Where does a graded Pokémon card's record say it is Japanese?
Summary
For PSA-graded cards, look up the cert number on PSA's site. The language is part of the Brand/Title field, as in "POKEMON JAPANESE PROMO." The cert page also shows the year, the subject, the variety, and the grade. The fields are not filled the same way for every card, and some records have no card number at all.
One PSA cert record
PSA cert 23000982 is recorded like this:
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Year | 1998 |
| Brand/Title | POKEMON JAPANESE PROMO |
| Subject | PIKACHU - HOLO |
| Variety/Pedigree | ILLUSTRATOR |
| Item Grade | GEM MT 10 |
This is a Pikachu Illustrator, the card handed out as a prize in a 1998 illustration contest, and its record has no card number field. The year, Brand/Title, Subject, and Variety together identify it.
PSA's cert lookup page warns that verifying a number in its database "does not eliminate risk," because counterfeiters sometimes print fake labels using real cert numbers taken from public sources.
Submitting from Japan
PSA runs a Japanese site, PSA Japan, with prices in yen including tax. As of September 23, 2026, the Standard service is ¥9,980 per card with an estimated 100 business days for declared values up to ¥150,000, and insurance and return shipping cost extra. The cheaper Value services are paused. PSA Lounge Tokyo in Akihabara takes submissions by reservation only and requires a Japanese address and phone number. Graded cards cannot be picked up there and are mailed back.
Sources
- PSA cert 23000982
- PSA Cert Verification
- PSA Japan services and prices (Japanese)
- PSA Lounge Tokyo (Japanese)
Details are as published on these pages on the date above and can change. Check the official page before you buy or submit.