Renhao’s Quietly Joyful Journey Through the Pokémon TCG
Renhao’s collecting story started quietly, years ago, with an album of used MRT fare and phone cards that was lovingly assembled by his parents.
Some of those had exclusive artwork, which he fondly remembers (mostly because he ended up cutting them into strips, trying to glitch his way to a Teddymon).
That same curious, playful instinct has followed him into every collection since; whether it was fake sticker Pokémon cards from 20-cent gashapon machines in primary school, or later obsessions with vinyl records, tarot decks and fountain pens.
While he wouldn’t call himself a hardcore collector, something about collecting just comes naturally to him.
There’s joy, he says, in seeing related things placed together; items that make sense both individually and as part of a bigger picture.
Clay Art, Jank Piles and Sequential Art
What keeps Renhao coming back today isn’t glitter or rarity, but aesthetically pleasing art.
He began by collecting Flareon cards and artwork illustrated by Yuka Morii, before gradually expanding into Clefairies and cards by Tomokazu Komiya. These artist-focused collections offer him a wide and varied canvas to explore, spanning different eras of the Pokémon TCG, often tucked away in jank piles that most people overlook.
Renhao also takes great joy in discovering card sequences that tell a larger story. From the well-known Ralts-to-Gardevoir evolution line in Scarlet & Violet Base, to Swablu and Altaria in Paradox Rift, and even the subtle, interconnected artwork of older sets, he loves it when indivdiual cards are able to speak to one another.
The Never-Ending Hunt For Yuka Morii
One of his most memorable collecting experiences happened recently, on a casual night out with a friend at Square 2. Renhao visited a tiny card shop and found packs of jank cards wrapped up and sold for cheap.
Many turned out to be from the Sun & Moon era, and as he opened pack after pack, he uncovered a treasure trove of his favorite artists — Komiya, Morii, sowsow, Yukiko Baba, and Shibuzoh — all hiding in plain sight.
The thrill of the hunt and joy of discovery continues to drive him today, and at the top of his current wishlist is Yuka Morii’s elusive squad of Ditto cards (the ones disguised as other Pokémon in the EX Delta Species and Holon Research Tower sets).
An Unassuming 100¥ Card With 28 Different Stories
As for his most meaningful card? Well, it’s a card many may have never even heard of: Peaceful Park, a Gym Promo Stadium card from the Sword & Shield era.
It’s not flashy. It isn’t foil. In fact, it only cost him 100¥ in Japan.
But it’s also the setting for 28 different Pokémon cards, all coexisting and interacting within the same serene space. To Renhao, Peaceful Park is a symbol of interconnectedness; a quiet card with a rich story that spans across an entire era.
“To me,” he says, “this card is a wonderful representation of how ideas are often far richer and larger than any one point-of-view. It is my personal reminder to always try to look beyond the surface, and to seek out the stories hidden behind plain-looking façades.”
There’s no need to rush. Collecting is a marathon, not a sprint. But even if you sprinted at the start, it’s never too late to moderate. Don’t feel trapped by what you’ve already spent. Choose what sparks joy, and pivot if you want to. At the end of the day, nobody else gets to define your collecting journey.
Every Collection Starts From Somewhere
Even though Renhao believes he doesn’t have anything particularly bombastic to show in his collection, he recognizes that this is a time when many new hobbyists are entering the world of collecting.
If anything he’s shared today can provide an anchor, or even just a starting perspective, for someone to shape their own collecting philosophy, he’d be honoured to have played a small part in their journey.
“Good luck, and may your last pack always be magic.”
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