English vs Japanese Pokémon cards for your binder
Many illustrations come out in both English and Japanese, and either one can go in your binder. Here's how to decide which one to pick for each pocket.
Same art, different card
Most English cards started life in a Japanese set. The artwork is usually the same, but the card around it isn't. Text, set symbols and card numbers all differ, and the finish and texture on special cards can look a bit different from one version to the other. On a binder page where the art is the point, many collectors happily mix the two.
Release timing and sets
Japanese sets usually come out first, and English sets often combine cards from more than one Japanese release. That's why a card can have a different set and number in each language.
Rarity names
The tiers line up, but the names don't. In the Scarlet & Violet era, an English Illustration Rare is roughly a Japanese AR (Art Rare), and a Special Illustration Rare is roughly an SAR (Special Art Rare). More on that in Illustration rares explained.
Price
Prices for the two versions can be very different, and not always in the same direction. Some cards are cheaper in Japanese, and some are cheaper in English. It depends on print runs, demand and where you're buying. If you're filling a page for looks, it's worth checking both versions of every card.
Binder Lab shows TCGplayer prices for both versions where they're listed. In any card's details you can switch between English and 日本語 to compare. The Cheapest button checks every card on a page and switches each one to whichever version costs less, then shows how much the page saved.
Which should you pick?
- Building for looks: pick whichever version is cheaper, or whichever finish you like more. Nobody flipping through your binder will mind.
- Building to sell or trade later: English cards are easier to sell in the US, and Japanese cards are easier to sell to collectors who already focus on Japanese.
- Keeping a page consistent: some collectors like every card on a page in the same language so the text and borders match. It's your binder, so it's your call.