Pokemon cards: they are a staple of the Millennial-Z generation’s childhood. Whether that be opening booster packs in local stores, or even setting up an elaborate collection of the most high-value, colorful cards, they are the peak entertainment for much of the younger generation.
Recently, seniors such as Keanu Park (12), Justin Park (12), Eric Cho (12), and Uee Jung (12) have reignited their passion for Pokemon cards, revisiting their childhood and proving that the hobby is not just for kids. In the senior lounge every week, they can be seen huddled around tables comparing collections or negotiating trades. By collecting colorful, polished artwork or selling special cards to make a profit, the hobby has become a shared pastime that brings these collectors together.
Despite this common interest in collecting Pokémon cards, each senior is in it for varying reasons, such as for collecting cute cards, to make a profit by trading them, or maybe for the rush of adrenaline from opening the rarest card in a certain booster pack, sealed packages of a random assortment of cards. What would have made them start collecting Pokemon cards again? Here’s what each of they
Q: What made you start collecting Pokemon cards?
“I had Pokemon cards when I was young and recently a lot of my friends have been getting back into the hobby,” Uee Jung (12), a collector fond of cute cards, said. “Naturally, I was interested in joining the hobby as well.”
Most of the seniors were encouraged to start their collections by their peers, whether that be their friends or even their siblings.
“Pokemon cards in general have been becoming more popular around the globe,” Keanu Park (12), avid Pokemon card collector, said. “But specifically, I saw my younger brother collecting it, and I thought it would be interesting for me to start as well. I also had a collection from when I was younger, so I’d say it’s been a hobby for me for a long time.”
On the other hand, some seniors felt a rush of nostalgia as they looked back at their old collections from childhood.
“I’ve always pursued Pokemon card collecting when I was around elementary school, Justin Park (12), booster-pack collector, said. “I didn’t really know any values for any cards I collected, and always opened them just for fun. I quit around 6th grade because I just wasn’t interested in it anymore. But I started seeing some instagram posts and reels about Pokemon card collecting and it got me interested again. I also found my old collection in a box and started re-collecting for both nostalgia and genuine interest in collecting more valuable cards.”
Q: What style of cards do you like to collect?
“I don’t have a specific style of collecting, as when I do buy packs or cards, I normally do them when I happen to find a shop that sells them,” Justin said. “I enjoy opening booster packs to search for specific cards, and I just hope for the best. I recently bought a card binder to store these cards so they’re more easily accessible and viewable.”
However, some collectors do not have preference for the method of collecting; rather, they simply look for specific art styles on the cards.
“I am rarely interested in cards that are worth a lot of money, and I tend to just collect ones that I think are cute or have good art,” Uee said. “Most of the time, I buy the cards that I want specifically because it’s not really financially smart to keep opening packs but I also do like to buy packs and open them just for fun.”
Q: What is your favorite part about collecting?
“I think my favorite part is sharing the moment with friends,” Uee said. “Typically we would go and get the packs together and open them, sometimes we would trade or sell them as well. It has been a lot of fun just hanging out and bonding over a shared interest.”
“My favorite part about the collecting process is definitely showing other people some of the more valuable cards I obtain,” Justin said. “As I normally buy the packs with other friends, finding a pretty rare card around others is one of my favorite parts about the collecting process.”
