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PSA opens new grading facility in Japan
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) has opened its first authentication and grading operation in Japan, allowing collectors in Japan to have cards graded and encapsulated at a local facility.
PSA, owned by Collectors, opened a new satellite office in Tokyo in 2018, when card grading was just starting to gain popularity in Japan. Over the last five years, demand for PSA-graded cards has skyrocketed among Japanese collectors. Its new authentication and grading operation will help meet that demand and provide faster turnaround times.
“We have seen incredible demand from collectors in Japan since opening our Tokyo headquarters,” PSA president Ryan Hoge said. “Launching our new grading and authentication facility will allow us to even better serve the Japanese marketplace with shorter and more convenient shipping times.”
“Both sports and non-sports collectors alike have been utilizing PSA’s grading services and we’re so excited to bring our operations closer to them,” said Tony Aram, PSA Japan managing director. “Many submissions from Japanese collectors have been Pokémon cards, as the massive franchise has maintained its prominence in pop culture. We’re also seeing many baseball cards from Nippon Professional Baseball League players as well as Japanese superstars who have successfully transitioned to Major League Baseball like Shohei Ohtani.”
PSA’s new Japan facility will offer the same grading, authentication and appraisal services provided in the United States, aside from value bulk, TCG bulk or value plus service levels. PSA plans to hire additional team members in Japan, including new grading and authentication experts.
