Japan's Mercari has stopped sellers from listing sealed products from the Pokémon Trading Card Game's 30th-anniversary release, called "30th CELEBRATION" in Japan. Single cards are not affected. Mercari has not given an end date.
What did Mercari ban for the Pokémon 30th CELEBRATION release?
Mercari runs Japan's largest flea-market app. It has temporarily banned listings of sealed 30th CELEBRATION products on both the Mercari app and its storefront service, Mercari Shops. The ban took effect at 00:00 on September 16, 2026, the day the products began to go on sale . Individual cards can still be listed.
Quick Answer: Since 00:00 on September 16, 2026, Mercari Japan has blocked listings of unopened Pokémon TCG 30th CELEBRATION packs, all nine 30th CELEBRATION Card Sets (opened or not) and any bundle that contains them. The ban covers the Mercari app and Mercari Shops. Single cards can still be sold. No end date has been set.
Mercari published the notice on its corporate site on September 15, 2026, one day before the release. Japanese outlets gamebiz and AUTOMATON report the same date . According to Mercari's press release, as summarized by Japanese coverage, the ban covers three groups of items:
- Unopened 30th CELEBRATION expansion packs
- All nine 30th CELEBRATION Card Sets, opened or not
- Any bundle that includes these items
The English-language site PokeBeach describes the ban as made "in partnership with The Pokemon Company." PokeBeach lists the covered products as booster packs, booster boxes and "Japan's equivalent of the First Partner Collections," and notes that "individual cards can still be sold" . Mercari's own release does not call the ban a joint action. Instead, it says the measure takes into account a 2023 memorandum of understanding between Mercari and The Pokémon Company .
Which products are covered and which are still allowed?
The ban applies to sealed or bundled 30th CELEBRATION products. Single cards can still be listed. Mercari's notice names three categories. The first is unopened 30th CELEBRATION expansion packs. The second is all nine kinds of "30th CELEBRATION Card Sets," and these are banned whether they are opened or not. The third is any bundle that contains these items .
That scope comes from Mercari's own press release, as summarized by gamebiz and AUTOMATON. Mercari's wording is narrower than some English-language summaries. Opened Card Sets are banned, but opened booster packs are not named .
| Product | Status on Mercari Japan | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened 30th CELEBRATION expansion packs | Banned | Mercari release |
| 30th CELEBRATION Card Sets (all 9 kinds), opened or unopened | Banned | Mercari release |
| Bundles that include any of the above | Banned | Mercari release |
| Individual cards | Allowed | Mercari release; PokeBeach |
| Products not named in the ban (e.g. FUTURISTIC BOX) | Not covered | Yahoo! News Japan |
PokeBeach uses different labels. It lists the covered items as booster packs, booster boxes and "Japan's equivalent of the First Partner Collections" (source: PokeBeach, 2026-09) . PokeBeach is the only source that says the nine Card Sets correspond to the First Partner Collections. Mercari's release does not use that comparison.
Some products sit outside the restriction because the notice does not name them. Japanese coverage on Yahoo! News Japan points to the "FUTURISTIC BOX" as one example . For sellers, the practical points are:
- Single cards pulled from 30th CELEBRATION packs can be listed.
- Card Sets cannot be listed, even after they are opened.
- Bundles cannot get around the ban if they contain a covered item.
- Check unnamed products against Mercari's notice before listing them.
Why did Mercari say it restricted these listings?
Mercari said the ban is meant to protect safety on its marketplace. In its September 15, 2026 press release, the company warned that a jump in trading right after launch could lead to disputes between users and to harassment or abuse of people trading. It concluded that this could undermine the marketplace's safety and security (source: Mercari, 2026-09).
The release bases the decision on two documents Mercari has already published. gamebiz and AUTOMATON summarize them this way:
- Marketplace Basic Principles: Mercari's general rules for how trading on the app should work.
- A 2025 response policy: Mercari's published approach to items where marketplace safety is seriously at risk .
- A 2023 memorandum of understanding: an agreement with The Pokémon Company on "marketplace co-creation," which Mercari says it took into account .
Mercari's own release does not use the word "scalpers." That word comes from PokeBeach's headline and was then picked up by English-language outlets such as TechRaptor and TheGamer. Mercari's stated reasons are about disputes and user safety, not resale pricing.
The wording on The Pokémon Company's role also differs between sources. PokeBeach described the ban as a joint step:
"In partnership with The Pokemon Company, Japanese resale marketplace Mercari has announced a temporary ban on listings of sealed 30th Anniversary products." — PokeBeach news report (source: PokeBeach)
Mercari's release does not call the ban joint. It only says the measure reflects the 2023 memorandum. Readers should treat the "partnership" wording as PokeBeach's description, not as an official joint statement from either company.
How long does the ban last and how will Mercari enforce it?
Mercari has not set an end date for the ban. The restriction took effect at 00:00 on September 16, 2026, and Mercari says it will stay in place until the company judges that a safe and secure trading environment can be maintained . This is reported by gamebiz and taken from Mercari's press release.
The release calls the measure temporary but gives no review date and no list of conditions for lifting it . Sellers holding sealed 30th CELEBRATION stock therefore have no fixed date for when listings will reopen on the Mercari app or on Mercari Shops.
Mercari describes two layers of enforcement and a set of penalties :
- Automated detection: an AI-based system that monitors new listings for restricted items.
- Human review: a specialist team that checks listings by eye.
- Removal: listings that break the rule are taken down.
- Account action: users who repeatedly post banned items face strict measures, including account restrictions.
AUTOMATON's coverage on September 15, 2026 gives the same enforcement details . Mercari has not said how many listings it has removed or how many accounts it has restricted since the ban began. Readers should not assume anything about how well the system works until Mercari publishes figures.
What is in the 30th CELEBRATION release the ban targets?
30th CELEBRATION is the Japanese Pokémon TCG release for the franchise's 30th anniversary. Its products began going on sale on September 16, 2026 . According to AUTOMATON, the set adds a new rarity tier and several themed card groups. Mercari's sealed-listing ban applies to its packs and card sets, but not to single cards pulled from them.
AUTOMATON's September 15, 2026 report lists these contents :
- FUR (Futuristic Rare): a new rarity. The cards include Mew ex and Mewtwo ex.
- Pikachu holo variants: 30 versions of Pikachu with holo treatment.
- Commemorative cards: 30 cards about the history of the Pokémon franchise.
| Element | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New rarity | FUR (Futuristic Rare), including Mew ex and Mewtwo ex | AUTOMATON, 2026-09 |
| Pikachu holo variants | 30 | AUTOMATON, 2026-09 |
| Commemorative history cards | 30 | AUTOMATON, 2026-09 |
| Lawson purchase limit | 5 packs per transaction, no pre-orders | AUTOMATON, 2026-09 |
Retailers also put their own limits on sales. AUTOMATON reports that the Lawson convenience-store chain limited buyers to 5 packs per transaction and did not take pre-orders for the release . That is Lawson's own store policy. It is a separate rule from Mercari's marketplace restriction.
Because the FUR, Pikachu and commemorative cards are single cards, Mercari Japan users can still list them while the ban is in place . None of the cited sources give pull rates, print runs or sell-through figures for the release. This article makes no claim about demand beyond the facts reported above.
Do other platforms or Mercari US have the same rule?
No. The sources only show this rule for Mercari Japan. Mercari's announcement covers the Japanese Mercari app and Mercari Shops. We found no matching announcement from Mercari in the US . Other resale platforms have not announced a ban of their own, as far as the cited coverage shows.
US collectors have also asked whether the rule reaches them. On September 15, 2026, the PokeTCGAlerts account on X wrote that it was "Not sure if Mercari in the US is taking any similar measures" . We found no later US statement in the cited sources. US listings of sealed 30th-anniversary product should not be treated as banned.
Here is what has been reported about other platforms. Some of it could not be confirmed:
- Yahoo! Auctions (unverified): Search-result summaries say PokeBeach reported that Yahoo! Auctions issued its own notice but did not ban listings. We could not open the PokeBeach article to check this, so it is unconfirmed.
- Listings posted, then removed (reports): Japanese coverage on Yahoo! News Japan describes sealed listings going up on Mercari and being taken down soon after .
- Activity moving elsewhere (commentary): A second Yahoo! News Japan report carries criticism of the ban and notes some trading moving to other platforms, including Yahoo-affiliated services .
These are reports and commentary, not measured effects. None of the cited sources gives figures for listings removed, trades moved to other platforms or price changes.
English-language outlets such as TechRaptor and TheGamer also covered the story as a Japanese marketplace measure. Some reports linked the announcement to a drop in Mercari's share price. We could not verify any figures, so this article leaves that claim out.
What should collectors and sellers watch next?
The main thing to watch is whether Mercari sets an end date or changes which products the ban covers. The restriction began at 00:00 on September 16, 2026. Mercari did not give an end date. It said only that the ban will stay until it decides a safe and secure trading environment can be maintained . Any change is most likely to appear on Mercari's corporate press page.
What the current rules mean in practice:
- Sellers: Single cards remain allowed. Listings of unopened 30th CELEBRATION packs, any of the nine 30th CELEBRATION Card Sets, or bundles that include them may be removed. Users who repeatedly post banned items can face account restrictions .
- Buyers: While the ban lasts, sealed 30th CELEBRATION product cannot be bought on Mercari Japan, so it has to come from retailers. Some retailers limit how much one customer can buy. AUTOMATON reports that Lawson capped purchases at 5 packs per transaction and took no pre-orders .
- Outside Japan: No cited source shows that Mercari US has a similar rule. Treat the ban as a Mercari Japan measure unless Mercari announces otherwise.
This article does not say whether the ban will reduce resale activity or change prices. None of the cited sources measures either effect, and nothing here is investment advice. In short, Mercari Japan currently allows 30th CELEBRATION single cards and blocks sealed packs, Card Sets and bundles with no set end date. The next useful update will be any change Mercari announces to its timing or scope.
Last updated: 2026-10-09. Checked against Mercari's September 15, 2026 press release and Japanese and English-language coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still sell single 30th CELEBRATION cards on Mercari?
Yes. On Mercari Japan, you can still sell individual 30th CELEBRATION cards on both the Mercari app and Mercari Shops. According to gamebiz, the ban covers three things: unopened 30th CELEBRATION expansion packs, all nine kinds of "30th CELEBRATION Card Sets" (opened or unopened), and any bundle that includes them . PokeBeach also reports that "individual cards can still be sold" .
When did the Mercari 30th CELEBRATION ban start?
Mercari announced the ban on September 15, 2026. It took effect at 00:00 on September 16, 2026, the day the 30th CELEBRATION products began to go on sale in Japan. Both dates come from Mercari's press release and AUTOMATON's report .
Does the ban apply to Mercari in the US?
There is no sign that it does, but that is based only on the lack of an announcement. Mercari has not said anything about the US. The announcement came from Mercari Japan, and we found no matching notice from Mercari US. On September 15, 2026, the PokeTCGAlerts account posted on X that it was "Not sure if Mercari in the US is taking any similar measures" . For now, treat the ban as applying to Mercari Japan only.
How long will the ban last?
There is no end date. Mercari says the ban will stay in place until it decides a safe and secure trading environment can be maintained, according to its September 2026 press release . Any change in timing or scope would come from Mercari.
Did The Pokémon Company ban these listings with Mercari?
Mercari's own release does not call it a joint ban. It says the measure takes into account a 2023 "memorandum of understanding regarding marketplace co-creation" between Mercari and The Pokémon Company . The description of the ban as done "in partnership with The Pokemon Company" comes from PokeBeach .
SnapHolo prices for the cards and sets in this article
| Card | Edition | Rarity | SnapHolo price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mew R | Japanese | RGB Rare | ¥700,000 |
| Mew B | Japanese | RGB Rare | ¥540,000 |
| Mew G | Japanese | RGB Rare | ¥460,000 |
| Charizard 137 | Japanese | ¥21,500 | |
| Lugia 142 | Japanese | Classic Collection | ¥20,500 |
| Pikachu ex 127 | Japanese | SAR | ¥7,500 |
| Mew ex 135 | Japanese | FUR | ¥7,400 |
| Mew ex 129 | Japanese | SAR | ¥6,500 |
| Magikarp 165 | Japanese | Classic Collection | ¥6,199 |
| Pikachu ex 126 | Japanese | SAR | ¥6,100 |
| Mewtwo ex 134 | Japanese | FUR | ¥4,900 |
| Gengar ex 131 | Japanese | SAR | ¥4,700 |
| Gengar 150 | Japanese | ¥4,200 | |
| Pikachu 136 | Japanese | ¥3,750 | |
| Mewtwo ex 128 | Japanese | SAR | ¥3,300 |
| Sylveon ex 130 | Japanese | SAR | ¥2,970 |
| Jirachi ex 132 | Japanese | SAR | ¥2,499 |
| Greninja ex 125 | Japanese | SAR | ¥2,200 |
| Rayquaza ex 154 | Japanese | Classic Collection | ¥2,100 |
| Pikachu & Zekrom GX 160 | Japanese | Classic Collection | ¥2,000 |
| Mew VMAX 163 | Japanese | Classic Collection | ¥1,800 |
| Fuecoco ex 124 | Japanese | SAR | ¥1,500 |
| Salamence ex 133 | Japanese | SAR | ¥1,500 |
| Misty 138 | Japanese | ¥1,500 | |
| Shining Celebi 141 | Japanese | Classic Collection | ¥1,300 |
| Dark Tyranitar 144 | Japanese | Classic Collection | ¥1,300 |
| Ho-Oh 7 | Japanese | C | ¥1,000 |
| Fuecoco ex 9 | Japanese | RR | ¥1,000 |
| Slowpoke 10 | Japanese | C | ¥1,000 |
| Pikachu 17 | Japanese | Pikachu Rare | ¥1,000 |
Ungraded card prices as of 2026-10-18 (KST).
Sources: gamebiz · AUTOMATON · press release · PokeBeach · Yahoo! News Japan · TechRaptor · TheGamer · X · Yahoo! News Japan report
