The Pokemon Neo "Starter Pack," to be released on Feb. 4 in Japan, will retail for 1,580 yen (approximately $15). The box will measure 3.75 inches wide by 5.3 inches tall by 1 inch in depth, the same size as an American theme deck box. This marks a departure from the standard (smaller) Japanese Pokemon theme deck size of 2.6 inches by 3.75 inches by 1.12 inches. Apparently, Nintendo is trying to bring some conformity to its Japanese and American Pokemon card products, even though it is widely anticipated that the Neo card packages will be labeled (in both Japanese and English) "For Sale in Japan Only."

The starter pack will contain 6 cards consisting of the following:

• 2 holofoil cards, or what the Japanese call "killer cards"
• 30 standard Energy cards (6 different types; 5 of each type)
• 18 "convertible" Energy cards (6 different types; 3 of each type_
• 2 rare non-holofoil cards
• 6 uncommon non-holofoil cards
• 20 common non-holofoil cards
• 20 damage counters
• 2 markers
• 1 coin (engraved with picture of Lugia)
• 1 rulebook (in Japanese, of course)
  

Each booster pack will contain 10 cards and be the same size as the current Japanese booster packs. The cards will consist of the following:

• 1 holofoil (or "killer") card
• 1 rare non-holofoil card
• 3 uncommon non-holofoil cards
• 5 common non-holofoil cards
  

I hope you find this info useful. 

Cheers,

Glenn

www.pocketmonsters.com