Pokémon Card Fervor Has An Artist Scared For His Security

Some Pokémon playing cards are extremely sought, particularly by collectors and by resellers seeking to make a fast buck off of uncommon playing cards, or playing cards with distinguishing traits that make them extra invaluable. For instance, a card signed by illustrator Naoki Saito reportedly bought for over $100,000 in July 2023, which has had the unlucky facet impact of prompting people to harass and stalk the artist in methods he lately stated made him concern for his life.

Saito is finest recognized for his work as a contributing artist for the Duel Masters Buying and selling Card Recreation, Hatsune Miku merchandise, and the Pokémon Buying and selling Card Recreation. Saito has drawn over 280 Pokémon playing cards, with a lot of them hitting on-line resell markets for completely ridiculous costs, notably if he emblazoned them along with his John Hancock. This has made the mixture of his artwork and his signature one thing of a collectible merchandise for admirers and lovers, and a few people will cease at nothing to get their palms on signed copies of his work. Now, although, Saito is so terrified by the fervor that he might by no means signal one other card once more.

Posting to Twitter in Japanese on February 24 (and translated by VGC on February 27), Saito stated he’s repeatedly been “systematically ambushed and surrounded” by a number of individuals without delay, all vying for his autograph. The scenario received so dangerous that, at a latest occasion he didn’t disclose, Saito stated he was “adopted by a automotive for a number of minutes.” Consequently, he received’t personally signal something till issues—and folks—settle down.

“I’ve at all times been very glad to be requested for autographs, so I’ve at all times finished my finest to answer all requests for autographs,” Saito wrote, calling the conditions through which individuals ambush him in teams or whereas he’s touring “very annoying.” He acknowledged that at some occasions, individuals determined for his autograph have “been making cellphone calls to the occasion administration underneath false identities, attempting to verify my schedule.”

In a February 27 Automaton report, the editor and author Shinya Kusaka, who was reportedly with Saito on the time of the automotive stalking incident, stated that the pursuers had been so expert at chasing the artist that they adopted Saito into slim alleyways. Kusaka stated that the relentless hawking has prompted Saito “extreme psychological misery,” with people apparently coercing him into handing out his autograph. Some individuals, in line with Kusaka, even went so far as mendacity about their sick members of the family to get Saito’s signature, which simply looks as if a wild low for resellers.

Kotaku has reached out to Saito for remark.

I perceive wanting a signature out of your fave celeb, whether or not that be an artist, musician, author, or no matter else. That autograph could make for a pleasant memento and a incredible reminiscence value retelling. Nonetheless, harassing and stalking somebody to basically power them to signal one thing simply so you may make a revenue off it? That ain’t it, so hopefully, people will be taught to go away individuals alone. Saito is simply attempting to dwell.