Pokémon card scalping has pushed The Pokémon Company to introduce mandatory facial recognition checks at select stores in Japan, in a move aimed at tightening access to its trading card releases. The policy applies to customers of elementary school age or older, as the company tries to limit repeat visits and curb reselling activity.
In an update on its official Japanese website, The Pokémon Company said the measure was necessary to provide “a safe and secure shopping environment for all customers” and “to prevent crime.” The company also said that if staff notice repeated attempts to enter, “our staff may speak to you individually.
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Entry to official Pokémon stores will be limited to one visit per person per day, with repeat entry denied. The new system also applies when customers receive numbered entry tickets, with the facial recognition scan used to verify whether someone has already visited that day.
There is one exception for younger children. Pre-schoolers are not subject to the facial recognition checks, but The Pokémon Company said, “Pre-schoolers cannot enter the store alone,” and “They must be accompanied by a guardian.”
The rollout appears to be limited to five temporary Pokémon Card Store locations in Japan, running from July 31 to August 16, according to the reporting. Those stores are expected to be part of a broader push around new trading card releases, as demand and resale values continue to fuel scalping pressure.
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The latest move follows comments earlier this month from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, who said The Pokémon Company would “take measures” to address shortages and scalping. Whether facial recognition will make a meaningful dent in the resale market remains to be seen.
