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Which sleeves actually fit Japanese card games?

Published · By the Cards from Japan editors

Summary

The safest fit is the official sleeve made by the publisher of the game you play. Only some publishers print dimensions: the Pokémon Deck Shield measures 9.2 × 6.6 cm, and the Weiß Schwarz supply set sleeves measure 67 × 92 mm. Limits on double-sleeving and rules on matching sleeves come from each game's event rules.

Official sleeves compared

GameOfficial sleevePer packPublished size
Pokémon Card Game (Japan)Deck Shield64 (a 60-card deck plus 4 spares)9.2 × 6.6 cm
Weiß SchwarzSupply set sleeves, usable in official tournaments6067 × 92 mm
GUNDAM CARD GAMEOfficial Card Sleeves 0170Not stated
ONE PIECE Card GameOfficial Card Sleeves70Not stated
UNION ARENA (English)Official Card Sleeve60Not stated
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCGOfficial card sleeves50Not stated

The English UNION ARENA sleeves were an event item sold at BCG Fest 24-25 World Tour in Dallas, not a regular retail product. Konami says its Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG sleeves are designed to meet tournament regulation standards for that game.

You will also see sleeves sold as "Japanese size." None of the official pages above uses that label, so the game name on the package, and the printed dimensions where they exist, are the reliable guide.

Double sleeving and matching rules

ONE PIECE Card Game's floor rules for licensed events require every card in the deck to sit in identical opaque sleeves, one card per sleeve, all facing the same way. A card may have at most two sleeves. If you double-sleeve, every card must use the same number, order, face, and direction of sleeves, and at least one of the two must be opaque. Leader and DON!! cards use sleeves different from the deck, or none at all.

Konami's rules for Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG shop events in Japan require the same sleeve on every card in the deck, while the Extra Deck may differ or go unsleeved. They set no limit on layers beyond not interfering with the duel, and they ban putting anything other than cards and sleeves inside a sleeve or modifying sleeves.

Sources

  1. Pokémon Center Online Deck Shield (Japanese)
  2. Weiß Schwarz Supply Set Avatar: The Last Airbender
  3. GUNDAM CARD GAME Official Card Sleeves 01
  4. ONE PIECE Card Game Official Card Sleeves
  5. UNION ARENA Official Card Sleeve (English)
  6. Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG card sleeves
  7. ONE PIECE Card Game floor rules for licensed events (Japanese)
  8. Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG duel rules for shop events (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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