Gundam

Can Japanese Gundam Card Game cards go in the same deck as English ones?

Published · By the Cards from Japan editors

Summary

It depends on where you play. Under the official language rules, Japan and South Korea use Japanese cards only, and North America, Latin America, Europe, and Oceania use English cards only. In Hong Kong, the Taiwan area, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, a deck may mix Japanese and English cards. Resource and token cards in any language are allowed everywhere.

The regional rule

Bandai posted "Usage Rules for Japanese, English, and Simplified Chinese Versions" on July 11, 2025, and says the list may change without notice. Mainland China uses the Simplified Chinese version. For English-language events, section 2.4.1 of the Tournament Rules Manual says players in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Oceania must use English cards for the main deck, and 2.4.1.1 allows resources and tokens in all languages.

So a Japanese GD05 card can't go in the main deck at a U.S. tournament, but a Japanese resource card can sit next to an English deck.

Same number, same card, different packs

Rule 2-1-1 of the Comprehensive Rules says cards with the same card number are treated in the game as the same card. The official card search shows this for GD01-001: the English "Gundam" and the Japanese "ガンダム" are both LR, Lv. 4, cost 3, AP 3 and HP 3, link [Amuro Ray], from Newtype Rising [GD01]. Only the language of the text changes.

The packs are another story. Freedom Ascension [GD05] came out in English on July 24, 2026 with 12 cards for $4.99, and in Japan the next day with 6 cards for ¥250. Both list 138+10 card types, so the Japanese version spreads the same lineup across smaller packs.

Sources

  1. Usage Rules for Japanese, English, and Simplified Chinese Versions
  2. Language usage rules (Japanese)
  3. Tournament Rules Manual
  4. Comprehensive Rules Ver. 1.9.0
  5. Card search, GD01-001
  6. Card search, GD01-001 (Japanese)
  7. Freedom Ascension [GD05]
  8. Freedom Ascension [GD05] (Japanese)

Details are as published on these pages on the date above and can change. Check the official page before you buy or submit.

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