How a Small Card Printed with Pikachu Witnessed 30 Years of Time

Summary

In a small card shop of about 30 square meters, two players just finished a game of Pokémon Trading Card Game (PTCG). The winner, a man in a white shirt who had just arrived from work, was packing up his cards while discussing the construction of a Gardevoir deck with his opponent, asking if he would come back next week. His opponent, looking a bit unshaven, replied, "No, I have to prepare for the high school entrance exam starting next week." This scene, experienced firsthand a few months ago, illustrates the universal appeal of Pokémon cards across ages and professions. Although the Simplified Chinese version of PTCG entered the domestic market not long ago, it has rapidly become a lifestyle unrestricted by age, connecting diverse groups of people who share a love for Pokémon. With the Xi'an Super Tournament held in June, PTCG is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. From the original Game Boy games to today's physical card culture, the Pokémon brand has witnessed countless players' growth and the passage of time through small cards printed with Pikachu. This is not only a generation's youthful memory but also a continuously evolving cultural phenomenon worth the attention of all game enthusiasts.