Pokémon 151: Japanese SV2a vs English Card Numbers (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 7, 2026 · 6 min read
Japanese SV2a and English SV2a share more than a set code. They share every card number.
The Japanese Pokémon Card 151 (ポケモンカード151, released June 16, 2023) and the English SV2a 151 set (released September 22, 2023 per Serebii) use the same card numbers from 001/165 through the full secret rare run.
A Charizard in the JP set carries the same number as its English counterpart. The same holds for every Double Rare, every Special Art Rare, and every Ultra Rare. This makes 151 the cleanest JP-to-EN mapping in the Scarlet & Violet era.
What actually differs is the pack structure, the sealed formats available, and the names each version gives to its rarity tiers.
On this page 5 sections
At a glance
| Detail | Japanese SV2a | English SV2a |
|---|---|---|
| Set name | Pokémon Card 151 (ポケモンカード151) | Scarlet & Violet 151 |
| Set code | SV2a | SV2a |
| Release date | June 16, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
| Base card range | 001/165–165/165 (Pokédex order) | 001/165–165/165 (Pokédex order) |
| Card numbering above 165 | Identical to EN (per Limitless TCG) | Identical to JP (per Limitless TCG) |
| Cards per pack | 5 (enhanced expansion pack) | 10 (standard booster pack) |
| Booster box | 30 packs (150 cards per box) | No 36-pack box sold; Booster Bundle = 6 packs |
| JP MSRP per pack | See pokemon-card.com/ex/sv2a/ | $3.99 USD MSRP |
What's different in the box
The most consequential difference is the pack size. Japanese enhanced expansion packs contain 5 cards; English SV booster packs contain 10.
A JP booster box gives you 30 packs for 150 cards total. The EN release never had a standard 36-pack booster box: the closest equivalent was the Booster Bundle (6 packs) or individual packs sold alongside the ETB and Binder Collection. Collectors used to the EN ecosystem will find the JP format quite different in how you break it.
Rarity tier naming is the other difference importers run into. The card and its artwork are identical; only the label changes between the JP and EN editions. Here is the full rarity tier mapping:
| Rarity tier | Japanese name | English name |
|---|---|---|
| Basic common | C (circle) | Common |
| Uncommon | U (diamond) | Uncommon |
| Rare | R (star) | Rare |
| ex (alternate art) | RR (Double Rare) | Double Rare |
| Full art Pokémon or Trainer | SR (Super Rare) | Illustration Rare |
| Special alternate art | SAR (Special Art Rare) | SIR (Special Illustration Rare) |
| Rainbow / Cosmos | UR (Ultra Rare) | Hyper Rare |
When a grading service or listing mentions a JP "SAR Mew ex," that is the exact same card as the EN "Special Illustration Rare Mew ex." The rarity abbreviation changes; the card number does not.
Card-number crosswalk
Because the numbering is identical across both versions, you can use either the Limitless TCG JP SV2a database or the EN card list interchangeably to look up any card by number. The base set follows Pokédex order throughout: Bulbasaur is 001/165, Charizard is 006/165, Pikachu is 025/165, and Mew is 151/165 in both languages. Trainer and Energy cards fill the 152/165 through 165/165 slots in the same sequence.
| Card | Number (JP and EN) | Rarity tier (JP / EN) |
|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | 001/165 | C / Common |
| Charizard | 006/165 | C / Common |
| Pikachu | 025/165 | C / Common |
| Gengar | 094/165 | C / Common |
| Mewtwo | 150/165 | U / Uncommon |
| Mew | 151/165 | U / Uncommon |
| Secret rares (166+) | Same in JP and EN | RR/SR/SAR/UR (JP) = Double/IR/SIR/Hyper (EN) |
One practical note: the Pokédex number IS the card number for all 151 Pokémon in the base set. Gastly is 092/165, Snorlax is 143/165, straight through the Pokédex.
This consistency is unique to the 151 set design. See Limitless TCG's complete SV2a database for the full numbered list.
Japanese or English?
Price per pack
JP 151 packs carry 5 cards and EN packs carry 10. To compare per-card cost fairly, double the JP pack price.
A JP pack observed at $23.00 (October 7, 2026) works out to roughly $4.60 per card. EN packs at $3.99 MSRP contain 10 cards, so the per-card math strongly favors English. Per-pack variety is also higher in EN since each opening reveals twice as many cards.
Play legality
Japanese cards are not legal at English-language Play! Pokémon events. If you plan to compete at local game store tournaments, regional events, or US League Challenges, buy English packs.
Japanese cards are legal at Play! Pokémon Japan events and some international circuits with prior registration. See our Japanese sets guide for more on import play rules.
Collecting and completing the set
Because card numbers match entirely between JP and EN, a collector can track their master set progress using the same numbered checklist regardless of language. The only real decision is whether to chase the JP version (cards with Japanese text, distinct pack design, smaller 5-card openings) or the EN version (English text, 10-card openings, no standard booster box release). See also the Pokémon 151 Booster Bundle guide for an overview of EN sealed formats available for this set.
Grading
PSA and CGC grade both JP and EN versions. A JP SAR Mew ex and an EN SIR Mew ex are treated as separate cards in registry databases because they carry different language designations, even though the card number is identical.
Select the correct language variant on your submission form to avoid a registry mismatch. For more on checking what you own before grading, see the Pokémon buyer safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do Japanese 151 card numbers match English 151 card numbers?
Yes. Japanese SV2a and English SV2a share the same card numbers from 001/165 through the full secret rare run, including all Double Rares, Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and Hyper Rares. Use the Limitless TCG database for the complete numbered list in either language.
How many cards are in Japanese Pokémon Card 151?
The base set runs from 001/165 through 165/165. Cards above 165 cover the Double Rare, Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare, and Hyper Rare tiers. The complete numbered card list is documented at Limitless TCG (limitlesstcg.com/cards/jp/SV2a) and Serebii (serebii.net/card/151/).
What is the difference between a Japanese SAR and an English SIR?
They are the same card with different rarity tier names. Japanese printings use "SAR" (Special Art Rare); English printings of the identical alternate art use "SIR" (Special Illustration Rare). The card number is the same in both versions.
Can I use Japanese 151 cards in English tournaments?
Japanese cards are not tournament-legal for English-language Pokémon organized events. They are legal at Japanese events. Buy English packs if your goal is competing in the US.
Is there a Japanese 151 booster box equivalent to the English booster box?
The Japanese SV2a release included a 30-pack display box (150 cards). The English 151 release had no standard 36-pack booster box: the closest sealed format was the Booster Bundle (6 packs).
See the Pokémon 151 Booster Bundle contents guide for EN format details, and 151 vs Shiny Treasure ex for JP import comparisons.
Browse Japanese SV2a packs, booster boxes, and English Booster Bundles from independent shops on DexHaul's Japanese Cards collection. DexHaul is independent and unofficial; not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company.