How it works

Request a card

Can't find cards in our catalogue? Add one or more cards — each with a photo and any codes or names you know. We'll review and quote before you pay.

Signed-in customers can start and track requests under Card requests in their account — the same place you manage orders.

Start a card request

How buying works

Four steps from catalogue to UK delivery — each card is sourced individually through our Japan partner after your checkout is complete.

1. 1

   Choose the card

   Browse each set, compare NM and LP tiers, and check the current card-level price before joining.

2. 2

   One checkout payment

   Join the open batch with a single Stripe checkout for your full order total — cards, optional insurance, and UK postage on your first item. Credit and debit cards and other methods Stripe offers are fine; we do not take a deposit now and charge the rest later.

3. 3

   Shared batch fills

   Each confirmed order adds to shared international shipping progress until the batch hits 100%.

4. 4

   Sourcing and dispatch

   After the batch reaches 100%, we source in Japan through our Japan partner, consolidate to the UK, then dispatch via your Royal Mail tier when fulfilment is ready.

NM vs LP condition tiers

Every card is listed in Near Mint (NM) or Lightly Played (LP). Choose the tier that matches how you collect — prices differ by tier on each card page.

How card prices are calculated

Each listed price is based on live Japan market data for your NM or LP tier — typically a rolling average of recent listings — converted to GBP with a small exchange-rate buffer. Some cards use a fixed price we set directly instead.

Checkout shows the total for your chosen tier before you pay. Optional insurance and UK postage are covered in the sections below.

Market price protection (checkout £100 cap)

After you pay, we snapshot the Japan market price, fees, and exchange rate used for your order. Before we purchase your card in Japan (when the batch is ready), we check again. For checkout at £100 or below per line, we absorb Japan sourcing moves up to 10% (up to £10 per card) — you keep the checkout price within that band. For checkout above £100 per line, we do not absorb sourcing cost rises; if Japan sourcing costs rise at all, we contact you first. In either case, if the GBP/JPY rate moves materially (more than 3% from your snapshot), we contact you before purchase. You can hold your order for one re-check when the batch fills, pay any agreed extra amount, or cancel for a refund before purchase. If you cancel, you can opt in to a one-time email when our listed price for that card is at or below what you paid — that does not reserve stock. If you held your order, we only re-check when the batch first reaches 100% on your orders page — not while it is still filling. For lines at £100 or below, if the market is then within the 10% band, your order resumes at your checkout price without a further charge. For lines above £100, your order resumes only if Japan sourcing costs have not risen since your snapshot. We never charge more silently.

This is checked when your batch is ready to source in Japan — the same point we begin purchases for the batch, not on every background market refresh. See our Terms and Conditions for the full policy.

Shared batch shipping

Each card is sourced individually in Japan. Once every card has reached our Japan partner, they ship together in one parcel to the UK. Your order joins one open batch with other collectors; batch fill shows as a percentage only on your orders page until it hits 100%.

Once progress reaches 100%, cards are purchased in Japan, consolidated into one international parcel, and prepared for UK dispatch. Track fill and status anytime on your orders after sign-in.

Optional per-card insurance

At checkout you can add insurance per card (default 5% of that line's retail price).Covers loss or damage from when your card is with our Japan partner through UK delivery.

Insurance does not replace overrun decisions, sourcing failure flows, or our no-refund policy after a card has been purchased in Japan.

UK delivery options

Choose a Royal Mail tier at checkout. You pay UK postage once per batch on your first item; further lines in the same batch are card-only.

• Royal Mail Tracked 48 — £3
• Royal Mail Tracked 24 — £4
• Royal Mail Special Delivery — £11

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why is everything charged at checkout?

You pay once for the full order total shown in basket — not a deposit now with a balance invoice later. Your card is sourced in Japan once batch progress reaches 100% on your orders page. For checkout at £100 or below per card, we absorb Japan sourcing moves up to 10% (up to £10 per card); above £100, we contact you before we buy if Japan sourcing costs rise.

Can I pay by credit card or instalments?

Yes, when Stripe offers it at checkout — credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and similar are all fine. We do not run our own pay-in-3 or deposit scheme: there is one charge for your order. Instalments or buy-now-pay-later only apply if your card issuer or Stripe provides them for that single payment.

Why is there a batch wait?

International shipping is shared across paid orders. The batch must reach 100% progress before Japan purchases begin; then cards ship together once every line has reached our Japan partner, which keeps landed cost fairer than many small parcels.

What if I paid but the batch has not reached 100% yet?

Your checkout is complete and your order stays in the current open batch — you are not asked to pay again for the same line. Japan sourcing only starts after batch progress hits 100% on your orders page. Until then, your card remains in a paid, waiting state while the percentage rises as more collectors join the same batch. Track batch fill and your line status on your orders page after sign-in. If progress seems stuck for a long time, contact hello@iskurajp.co.uk and we will explain where your batch stands.

What happens if the Japan market price moves after I pay?

For checkout at £100 or below per card, we absorb Japan sourcing moves up to 10% (up to £10 per card) before we buy in Japan. For checkout above £100, we email you first if Japan sourcing costs rise at all. If GBP/JPY shifts materially (more than 3% from your snapshot), we email you first in either case — you can hold for one re-check at batch 100%, pay the agreed difference, or cancel for a refund. On cancel you can opt in to a one-time email if our listed price returns to what you paid or less (no reservation). If you held your order, we re-check once when the batch first hits 100%; for lines at £100 or below, if the market is within the 10% band then, your order resumes at your checkout price; for lines above £100, your order resumes only if sourcing costs have not risen. Insurance does not cover this scenario.

What does optional insurance cover?

Covers loss or damage from when your card is with our Japan partner through UK delivery. It does not cover Japan sourcing failure, overrun scenarios, or cancellation after your card has been purchased in Japan.

Is this UK warehouse stock?

Sourced on demand through our Japan partner — zero UK warehouse stock. Every card is bought in Japan after your checkout is complete and batch progress reaches 100%.

How do NM and LP differ?

Near Mint (NM) is for collectors who want a cleaner face and edges. Lightly Played (LP) suits light wear at a lower tier — both are sourced to the tier you select at checkout.

What are Vault Shards?

Earn 1 Vault Shard for every £1 you spend on cards at checkout (UK postage and insurance excluded). Redeem 300 Vault Shards for £10 off cards on a future order — minimum £20 card subtotal, one redemption per checkout. Shards are promotional credits for our shop only — not cash. Full rules: Terms and Conditions section 20 (Vault Shards) at /legal/terms#vault-shards.

How do invite links work?

Friend: +50 Shards · You: +100 Shards (after their first qualifying checkout) Qualifying purchase means at least £30 of card retail in one checkout (card prices only — not UK postage or insurance). It does not count if you add up spend across separate orders. Share your invite link. When a friend creates an account and pays for their first checkout with at least £30 of cards in that single order, they receive 50 bonus Vault Shards and you receive 100 bonus Vault Shards once you have also completed a qualifying purchase in one checkout — not at sign-up, and not by totalling spend over time. Your referrer bonuses are capped at 500 Vault Shards lifetime (5 successful referrals). Copy your link from Account → Vault, or enter a code once in Account → Vault before your first qualifying checkout. Full rules: /legal/terms#vault-shards-referrals.

Does invite spend add up across orders?

No. Qualifying purchase means at least £30 of card retail in one checkout (card prices only — not UK postage or insurance). It does not count if you add up spend across separate orders. Normal Vault Shards still earn 1 Shard per £1 of cards on each order you pay for.

How are card prices calculated?

Each price reflects live Japan market data for your chosen variant and condition tier, converted to GBP with a small exchange-rate buffer. You see the full card price on the product page before checkout. Optional insurance and UK postage are only added if you select them.

Why is today's basket price different from yesterday's?

Because listed prices follow the live Japan market and current exchange rates, which we refresh on a schedule. If underlying listings or FX move, the price on a card — and in your basket — can change until you complete checkout. Once you pay, that checkout total is recorded for your order line; we do not silently change what you already paid.

Is this a proxy service?

We are a UK-facing shop with a curated catalogue, NM/LP tiers, batch consolidation, Stripe checkout, order tracking, and optional insurance — not a generic buy-anything proxy form.

Can I request a card that is not in your catalogue?

Yes. Open Card requests in your account (or use Request a card from the site footer). Send a clear photo and optional card code. We review availability in Japan, email you a quote, and you can pay in full on the same batch model as catalogue orders.