# Grading Japanese Pokemon cards: PSA vs BGS vs CGC fees, turnaround and PSA 10 odds

URL: https://sugoicards.com/pokemon/grading/grading-japanese-pokemon-cards/
Author: SugoiCards editors
Updated: Oct 25, 2026

## Summary

PSA, BGS and CGC all grade Japanese Pokemon cards. As of October 2026 the cheapest open tiers are CGC Economy at $20 per card (90 business days) and PSA Standard at $59.99 (90 to 100 business days). PSA's Value tiers have been paused since 2 June 2026 and Beckett's website has been offline since 9 September 2026. PSA Japan in Tokyo takes orders only from Japan residents. Modern Japanese cards gem at 84 to 87 percent, so a PSA 10 adds $70 to $170 over a raw Umbreon ex 217/187.

## Key facts

- Cheapest open tier: CGC Economy $20; PSA Standard $59.99 (Oct 2026)
- PSA Japan: Japan residents only (PSA Japan FAQ, Sep 2026)
- Umbreon ex 217/187 gem rate: 86.9% PSA 10 of 92,221 graded (31 Aug 2026)
- PSA 10 vs raw: $450 to $550 vs ¥59,800 raw (Oct 2026)

Yes, PSA, BGS and CGC take Japanese Pokemon cards. As of October 2026, grading Japanese Pokemon cards costs from **$20 per card at CGC** (Economy, 90 business days) or **$59.99 at PSA** (Standard, 90 to 100 business days). PSA's Value tiers have been paused since 2 June 2026, and Beckett has run BGS through a temporary form since its website went offline on 9 September 2026. PSA's Tokyo office is for Japan residents only, and modern Japanese cards gem so often that the PSA 10 premium is thin.

## Do PSA, BGS and CGC grade Japanese Pokemon cards?

**PSA: yes.** PSA's population report tracks Japanese sets by the tens of thousands of cards. Umbreon ex (ブラッキーex) SAR 217/187 from Terastal Festival ex (テラスタルフェスex, sv8a) had 92,221 PSA grades as of 31 August 2026 (PSA population data via PokeInvest). PSA also runs a Tokyo office, covered below.

**CGC: yes.** CGC's own Card of the Month feature from 7 January 2026 counts 3,009 graded copies of the 1996 Japanese Base Set Charizard (リザードン) in the CGC Cards Population Report, plus 123 of the No Rarity Symbol version. The median grade is CGC 6, and 17 copies sit in Pristine 10.

**BGS: check first.** Beckett's website has been offline since 9 September 2026 (CardGrade.io, verified 21 September; Pokesaver, checked 12 October), and submissions run through a temporary form. We could not read Beckett's own card-eligibility page this month, so confirm by email or on the form before you ship a Japanese card to Beckett.

One more thing to know: PSA Japan's FAQ also says PSA's US operation has stopped accepting submissions from customers outside the US (as reported 29 September 2026). If you are reading from Europe, PSA opened a Frankfurt facility on 15 September 2026 (Sports Illustrated).

## What does grading a Japanese Pokemon card cost in October 2026?

Sample: one Japanese card with a declared value under $500, submitted directly from a US address at non-member rates. CGC fees are from CGC's own fee page on 25 October 2026. PSA and Beckett block automated reading of their pages, so their rows come from dated secondary reports: Sports Illustrated (9 September 2026), shouldyougrade.com (checked 21 October 2026) and CardGrade.io and Pokesaver (21 September and 12 October 2026).

| Service | Fee per card | Max declared value | Estimated turnaround | Status, Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Standard | $59.99 | $1,000 | 90 to 100 business days | Open since 14 Sep 2026 |
| PSA Priority (was Regular) | $79.99 | $1,500 | 70 to 80 business days | Open |
| PSA Express | $199 | $2,500 | 20 to 30 business days | Open |
| PSA Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, Value Max | not taking orders | n/a | n/a | Paused since 2 Jun 2026 |
| BGS Base with subgrades | $17.95 | not shown on form | 75+ business days | Closed at 12 Oct check |
| BGS Standard | $34.95 | not shown on form | 45 business days | Closed at 12 Oct check |
| BGS Express | $79.95 | not shown on form | 15 business days | Open via temporary form |
| CGC Bulk (25-card minimum) | $17 | $500 | 150 business days | Open |
| CGC Economy | $20 | $1,000 | 90 business days | Open |
| CGC Standard | $55 | $3,000 | 10 business days | Open |
| CGC Express | $100 | $10,000 | 5 business days | Open |

Two things the table cannot show. First, PSA's turnarounds are estimates from the day an order enters its system, and PSA still had a backlog of 7.2 million cards on 20 October 2026, down from 8.2 million on 6 October (PSA backlog tracker via shouldyougrade.com). PSA said in May that the Value tiers come back when the backlog reaches 5 million. Second, CGC states that its turnaround times are estimates and are not guaranteed, and CGC members get 10 to 20 percent off grading.

On the BGS rows, two checks disagree: CardGrade.io found Base, Standard and Express open on the temporary form on 21 September 2026, while Pokesaver found only Express open on 12 October. We show the later check.

## Is PSA Japan an option if you live in the US?

Not directly. PSA Japan (PSA's Tokyo office, with its PSA Lounge at 1-14-1 Sotokanda in Akihabara) accepts grading orders only from people who live in Japan. That is FAQ entry D-08 on PSA Japan's site, as reported by Tokyo retailer Samurai Sword Tokyo on 29 September 2026; PSA's Japanese pages blocked our own check.

The prices are tempting, which is why people ask. PSA Japan's fee table as of 29 September 2026, with dollars at about ¥157 to the dollar (25 October 2026):

| PSA Japan tier | Fee per card | Max declared value | Estimated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (opened 15 Sep 2026) | ¥9,980 (about $64) | ¥150,000 (about $955) | 100 business days |
| Priority | ¥11,980 (about $76) | ¥250,000 (about $1,590) | 80 business days |
| Express (raised 10 Sep 2026) | ¥29,980 (about $191) | ¥400,000 (about $2,550) | 25 business days |
| Value Bulk, Value | suspended | up to ¥80,000 | n/a |

**A proxy or a friend in Japan can submit for you, with trade-offs:** The order sits under their name and account, the slab mails back to their Japanese address, and the card then has to be shipped to you, with the customs and tariff rules in our [Japan to US shipping guide](/pokemon/shipping/shipping-from-japan-to-the-us-tariffs/).

## Are Japanese Pokemon cards easier to get a PSA 10?

For modern sets, yes, by a wide margin. The gem rate (PSA 10s divided by all copies graded) is the honest measure, and it comes straight from PSA's population report via two trackers:

| Card | Graded by PSA | PSA 10 | Gem rate | Data as of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umbreon ex SAR 217/187, Terastal Festival ex (Japanese) | 92,221 | 80,184 | 86.9% | 31 Aug 2026 (PokeInvest) |
| Charizard ex (リザードンex) SAR 201/165, Pokemon Card 151 (ポケモンカード151, sv2a) | 35,010 | 30,062 | 86% | 16 Oct 2025 (GemRate via Card Codex) |
| Pikachu (ピカチュウ) AR 173/165, Pokemon Card 151 (Japanese) | 35,450 | 29,943 | 84% | 16 Oct 2025 (GemRate via Card Codex) |
| Charizard ex 199/165, Scarlet & Violet 151 (English) | 106,152 | not shown | 27.2% | 2026 (PokeInvest) |
| Venusaur ex 198/165, Scarlet & Violet 151 (English) | 57,683 | not shown | 28.6% | 2026 (PokeInvest) |
| Karen's Umbreon 091/141, VS series 2001 (Japanese) | 3,678 | 955 | 26.0% | 19 Oct 2026 (PokeInvest) |

Three things follow from those numbers. Japanese print quality and centering on recent sets are good enough that roughly six in seven submitted copies come back a 10, where the English 151 chase cards gem about one time in four. That also means a PSA 10 of a modern Japanese card is not rare: there were 80,184 PSA 10 Umbreon ex 217/187 on 31 August 2026, so the 10 is the normal state of the card, not a prize. And vintage Japanese is a different game: the whole 2001 VS series gems at 43.3%, and Karen's Umbreon at 26.0%, so the old-card premium for a 10 is real and the odds are not in your favor.

Not sure which rarity you are holding? The [rarity symbols guide](/pokemon/basics/japanese-pokemon-card-rarity-symbols/) decodes the bottom-left corner, and the [Japanese vs English comparison](/pokemon/buying/japanese-vs-english-pokemon-cards/) covers why the two print runs grade so differently.

## What does a PSA 10 add over a raw Japanese card?

Less than most people expect for modern cards, because the 10 is so common. Two examples, raw prices from Japanese shops and PSA 10 prices from eBay completed sales:

| Card | Raw, Japan shop price | PSA 10, eBay sold | Gap before fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umbreon ex SAR 217/187 | ¥59,800 (about $381) at Yuyu-tei, 25 Oct 2026; ¥39,800 (about $254) for condition A- at Cardrush, same day | $450 to $550, five sales 19 to 24 Oct 2026 (PriceCharting eBay sold rows) | about $70 to $170 over the Yuyu-tei price |
| Charizard ex SAR 201/165 | ¥59,800 (about $381) at Yuyu-tei, 25 Oct 2026 | $520 to $550, four sales 18 to 22 Oct 2026 (PriceCharting eBay sold rows) | about $140 to $170 |

PriceCharting blocked our direct read, so those sold rows were taken from the live page through a search extract on 25 October 2026. Treat them as a range, not a quote.

Now subtract the costs. PSA Standard is $59.99 per card, USPS insurance on a $500 declared value is $7.55, and you pay postage both ways plus the eBay fee if you sell. If the card came from Japan, add the delivery and import costs from our [shipping guide](/pokemon/shipping/shipping-from-japan-to-the-us-tariffs/). And about 13 percent of these submissions came back a PSA 9, which does not carry the 10's premium. The math only works on a card whose 10 clears all of that, and it works best on cards you already own.

This is what collectors have paid in the week we checked, not a forecast.

## How do you submit from the US?

Each company has its own form, but the packing rules are nearly identical. These are PSA's, from its Shipping Guide (snapshot of 3 September 2026):

1. Create the order online first. Pick the tier by declared value, print the submission form, and note the tracking label ID from the confirmation page.
2. Put each card in a clear penny sleeve. Solid or opaque sleeves can cause delays.
3. Slide each sleeved card into a semi-rigid holder (3 5/16 by 4 7/8 inches for standard cards), both sides visible. No toploaders, tape, pull tabs or sticky notes.
4. Stack the cards in the exact order on the form, Item 1 on top, between two cardboard dividers, held with 2 to 3 rubber bands.
5. Wrap the stack, put it in a new box with the printed form, fill empty space, seal with packing tape, and stick the tracking label ID on the outside.
6. Ship via USPS to CU Receiving, P.O. Box 6180, Newport Beach, CA 92658, or via UPS, FedEx or DHL to CU Receiving, 1600 E. St Andrew Place, Santa Ana, CA 92705.

PSA states that it is not liable for damage or loss while the package is on its way to PSA, so insure the outbound leg yourself. USPS prices effective 4 October 2026: insurance is $7.55 for a declared value of $400.01 to $500, $9.05 up to $600, then $1.50 more per $100 up to the $5,000 maximum ($15.05 for $1,000). Registered Mail, the slower chain-of-custody service, costs $25.00 for $100.01 to $500 of value and $28.10 for $500.01 to $1,000, and insures up to $50,000. For an order under $1,000, insured Priority Mail is the cheaper choice; Registered Mail is for values above the $5,000 insurance cap.

CGC adds two rules of its own: Bulk needs at least 25 cards (mixed games allowed), and Express, WalkThrough and Unlimited Value boxes must be marked "EX", "WK" or "UV" in large letters on each side. CGC's fees apply to direct submissions by Collector members; joining is free.

Grading does not catch everything, and a counterfeit returned ungraded still cost you the fee. Run the checks in our [fake Japanese cards guide](/pokemon/authenticity/how-to-tell-if-japanese-pokemon-cards-are-fake/) before you submit a card you did not pull yourself.

## Best for

- **Most modern Japanese cards worth $300 to $1,000: PSA Standard, $59.99.** PSA 10 is the label the eBay sold data above is priced in, and 90 to 100 business days is the price of that.
- **A budget submission or a stack of cards: CGC Economy, $20 (or Bulk, $17, for 25 or more).** About 90 business days, $1,000 limit, and CGC publishes population data for Japanese sets.
- **Getting it back fast: CGC Standard, $55 in about 10 business days.** PSA's Express costs $199 for 20 to 30 business days.
- **Subgrades and the Black Label chase: BGS Express, $79.95,** if you are comfortable submitting through a temporary form while Beckett's site is down, and once Beckett confirms it will take your Japanese card.
- **Living in Japan: PSA Japan Standard, ¥9,980 (about $64).** Same PSA label, 100 business days, residents only.
- **Not worth grading: a card whose raw price is below the fee plus two shipments.** The 10 will not rescue it.

More guides: [where to buy Japanese Pokemon cards](/pokemon/buying/where-to-buy-japanese-pokemon-cards/), [Japanese vs English Pokemon cards](/pokemon/buying/japanese-vs-english-pokemon-cards/), the [Pokemon hub](/pokemon/), and [how we research](/about/).

## Questions people ask

### Does PSA grade Japanese Pokemon cards?

Yes. PSA's population report lists Japanese cards by the tens of thousands; Umbreon ex 217/187 alone had 92,221 PSA grades as of 31 August 2026. From the US you ship to PSA's California receiving address.

### Does CGC grade Japanese Pokemon cards?

Yes. CGC's own population report counted 3,009 graded 1996 Japanese Base Set Charizard as of January 2026, and its Economy tier is $20 per card with a $1,000 declared-value limit (as of 25 October 2026).

### Can I send cards to PSA Japan from the US?

No. PSA Japan's FAQ limits grading orders to people who live in Japan (as reported 29 September 2026). Use PSA's US service, or ask a friend or proxy who lives in Japan.

### Are Japanese Pokemon cards easier to get a PSA 10?

Modern ones, yes. Japanese Umbreon ex 217/187 gems at 86.9%, while English Charizard ex 199/165 from Scarlet & Violet 151 gems at 27.2% (PSA population data via PokeInvest, 2026). Vintage Japanese cards are much harder: Karen's Umbreon from the 2001 VS set gems at 26.0%.

### Is grading a Japanese Pokemon card worth it?

Only when the PSA 10 price clears the fee and shipping. Charizard ex 201/165 PSA 10 copies sold for $520 to $550 on eBay between 18 and 22 October 2026, against ¥59,800 (about $381) raw at Yuyu-tei on 25 October 2026, so a 10 covers a $59.99 PSA fee. A 9 usually does not.

## Sources

- [Due to Demand Spike, PSA Pauses Value Tiers, Extends Collectors Club Memberships, and Launches Public Backlog Tracker](https://www.psacard.com/articles/articleview/15210/service-level-update-may-2026), PSA (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [PSA Shipping Guide](https://www.psacard.com/info/shipguide), PSA (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [CGC Cards Services & Fees](https://www.cgccards.com/submit/services-fees/), CGC Cards (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [CGC Featured Card of the Month: (1996) Japanese Base Set Charizard](https://www.cgcgrading.com/news/articles/card-of-the-month-apanese-charizard-6qQnnMLyTyHILZvuxNBtT0/), CGC (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [PSA Reorganizes Service Levels; Opens New Tier & European Facility](https://www.si.com/collectibles/psa-reorganizes-services-levels-opens-new-tier-european-facility), Sports Illustrated (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [PSA grading prices, Standard turnaround and backlog (checked 21 October 2026)](https://shouldyougrade.com/psa-grading-update), shouldyougrade.com (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [How to Get Pokemon Cards Graded by PSA: 2026 Routes (PSA Japan fee table and FAQ)](https://samuraiswordtokyo.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-pokemon-cards-graded-by-psa-2026), Samurai Sword Tokyo (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [BGS Grading Cost Breakdown: Beckett Pricing in 2026](https://cardgrade.io/blog/bgs-grading-cost-breakdown), CardGrade.io (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [BGS Grading for Pokemon Cards: Fees, Grades and Slab Prices](https://pokesaver.co.uk/guides/bgs-grading-pokemon-cards), Pokesaver (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Collector's Guide: Grading with Beckett](https://rarecandy.com/blog/collectors-guide-grading-with-beckett), Rare Candy (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [PSA Pop Checker: Umbreon ex #217, Pokemon Japanese Terastal Festival](https://www.pokeinvest.io/pop-checker?card_id=53583), PokeInvest (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [PSA Pop Checker, most-graded cards](https://www.pokeinvest.io/pop-checker), PokeInvest (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Japanese VS PSA Population Report (October 2026)](https://www.pokeinvest.io/pop-report/japanese-vs), PokeInvest (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Top 100 Pokemon cards with the most PSA 10 grades (PSA via GemRate)](https://cardcodex.com/news/top-100-pokemon-cards-with-the-most-psa10-grade/), Card Codex (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Yuyu-tei: ブラッキーex](https://yuyu-tei.jp/sell/poc/s/search?search_word=%E3%83%96%E3%83%A9%E3%83%83%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BCex), Yuyu-tei (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Yuyu-tei: リザードンex](https://yuyu-tei.jp/sell/poc/s/search?search_word=%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89%E3%83%B3ex), Yuyu-tei (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [〔状態A-〕ブラッキーex【SAR】{217/187} [SV8a]](https://www.cardrush-pokemon.jp/product/62050), Cardrush (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Umbreon Ex #217 Prices, Pokemon Japanese Terastal Festival](https://www.pricecharting.com/game/pokemon-japanese-terastal-festival/umbreon-ex-217), PriceCharting (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Charizard EX #201 Prices, Pokemon Japanese Scarlet & Violet 151](https://www.pricecharting.com/game/pokemon-japanese-scarlet-&-violet-151/charizard-ex-201), PriceCharting (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Notice 123, Price List (effective October 4, 2026)](https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm), USPS (accessed Oct 25, 2026)