Japanese cards

How to read Japanese Pokémon cards: the words you need, translated

Updated on 16/10/2026

A Japanese card is only intimidating the first time. The layout is identical to English cards: only the words change, and the truly useful ones are a handful. Let's see them on photos of our own cards.

At the top: Stage, name and HP

The top of a Japanese card with the words translated — Garchomp ex: top left the Stage (2進化 = Stage 2), below it the Pokémon it evolves from, on the right HP and type; the word テラスタル marks a Tera Pokémon.

The Pokémon's name is written in katakana, the Japanese alphabet for foreign words: ガブリアス is Garchomp, ピカチュウ is Pikachu, リザードン is Charizard. You don't need to learn it, but after a few cards the common names become recognisable at a glance.

At the bottom: Weakness, Resistance and Retreat

Weakness, Resistance and Retreat in Japanese with translation — The row at the bottom of every Pokémon: 弱点 (Weakness), 抵抗力 (Resistance) and にげる (Retreat Cost). The symbols are the same as on international cards.

Trainer cards

The Japanese–English glossary

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
たね	tane	Basic Pokémon
1進化 / 2進化	ichi shinka / ni shinka	Stage 1 / Stage 2
〜から進化	… kara shinka	Evolves from …
HP	eichi pī	HP (hit points)
特性	tokusei	Ability
弱点	jakuten	Weakness
抵抗力	teikōryoku	Resistance
にげる	nigeru	Retreat Cost
サポート	sapōto	Supporter
グッズ	guzzu	Item
ポケモンのどうぐ	pokemon no dōgu	Pokémon Tool
スタジアム	sutajiamu	Stadium
基本エネルギー	kihon enerugī	Basic Energy
特殊エネルギー	tokushu enerugī	Special Energy
サイド	saido	Prize cards
きぜつ	kizetsu	Knocked Out
ベンチ	benchi	Bench
トラッシュ	torasshu	Discard pile
山札 / 手札	yamafuda / tefuda	Deck / hand
メガシンカ	mega shinka	Mega Evolution

Number, set and rarity: you can already read them

At the bottom left there's nothing to translate: regulation letter, set code, number and rarity are in Latin characters. For the codes (AR, SR, SAR…) read the guide to rarities and the one on rarity symbols.

Japanese cards from our catalogue, with translated specs

Chandelure

069/067

3,99 €2 pcs

Kleavor

071/067

2,49 €1 pcs

Mightyena

072/067

3,49 €1 pcs

Hoothoot

073/067

8,79 €4 pcs

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to know Japanese to collect Japanese cards?+

No: numbers, symbols, rarity codes and layout are the same as on international cards. About ten words are enough, and you'll find them in this guide's glossary.

How do you translate a Japanese Pokémon card?+

The fixed words (Stage, Weakness, Resistance, card type) are in the glossary below; for attack text you can use a camera translation app, or compare the card with the English version from the same set.

What does HP mean on Pokémon cards?+

Hit points: how much damage the Pokémon can take before being Knocked Out. Japanese cards print HP, just like English ones.

What does たね mean on a card?+

It reads 'tane' and means Basic Pokémon: a Pokémon you put into play directly, without evolving.