Guides
How grading value actually works
Method first, then the timely stuff. No news section — the moving pieces live here too.
Cornerstone
Is a Japanese Pokémon card worth grading? The honest framework
How to decide whether grading a Japanese Pokémon card pays off — the probability-weighted method behind every SlabVerdict, explained with a worked example.
Cornerstone
Do Japanese Pokémon cards really grade higher? The gem-rate paradox
The reputation says Japanese Pokémon cards grade higher. It's true for modern cards and misleading for vintage — and the gem rate is what actually decides your odds.
Cornerstone
PSA or CGC for Japanese Pokémon cards? How to choose
PSA holds the resale premium; CGC grades stricter, costs less, and has built real recognition for Japanese cards. The right grader depends on whether you're selling or keeping — here's how to decide.
Update · Jun 2026
PSA paused its cheapest tiers. Here's what grading a Japanese Pokémon card costs now.
PSA paused its four Value tiers on June 2, 2026, pushing the cheapest US entry to about $80 a card. For Japanese Pokémon cards the cheaper route still runs through PSA Japan — but it tightened too. Here's what grading actually costs now, and which cards still clear the bar.