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How to tell The difference
between
Japanese and Hong Kong
Bandai Cards

I have had several requests since creating my website for information about the difference between these cards and how to tell one from the other.  Most of my experience has come from learning the hard way, i.e. purchasing lot bids that contained mostly or only Hong Kong manufactured cards rather than the Japanese I thought I was getting.

First:  There is absolutely nothing wrong the HK cards.  As I stated on the card index page, they are licensed by Bandai.  They are not "fakes" nor are they "cheap" as I have seen them described.  There are some differences in the textual feel of the coating on the card, but the images are the same, the numbering is the same, and the series and sets are the same.  I have seen some minor differences in the prisms for the regular carddassu sets, but nothing to get overly excited about.  Most of the time when you get a Hong Kong set of cards, the prisms either don't come with them or they are the Japanese.  I am not certain, but I don't think that there were a lot of HK prisms done.  The only ones that I have are for the Regular Carddassu series.  If there are others, I haven't seen them.  If any one has scans of some I would more than welcome the assistance!

Second:  There are HK cards for all the Bandai series that I have listed on my website.  For all I know, there may be more.  It would stand to reason that if Badai licensed HK (and France) to manufacture these cards, they licensed them to do all the series and sets, not just a few.  I welcome any more information on this as well.  I do have HK cards for what I collect, and they are included in the scans.

Third:  For some reason the HK cards are considerably less expensive than the Japanese sets.  I imagine the "original" of anything is going to be more expensive.  Anime is a Japanese art form (I will argue with ANYONE who thinks otherwise-calling it "cartoons" is so American - and so degrading to the artists).  Dragonball, and many other Anime series originated in Japan. Therefore, the "originals" are the Japanese printed cards.  Not to mention that Bandai is a Japanese company, based in Tokyo, Japan>  It is one of the oldest toy makers in Japan, established in 1950 and is a family owned business.  For a bit more info try (isn't the internet grand!!):    http://www.bandai.com/company/service/aboutbandai.htm
 

So, on with the scans.  Hopefully the differences will be evident from the backs of the cards.  You will rarely be able to tell the difference from the front of a card. Maybe after you have been collecting for a while you will know just by the sheen on the coating or the feel of it.  Sometimes I can even before I turn it over and see that it is marked HK.  My daughter can spot them (and fakes) from across the room!!  (Maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but the little brat is really good!!)

I hope this helps you out.  Please let me know.  Also let me know if there is anything else you'd like to see or have questions about.  I will do my best to answer your questions or lead you in the right direction to someone who can.
 

BANDAI MANUFACTURED CARDS

REGULAR CARDDASSU*

Sets 1 - 16
One of the early series (1989) cards.  Note that even though it doesn't say HK, it also doesn't say
Bandai Made in Japan.  The distinct markings down the side that state Licensed by Animation International and the copyright information on the top are the main identifiers that these are HK cards.  The Japanese do not have any of this on them. 
Sets 1 - 16
Here is another from the earlier sets.  Note that the copyright information runs down the side on this card, but it clearly states Bandai (HK).  Also note that the date is not imprinted on the back. 
Finally!! 
I was starting to think 
she would never shut up
and get to the scans!!  She certainly can go on over something when she gets 
on a soapbox. 		 1994 SPECIALS
 

These cards are like the reprint sets in the Japanese cards.  I thought they were fakes at first!!  I don't know exacly what sets were included in these.  Soon as I know, I'll post it.  The purple color on the back is consistent for all of them. 
Renumbered Sets 17-25

Toward the end of 1993 the sets continued, but were renumbered.  They start back at #1 on the front of the card, but the backs continue on with the original numbering (confused yet?)  These two scans show the two different ways that the HK cards are marked.
Renumbered Sets 17-25

Note that the card on the left only shows "BANDAI 19XX" but the one on the right states 19XX BANDAI HK.  These graphics stays consistent until the GT sets.
. GT Sets 27-30

Yes, I know the scan is crooked!!  These are the back of the GT sets.  The Bird/Shuiesha information in on the top and the lower right bottom states "BANDAI HK 19XX"
This isn't exactly one of my favorite pictures, but for some reason she thinks I am "cute" in it!!  Yech!!  Of all things to call me, that has got to be one of the worst!

THIS IS IT 
FOR THE 
REGULAR CARDDASSU SETS.  MOVE DOWN FOR THE 
SUPER BATTLE CARDS.
 


 

SUPER BATTLE CARDDASSU*


Sets 1-20

The Super Battle collection are also called  "Power level" cards because of the black and red power level bars on the front.  They remain rather consistent across the first 20 sets with the only variation being either the white text down the side or the black across the top and down the side. Although they don't have Hong Kong (HK) printed on them anywhere, these are the ones from HK.  Note that they DON'T say Japan on them.  
Super Battle Memorial Collection 
Sets 21 and 22

These were printed in 1997.  
Again, they do not say Japan 
on them, but these two
sets do indicate 
"BANDAI (HK) 1997" 
Across the bottom of the card.  
They look very similar to the 
Super Battle cards, including the 
power level bars.  But these are all on 
a green background with a black 
stripe down the right side.  The
backs for all 81 of them look like 
this card to the right. 

 One of her favorite shots of Dad

 

VISUAL ADVENTURES

Sets 1-4, 6 and 7

The difference in this series is sometimes confusing.  The green one on the right is pretty close to the Japanese.  Note that they DO NOT say Japan on them anywhere.  The Older ones (blue card) from the earlier sets 1-4 say BANDAI (HK) CO., LTD.  The newer ones from sets 6&7 say BANDAI 1995 in the middle square.  This can be confusing since they DON'T say HK.  However, the Bird Studio logo is on the bottom and the license info is down the side.  The Japanese cards Clearly state in the middle box:

MADE IN JAPAN
BANDAI 1995
VA SPECIAL

These cards were printed in 1993.  On the right is a scan of both a HK card and a Japanese card.  Note all the License and copyright information on the bottom of the HK card.  It also states:

BANDAI HK, CO., LTD

across the bottom of the card.
The Japanese card states the copyright information in Kanji and then in English:

BANDAI 1993 MADE IN JAPAN
The front of the SPECIAL set looks very different than the other VA cards.  However, the front of the Japanese and HK sets look exactly the same!  Only the back tells!! 

 
 
 

SUPER BARCODE WARS
&
CHARACTER COLLECTION


 

* CARDDASSU - this refers to the fact that these cards were dispensed out of machines.  Dasu is a verb in Japanese that means to take out of or draw out of.  Card is Kaado, so I am assuming that "Carddassu" is some Romanized version of "card out of machine".  Japanese has a rather elegantly simplistic way of stating things, usually without all the extra "fluff" words found in the English language.  Also, the u is not pronounced.