# Japanese Pokemon sets and their English equivalents (2023 to 2026)

URL: https://sugoicards.com/pokemon/sets/japanese-pokemon-sets-english-equivalents/
Author: SugoiCards editors
Updated: Oct 26, 2026

## Summary

Every Japanese Pokemon set since Scarlet ex (sv1S, 20 January 2023) has an English equivalent, and as of October 2026 the English version has followed by 53 days on average. The shortest gap was one week (Ancient Roar and Future Flash into Paradox Rift) and the longest 14 weeks (Pokemon Card 151, and Storm Emeralda into Delta Reign). 30th Celebration released worldwide on 16 September 2026. Japanese subsets such as Triplet Beat merge into the nearest English set, and some Japanese variants never get an English print.

## Key facts

- Typical gap: 53 days Japan to English (28 sets, 2023 to 2026)
- Shortest gap: 1 week: Ancient Roar / Future Flash to Paradox Rift
- Longest gap: 14 weeks: 151, and Storm Emeralda to Delta Reign
- Same day: 30th Celebration, 16 Sep 2026, Japan and English

Every Japanese Pokemon set since Scarlet ex and Violet ex (スカーレットex / バイオレットex, sv1S and sv1V, 20 January 2023) has an English equivalent, and as of October 2026 the English version has followed by **53 days on average**. The gap runs from one week (Ancient Roar and Future Flash into Paradox Rift) to 14 weeks (Pokemon Card 151, and Storm Emeralda into Delta Reign). 30th Celebration released in Japan and in English on the same day, 16 September 2026. The table maps all 28 Japanese sets, newest first.

## Which English set does each Japanese set become?

Japanese dates and names come from The Pokemon Company's product list on pokemon-card.com; English dates and the set-to-set mapping come from pokemon.com and Bulbapedia (checked 25 and 26 October 2026). "Gap" is the English release date minus the Japanese one.

| Code | Japanese set | Japan release | English set | English release | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M6a | 30th CELEBRATION | 16 Sep 2026 | 30th Celebration | 16 Sep 2026 | same day |
| M6 | Storm Emeralda (ストームエメラルダ) | 31 Jul 2026 | Mega Evolution: Delta Reign | 6 Nov 2026 | 14 weeks |
| M5 | Abyss Eye (アビスアイ) | 22 May 2026 | Mega Evolution: Pitch Black | 17 Jul 2026 | 8 weeks |
| M4 | Ninja Spinner (ニンジャスピナー) | 13 Mar 2026 | Mega Evolution: Chaos Rising | 22 May 2026 | 10 weeks |
| M3 | Nihil Zero (ムニキスゼロ) | 23 Jan 2026 | Mega Evolution: Perfect Order | 27 Mar 2026 | 9 weeks |
| M2a | MEGA Dream ex (MEGAドリームex), high class pack | 28 Nov 2025 | Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes | 30 Jan 2026 | 9 weeks |
| M2 | Inferno X (インフェルノX) | 26 Sep 2025 | Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames | 14 Nov 2025 | 7 weeks |
| M1L / M1S | Mega Brave / Mega Symphonia (メガブレイブ / メガシンフォニア) | 1 Aug 2025 | Mega Evolution | 26 Sep 2025 | 8 weeks |
| sv11B / sv11W | Black Bolt / White Flare (ブラックボルト / ホワイトフレア) | 6 Jun 2025 | Black Bolt / White Flare | 18 Jul 2025 | 6 weeks |
| sv10 | Glory of the Rocket Gang (ロケット団の栄光) | 18 Apr 2025 | Destined Rivals | 30 May 2025 | 6 weeks |
| sv9a | Hot Wind Arena (熱風のアリーナ), enhanced expansion pack | 14 Mar 2025 | Destined Rivals | 30 May 2025 | 11 weeks |
| sv9 | Battle Partners (バトルパートナーズ) | 24 Jan 2025 | Journey Together | 28 Mar 2025 | 9 weeks |
| sv8a | Terastal Fest ex (テラスタルフェスex), high class pack | 6 Dec 2024 | Prismatic Evolutions | 17 Jan 2025 | 6 weeks |
| sv8 | Super Electric Breaker (超電ブレイカー) | 18 Oct 2024 | Surging Sparks | 8 Nov 2024 | 3 weeks |
| sv7a | Paradise Dragona (楽園ドラゴーナ), enhanced expansion pack | 13 Sep 2024 | Surging Sparks | 8 Nov 2024 | 8 weeks |
| sv7 | Stellar Miracle (ステラミラクル) | 19 Jul 2024 | Stellar Crown | 13 Sep 2024 | 8 weeks |
| sv6a | Night Wanderer (ナイトワンダラー), enhanced expansion pack | 7 Jun 2024 | Shrouded Fable | 2 Aug 2024 | 8 weeks |
| sv6 | Transformation Mask (変幻の仮面) | 26 Apr 2024 | Twilight Masquerade | 24 May 2024 | 4 weeks |
| sv5a | Crimson Haze (クリムゾンヘイズ), enhanced expansion pack | 22 Mar 2024 | Twilight Masquerade | 24 May 2024 | 9 weeks |
| sv5K / sv5M | Wild Force / Cyber Judge (ワイルドフォース / サイバージャッジ) | 26 Jan 2024 | Temporal Forces | 22 Mar 2024 | 8 weeks |
| sv4a | Shiny Treasure ex (シャイニートレジャーex), high class pack | 1 Dec 2023 | Paldean Fates | 26 Jan 2024 | 8 weeks |
| sv4K / sv4M | Ancient Roar / Future Flash (古代の咆哮 / 未来の一閃) | 27 Oct 2023 | Paradox Rift | 3 Nov 2023 | 1 week |
| sv3a | Raging Surf (レイジングサーフ), enhanced expansion pack | 22 Sep 2023 | Paradox Rift | 3 Nov 2023 | 6 weeks |
| sv3 | Ruler of the Black Flame (黒炎の支配者) | 28 Jul 2023 | Obsidian Flames | 11 Aug 2023 | 2 weeks |
| sv2a | Pokemon Card 151 (ポケモンカード151), enhanced expansion pack | 16 Jun 2023 | 151 | 22 Sep 2023 | 14 weeks |
| sv2P / sv2D | Snow Hazard / Clay Burst (スノーハザード / クレイバースト) | 14 Apr 2023 | Paldea Evolved | 9 Jun 2023 | 8 weeks |
| sv1a | Triplet Beat (トリプレットビート), enhanced expansion pack | 10 Mar 2023 | Paldea Evolved | 9 Jun 2023 | 13 weeks |
| sv1S / sv1V | Scarlet ex / Violet ex (スカーレットex / バイオレットex) | 20 Jan 2023 | Scarlet & Violet | 31 Mar 2023 | 10 weeks |

Announced but not yet released: Aura Seeker (ハドウシーカー) is due in Japan on 27 November 2026 (Bulbapedia). Bulbapedia lists its English set only under a placeholder code and pokemon.com has not named it, so that cell stays blank for now. Pokemon.com also lists a "30th Classic Collection" under the Mega Evolution series with no date, and we have not found a Japanese set to map it to.

The English names for Japanese sets are translations, not official titles: Limitless, for example, calls sv9a "Heat Wave Arena" and sv10 "Glory of Team Rocket". Search Japanese shops with the katakana name in the table, which is what the pack says.

## Why do two or three Japanese sets become one English set?

Japan runs three pack formats, and the official product list labels them in the title. A 拡張パック (expansion pack) is a main set: 5 cards, ¥180 (about $1.20 at ¥150 to the dollar, October 2026) from Scarlet ex through Ninja Spinner, and ¥200 from Abyss Eye onward; Black Bolt and White Flare were the exception at 7 cards for ¥290. A 強化拡張パック (enhanced expansion pack) is a smaller subset between main sets, 5 cards at the same price, code ending in "a", again with one exception: Pokemon Card 151 at 7 cards for ¥290. A ハイクラスパック (high class pack) is the year-end 10-card subset at ¥550: Shiny Treasure ex, Terastal Fest ex and MEGA Dream ex.

Japan has shipped a main set every two to four months in this era; English sets arrive every six to twelve weeks and fold the subset into the nearest main set, usually with the starter decks released around it. Bulbapedia's set pages spell out each merger:

- **Paldea Evolved** brings together Triplet Beat, Snow Hazard and Clay Burst, plus cards from the ex Starter Set Pikachu ex & Pawmot and the Premium Trainer Box ex.
- **Paradox Rift** combines Ancient Roar, Future Flash, the Raging Surf subset and the Terastal Starter Sets.
- **Twilight Masquerade** merges Transformation Mask and Crimson Haze.
- **Surging Sparks** merges Super Electric Breaker and Paradise Dragona, plus the Stellar Tera Type Starter Sets and certain SV-P promotional cards.
- **Destined Rivals** merges Glory of the Rocket Gang, the Hot Wind Arena subset and the two ex Starter Sets (Marnie's Morpeko & Grimmsnarl ex, Steven's Beldum & Metagross ex).
- **Mega Evolution** takes most of its cards from Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia, with a few Trainer reprints from the Premium Trainer Box MEGA.
- **Phantasmal Flames** is Inferno X plus the MEGA Starter Sets for Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex.
- **Ascended Heroes** is MEGA Dream ex plus the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection.
- **Delta Reign** is Storm Emeralda plus the 2026 ex Starter Sets.

This is why the gap in the table swings. Ancient Roar and Future Flash released one week before Paradox Rift because they were the last piece of a set that had already absorbed Raging Surf from six weeks earlier. In every paired case so far, the subset waits longer than the main set it is bundled with.

**Leftovers move to the next English set:** Not every card in a merger makes the cut. Bulbapedia records that Obsidian Flames picked up the remaining Triplet Beat, Snow Hazard and Clay Burst cards that Paldea Evolved left out, and that Paldean Fates picked up leftovers from Raging Surf, the Terastal Starter Sets, Ancient Roar and Future Flash that Paradox Rift skipped. If a Japanese card from early 2023 seems to have no English print, check the English set after the obvious one.

## Which Japanese cards did not cross over?

Whole sets always cross over in this era. What stays Japanese is usually a variant, a pack structure or a chunk of a very large subset.

- **Pokemon Card 151 (sv2a)** has 210 cards; English 151 has 207. Japanese packs hold 7 cards with two guaranteed holos, and every common, uncommon and rare also exists as a mirror holo with a Poke Ball pattern or, rarely, a Master Ball pattern. English 151 has reverse holos instead, so the Poke Ball and Master Ball versions are Japan-only. Bulbapedia gives the totals but not an itemized list of the three missing cards, so we don't name them.
- **Shiny Treasure ex (sv4a)** has 360 cards, Paldean Fates 245. The Japanese set was the largest Japanese set on record until Start Deck 100 Battle Collection in December 2025. In English, Paldean Fates packs were never sold on their own, only inside products.
- **Terastal Fest ex (sv8a)** has 237 cards; Prismatic Evolutions has 180. Prismatic Evolutions also pulled in Generations Start Deck cards for Generations I, II, IV and VI.
- **MEGA Dream ex (M2a)** has 250 cards and Ascended Heroes has 295, bigger because it also absorbed the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection. The new Mega attack rare cards swap their artwork text between languages: the English print shows Japanese attack text and the Japanese print shows English (Mega Dragonite ex is Bulbapedia's example), so the two prints are not identical.
- **Black Bolt / White Flare (sv11B / sv11W)** have 174 cards each in Japan and 172 and 173 in English (Limitless). Bulbapedia notes the lists were reshuffled so English Black Bolt holds the Pokemon White exclusives and White Flare the Pokemon Black ones. Japan also sold a 拡張パックデラックス of each, a 35-card ¥1,450 pack stocked at Pokemon Center and Pokemon Center Online.
- **Rarity tiers** are not one-to-one either. Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia introduced <RarityBadge code="SR" /> full-art prints of Item, Tool and Stadium cards, and the <RarityBadge code="MUR" /> tier with its own artwork. English rarities map onto these but use different names; see our [rarity symbols guide](/pokemon/basics/japanese-pokemon-card-rarity-symbols/).

Promo cards are the other gap. Limitless lists 300 cards in the Japanese SV-P promo series and 166 in M-P (25 October 2026), and only some reach English, sometimes inside a main set (Surging Sparks included "certain SV-P promotional cards", per Bulbapedia). Treat a Japanese promo as Japan-only until you find its English card number.

## How do you read a Japanese set code?

The code is the small "sv" or "M" mark near the bottom-left corner of the card face. Scarlet & Violet era codes run sv1 through sv11. The MEGA era, branded ポケモンカードゲーム MEGA on pokemon-card.com, restarted at M1. Paired main sets add a letter per half: sv1**S**carlet and sv1**V**iolet, sv2**P** (Snow Hazard) and sv2**D** (Clay Burst), sv4**K** (Ancient Roar) and sv4**M** (Future Flash), sv11**B**lack and sv11**W**hite, M1**L** (Mega Brave) and M1**S** (Mega Symphonia). A lowercase "a" marks a subset: sv2a, sv4a, M2a.

The code tells you the era and the slot, not the English set: sv7a is the subset after Stellar Miracle, and it landed in Surging Sparks, not Stellar Crown. English cards carry a different abbreviation entirely (MEW for 151, PAR for Paradox Rift, MEG for Mega Evolution), so the same card has two codes and two collector numbers. Our guide to [Japanese vs English Pokemon cards](/pokemon/buying/japanese-vs-english-pokemon-cards/) covers what else differs between the two prints.

## What changes in late 2026?

Three things stand out in the current schedule. First, the simultaneous release: 30th CELEBRATION (M6a) went on sale in Japan on 16 September 2026 at ¥360 for a 6-card pack, the same day as the English set, and Bulbapedia says the English set also includes the cards from the Japanese 30th Celebration Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon. Second, Delta Reign carries the longest wait of the MEGA era, 14 weeks after Storm Emeralda (31 July to 6 November 2026). Third, Japanese pack MSRP rose from ¥180 to ¥200 with Abyss Eye in May 2026, the first increase since Scarlet ex in January 2023.

Aura Seeker (ハドウシーカー, 27 November 2026) is the next Japanese main set, and as of 26 October 2026 it is not yet on pokemon-card.com's product list; its English set is unnamed. We track every announced date in our [Japanese Pokemon release dates 2026](/pokemon/sets/japanese-pokemon-release-dates-2026/) guide.

More guides: [Japanese Pokemon card rarity symbols](/pokemon/basics/japanese-pokemon-card-rarity-symbols/), [are Pokemon cards cheaper in Japan?](/pokemon/buying/are-pokemon-cards-cheaper-in-japan/), [where to buy Japanese Pokemon cards](/pokemon/buying/where-to-buy-japanese-pokemon-cards/), and the [Pokemon hub](/pokemon/).

## Questions people ask

### What is the English equivalent of Pokemon Card 151?

Scarlet & Violet 151, released in English on 22 September 2023, 98 days after the Japanese set (16 June 2023). Japanese 151 has 210 cards and English 151 has 207, and the Japanese Poke Ball and Master Ball mirror holo variants have no English version.

### How long after Japan do English Pokemon sets release?

Across the 28 Japanese sets from Scarlet ex (January 2023) to 30th Celebration (September 2026), the gap averaged 53 days. The shortest was one week (Ancient Roar and Future Flash to Paradox Rift) and the longest 14 weeks (151, and Storm Emeralda to Delta Reign). 30th Celebration released worldwide on the same day.

### What is the newest Japanese Pokemon set?

As of October 2026 the newest released Japanese expansion is 30th CELEBRATION (M6a, 16 September 2026). Aura Seeker (ハドウシーカー) is announced for 27 November 2026, and its English set has not been named yet.

### Why do two Japanese sets become one English set?

Japan releases a main expansion every two to four months plus smaller enhanced expansion packs and high class packs in between. English releases fold the subset and nearby starter decks into one set: Paldea Evolved, for example, merges Triplet Beat, Snow Hazard and Clay Burst.

### What are the Japanese Pokemon set codes?

The code is printed in the bottom-left corner of the card. Scarlet & Violet era codes start with sv (sv1S, sv2a, sv11B); the current MEGA era uses M (M1L, M2a, M3). A lowercase a after the number marks a subset, which is an enhanced expansion pack or a high class pack.

## Sources

- [商品情報 拡張パック (official expansion pack product list)](https://www.pokemon-card.com/products/resultAPI.php?productType=expansion), The Pokemon Company (pokemon-card.com) (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [拡張パック「メガブレイブ」「メガシンフォニア」](https://www.pokemon-card.com/ex/m1/), The Pokemon Company (pokemon-card.com) (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [強化拡張パック「ポケモンカード151」](https://www.pokemon-card.com/ex/sv2a/), The Pokemon Company (pokemon-card.com) (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [拡張パック「ブラックボルト」「ホワイトフレア」](https://www.pokemon-card.com/ex/sv11/), The Pokemon Company (pokemon-card.com) (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Pokemon TCG Card Database: expansions](https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/pokemon-cards/), The Pokemon Company International (pokemon.com) (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [List of Pokemon Trading Card Game expansions](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Pok%C3%A9mon_Trading_Card_Game_expansions), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [Scarlet & Violet Era (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Scarlet_%26_Violet_Era_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Paldea Evolved (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Paldea_Evolved_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Obsidian Flames (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Obsidian_Flames_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [151 (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Card_151_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Paradox Rift (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Paradox_Rift_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Paldean Fates (TCG) / Shiny Treasure ex](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Shiny_Treasure_ex_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Temporal Forces (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Temporal_Forces_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Twilight Masquerade (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Twilight_Masquerade_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Shrouded Fable (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Shrouded_Fable_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Stellar Crown (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Stellar_Crown_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Surging Sparks (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Surging_Sparks_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Prismatic Evolutions (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Prismatic_Evolutions_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Journey Together (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Journey_Together_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Destined Rivals (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Destined_Rivals_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Black Bolt & White Flare (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Black_Bolt_%26_White_Flare_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Mega Evolution (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mega_Evolution_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Phantasmal Flames (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Phantasmal_Flames_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [MEGA Dream ex (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/MEGA_Dream_ex_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Perfect Order (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Perfect_Order_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [30th Celebration (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/30th_Celebration_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Delta Reign (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Delta_Reign_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Aura Seeker (TCG)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Aura_Seeker_(TCG)), Bulbapedia (accessed Oct 26, 2026)
- [Japanese card sets](https://limitlesstcg.com/cards/jp), Limitless TCG (accessed Oct 25, 2026)
- [English card sets](https://limitlesstcg.com/cards), Limitless TCG (accessed Oct 25, 2026)