Wales 31, Japan 22
Noevir Stadium
Saturday
Wales 31 (Kieran Hardy 2, Josh Adams, Dan Edwards tries; Edwards 4 conversions, penalty), Japan 22 (Shuhei Takeuchi, Warner Dearns, Dylan Riley tries; Seungsin Lee 2 conversions, penalty). HT: 21-10
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Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gen Z men are still obsessed with Pokémon cards—using ‘boy math' to argue that they'll beat Nvidia stock and the S&P 500. But there's a catch
Pokémon and sports trading cards are outperforming the S&P 500 with upwards of 46% annual returns, and it's driving mania among Gen Z and Millennial men to collect top cards. While most fans aren't getting rich off a reselling side gig, there's no sign the boom is letting up—especially with big names like Logan Paul joining in on the frenzy. Gen Z and Millennials are in agreement: their obsession with Pokémon may never let up. Despite the Japanese franchise nearing its 30-year anniversary, young men in particular continue to be on a lifelong mission to 'catch 'em all'—and are spending hundreds, sometimes even millions of dollars, collecting trading cards. Part of the 'boy math' is that investing in cards could yield significant returns, and there might be some truth to the matter. Pokémon cards have seen the largest long-term increase in value among all card categories: up 3,261% over 20 years, according to data provided to Fortune from Card Ladder. Even looking at a one-year investment, the average Pokémon card is increasing at nearly 46%—a pace far exceeding hot stocks like Nvidia so far in 2025 or the S&P 500's average 12% annual return rate. While cards have to be rare and in pristine condition to make significant profit, the industry frenzy has left the shelves of retailers like Walmart and Target bare—and even caused some stores to enact limits or pauses on selling altogether. And online, it's pushing the resale market to new heights. Users on eBay searched for 'Pokemon' nearly 14,000 times per hour in 2024, according to Adam Ireland, VP and GM of global collectibles at eBay. And pairing the Pokémania with continued demand in the sports card world (thanks to athletes like Caitlin Clark and Michael Jordan), it's created a perfect storm of opportunity for the trading card industry. The total gross value of cards on eBay has increased for nine consecutive quarters. This embedded content is not available in your region. 'The trading card hobby has entered a new era, driven by technology, innovation, community, and a great balance of modern creativity–with new sets, storylines and characters–alongside good old nostalgia,' Ireland tells Fortune. No other influencer may have driven continued interest in Pokémon cards in particular than Logan Paul. The YouTuber, who is also known for his ventures into professional wrestling, boxing, and entrepreneurship, has spent millions of dollars purchasing cards—and then profiting off the millions of views generated from his content. 'Nostalgia + business = the new art,' he wrote on social media after spending $200,000 on cards. 'These things are appreciating like crazy as collectibles are becoming very low supply, high demand art pieces.' Logan Paul wearing a Charizard Pokemon card chain as he entered the ring for a 2021 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. In 2022, he broke a Guinness World Record for the most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at a private sale with the purchase of a PSA Grade 10 (essentially perfect condition) Pikachu Illustrator card for $5.275 million. 'This card cost me more than my ranch. My 84-acre ranch,' Paul said at the time. Other social platforms, including TikTok, are full of content creators who have dedicated their lives to the purchasing, opening, and reselling of cards. But for some, the joy of collecting or making a profit doesn't work out as much as planned, with a recent call into Dave Ramsey's personal finance vodcast showing just how bad the obsession is gotten for some young men. 'I messed up big. I went behind my pregnant wife's back and racked up $26K in credit card debt in four months,' the caller said. 'What did you jack up $26K on?' Ramey asked. 'Pokemon cards—trying to buy a bunch and sell them online, but it didn't work out.' Like other collectables, trading cards can be considered a 'commodity' and even art, according to Jason Howarth, SVP of marketing and athlete relations at Panini America, a sports card company. But whether to consider it a true investment opportunity depends largely on your intentions. 'For some people, they (collect) because they view it as an investment. Others do it for the pure fun of it,' he says. By and large, most collectors are not going so off the deep end and being overly financially irresponsible, and instead see the hobby as a guilty pleasure. That includes Ryan Hoge, the president of PSA, one of the biggest companies that evaluates the condition and authenticity of trading cards. He said he personally has tens of thousands of cards, but like many, he enjoys collecting them, even if they are stored up in a closet. 'I think sometimes people want to break from the digital, and this is a good outlet for it,' Hoge tells Fortune. And not only do you get to hold something in your hand, but you also get to interact with a community of like minded people that have similar interests.' Last month, nearly 125,000 fans attended Fanatics' (which owns trading card company Topps) second annual convention centered around all things sports and collectibles. And the event notably saw influencer and former gymnast Livvy Dunne purchase a card of her professional baseball player boyfriend for $2,850. The National Sports Collectors Convention, which also brings over 100,000 fans, is set for later this summer outside of Chicago. While the trading card industry was on the brink of extinction following overproduction in the 1990s, it's since recovered and is booming. Sports cards bring in $1 billion in annual revenue for manufacturers and retailers, according to The Athletic. Pokémon alone brought in a similar number, and was the only toy to surpass $1 billion in sales last year, says Circana data. And even though over 75 billion Pokémon cards have been produced (enough to wrap around Earth end-to-end 165 times), demand is still skyhigh, according to Barry Sams, vice president of game development and community engagement at The Pokémon Company International. 'With explosion in demand, we're printing at maximum capacity to deliver the greatest amount of cards possible to fans for current expansions while ensuring we maintain quality standards,' he tells Fortune. 'Those who grew up with Pokémon now have children of their own to share that passion with, and oftentimes, that means revisiting old Pokémon card collections and recreating fond childhood memories as a parent.' The opportunity within the card industry is causing retailers like GameStop to pay greater attention. The electronics store said in the first quarter of 2025, collectibles, such as Pokémon and sports cards, made up 29% of the company's sales—outselling video game software. 'We're focusing on trading cards as a natural extension of our existing business,' GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen said at the company's annual shareholder meeting last month. 'The trading card market, whether it's sports, Pokémon or collectibles, is aligned with our heritage. It fits our trade and model. It appeals to our core customer base. And it's deeply embedded in physical retail.' The industry continues to fascinate even world leaders. During this year's Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, President Donald Trump was seen with a graded trading card that depicted the assassination attempt on him last year. And in a recent meeting with a young student, Pope Leo XIV didn't shy away from the trading card frenzy and was more than happy to sign a 'Popplio' Pokemon card. 'It doesn't matter how old you are, when you get a pack of cards in your hand, the first thing you want to do is rip it open and you hope that you're going to get that hot rookie, or you're going to get a player from your favorite team,' says Panini's Howarth. 'If any one of those things happens, you're ecstatic.' This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
an hour ago
Wales finally tastes victory after 19 tests and 644 days
KOBE, Japan -- Wales' misery is over. Wales finally won a rugby test and snapped an 18-match international losing streak when it held off Japan 31-22 on Saturday. The Welsh looked like they were going to blow it again when their 24-10 lead was cut to 24-22 by Japan with 17 minutes remaining. But Wales used a Josh Macleod ruck turnover to get back into the Japan 22 and pressure and desperation earned a 74th-minute try for flyhalf Dan Edwards. The first-time test starter converted his try and was a perfect five-for-five off the tee. The nine-point margin and sterling defense in sweltering heat were finally enough to get Wales to fulltime, when it celebrated with hugs and cheers. 'We knew it was 18 successive defeats but this is a young group and there's a lot more to come from us,' Edwards told S4C channel. 'It was amazing to score. I was just glad to catch the ball!. I'm just so glad we won.' He and many of the team had never tasted victory for Wales. Wales had gone 644 days since its last win in October 2023 against Georgia in the Rugby World Cup. It's 18-match losing run left it tied with France's losing streak from 1911-20 as the longest by a major team in test rugby history. Wales had to endure brutal conditions again. The afternoon match was played in high humidity in an enclosed stadium which required regular water breaks and an extended 20-minute halftime break. Winger Josh Adams was a standout for Wales, scoring the opening try and setting up the second of a first-half double for scrumhalf Kieran Hardy before being replaced at halftime. Hardy scored in the 27th minute and again in the 35th, while Japan No. 8 Faulua Makisi was in the sin-bin, as Wales opened a 21-3 lead. But with Makisi back and a new front row on, Japan struck just before halftime with a try to replacement tighthead Shuhei Takeuchi. A 40-meter Edwards penalty after the break made it 24-10 then Japan came roaring back. Lock Warner Dearns scored at the end of a long attack started by his chargedown, and center Dylan Riley scooped a dropped overhead catch by Edwards and ran from halfway to score between the posts. Wales looked like it was wilting as it did last week in the first test in Kitakyushu, when it blew a 19-7 lead and lost 24-19. The Wales 6-2 bench was even exposed when an injured center had to be replaced with a scrumhalf who was posted on the wing. But Macleod's turnover started a last resurgence and the Welsh prevailed. They looked spent and clung to each other in celebration.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Relief and delight as Wales taste victory again
Wales had been without a win since beating Georgia at the 2023 World Cup in France [Getty Images] Emotions were running high at the Noevir Stadium in Kobe as Wales ended their 18-match losing Test run with a hard-fought 31-22 victory against Japan. A Welsh celebration song rang out in the changing rooms to mark an international victory for the first time in 644 days. Advertisement The success levelled the series and halt a 21-month losing run that stretches back to the victory against Georgia in the World Cup game in Nantes in October 2023. Wales had realised how to win again. Interim head coach Matt Sherratt and captain Dewi Lake outlined their feelings in an emotional press conference where they looked delighted and drained in equal measures. 'It's been a long time coming' "I'm over the moon," said Lake. "It's been a long time coming. You look back at tough results we've had over the past 18 months. "We were probably in the driving seat last week but let it slip. To dig in and get the job done today is an amazing feeling." Advertisement After Lake had finished, Sherratt affectionately congratulated his captain by tapping him on the shoulder, before adding: "I'm very similar to Dewi. "I am more pleased for the playing group, coaches and staff. I only saw five games, but the coaches that were here previously who aren't on this trip, they put in so much effort. "The support staff, they wear it as well. Probably the most emotional thing for me was, when the whistle went, was seeing them and this group of players get a win. "It's the reason why I did it again. To get it in that fashion in the second game, I'm so pleased for the lads." Advertisement 'Never have I wanted to win a game so much' The television cameras caught both Lake and Sherratt close to tears at the final whistle. Lake was on the sidelines helpless in the final quarter as Wales ground out the result following another Japan comeback. This time Wales triumphed and Lake sunk into his seat. "It's probably quite tough to put into words," said Lake. "Around 65 minutes, you almost felt the sense that things were going quite similarly to last week. "So to score that try in the dying moments, it kind of sinks in that you've got the job done. "You've won the game and that was ultimately our goal. Advertisement "To come out here, getting a win on the board and put the run to an end. So the emotion probably flooded through quite quickly then." Sherratt was caught hunched over the laptop when the final whistle went in the coaches box. His expression was felt by many Welsh supporters. Pure relief. "I had to get Gethin Jenkins [Wales defence coach] to give me a slap around the face to get in check as I could have easily embarrassed myself on television," said Sherratt. "I've genuinely never wanted to win a game of rugby so much. "I know what the group has put in over the last five games and I see what it means to them. Advertisement "There's not been a more deserving group I've worked with and it was pretty emotional." 'New coach will not have burden of losing streak' Wales' 18-match losing run started with a defeat by Argentina at the World Cup in October 2023 [Getty Images] It was a first victory for Sherratt in his fifth and final game in charge of Wales after taking the caretaker coach role when Warren Gatland resigned during the Six Nations in February. Wales are set to appoint a permanent successor to Gatland in the next few weeks with Sherratt outlined what he should expect. "He's got a brilliant group to work with," said Sherratt. "A very passionate group of players and staff and some raw talent as well. Advertisement "Today is the end of a long season, but for Welsh rugby, it's got to be the start of something. "The big motivation for me and the group was for the next guy coming in, was to let them start on a level playing field without the burden of 18 [defeats] in a row around their neck. "The works got to be done now with the national coaches in the regions. Let's get into the regions and develop a good young group of players." Lake hopes this win will kick-start things for next season when that new boss comes in with Wales facing Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in November. Advertisement "Everyone's worked hard over the last five games but especially over the last five weeks," said Lake. "So the confidence this will hopefully breed within this group will be huge for us moving forward." Wales captain thanks caretaker coaches Wales face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in November [Getty Images] Sherratt is due to return to Cardiff after being aided by a temporary backroom staff in Japan which also includes Gethin Jenkins, Danny Wilson, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas and Leigh Halfpenny. Most are in line to return to their clubs now but not before Lake thanked them for their efforts. "They have built that confidence over the last five weeks and allowed us to express ourselves on the field," said Lake. Advertisement "That's been a massive help." Sherratt gave one final message to the fans who have followed Wales through the trials and tribulations of the past two years. "Thanks so much for your support," said Sherratt. "Even during the Six Nations, I know it's been a hard time to support Wales. "I hope you can enjoy tonight because we are certainly going to enjoy the next 24 hours." Then off Sherratt and Lake disappeared to join in with that victory song. It has been a while since we could say that. 644 days to be precise. The win should not paper over the cracks of Welsh rugby's problems and was achieved against Eddie Jones' Japan side who are now ranked 14th in the world with Wales returning to 12th. Advertisement A summer of upheaval still lies ahead off the the field with major changes in the Welsh game being discussed. However, just for today, this long-awaited triumph needs to be recognised, for the long-suffering players, coaches and fans. It is just a small success, yes, but hopefully a significant one.
