026 to break scalper pricing.
|
2025-01-24 EN: 2025-03-28 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV8A |
Terastal Festival ex / テラスタルフェスタex
EN: Prismatic Evolutions
JP sealed box ~¥24,500 (May 2026). Reprints absorbed; potential phase 4 entry late 2026.
|
2024-12-06 EN: 2025-01-17 |
Pack: — Box: ¥6,000 |
| SV8 |
Super Electric Breaker / 超電ブレイカー
EN: Surging Sparks
Pikachu ex
Pikachu ex SAR is a top-10 surger in JP market (May 2026).
|
2024-10-18 EN: 2024-11-08 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV7A |
Paradigm Trigger / パラダイムトリガー
EN: Stellar Crown
|
2024-09-06 EN: 2024-09-13 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV7 |
Steam Siege / スチームシージ
EN: Twilight Masquerade
|
2024-06-07 EN: 2024-05-24 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV6A |
Night Wanderer / ナイトワンダラー
EN: Shrouded Fable
|
2024-04-26 EN: 2024-08-02 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV6 |
Mask of Change / 変幻の仮面
EN: Twilight Masquerade
|
2024-04-26 EN: 2024-05-24 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV5A |
Crimson Haze / クリムゾンヘイズ
EN: Temporal Forces
|
2024-03-22 EN: 2024-03-22 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV4A |
Shiny Treasure ex / シャイニートレジャーex
EN: Paldean Fates
Shiny-card flagship; ongoing reprint cycle.
|
2023-12-01 EN: 2024-01-26 |
Pack: — Box: ¥6,000 |
| SV4 |
Future Flash / 未来の一閃
EN: Paradox Rift
Iron Valiant ex / Roaring Moon ex
Paired with Ancient Roar.
|
2023-10-27 EN: 2023-11-03 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV4K |
Ancient Roar / 古代の咆哮
EN: Paradox Rift
Roaring Moon ex
Ancient/Future paired-set experiment introduced collector dispersion.
|
2023-10-27 EN: 2023-11-03 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV3 |
Raging Surf / レイジングサーフ
EN: Paldea Evolved
|
2023-09-22 EN: 2023-06-09 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV3A |
Ruler of the Black Flame / 黒炎の支配者
EN: Obsidian Flames
Charizard ex
Charizard ex UR is a top-10 surger in JP market (May 2026).
|
2023-07-28 EN: 2023-08-11 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV2 |
Clay Burst / クレイバースト
EN: Paldea Evolved
Iono
Sister set to Snow Hazard. Iono SR is one of the most-pulled meme-rare cards in Scarlet & Violet era.
|
2023-04-14 EN: 2023-06-09 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV2P |
Snow Hazard / スノーハザード
EN: Paldea Evolved
Grusha
|
2023-04-14 EN: 2023-06-09 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV1V |
Violet ex / バイオレットex
EN: Scarlet & Violet base
Miraidon
First JP set of the Scarlet & Violet era.
|
2023-01-20 EN: 2023-03-31 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV1S |
Scarlet ex / スカーレットex
EN: Scarlet & Violet base
Koraidon
First JP set of the Scarlet & Violet era.
|
2023-01-20 EN: 2023-03-31 |
Pack: ¥180 Box: ¥5,400 |
| SV-P_PROMOS |
SV-P Promo Set / SV-Pプロモ
EN: (promo-only)
Scarlet & Violet promo set. Tournament/store-exclusive distribution. Active.
|
2023-01-20 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
Phase 4: Zetsuban Climb
Out of print. Prices compound upward on declining supply. The vintage tail of the Japanese market.
| Code | Set | Release (JP / EN) | MSRP (JPY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SV2A |
Pokémon Card 151 / ポケモンカード151
EN: Scarlet & Violet 151
Mew
Currently in zetsuban climb. April 2026: ¥55,215 → ¥71,999 in 3 days. Current ~¥73,000 (May 2026), 12.5x MSRP.
|
2023-06-16 EN: 2023-09-22 |
Pack: ¥290 Box: ¥5,808 |
| S12A |
VSTAR Universe / VSTARユニバース
EN: Crown Zenith
High-class pack. Closed out SwSh era. Sealed JP boxes ¥18-25k (May 2026).
|
2022-12-02 EN: 2023-01-20 |
Pack: — Box: ¥5,500 |
| S12 |
Paradigm Trigger / パラダイムトリガー
EN: Crown Zenith
Lugia VSTAR
|
2022-10-21 EN: 2023-01-20 |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S11A |
Incandescent Arcana / 白熱のアルカナ
EN: Silver Tempest
Gardevoir
|
2022-09-02 EN: 2022-11-11 |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S11 |
Lost Abyss / ロストアビス
EN: Lost Origin
Giratina VSTAR
Giratina VSTAR UR among the most-traded modern UR cards.
|
2022-07-15 EN: 2022-09-09 |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S10B |
Pokémon GO / ポケモンGO
EN: Pokémon GO
Crossover product; collector-driven zetsuban appreciation.
|
2022-06-17 EN: 2022-07-01 |
Pack: — Box: — |
| S10A |
Dark Phantasma / ダークファンタズマ
EN: Astral Radiance
Hisuian Zoroark
|
2022-05-13 EN: 2022-05-27 |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S10D |
Time Gazer / タイムゲイザー
EN: Astral Radiance
Origin Dialga VSTAR
|
2022-04-15 EN: 2022-05-27 |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S10P |
Space Juggler / スペースジャグラー
EN: Astral Radiance
Origin Palkia VSTAR
|
2022-04-15 EN: 2022-05-27 |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S9A |
Battle Region / バトルリージョン
EN: Brilliant Stars
|
2022-03-25 EN: 2022-02-25 |
Pack: — Box: ¥4,950 |
| S9 |
Star Birth / スターバース
EN: Brilliant Stars
Arceus VSTAR
Introduced the VSTAR mechanic. Arceus VSTAR UR sustained price strength.
|
2022-01-14 EN: 2022-02-25 |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S8B |
VMAX Climax / VMAXクライマックス
EN: (No direct equivalent; rolled into multiple SwSh sets)
Rayquaza VMAX
High-class pack. Pack price launched at ~¥2,100 secondary, dropped to ¥900-1,400 by Mar 2022. Now in zetsuban climb. Rayquaza VMAX UR ¥73k+ (May 2026).
|
2021-12-03 EN: — |
Pack: ¥660 Box: — |
| S8A |
25th Anniversary Collection / 25周年アニバーサリーコレクション
EN: Celebrations
Pikachu / Mew
25th anniversary set. Sealed boxes ¥36,800 → ¥92,333 (+150.9%). Golden Box ¥143,917 → ¥389,999 (+171%).
|
2021-10-22 EN: 2021-10-08 |
Pack: ¥297 Box: ¥36,800 |
| S7R |
Skyscraping Perfect / 蒼空ストリーム
EN: Evolving Skies
Rayquaza VMAX
Sister set to Fusion Arts. Rayquaza VMAX HR alt-art is the canonical chase card.
|
2021-07-09 EN: 2021-08-27 |
Pack: — Box: ¥4,950 |
| S7D |
Towering Perfection / 摩天パーフェクト
EN: Evolving Skies
Duraludon VMAX
Sister set to Skyscraping Perfect.
|
2021-07-09 EN: 2021-08-27 |
Pack: — Box: ¥4,950 |
| S6A |
Eevee Heroes / イーブイヒーローズ
EN: Evolving Skies / Fusion Strike (split)
Sylveon VMAX
Canonical scalper-crisis case study. Birthed Japan's lottery-first distribution model. Sylveon VMAX SA ¥214k (May 2026, +¥44k 30d).
|
2021-05-28 EN: — |
Pack: ¥165 Box: ¥4,950 |
| S5A |
Matchless Fighters / 双璧のファイター
EN: Battle Styles
Single Strike / Rapid Strike mechanic origin.
|
2021-04-23 EN: 2021-03-19 |
Pack: — Box: ¥4,950 |
| S5R |
Rapid Strike Master / 連撃マスター
EN: Battle Styles
Urshifu VMAX
|
2021-03-19 EN: 2021-03-19 |
Pack: — Box: ¥4,950 |
| S4A |
Shiny Star V / シャイニースターV
EN: Shining Fates
Multi-year zetsuban compounding.
|
2020-11-20 EN: 2021-02-19 |
Pack: — Box: — |
| S-P_PROMOS |
S-P Promo Set / S-Pプロモ
EN: (promo-only)
SwSh-era promo set. S-P 260 Touhoku Pikachu trades ¥68k PSA10 (May 2026).
|
2019-12-06 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
| SM12A |
TAG All Stars / タッグオールスターズ
EN: (JP exclusive; no direct equivalent; SM era closeout)
High-class pack that closed out SM era. Contains every TAG TEAM card from prior SM sets as reprints.
|
2019-10-04 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
| SM11A |
Remix Bout / リミックスバウト
EN: Unified Minds
|
2019-08-09 EN: 2019-08-02 |
Pack: — Box: — |
| SM11 |
Miracle Twins / ミラクルツイン
EN: Unified Minds
Mewtwo & Mew TAG TEAM GX
|
2019-06-28 EN: 2019-08-02 |
Pack: — Box: — |
| SM10B |
Sky Legend / スカイレジェンド
EN: Unified Minds
Articuno-Zapdos-Moltres GX
|
2019-06-21 EN: 2019-08-02 |
Pack: — Box: — |
| SM9 |
TAG Bolt / タッグボルト
EN: Unbroken Bonds
Pikachu & Zekrom TAG TEAM GX
Introduced TAG TEAM mechanic.
|
2018-12-07 EN: 2019-05-03 |
Pack: — Box: — |
| SM-P_PROMOS |
SM-P Promo Set / SM-Pプロモ
EN: (promo-only)
SM-P promo cards from movies, store promos, championships. Top vintage modern chase: SM-P 39 Pikachu Stamp.
|
2016-12-09 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
| CP6 |
20th Anniversary / 20thアニバーサリー
EN: (JP exclusive; partial English equivalent: Evolutions)
Charizard / Pikachu
Ten-year zetsuban climb. CP6 1st Edition ¥2,029,000 (+73.1% vs baseline). 20th Team Rocket case ¥3,000,000+.
|
2016-02-27 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
| CP4 |
Premium Champion Pack EX×M×BREAK / プレミアムチャンピオンパック「EX×M×BREAK」
EN: (JP exclusive; partial English equivalent: Generations)
Vintage modern flagship reprint set. Mega Charizard EX UR is a top-tier reprint chase.
|
2015-08-22 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
| PTCGO_PCG_PRE |
PCG Series (Pre-Diamond/Pearl) / PCGシリーズ プレ
EN: EX series
JP era spanning EX-series cards. Vintage authority territory; Mandarake is the primary stock holder.
|
2004-01-29 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
| VSP |
VS Expansion Pack / VS拡張パック
EN: (JP exclusive)
Vintage e-reader-compatible expansion. Trainer-themed art rares command premiums.
|
2001-12-20 EN: — |
Pack: — Box: — |
| NEO1 |
Gold Silver to a New World / 金、銀、新世界へ…
EN: Neo Genesis
Lugia
First Gen 2 set. JP 1st Edition Neo Genesis booster boxes routinely clear ¥500k+. Lugia Holo 1st Ed is the cycle's chase.
|
1999-12-16 EN: 2000-12-16 |
Pack: — Box: — |
| BASE_JP |
Base Expansion Pack / ポケットモンスターカードゲーム 第1弾
EN: Base Set
Venusaur
The original. JP Base set is the foundation card of the Japanese vintage market. Sealed booster boxes seven figures in JPY.
|
1996-10-20 EN: 1999-01-09 |
Pack: — Box: — |