Scanning Japanese Pokémon Cards with Cardemon

Japanese Pokémon cards are some of the most rewarding to collect, but identifying them is hard when you cannot read the text. Cardemon recognizes Japanese cards automatically, making them just as easy to scan and catalog as English ones. Here is how.

Why Japanese cards are tricky to identify

Japanese cards use different set symbols, rarity markings, and sometimes different layouts than their English counterparts. Without reading Japanese, it can be tough to tell which set a card is from, what variant it is, or even what it is worth.

Cardemon recognizes both languages

Cardemon identifies both English and Japanese cards. Scan a Japanese card and the app determines the Pokémon, set, year, and variant — including key variants like 1st Edition and reverse holo — without you needing to read a word of Japanese.

Scanning the same way

The process is identical to English cards:

1. Place the card on a flat surface in even light.
2. Scan the front using the on-screen guides.
3. Scan the back.
4. Review the identification, grade, and value.

Grading Japanese cards

Cardemon estimates condition for Japanese cards using the same four factors — centering, corners, edges, and surface. Since Japanese cards are often praised for print quality, you may find more high-grade candidates, but always confirm with a scan.

Cataloging your Japanese collection

Once identified, Japanese cards slot into your binders alongside everything else, with value and condition tracked. You can build a dedicated Japanese binder or integrate them into your era-based organization.

Collect Japanese cards with confidence

The language barrier is one of the biggest hurdles to collecting Japanese cards. Cardemon removes it: scan any Japanese card to instantly know what it is, what condition it is in, and what it is worth. It is the easiest way to dive into one of the hobby's most exciting corners.