Global resurgence of interest in Pokemon trading cards

Nostalgia, artwork and the community behind the product are some of the reasons

- Angelica Ang

When Mr Ng Kiat Seng opened his convenience store in Jalan Besar in 2020, there was limited footfall due to safe-distancing measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.

To supplement sales, the 39-year-old experimented with the sale of a small batch of Pokemon trading cards.

They sold out quickly and he started bringing in more stock. Because of the popularity of the cards, he eventually evolved his store - Concept City - to one that mainly buys and sells Pokemon cards today.

Similarly, two other shops and enthusiasts here The Straits Times spoke to say they have seen an increase in interest for the trading cards since the pandemic.

In January, the police had to disperse a large crowd - reportedly 1,000-strong - at Changi Airport's Jewel that had gathered at the Pokemon Centre for the launch of the latest Pokemon Prismatic Evolutions card set.

The launch event was eventually cancelled due to safety concerns.

With Pokemon Day commemorated by enthusiasts on Feb 27, ST looks deeper into why these cards are such a hit among Singaporeans.

THE ORIGIN STORY

Pokemon cards were first released in 1996 by the Pokemon Company.

Long-time fan Bertrand Yan said they were popular in the early years. "In the mid-2000s, Pokemon became global. Everyone watched anime. Everyone had the game cards," said the 26-year-old, who competed in the world championships in Washington, DC, in 2019.

Mr Yan said the cards' popularity waned in the 2010s as their original target audience - young children - outgrew them and moved on to other interests.

THE RENAISSANCE

There are several reasons for the resurgence of Pikachu and company. For one thing, the pandemic forced people to stay home and some started new hobbies, such as collecting Pokemon cards, Mr Yan said.