Almost every set ships in both English and Japanese. The Japanese box of the equivalent set trades well below the English one. Here is the gap across the modern era, widest first.
+207.2%
The median English box costs about that much more than its Japanese counterpart. A pair below the line is where Japanese holds value relatively well, or English looks comparatively cheap.
| Set | English | Japanese | EN premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Up JP: Tag Bolt | $11,737.50 | $1,169.00 | +904.1% |
| Cosmic Eclipse JP: Alter Genesis | $4,216.67 | $599.00 | +604.0% |
| Unified Minds JP: Miracle Twin | $3,376.76 | $539.88 | +525.5% |
| Unbroken Bonds JP: Double Blaze | $2,609.39 | $549.99 | +374.4% |
| Lost Thunder | $1,618.82 | $350.00 | +362.5% |
| Paldea Evolved JP: Clay Burst | $451.20 | $103.29 | +336.8% |
| Chilling Reign JP: Silver Lance | $459.59 | $105.42 | +336.0% |
| Paldea Evolved JP: Snow Hazard | $451.20 | $104.77 | +330.7% |
| Chilling Reign JP: Jet-Black Spirit | $459.59 | $110.82 | +314.7% |
| Mega Evolution JP: Mega Brave | $302.17 | $78.68 | +284.0% |
| Temporal Forces JP: Cyber Judge | $317.07 | $86.01 | +268.6% |
| Mega Evolution JP: Mega Symphonia | $302.17 | $82.58 | +265.9% |
| Sword & Shield Base Set JP: Sword | $688.99 | $199.99 | +244.5% |
| Scarlet & Violet JP: Violet ex | $294.39 | $85.71 | +243.5% |
| Twilight Masquerade | $333.67 | $98.18 | +239.9% |
| Stellar Crown JP: Stellar Miracle | $301.04 | $89.64 | +235.8% |
| Paradox Rift JP: Future Flash | $285.84 | $89.58 | +219.1% |
| Destined Rivals JP: Heat Wave Arena | $388.26 | $125.65 | +209.0% |
| Temporal Forces JP: Wild Force | $317.07 | $102.98 | +207.9% |
| Astral Radiance JP: Space Juggler | $409.43 | $133.57 | +206.5% |
| Silver Tempest JP: Paradigm Trigger | $515.57 | $172.16 | +199.5% |
| Brilliant Stars JP: Star Birth | $536.43 | $185.76 | +188.8% |
| Paradox Rift JP: Ancient Roar | $285.84 | $100.34 | +184.9% |
| Scarlet & Violet JP: Scarlet ex | $294.39 | $104.17 | +182.6% |
| Astral Radiance JP: Time Gazer | $409.43 | $154.89 | +164.3% |
| Journey Together JP: Battle Partners | $231.09 | $88.53 | +161.0% |
| Fusion Strike JP: Fusion Arts | $976.42 | $382.63 | +155.2% |
| Obsidian Flames | $375.66 | $150.10 | +150.3% |
| Destined Rivals | $388.26 | $157.59 | +146.4% |
| Evolving Skies JP: Eevee Heroes | $2,178.94 | $895.19 | +143.4% |
| Rebel Clash JP: Rebellion Crash | $482.30 | $219.99 | +119.2% |
| Surging Sparks | $296.31 | $143.32 | +106.7% |
| Lost Origin JP: Lost Abyss | $728.37 | $357.87 | +103.5% |
| Evolving Skies JP: Blue Sky Stream | $2,178.94 | $1,371.01 | +58.9% |
| Battle Styles | $288.27 | $196.00 | +47.1% |
| Darkness Ablaze JP: Infinity Zone | $351.06 | $254.99 | +37.7% |
| Battle Styles | $288.27 | $214.99 | +34.1% |
| Vivid Voltage | $317.14 | $250.00 | +26.9% |
It is relative value, not free money. A Japanese box holds 30 packs to English's 36, pulls from a different card pool, and carries no English text. Importing adds shipping and customs.
Japanese sets also release roughly half a year ahead of their English counterpart, so the Japanese side often moves first. A premium that is narrowing or widening over time says more than the level alone.
Pairs are matched by hand across the Sun & Moon through Mega eras. Booster boxes only. Prices are the latest recorded for each box.