Pojo, please post this.  I think everyone should hear this.  

    A store in my area carries Japanese packs.  Gym 2 costs about $13.00 a 
pack!  What scares me is that PEOPLE ACTUALLY BUY THESE!!!  first of all 
they're extremely difficult to use in decks.  You need to have the 
translation with you wherever you play so you and your opponent can both know 
the attacks.  Also, you need to have black or red backed card sleeves (since 
the back of Japanese cards are different), which are also fairly expensive 
($5.00-8.00 a pack).  If you have translations and card sleeves, I could 
understand using Japanese, but I wouldn't pay $13.00 for them.  But what 
annoys me is that kids who don't have the translations or card sleeves still 
buy the packs just because their friends are.  In my opinion, It's another 
attempt to take advantage of the less experienced players.  In the same way 
the companies glorified charizard, they influence kids to think that Japanese 
cards are better because they're imported, look cool, and cost more.  
    So please, if you buy or are thinking about buying Japanese, think about 
what I've said.  But it's your money, not mine.

                                                If you want to argue, email 
me at 
                                                        souper451@aol.com