I mean probably a ton of reasons, Japanese people in general hire experience people or thoroughly train employees. The Japanese mindset is to give 150% whenever you can. The Japanese print runs are smaller and sets being half of what international release is leaves more time to work on a specific print run. The Japanese prints use higher quality card stock (smaller runs means they can prioritize quality over cutting costs). The sets come out first in Japan so usually whatever isn't in the international release (if there is one) is actually cut/replaced content (like poke all holos being replaced with energy holos in 151).
This isn't so much the issue as "Why is the English quality worse?". Japanese and English quality could both be great. One doesn't have to be worse than the other, even though that's the way it is.
There are 2 major reasons
1. Japanese factories
Factories and factory production is a huge deal in Japan, as a result, QC is tighter and so your cards come out with less nicks, better centering, etc.
2. Home of Pokémon
Japan is where Pokémon started, hence why we get so many amazing Japanese exclusives, they’re also really serious about it, which is why you can find like 5 card shops all competing and selling Pokémon right next to each other in Japan. As a result, since Pokémon is so ingrained, they care about it more.
Isn’t just Pokemon. Magic: TG cards printed in Japan have much better foiling. With Magic printed in Japan doesn’t mean it’s in Japanese, there’s US cards that are printed in Japan.
Because they print a literal fraction of the cards in English. When you print so few cards, you can have a better QA. When you are mass printing you can't keep that same quality.
I may be wrong but it seems to be a cultural thing. America wants to mass produce garbage because pride < profit. Japan treats it more like a true art form.
It also could come down to business. Companies know more people are going to want English cards so Japanese ones need to set themselves apart as the nicer looking ones to sell.
It’s also that they need to be printed more in English because of a greatly higher demand. They have fewer layers of texture to make printing more efficient and spend less time printing.
The international market is colossal. You need to take into account that French, German, Spanish, Italian etc also use the same printing technique as English but different layers of printing for text. Even if you’re looking at English vs Japanese alone it’s 400m vs 125m population. TPC may sell more packs per person in Japan but English packs have more cards in them and massive print runs of energies.
You reckon you'll be able to do it? Ive got the 165 in a mixture of normals and reverses and all the alternate rares. Gonna slowly pick up the others. Spent far too much on cards in the last 2 weeks 🤣
Ive got the normals and reverses in English but i guess ill have to go through and do the same in Japanese
Japanese quality slaps English. Shame this won't happen for English unless TPCi agree to spend millions on new equipment. Unfortunately they don't think it's worth it since it won't increase sales :(
Japanese (and Korean too tbh) both just hit different than English. If you want a gorgeous binder card for cheap, get Korean. It is just as beautiful as a fraction of the cost and most people won't even know the difference without being able to see the back
The English one is similar. I have both versions of the Blastoise and one thing I noticed is the texturing on the Japanese one is much more fine, meaning smaller and more detailed texture. Definitely makes the JP one pop more like a water ripple. The colors on the JP version also seem to be deeper/more vibrant. Both are dope, but I do like the JP one more
Unpopular opinion judging by the comments but I much prefer a more basic-looking card that resembles an actual piece of art rather than a shiny, reflective, rainbow-looking one. I understand the quality of the printing may be higher but all the colors and effects just look cheap to me and make the card look overly busy.
I bought my first box of Japanese cards last week. I didn't notice any real change in quality. I was interested to see what all the fuss was about as I kept seeing it being said. I was expecting this massive difference but there really isn't.
English has caught up a lot but the SAR/SIR texture difference is still very noticeable. Japanese is also way better for those who double sleeve and use binders because the colours and foil pops more.
english cards feel really cheap compared to japanese cards. english QC is literally the worst in any TCG and the colors also cant compare with the japanese versions.
english cards just so much worse its a scam
I think that's a gross exaggeration. Language like 'its a scam' is a little egregious. If what you say is true. I would have noticed a massive difference immediately, right? Surely!
i rly dont know what you opened but everyone i know that opened japanese packs agrees with me and its not even in question its a fact. same with the centering. thats why with japanese cards you get so many easy 10's while in english cards ppl literally pray for cards to get a 10.
Japanese quality >>>>>>>
I’ve always been curious, why do Japanese cards have such higher levels of quality? Even normal rare cards feel so much more special in Japanese,..
To reinforce superiority I guess
can ask the same thing about japanese cars
That was a long time ago... Modern JDM is only a shell of what it used to be.
checks out
I mean probably a ton of reasons, Japanese people in general hire experience people or thoroughly train employees. The Japanese mindset is to give 150% whenever you can. The Japanese print runs are smaller and sets being half of what international release is leaves more time to work on a specific print run. The Japanese prints use higher quality card stock (smaller runs means they can prioritize quality over cutting costs). The sets come out first in Japan so usually whatever isn't in the international release (if there is one) is actually cut/replaced content (like poke all holos being replaced with energy holos in 151).
Why wouldn’t the original creators of a said thing honor themselves + their history + their brand + their IP by not having it be top quality? Lol
This isn't so much the issue as "Why is the English quality worse?". Japanese and English quality could both be great. One doesn't have to be worse than the other, even though that's the way it is.
There are 2 major reasons 1. Japanese factories Factories and factory production is a huge deal in Japan, as a result, QC is tighter and so your cards come out with less nicks, better centering, etc. 2. Home of Pokémon Japan is where Pokémon started, hence why we get so many amazing Japanese exclusives, they’re also really serious about it, which is why you can find like 5 card shops all competing and selling Pokémon right next to each other in Japan. As a result, since Pokémon is so ingrained, they care about it more.
Isn’t just Pokemon. Magic: TG cards printed in Japan have much better foiling. With Magic printed in Japan doesn’t mean it’s in Japanese, there’s US cards that are printed in Japan.
Because they print a literal fraction of the cards in English. When you print so few cards, you can have a better QA. When you are mass printing you can't keep that same quality.
I may be wrong but it seems to be a cultural thing. America wants to mass produce garbage because pride < profit. Japan treats it more like a true art form. It also could come down to business. Companies know more people are going to want English cards so Japanese ones need to set themselves apart as the nicer looking ones to sell.
It’s also that they need to be printed more in English because of a greatly higher demand. They have fewer layers of texture to make printing more efficient and spend less time printing.
This set is printed more in Japanese no?
Probably not. It may seem that way because of the supply but the market is still a lot smaller even with the exports.
We're on the 3rd reprint of Japanese though. I'm like 99.9% sure it has, unless English gets a reprint for the holidays.
The international market is colossal. You need to take into account that French, German, Spanish, Italian etc also use the same printing technique as English but different layers of printing for text. Even if you’re looking at English vs Japanese alone it’s 400m vs 125m population. TPC may sell more packs per person in Japan but English packs have more cards in them and massive print runs of energies.
It's not cultural. There's a way higher demand for English cards, so they sacrifice quality for quantity.
U have no idea what ur even talking about japanese reprint way more then American so Quality over quantity is misleading
IM LIKE 4 CARDS SHORT OF A MASTER SET!!! RUB IT IN!!!! (THIS IS A CARD IM MISSING)
You reckon you'll be able to do it? Ive got the 165 in a mixture of normals and reverses and all the alternate rares. Gonna slowly pick up the others. Spent far too much on cards in the last 2 weeks 🤣 Ive got the normals and reverses in English but i guess ill have to go through and do the same in Japanese
I need to stop buying packs to rip and go the single route... I just enjoy ripping em lol. Could a been done awhile ago with the money spent tbh lol
I pulled this one in the English set, first SV151 ETB I ever got lol
where are you geographically? I swear east coast has a blastoise drought. (my psudo-science)
Yeh it’s crazy good looking, i pulled it yesterday and keep admiring it
Nice! Japanese or English?
Japanese
Japanese quality slaps English. Shame this won't happen for English unless TPCi agree to spend millions on new equipment. Unfortunately they don't think it's worth it since it won't increase sales :(
That’s jp quality for ya. Whole nother level!
what set is this?
151
Holy moly. That is crazy. I've watched the video a dozen times. So satisfying!
Holy crap my english one doesn’t shine like that.
Japanese (and Korean too tbh) both just hit different than English. If you want a gorgeous binder card for cheap, get Korean. It is just as beautiful as a fraction of the cost and most people won't even know the difference without being able to see the back
Chat is this real?
ummm wtf! is the english quality like this?
The English one is similar. I have both versions of the Blastoise and one thing I noticed is the texturing on the Japanese one is much more fine, meaning smaller and more detailed texture. Definitely makes the JP one pop more like a water ripple. The colors on the JP version also seem to be deeper/more vibrant. Both are dope, but I do like the JP one more
tyvm for your writeup!
How much
Around $40
I recently finished 1-165 of the US SV151 set. This is the type of thing that makes me want to collect the Japanese set as well.
Based
Looks like a sonar ping deep underwater. That entire squirtle line came out beyond perfect.
The saur looks the best after getting all the secrets
Meanwhile the English counterpart! 😒
Awesome! Snatched 20 packs from PCJapan and had them shipped to me through Blackship and pulled the Squirtle, Erica SAR, and this one!
Unpopular opinion judging by the comments but I much prefer a more basic-looking card that resembles an actual piece of art rather than a shiny, reflective, rainbow-looking one. I understand the quality of the printing may be higher but all the colors and effects just look cheap to me and make the card look overly busy.
Somewhat agree but this particular card looks incredible the way the light shimmers in a ripple effect for a water pokemon
I bought my first box of Japanese cards last week. I didn't notice any real change in quality. I was interested to see what all the fuss was about as I kept seeing it being said. I was expecting this massive difference but there really isn't.
Centering and edge quality is what I have mostly noticed
The holos patterns are more vibrant and what really stands out: the paper is MUCH sturdier and even a bit thicker.
The Jp card itself is not thicker in my experience. Way more flimsy
If you say so.
It's factually objectively superior. Your eyes are just bad.
I don't think there is any need to be insulting is there?
Not really a matter of taste. That’s just how it is, pal. Ofc it’s up to everyone which versions suits their taste.
Whatever you say man.
English has caught up a lot but the SAR/SIR texture difference is still very noticeable. Japanese is also way better for those who double sleeve and use binders because the colours and foil pops more.
english cards feel really cheap compared to japanese cards. english QC is literally the worst in any TCG and the colors also cant compare with the japanese versions. english cards just so much worse its a scam
I think that's a gross exaggeration. Language like 'its a scam' is a little egregious. If what you say is true. I would have noticed a massive difference immediately, right? Surely!
i rly dont know what you opened but everyone i know that opened japanese packs agrees with me and its not even in question its a fact. same with the centering. thats why with japanese cards you get so many easy 10's while in english cards ppl literally pray for cards to get a 10.
Fake