Overview
- The facial-recognition requirement will be used at five temporary Pokémon Card Stores running from July 31 to Aug. 16 as part of the Storm Emerald expansion events.
- Customers aged elementary-school and older must pass a face scan to enter or receive a numbered queue ticket and may be denied entry if the system detects a repeat visit or multiple ticket collections.
- Preschool children are exempt but must be accompanied by a guardian, and customers who leave without notifying staff will not be allowed to re-enter that same day.
- Pokémon says it will collect facial images and visit counts and will store that data securely for an unspecified period before deletion, but the company has not detailed retention length or legal safeguards.
- The pilot is presented as an anti-scalping and safety measure and follows a separate, still-under-review proposal to use Japan’s My Number ID for some online sales and lotteries, with no wider rollout yet announced.