Mercari Japan announced on 15 September that from 16 September 2026 it no longer allows listings of the Pokémon Card Game 30th CELEBRATION booster packs and card sets. Opened single cards are still allowed.
What changed
Mercari announced on 15 September 2026 that it is banning listings of products from The Pokémon Company's Pokémon Card Game '30th CELEBRATION' range on its Japanese marketplace. The ban started on 16 September at 00:00 and applies to both Mercari and Mercari Shops. The press release is in Japanese; the details below are our translation.
The ban covers two things: the unopened '30th CELEBRATION' expansion pack, and the '30th CELEBRATION' card set, which comes in nine types. Card sets are banned whether opened or not, and bundles that include them are banned too. Opened single cards can still be listed.
Mercari gives no end date. The ban runs for a period during which, in its words, a safe and secure trading environment cannot be ensured, and it will continue until Mercari judges that to have changed.
The reason Mercari gives is about the launch window. It says it expected problems right after the products go on sale, including a surge in trading that causes disputes and abuse aimed at the people trading. The company ties this to its marketplace principles and to a policy it set in 2025 for products where fraud, trouble or extreme price swings could damage the marketplace. It also notes it signed a cooperation memorandum with The Pokémon Company in 2023 on safer trading of Pokémon products.
Enforcement is spelled out. Mercari will warn users, monitor listings with AI-based detection plus a specialist team reviewing by eye, remove banned listings, and restrict accounts that keep listing the products.
The announcement concerns Mercari in Japan. It does not mention Mercari in the US or any other country, so do not assume the ban applies outside Japan.
Who it affects
Sellers on Mercari Japan, and anyone selling or exporting Pokémon cards through it, are affected. Repeat violators risk account restrictions. Sellers on other Mercari markets are not named in the notice.
What to do
- If you sell on Mercari Japan, remove any sealed 30th CELEBRATION packs or card sets and do not relist them.
- Opened single cards are allowed, so list them as singles and describe their condition accurately.
- Check Mercari's news page for the end of the ban before relisting anything affected.
- If you sell on another Mercari market, read that market's own rules; this notice does not cover it.
Sources
- Mercari (Japan) press release, in Japanese: listing ban for Pokémon Card Game '30th CELEBRATION' products (published 15 September 2026)
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