Grading Japanese vs English Pokémon Cards: What's Different?
By Mitchell Taljaard · · Updated
Collectors often ask us whether Japanese cards are worth grading, or whether graders treat them differently. The short answer is that the grading is the same, but the cards aren't.
We're Cuppas Cards, a PCG submission service for South African Pokémon collectors. We don't grade cards ourselves: PCG assigns every grade. Our founder collects both Japanese and English cards, so this post mixes what we've seen with what the evidence can and can't show.
Does PCG grade Japanese cards differently?
No. PCG's published grading standards apply the same grades, centering limits and subgrades to every card, and they don't list separate rules by language (PCG grading standards). A Japanese card needs the same 50/50 centering for a Flawless 10 as an English one.
The price is the same too. PCG prices its UK services per card (PCG UK pricing), and our R495 service price (including PCG's £15 grading fee) doesn't change with the card's language.
How are Japanese and English cards different?
The differences come from how the cards are printed and cut.
| Japanese | English | |
|---|---|---|
| PCG grading rules | Same scale and subgrades | Same scale and subgrades |
| Price through us | R495 per card (incl. £15 PCG fee) | R495 per card (incl. £15 PCG fee) |
| Border | Thinner, so centering shifts are less visible | Wider, so shifts are easier to see |
| Factory edge whitening | Reported less often | Reported more often |
| Foil on special rares | Finer, more uniform | Coarser pattern |
| Published gem-rate data | None by language | None by language |
The border, whitening and foil rows come from one retailer guide (Packratt, April 2026). In more detail, here's what our founder sees and what the guide reports:
- Texture and finish. In our founder's experience, Japanese cards have better texture and a cleaner finish, especially on full arts and special rares.
- Printing errors. Our founder sees fewer printing errors on Japanese cards, such as print lines and ink marks. One retailer guide also reports finer, more uniform foil on Japanese special rares (Packratt).
- Centering. Japanese cards have a thinner border, so small shifts in centering are less visible to the eye (Packratt). The grader still measures them the same way, so always measure.
- Edge whitening. The same guide reports less factory edge whitening on Japanese prints than on English ones.
Sources disagree on card thickness and card stock, so we've left those out.
Do Japanese cards grade higher?
In our founder's experience, yes: Japanese cards come out of the pack in top-grade condition more often than English ones. One retailer guide reports that modern Japanese cards reach PSA 10 more often, based on PSA population data, but it gives no figures (Packratt).
Be careful with exact numbers, though. No grader publishes gem rates split by language. The percentages you'll see online are estimates from collectors, and they vary widely from guide to guide. Treat any single figure as a rough guide, not a fact.
What this means in practice: a pack-fresh Japanese card is often a strong grading candidate, but it still needs checking. A Japanese card with a scratch or soft corner grades no better than an English one with the same flaw.
Which is worth more once graded?
It depends on the card. Some Japanese cards have artwork or releases that English sets never got, and others are worth less than their English versions. There's no rule that one language always sells for more.
Before you grade, look up recent sold prices for the graded card in the language you own. Grading costs about R593 per card, including PCG's £15 fee. Add 3% of the declared value for insurance, plus postage, and compare that with the sold price. Our cost breakdown shows the full rand figures. For a current example, our Delta Reign guide lists Japanese launch prices for each Mega Rayquaza ex version.
What should you check before grading each language?
Use the same four checks for both: centering, corners, edges and surface. Our pre-grading checklist walks through each one.
A few language-specific tips:
- Japanese cards: measure centering carefully, because the thin border hides small shifts. Check holo and full-art surfaces under angled light.
- English cards: look closely for print lines and ink marks on holo areas.
- Both languages: the blue back shows whitening clearly on Japanese and English cards alike, so check the back edges first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send Japanese cards through Cuppas Cards?
Yes. We send Japanese and English cards to PCG in the UK at the same price. You can mix languages in one order.
Does PCG charge more for Japanese cards?
No. PCG prices its services per card, and its published prices don't change with the card's language.
Do Japanese cards need different packing?
No. Pack them exactly like English cards: a loose penny sleeve, then a semi-rigid holder with a pull-tab. Our shipping and packing guide shows each step.
What's a typical gem rate for Japanese cards?
There's no official figure. Graders don't publish gem rates by language, and online estimates vary widely. Judge each card on its own condition.
Ready to grade your cards?
Read what PCG is and how its grades work, then add your cards on our submission page. One card per order is fine.
PCG standards and prices as published on 19 October 2026.