Pikachu #1 cards show up in nearly every major Pokemon anniversary release, and it’s easy to mix them up once you’re looking at three or four different “anniversary Pikachu” products side by side. This one is specific: Pikachu (Mirror), card 001/028, from the 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a), illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita.
This guide covers what the card actually is, why its printed number doesn’t match the set’s total card count, how it differs from the newer 30th Celebration Pikachu Illustrator cards, and where a PSA 10 graded copy sits in our own catalog today.
Pikachu (Mirror) 001/028 (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) is from the 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a), released in Japan on 21 October 2021, illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita. It is not part of the 2026 30th Celebration Pikachu Illustrator lineup — different anniversary, different set, different year. A PSA 10 graded copy is currently listed at ¥19,690 (~$124 at ¥159/USD) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order).
Prices are converted at ¥159/USD (September 2026).
Pikachu Mirror 001/028: Card Facts
The card itself is straightforward to identify: it’s ピカチュウ (Pikachu), printed as card number 1, from the Japanese 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a) set. The illustration is credited to Mitsuhiro Arita. The product listing describes the print finish as “Mirror,” which is how the mirror-holo treatment on this card is labelled in our own catalog.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Card | Pikachu (Mirror) |
| Card number | 001/028 |
| Set | 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a) |
| JP release date | 21 October 2021 |
| Illustrator | Mitsuhiro Arita |
| Grade sold | PSA 10 |
| Current price | ¥19,690 (~$124) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
We currently have one PSA 10 graded copy of this exact card listed at ¥19,690 (~$124 at ¥159/USD) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order). If it sells before you get to it, sourcing another copy runs through our Quick Order page rather than a fixed restock date.
Inside the 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a)
25th Anniversary Collection (S8a) released in Japan on 21 October 2021 and totals 37 cards. Pikachu (Mirror) sits at the front of that checklist as card number 1, which is typical for a set built around Pokemon’s flagship mascot.
The set is closely tied to a companion promo product from the same campaign — a promo card pack distributed alongside S8a booster purchases — and to a separate “Golden Box” release from the same anniversary window. If you’re building out the full 25th Anniversary lineup rather than just this single card, our 25th Anniversary Collection booster box guide and 25th Anniversary Golden Box guide cover the sealed side of the set.
For the companion promo pack that circulated during the same release window, see our 25th Anniversary Promo Pack guide.
Why Is It Numbered 001/028?
If you’ve seen 25th Anniversary Collection listed elsewhere as a 37-card set, the “028” on this card’s numbering can look like a mismatch. It isn’t an error — it reflects how the set’s numbering band is structured.
The set’s numbering runs on a base of a core group of numbered cards plus a further run of alphabetic-suffixed bonus cards layered on top. The mirror-holo subset that this Pikachu belongs to is numbered against that core-plus-bonus band, which is where the “/028” denominator on the product listing comes from. Once every bonus-lettered card is counted alongside the core numbering, the set’s full checklist reaches 37 cards in total.
In short: 028 is the denominator used for this card’s specific numbering band, not the set’s overall card count. Both figures are correct — they’re just answering different questions.
Not the Same as the 2026 30th Celebration Illustrator Cards
This is worth stating plainly, because the two products get confused often: Pikachu (Mirror) 001/028 from the 25th Anniversary Collection is not part of the 30th Celebration “30 Pikachu Illustrator” lineup that Pokemon released in 2026.
They’re separate products from separate anniversaries, five years apart:
- 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a) — released 21 October 2021, the set this Pikachu Mirror card comes from.
- 30th Celebration / 30 Pikachu Illustrators — a separate 2026 anniversary set with its own card list and its own numbering.
If you landed here looking for the newer 30-card illustrator lineup specifically, our 30 Pikachu Illustrators 30th Celebration card list covers that set in full. This page stays focused on the earlier 2021 S8a Mirror print.
How This Pikachu Compares to Other Japanese Pikachu Prints
Pikachu has been reprinted as a chase-tier card across many Japanese sets and eras, and the visual style shifts a lot from one to the next. Two examples from outside the 25th Anniversary lineup show that range:
The Pikachu AR from Pokemon Card 151 (SV2a) is a modern alternate-art print built around a full-scene illustration style, while the Pikachu promo from the Sword & Shield Promotional Cards line reflects the more compact, single-character promo layout typical of that era. Neither is the card covered in this guide — they’re included purely to show how differently “a Pikachu chase card” can look depending on the set and the year. For a broader look at how Pikachu prints rank against each other, see our top 10 Pikachu Japanese cards roundup and our best Pikachu cards value guide.
Where It Sits Among Other PSA 10 Chase-Tier Singles
It also helps to see this card next to a completely unrelated chase-tier single, just to calibrate expectations. The Friends in Hisui Secret Rare from VSTAR Universe (S12a) is a different card from a different set entirely — a Trainer Supporter card rather than a Pikachu print — but it sits in a broadly similar PSA 10 collector tier. Comparing across sets like this is a useful gut-check when you’re deciding whether a given price for a graded single is in line with what similar-tier cards trade for elsewhere in the Japanese market.
Where to Buy the Pikachu Mirror 001/028
We ship graded singles and sealed Japanese product worldwide from Tokyo with tracked delivery. Our current PSA 10 copy of Pikachu (Mirror) 001/028 is a single unit — once it’s gone, sourcing another goes through Quick Order rather than a scheduled restock.
Looking for the sealed booster box this card comes from, or other PSA 10 singles from the same anniversary campaign? See our 25th Anniversary Collection booster box guide, or build a mixed order — sealed product and other graded singles together — through our Quick Order page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pikachu Mirror 001/028 card?
It’s Pikachu, card number 1, from the Japanese 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a) set, released 21 October 2021 and illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita. The product listing labels the print finish “Mirror” and numbers it 001/028.
What set is Pikachu Mirror 001/028 from?
The 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a), a 37-card Japanese set released 21 October 2021 to mark Pokemon’s 25th anniversary.
Why is it numbered 001/028 instead of 001/037?
The 028 denominator reflects the numbering band for this card’s mirror-holo subset, which runs on a core-plus-bonus-letter structure rather than the set’s full card count. The full 25th Anniversary Collection checklist totals 37 cards once every bonus letter is included.
Is this the same as the 30th Celebration Pikachu Illustrator cards?
No. Pikachu Mirror 001/028 is from the 2021 25th Anniversary Collection (S8a). The 30 Pikachu Illustrators cards are a separate 2026 30th Celebration product with its own set and numbering.
How much does a PSA 10 Pikachu Mirror 001/028 cost?
Our current PSA 10 graded copy is listed at ¥19,690 (about $124 at ¥159/USD). It’s a single-unit listing, so availability changes once it sells.
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