I’m happy to reveal the first acquisition of 2026!
We talked about this card on E4 when it was first auctioned at Heritage last summer, because it went for a relatively low price. That was probably due to the damage on the back, but also because signed cards don’t appeal to everyone, especially when it comes to historical pieces.
When the card came back to market, I started having second thoughts. I’ve always had ultimate goals when it comes to collecting Pokémon cards, but I never included Illustrator Pikachu or the OG Pikachu trophy cards because I believed they would never be attainable. To me, though, they’ve always been the ultimate grails.
With the recent surge in the market, I was able to flip more and more cards (I sold so many from my collection) and position myself to acquire this one, which was actually one of the cheapest among them, for the reasons I mentioned above. So I decided to make a move.
Now I’ll share what I posted on Instagram to better explain my perspective and feelings about this card:
“On September 3, 1998, the Kamex Mega Battle (Blastoise in Japanese) was held as a national championship in Japan, following the first two official Pokémon TCG tournaments. Regional qualifiers took place across five regions: Kantō, Chūbu, Kyūshū, Hokkaidō, and Kansai.
During these events, top players were awarded Trophy Pikachu cards. Only around 15 copies of each (No.1, No.2, No.3 Trainer) were distributed, making them some of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence!
These cards are more than just rare, they are milestones in Pokémon history!
I chose the blue version as a kid, and Blastoise has always been one of my favorite Pokémon. Owning a card awarded at the Blastoise/Kamex Mega Battle therefore carries a very special emotional meaning for me.
As for the Arita signature, it’s a masterpiece: gold label, gold ink, perfectly placed without touching the artwork. The signature of one of the most iconic figures in the Pokémon world, who also designed this card, is almost as historic as the card itself.
The card is dedicated “to Fuji,” referring to the well-known collector Mister_Fuji — himself named after one of the most iconic characters from the original Pokémon games: Mr./Dr. Fuji (フジ老人).
Mr. Fuji is the man who discovered… Mew! For years, fans speculated that he was also Dr. Fuji, the scientist behind Mewtwo. The official Japanese guidebook for Let’s Go Pikachu finally confirmed they are the same person!
In the games, Mr. Fuji also cares for orphaned Pokémon in Lavender Town, helps the Cubone orphaned by Team Rocket, is held hostage, and gives the player the Poké Flute to wake Snorlax.
Few characters are so deeply connected to Mew, Mewtwo, Team Rocket, Lavender Town, Cubone, Snorlax, and the mythology of early Pokémon.
To me, this dedication ties the card directly to the lore and history of the Pokémon world, making it even more meaningful.
“Fuji” also echoes Mount Fuji. In katakana, as in Japanese dedications, it reads as a name yet retains its powerful cultural resonance!
I never thought I would own such a piece of Pokémon history.
A dream come true”
And yes, a dream came true 
