Pokémon Card Stores Add Facial Recognition in Japan

The Pokémon Company is introducing facial recognition at its official Pokémon Card Store locations in Japan to crack down on scalpers who repeatedly bypass purchase limits. Customers of elementary school age and older must verify their identity before receiving a numbered entry ticket.

Anyone attempting to collect multiple tickets or enter the same store more than once in a day will be denied entry.

The company stated the measure is aimed at stopping customers who leave after making a purchase, collect another ticket, and return later to buy more products. Those who do not consent to facial recognition or the updated rules will not be allowed to enter. Preschool-aged children are exempt but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Pokémon Expands Anti-Scalping Measures

The Pokémon Company reported that the system is intended to maintain a safe and secure shopping environment for all customers, to avoid crime, and to assure compliance with legitimate entry and purchase guidelines. Staff may also question customers if repeated entry attempts are detected.

Facial image data and visit counts will be stored only for this purpose before being deleted after a set period under the company's privacy policy.

The stricter rules come as Pokémon card-related crime continues to make headlines. A New York card shop was recently robbed at gunpoint. In May 2026, a Florida man was arrested after allegedly stealing $12K USD worth of Pokémon cards while carrying a battery-powered chainsaw.

A month earlier, another man was arrested in Pasadena, California, after hiding inside a Best Buy before a Pokémon card release. Those incidents highlight the growing value of Pokémon cards and the challenges retailers face.

Five temporary Pokémon Card stores will open from July 31 through Aug 16, 2026, in Tokyo, Aichi, Miyagi, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka, with the new facial recognition policy in effect from launch.

Disclaimer: Sources used were machine-translated from Japanese.