【Tokyo, Japan】Japanese Boom in the Global Auction Industry Contributes Significantly to Record-High First-Half 2025 Total Sales of $962 Million (Approx. ¥142 Billion)

Heritage Auctions, the largest auction house in the United States (headquartered in Texas, USA), announced that its total sales for the first half of 2025 (January-June) reached $962 million (approximately ¥142 billion). This represents the highest mid-year sales record in the company’s 49-year history, surpassing the previous record of $924 million set in the same period last year.

One factor driving this strong performance for Heritage Auctions is the Pop Culture category. Pop culture items such as anime, trading cards, video games, and toys attract the attention of collectors worldwide. Items originating from Japan, a mecca for such culture, have long been highly valued by overseas collectors. In recent years, Japanese-made or Japanese-origin trading cards, game software, anime cels, and toys have been gaining renewed attention and are increasingly fetching high prices at auction.
During the first half of 2025, items related to Japan achieved high bids across diverse categories at Heritage Auctions’ events, significantly contributing to the company’s record-breaking first-half total sales.

Founded in 1976 as a coin-specialized auction company and dealing in rare coins for over 45 years, Heritage Auctions has now established itself as the world’s largest auction house in the rare coin sector. A coin auction held in Hong Kong in June 2025 featured numerous rare coins from the world-class “The Peh Family Collection,” including precious Japanese trial silver coins, which sold for record-high prices. Among them, hard-to-find Japanese coins garnered significant interest from collectors globally, reaffirming their international popularity and high value.
The company also handles a wide range of fine art, including American art, with auctions featuring original paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, and antiques by renowned artists. Following last year, the Ruth Nelkin ukiyo-e collection was offered in multiple sessions. An auction held in March 2025, featuring over 270 ukiyo-e prints and paintings including Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” from the series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji,” achieved a total hammer price exceeding ¥370 million, demonstrating the renewed appreciation for Japanese art in the global market.

This strong performance by Heritage Auctions is expected to continue into the second half of 2025, with several major auctions and offerings from world-famous collections scheduled. The company is anticipated to set a new annual sales record for the fifth consecutive year, following total sales of $1.867 billion in 2024 and $1.760 billion in 2023.

● Sports
‘2024 Topps 50/50 Shohei Ohtani Dynasty Black Card (Hand-Signed)’ (Topps, 2024)
Hammer Price: $1,067,500 (approx. ¥161.3 million)

This one-of-a-kind card incorporates a piece of the MLB logo from the uniform Ohtani wore during the Miami Marlins game on September 19, 2024, when he achieved 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. It is hand-signed by Ohtani in gold pen and marked “1/1” to the right of the signature, indicating its unique status.
● Trading Card Game
‘Pokémon Card Game’ “Tropical Mega Battle No.2 Trainer” PSA GEM MT 10 Holographic (The Pokémon Company, 1999)
Hammer Price: $81,250 (approx. ¥12.1 million)
This special promotional card was awarded to top finishers in the “Tropical Mega Battle,” considered the first world championship held before the current Pokémon World Championships. Its excellent condition contributed to the high bid.
‘Pokémon Card Game’ “World Championships No.1 Trainer” Junior Division Trophy Card (The Pokémon Company, 2010)
Hammer Price: $75,000 (approx. ¥10.9 million)
An extremely rare card, with only three issued per year, awarded to the Junior Division champion of the 2010 Pokémon World Championships. It features Pikachu holding a golden trophy against a deep blue holographic background.
● Anime (Cel)
‘Berserk’ “Guts” Early License Cel by Shichiro Kobayashi (OLM, Inc., circa 1997-98)
Hammer Price: $102,000 (approx. ¥15.2 million)

The powerful image of Guts, bearing the Brand of Sacrifice and carrying his greatsword, is hand-drawn in Kobayashi’s distinctive style on a 9.5×12 inch cel, with part of his signature visible at the bottom left.

● Game (Video Game)
‘The Legend of Zelda’ “Nintendo Entertainment System” Unopened First Production Software CGC 9.4 A+ (1987, Nintendo of America)
Hammer Price: $300,000 (approx. ¥43.2 million)

This first-edition package, which would have been on store shelves upon its release on August 22, 1987, is the commemorative first title in the influential ‘The Legend of Zelda’ series.
● Art
Katsushika Hokusai ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’ from the Ruth Sylvia Nelkin Collection of Japanese Prints
Hammer Price: $425,000 (approx. ¥63.6 million)
A masterpiece of woodblock print, considered one of the most popular Japanese artworks globally. This representative work by the Edo-period ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, which has greatly influenced artists worldwide, was offered from the Nelkin Collection and attracted bids from collectors around the world.
● Coin
Meiji 3rd Year (1870) 1 Yen Silver Coin Proof Trial Strike NGC PR64
Hammer Price: $288,000 (approx. ¥42.2 million)
An extremely rare trial strike of Japan’s first machine-struck 1 Yen silver coin. Minted shortly after the Meiji government decided to introduce a new currency system based on a circular, decimal system and the adoption of the silver standard, this coin symbolizes the dawn of a new era. Its extreme scarcity made it a coveted piece for collectors.
Meiji 7th Year (1874) Trade Silver Proof Trial Strike NGC PR62

Hammer Price: $240,000 (approx. ¥34.7 million)
A trial strike of the Trade Silver coin issued by Japan for foreign trade settlement, one of two trial designs produced in 1874. Its design features a dragon motif not enclosed by a border, with lead-gray and amber tones creating a fantastical impression. It is the higher-graded of two examples registered with NGC and the only one to appear at auction in recent years, selling for a high price as a representative Japanese coin from the Peh Family Collection.