Recently, the weather in Fukuoka has suddenly turned cold.
The minimum temperature is around 7°C (about 45°F).
Compared to other countries, this might not sound very cold, but winter in Japan feels a bit different.
It’s a kind of sharp, city-style cold even people who are used to colder climates sometimes say,
“Something about this feels different.”

As usual, after checking card shop prices and market trends, I stopped by a 100-yen shop ($0.64 shop).

Recently, I’ve been shipping not only Pokémon cards, but also sealed boxes, One Piece products, and even Gundam model kits overseas.
Because of that, I’ve been putting more effort into improving packaging quality.

Some people think 100-yen shops are used only because they are cheap, but that’s not how I see it.
When shipping internationally, keeping packages compact is essential.
Shipping costs have risen significantly mainly due to fuel costs and global conditions and during the holiday season, special surcharges apply as well.

Anyone can try to make a package lighter, but weight alone is not enough.
You also have to consider strength and durability.

That’s why I carefully choose packaging materials.
They don’t have to be made specifically for trading cards.
For example, I often use everyday storage cases like the ones shown in the photos.
They come in many sizes, so I can match them to different cards or boxes while keeping them protected.

After that, I stopped by BOOK OFF to look at used books.

People often say that old things have value, and Japanese anime and manga truly do.
One title that is very special to me is Dragon Ball, which is also a big part of my own childhood.

I regularly search for early editions of the Dragon Ball manga.
This time, I didn’t find any in good condition, so I didn’t buy anything.
Finding early prints is not easy but that’s part of the fun.
The joy of searching itself has become a kind of hobby.

I’ve written about my daily routine a few times now,
and I feel like some of you may have started to notice my patterns. 🙂

Today, tomorrow, and every day, I continue checking Pokémon Center releases, card prices, and overall market trends from home.
All of this is done so I can support customers with accurate information and confidence.

Of course, enjoying Pokémon itself is important.
That’s exactly why I focus on building a solid foundation — learning, observing, and understanding the market so Pokémon can be enjoyed properly, not just collected blindly.