Pokémon Cards Becoming Accessible to Kids Again as Japan's Speculative Bubble Collapses

The speculative bubble that drove Pokémon card prices to astronomical heights in Japan has finally collapsed, making the trading cards accessible to children again for the first time in years. The unwinding of the speculation-fueled market — which had priced ordinary kids out of a hobby designed for them — represents a return to normalcy for one of the world's most beloved gaming franchises. The collapse mirrors broader corrections in the collectibles market, where pandemic-era speculation inflated prices for everything from trading cards to sneakers before reality set in.