JAPAN'S RETRO GAME MARKET — IN ENGLISH

Retro Yen

Twice a week, we read Japan's sources — Yahoo! Auctions, Surugaya, Famitsu — and send you the prices and re-release news that never make it into English.

What is Retro Yen?

Most of the information collectors want about Japanese retro games is locked behind Japanese-language sites. Retro Yen exists to unlock it.

We're based in Saitama, Japan, and run by KUGEDOU Inc. Every issue is built from Japanese primary sources — actual Yahoo! Auctions (ヤフオク) sold-listing data, Surugaya (駿河屋) buyback prices, and re-release news from Japanese game media. Prices are reported as facts, not investment advice.

What you get, twice a week

  • Auction results — what actually sold, and for how much, this week in Japan.
  • Re-releases & ports — mini-consoles, collections, and Japan-first announcements.
  • Japan-only radar — hardware, events, and print you can only get here.
  • Market notes — where to buy, where to sell, and how the weak yen is moving prices.

A taste of Issue #1

🎌 This week at Japan's auctions

  • ¥123,666 (~$760) — C-SO! (Pony Canyon, MSX), a Japan-only maze-action cart rarely seen abroad.
  • ¥178,000 (~$1,100) — The Last Blade 2 (NEOGEO ROM cart).
  • ¥498,000 (~$3,070) — a Sony Trinitron KV-21SP1 CRT. Working CRTs are collectibles now.

Plus: Ganbare Goemon's collection with 4 first-ever ports, the Nintendo 64's 30th anniversary in Japan, and where to buy tested retro games across 97 GEO stores.

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Affiliate disclosure

Retro Yen may include affiliate links (for example to eBay or Japanese proxy-buying services). If you buy through one of them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links are always marked, and they never change what we report — prices and results are stated as facts. We only link to items and services relevant to what we're covering.

Privacy policy

We keep this simple.

  • What we collect: only the email address you give us when you subscribe, plus standard delivery/engagement data (whether an email was opened or a link clicked), handled by our email provider, Buttondown.
  • Why: to send you the newsletter and understand which content is useful.
  • Sharing: we never sell or share your email address. We don't buy email lists or add anyone without consent.
  • Your control: every email has a one-click unsubscribe link. You can also email us to be removed and have your data deleted.
  • Affiliate/third parties: if you click an affiliate link, the destination site (e.g. eBay) has its own privacy policy that then applies.

Questions about your data? Email info@retroyen.com.

Contact

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