Before we dive in, let’s be clear: when I talk about ‘dating’ products, I’m not suggesting you try to woo a Pikachu. Instead, we’re trying to gain insight on when these items were made.
For anyone who collects toys from Japan or has simply purchased one from there, you might have spotted a small but important symbol: the ST Mark, typically an ‘ST’ followed by a number. This isn’t just a random label; it’s the Safety Toy Mark, and it can offer some handy clues about a toy’s journey from factory to shelf, including its approximate year of production.
The ST Mark: A Sign of Safety in Japan
The Japanese Safety Toy (ST) Mark, initiated by the Japan Toy Association (JTA) in 1971, signifies that a toy has met specific safety standards covering physical and mechanical properties, flammability, and chemical content. It’s a voluntary mark, but highly regarded by Japanese consumers when assessing toy safety. Toys displaying this mark have been tested by third-party inspection bodies against ST Standards, which align with international norms like ISO 8124 and Japan’s Food Sanitation Law. The mark is generally intended for toys for children up to 14 years old.
Decoding the ST Mark and Approximating Production Year
The ST Mark itself often includes more than just the letters “ST.” Crucially for dating purposes, the mark usually incorporates a two-digit number.
Let’s look at an example provided by the Japan Toy Association:
Explanation of the image:
- The text “（例）” at the top left means “Example.”
- The label “玩具安全基準合格” at the top signifies “Toy Safety Standard Passed.”
- The red circled number, “4912345678904,” is pointed to with text stating: “ST合格番号 (13桁). この番号で検索します.” This translates to “ST Pass Number (13 digits). Search with this number.” This is the full, unique identifier for the toy’s ST certification (it is also the products JAN Code).
- The “ST XX” part of the logo is key for dating. The arrow pointing to “XX” has an explanation: “ST検査申請のあった年 (西暦) の下2桁数字を示します.” This means, “Indicates the last 2 digits of the year (Western calendar) in which the ST inspection application was made.” So, if you see “ST 23”, it indicates the safety inspection application was made in 2023.
Using the ST Mark for Dating Pokémon Products (and other toys):
For collectors, particularly of items like Pokémon merchandise where release information might sometimes be obscure, this two-digit year on the ST mark can be a valuable clue to approximate the toy’s production period.
- Application Year, Not Necessarily Release Year: It’s important to note that this year signifies when the ST inspection application was filed. The actual product might have been manufactured and released a bit later. For example, a product with an ST mark showing “'23” (for 2023) might have had its safety certification applied for in late 2023 but only hit store shelves in early 2024. This slight lag is common in manufacturing and distribution.
- Single vs. Double Digits for the Year: In the earlier years of the ST Mark, and sometimes seen on older Pokémon products, the year might have been represented by a single digit (e.g., “ST 9” for 1999). This was likely considered sufficient at the time. However, as decades pass, a single digit can become ambiguous (e.g., “9” could be 1999, 2009, or 2019). Therefore, the best practice, and what is generally seen now, is the use of two digits for the year to avoid this confusion. This makes the ST mark a more reliable indicator for recent decades.
Source
The 13-Digit ST Number and the ST Search Site
Beyond the two-digit year on the mark itself, there’s the full 13-digit “ST Pass Number” usually printed on the product packaging, often near the ST mark graphic. The Japan Toy Association provides an “ST Search Site” (ST検索サイト) where this number can be used.
Here’s what the JTA website mentions about this search function:
- Number Format: ST numbers are 13 digits long and typically begin with “49” or “45.” These prefixes are Japan’s country codes.
- Data Updates: Information about ST-approved products is updated on the site the day after approval, usually between 4:45 AM and 5:15 AM (Japan Standard Time).
- System Availability: The JTA notes that system changes or operational suspensions can occur without prior notice.
- Searchable Data Range: You can search for ST approval data for applications made since October 2008. By default, the search looks at the last five years of data, but you can opt to include data further back to October 2008.
- How to Search: You enter the 13-digit ST number found on the toy’s packaging into the search field.
- Information Provided: If a match is found, the search will display:
- Product Name
- Company Name for product inquiries
- Date of ST approval
This searchability of the 13-digit number is particularly useful for verifying the legitimacy of an ST claim and getting precise details about its certification, including the exact approval date, which further refines any production time estimates.
Let’s test it with a 2009 Advent of Arceus pack, released July 8, 2009.
JAN / ST Pass Number: 4521329082905
…and there it is.
Google Gemini brought it to my attention when it made an off the cuff remark about when a product was likely made upon seeing an ST mark, when I asked about a translation.
Figured it was worth sharing. Maybe it has already been discussed somewhere here, but I couldn’t see it.
