I was thinking of buying a japanese Base set Blastoise, but I don’t know much about collecting cards and haven’t found much information about japanese cards.
Since I’m more interested in the quality than the actual rarity of the card, I was wondering if this specific set or the card itself have been reprinted over the years, so that I may get a better condition for a good price.
Any suggestions?
bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Blastoise_(Base_Set_2)
This card was included in the Base Set with artwork by Ken Sugimori, first released in the Japanese Expansion Pack. It was included in the Trainer Deck B with an exclusive red border and “Trainer Deck B” printed on the back of the card, distributed to prototype Pokémon Leagues before the TCG officially launched in North America. In Japan, this card was released as an Unnumbered Promotional card with different artwork by the same artist. It was first available through the Trade Please campaign that ran from February 10 to July 31 in 1998. Participants were required to mail a flyer included with copies of Trade Please by Suzukisan to MediaFactory along with any two Pokémon trading cards and a return envelope within the campaign period. Participants could select a “course” detailed on the flyer by writing in the appropriate space. The “A Course” included a Charizard card and a Trade Please! promotional card. The “B Course” included a copy of this card and the Trade Please! card. The “C Course” included a Venusaur card and the Trade Please! card. MediaFactory would then send the two cards from the chosen course to the participant, completing the trade. This print was later reprinted in the Intro Pack and again as part of the Pokémon Song Best Collection CD. The original Base Set print was later reprinted in the Base Set 2 expansion.
It’s also leaked to be in the upcoming 25h anniversary set
Just to be sure what you’re talking about, you do mean the base set Blastoise and not the Trade Please promo right? Left card vs right card respectively
Base set
The reason they were asking is because the Trade Please/CD promos are Japanese-only alternate art versions of the Base Set card.
The more formal Base Set Blastoise with the normal art has vintage prints from 1996 and some modern reprints in “CP6”, the Japanese equivalent of XY Evolutions. It will also be reprinted as part of the Celebrations set releasing next month. You do not have as many options for Japanese as one would for English (for this particular card).
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To give an answer to the question you weren’t asking but to the question the title asks: yes, Japan’s Base Set was reprinted between 1996 until at least 2001 after The Pokemon Center Company took over from Media Factory. I was fortunate enough to track down a 2001 Base Set pack earlier this year - a very niche and little known rarity in the hobby (see www.elitefourum.com/t/guide-to-early-pokemon-tcg-history-1995-test-card-versions/31779/28).
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I had no idea that JP Base Set was in print all the way to 2001, wow. What a difference compared to WotC.
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Blastoise was not actually in CP6 by the way.
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Oh, lol. Sorry Blastoise. 
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