On February 28, Pokémon officially announced its 30th anniversary.
You’ve probably already seen the news on social media, so I’ll skip the details.
However, several major releases happened on the same day — and stores across Japan were in complete chaos.
Here’s what actually happened on the ground.
ONE PIECE “Adventure on the Island of Gods” (OP-15)
This was the release day of OP-15.
ONE PIECE is extremely popular right now, and pre-orders were massive.
I placed orders at multiple stores but also lined up early at Bandai Namco Cross Store Hakata hoping to secure additional boxes.
When we arrived, around 80 people were already in line.
Limit was 1 box per person so I still had hope.
By 20 minutes before opening, the line grew to 300+ people.
Line Cutting Incident
Right before sales started, three people suddenly cut into the line in front of us.
You see these things on SNS, but experiencing it yourself is different.
Their excuse?
“We were guided by staff.”
When security camera verification was mentioned… they left.
Unfortunately, this behavior is becoming common.
Result
Thankfully, we secured OP-15 boxes for our family allocation.
Even though official shops remove shrink wrap for anti-resale measures, our customers trust our sourcing because we document everything.
Yu-Gi-Oh! LIMIT OVER COLLECTION – THE HEROES
Yu-Gi-Oh also released the same day.
Demand was much higher than expected, including overseas inquiries.
We quickly secured additional stock.
The promo pack included is already trading at high prices online.
Pokémon 30th Anniversary?
Pokémon Centers reportedly had nearly 1,000 people lining up.
Ticket system. Intense competition.
I chose not to fight that battle.
“It’s Easy to Buy in Japan” – That’s a Myth
Many overseas visitors believe products are easy to get in Japan.
Reality:
• Card shops = high prices
• Pokémon Center = strict limits
• Convenience stores = almost no stock
• Restocks sell out instantly
Behind every secured box is time, information, and effort.
Why We Show Everything
The biggest issue is being compared to bad sellers.
Many “cheap” sellers sell resealed products.
Some even pretend to be Japanese.
That’s why we document everything publicly.
If you’ve spoken with me on WhatsApp, you know I share photos, updates, even casual conversation.
It’s like asking a trusted friend.
More stock coming soon.
If you’re looking for ONE PIECE or Pokémon products, feel free to contact me.
Experience the speed and transparency.
Instagram: @pokeshopjp
WhatsApp: Message HAKATA7 on WhatsApp
Substack: Updates & market info
Thank you,
Shinobu🇯🇵