Two Pikachu cards, two completely unrelated origin stories. One started life as a magazine bonus card. The other was a giveaway for boarding an airplane.
Surfing Pikachu and Flying Pikachu are two of the most recognizable “costume” Pikachu prints in the Japanese Pokemon TCG — and both trace back to 1990s promotions before either one ever got a modern V or VMAX treatment. This guide walks through the printings we’ve verified for both cards, from the 1997 CoroCoro Comic original through the 2016 20th Anniversary reprint to the 2021 25th Anniversary Collection V and VMAX cards we currently carry in graded form. We ship Japanese sealed product and singles out of Tokyo every week, and the pricing below reflects our own current catalog.
What makes both cards worth tracking as a pair is how consistently Pokemon has returned to them. A card design doesn’t get revisited across three separate decades — 1997, 2016, and 2021 — unless it has staying power with collectors, and Surfing and Flying Pikachu are two of a small handful of Pikachu “costume” prints that have made that full round trip. Whether you’re chasing the vintage originals or the current V/VMAX pair, knowing which printing you’re looking at matters, since the number and set stamp on the card — not just the artwork concept — determine what you actually own.
Surfing Pikachu and Flying Pikachu each have at least four confirmed Japanese printings spanning 1997 to 2021, headlined by the V and VMAX cards from the 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a). We currently carry PSA 10 copies of Surfing Pikachu V RR at ¥17,940 (~$110) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) and Surfing Pikachu VMAX RRR at ¥22,021 (~$135) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), plus Flying Pikachu V RR at ¥13,349 (~$82).
Prices are current listings in our own catalog as of August 2026, converted at ¥163/USD.
Every Surfing & Flying Pikachu Print
The eight core printings across two names, from a 1997 magazine promo to the 2021 V/VMAX cards:
| Card | Number | Rarity | Set / Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfing Pikachu (glossy) | — | Promo | CoroCoro Comic Sept. 1997 bonus card | 1997 |
| Flying Pikachu | — | Promo | ANA “Jet de Get da!” campaign card | 1998 |
| Surfing Pikachu | 264/XY-P | Promo | 20th Anniversary Special Pack | 2016 |
| Flying Pikachu | 292/XY-P | Promo | CoroCoro Aniki issue 7 bonus | 2016 |
| Surfing Pikachu V | S8a 021/028 | RR | 25th Anniversary Collection | 2021 |
| Surfing Pikachu VMAX | S8a 022/028 | RRR | 25th Anniversary Collection | 2021 |
| Flying Pikachu V | S8a 023/028 | RR | 25th Anniversary Collection | 2021 |
| Flying Pikachu VMAX | S8a 024/028 | RRR | 25th Anniversary Collection | 2021 |
Both names started as one-off promo giveaways more than two decades apart in distribution channel — a comic magazine versus an airline campaign — and both sat dormant for close to twenty years before Pokemon revisited them twice: once as a faithful 2016 reprint, and again as full V/VMAX cards for the 25th anniversary. The sections below cover each era in order.
The Originals: 1997 CoroCoro and 1998 ANA Promos
The original Surfing Pikachu debuted as a bonus card in the September 1997 issue of monthly CoroCoro Comic — a Level 13 card issued with a glossy foil finish. A non-glossy version of the same card also exists, though the exact distribution details behind that variant weren’t confirmed in our research, so we won’t speculate on how it was distributed.
Flying Pikachu came from an entirely different channel: it was a promotional card tied to All Nippon Airways’ “Jet de Get da! W Chance Campaign” in 1998, with a second version reported in a later run of the same campaign. A separately distributed CoroCoro printing of the same card name exists as well. Exact campaign dates and entry requirements for the ANA promotion aren’t independently confirmed here, so treat anything beyond the broad framing above as approximate.
Neither vintage card has a confirmed image source we can display here — both predate the digital card databases most modern Japanese sets are catalogued through, so if you’re trying to identify a physical copy, the safest approach is comparing it against a verified auction or grading-service scan rather than a generic web search result.
Surfing Pikachu and Flying Pikachu aren’t a matched pair from the same release — they came from unrelated promotions a year apart, and only converged into a shared “set” once Pokemon paired them up for the 2016 and 2021 reprints.
The 2016 Revival: 20th Anniversary Promos
Both cards resurfaced in 2016 for Pokemon’s 20th anniversary, in two separate products.
Surfing Pikachu (264/XY-P) came packaged in the “20th Anniversary Special Pack: M Slowbro EX & Surfing Pikachu,” which released September 16, 2016 for ¥1,200 plus tax and included three packs of the CP6 “20th Anniversary” expansion alongside the promo card. It’s described as a same-format recreation of the 1997 original — Level 13, HP50, with the attack “Surf” (Water Energy x2 for 30 damage), illustrated by Toshinao Aoki. A second print number, 294/XY-P, also exists for this recreation, though we only confirmed the number itself, not further detail.
Flying Pikachu (292/XY-P) took a different route, arriving as a bonus card in issue 7 of CoroCoro Aniki magazine that same year. It’s a Level 12, HP40 card with two attacks — “Electric Shock” for 10 damage and “Sky Attack” for 30 — also illustrated by Toshinao Aoki, with no weakness and a −20 Fighting resistance.
For more on how Pokemon’s anniversary releases compare across the two eras, see our 25th vs 20th Anniversary sets guide.
The Modern Era: V and VMAX from the 25th Anniversary Collection
In October 2021, the 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a) gave both cards their first V and VMAX treatment — four cards total, numbered consecutively at 021 through 024 of 028.
![Surfing Pikachu V [S8a 021/028] RR (25th Anniversary Collection)](https://samuraiswordtokyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_surfing_s8a_21_r_jp_3483aa81d3c5-1.webp)
![Surfing Pikachu VMAX [S8a 022/028] RRR (25th Anniversary Collection)](https://samuraiswordtokyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_surfing_s8a_22_r_jp_2d973714a38c-1.webp)
The Surfing Pikachu V (021/028, RR) is the direct successor to the 1997 and 2016 promos, carrying the same surfboard artwork concept forward into the V card frame. The Surfing Pikachu VMAX (022/028, RRR) steps up in both scale and rarity, sitting above the V as the set’s higher chase card for this printing pair.
![Flying Pikachu V [S8a 023/028] RR (25th Anniversary Collection)](https://samuraiswordtokyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_surfing_s8a_23_r_jp_cc0ae5d25e8b-1.webp)
![Flying Pikachu VMAX [S8a 024/028] RRR (25th Anniversary Collection)](https://samuraiswordtokyo.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img_surfing_s8a_24_r_jp_62fb9575b3cf-1.webp)
The Flying Pikachu V (023/028, RR) and Flying Pikachu VMAX (024/028, RRR) follow the same pattern one number set higher — the VMAX print outranks its V counterpart in rarity within the same four-card run. The set also includes Pikachu V (RR) at #020 and a four-card Pikachu V-UNION spread across #025–028, so the full Pikachu lineup in this release runs nine cards deep counting the four-card V-UNION block.
Numbering this way — Pikachu V, then Surfing V, Surfing VMAX, Flying V, Flying VMAX, then the V-UNION block — puts the entire modern Pikachu run in one contiguous stretch of the set, which makes the 25th Anniversary Collection a natural single target if you’re trying to build out the whole “costume Pikachu” family rather than just one card. It also means the RR-to-RRR rarity split repeats identically for both Surfing and Flying, so the pricing pattern you see on one pair tends to echo on the other.
For the rest of what this set offers beyond the Pikachu run, see our 25th Anniversary Collection best cards guide.
What We Currently Carry in PSA 10
Of the four 25th Anniversary Collection prints, we currently have graded PSA 10 copies listed for three:
| Card | Number | Rarity | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfing Pikachu V | S8a 021/028 | RR | ¥17,940 (~$110) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| Surfing Pikachu VMAX | S8a 022/028 | RRR | ¥22,021 (~$135) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| Flying Pikachu V | S8a 023/028 | RR | ¥13,349 (~$82) |
The VMAX is the priciest of the three at ¥22,021 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), consistent with its RRR rarity tier sitting above the two RR V cards. Between the two V cards, Surfing Pikachu V at ¥17,940 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) currently lists above Flying Pikachu V at ¥13,349, though both share the same RR rarity and set. Each is a single copy currently listed at time of writing — when it sells, it’s gone.
Flying Pikachu VMAX (024/028, RRR) isn’t currently in our graded lineup alongside the other three. If you’re specifically hunting that fourth card, our Quick Order page is the fastest way to check current availability.
For the wider PSA 10 lineup we carry across other sets, our PSA 10 card list covers everything currently in graded stock.
Pulling These Cards from a 25th Anniversary Collection Box
All four V and VMAX prints come out of the same product, so sealed 25th Anniversary Collection boxes are the direct route if you’re chasing a specific card rather than a graded single.
If you’d rather target a specific Pikachu print without opening product, our top 10 Pikachu Japanese cards roundup covers where Surfing and Flying Pikachu rank against the rest of the Pikachu card family. The box route makes the most sense if you want a shot at all four V/VMAX prints in one purchase, or if you’re already collecting the set for its other chase cards and treating the Pikachu run as a bonus rather than the primary target.
Where to Buy Surfing & Flying Pikachu Cards from Japan
We ship Japanese sealed product and singles worldwide from Tokyo with tracked delivery. For the 25th Anniversary Collection specifically, the Booster Box is the direct route to sealed product, while our graded Surfing Pikachu V (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), Surfing Pikachu VMAX (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), and Flying Pikachu V listings let you buy the exact card without opening product yourself.
For more on grading and condition across the wider Pikachu lineup, see our PSA10 Pikachu Japanese cards buying guide. For other current Japanese pulls and specific singles outside this set, our Quick Order page is the fastest way to build a mixed order and check current availability, including the fourth V/VMAX print we don’t currently have graded and listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Surfing Pikachu and Flying Pikachu cards?
They’re two unrelated Pikachu promos with separate origin stories — Surfing Pikachu began as a 1997 CoroCoro Comic bonus card, while Flying Pikachu started as an ANA airline campaign giveaway in 1998. Both were later reprinted in 2016 and reissued as V/VMAX cards in the 2021 25th Anniversary Collection.
What is the original Surfing Pikachu card?
It’s a Level 13 promo card issued as a bonus with the September 1997 issue of monthly CoroCoro Comic, printed with a glossy foil finish. A non-glossy version also exists, though its distribution details aren’t fully confirmed.
How much are the 25th Anniversary Collection Surfing and Flying Pikachu V/VMAX cards worth?
Our current PSA 10 listings are ¥17,940 for Surfing Pikachu V (021/028, RR), ¥22,021 for Surfing Pikachu VMAX (022/028, RRR), and ¥13,349 for Flying Pikachu V (023/028, RR), as of August 2026.
Where can I buy Surfing and Flying Pikachu cards from Japan?
We ship Japanese sealed product and singles worldwide from Tokyo. The 25th Anniversary Collection Booster Box is currently listed at ¥79,800, and graded PSA 10 singles of both cards are available individually, alongside our wider PSA 10 card list and Quick Order page for other Japanese pulls.
Is Flying Pikachu VMAX also available in PSA 10?
The card exists as part of the same 25th Anniversary Collection run (024/028, RRR), but it isn’t currently in our graded PSA 10 lineup alongside Surfing Pikachu V, Surfing Pikachu VMAX, and Flying Pikachu V. Check our Quick Order page for current availability.
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