We have previously introduced international brand debit cards that can be made even by minors, and we believe that those who have made debit cards are making progress in their gaming life.
However, debit cards are inconvenient in some cases, such as when you don't have your money on hand, or when you don't have a deposit in the bank account associated with the debit card.
Although immediate payment is an advantage of debit cards, some people may want to have at least one credit card as an adult, don't you think?
So, we would like to introduce credit cards recommended for a comfortable gaming life, at the sole discretion of our editorial department!
First of all, let's have a basic knowledge of credit cards.
Credit cards are issued by various credit card companies, and there are also many co-branded cards among them.
There are roughly six types of international brands of credit cards, and credit card issuing companies issue credit cards after obtaining the issuing license of international brands.
List of International Brands
- Visa
- Mastercard
- JCB
- American Express
- Diners Club
- Discover
International brands are, as the name suggests, brands that can be used at merchants around the world.
In addition to the above, there are eight other international brands, including UnionPay (widely used in China) and Мир (in Russia).
International brands are also cooperating with each other, including mutual opening of member stores and various other alliances.
For example, JCB member stores in Japan accept American Express, Diners Club, and UnionPay.
Credit Card Issuers
Issuers are companies that issue credit cards under a license from an international brand.
Issuers are roughly classified into the following categories.
| Classification | Example of issuer | Examples of Credit Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Club Co. Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co. Resona Card Co. Kyushu Card Co. Hokuriku Card Co. | Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co. MUFG Card Co. VISAO Card Co. DC Card Co. Resona Credit Card ANA Card JAL Card |
| Consumer credit | Orient Corporation JACCS Co. Credit Saison Co. Pocketcard Co. | Orico Card Co. JACCS CARD REX CARD Star Flyer Premium Card Saison Card PARCO Card P-one Card Famima T Card ZOZOCARD |
| Circulation | Rakuten Card Co. Aeon Credit Service Co. Epos Card Co. | Rakuten Card, Inc. AEON CARD Epos Card Co. |
| Department stores | MICARD Co. Persona Corporation JFR Card Co. | MICARD+ Card Persona STACIA Card Daimaru Matsuzakaya Card Sakura Panda Card |
| Telecommunication | NTT FINANCE CORPORATION au Financial Service Co. YJ Card Co. | YJ Card Co. au PAY Card Yahoo! JAPAN Card |
| Manufacturer | Toyota Finance Corporation Idemitsu Credit Co. | TOYOTA TS CUBIC CARD Idemitsu Card Maido Plus |
| Transportation | View Card Co. Tokyu Card Corporation | JRE CARD LUMINE CARD Bic Camera Suica Card TOKYU CARD ClubQ JMB |
| Consumer Finance | Life Card Co. Acom Co. | Life Card Co. HYDE CARD AC Master Card |
| Others | JCB Corporation American Express Japan K.K. | JCB General Card American Express Card |
There are many different types of credit card companies (I may have made the classification a bit too detailed...), but the main business of the parent company of a credit card company is what it is.
Credit Saison is classified as a consumer credit company, but since it was originally part of the Seibu Group, it could be classified as a transportation company, since it is part of the Seibu Railway Company, and Rakuten Card is a distribution company from the perspective of Rakuten Ichiba.
JCB Co., Ltd. and American Express Japan K.K. are two international card brand companies, but they also issue their own credit cards, which is rare among international brands.
Of course, they also grant issuing licenses to other companies.
It is rare in the world that there are so many credit card issuers, and most of them are bank-affiliated companies, so called "bank-affiliated" companies.
I also live in Hong Kong, and in the case of Hong Kong, most banks issue credit cards.
In Hong Kong, the only non-banks that issue credit cards are AEON, American Express Card, and PrimeCredit.
Instead, international-brand prepaid cards seem to be more widespread than in Japan.
It is important to have one main card and one sub-card that suits your needs.
Now that you understand how credit card companies work, you may be asking yourself, "So which credit card do you recommend I get?" It is best to make a credit card that fits your lifestyle.
To those of you who think, "No, no, that's not possible after all this time...", don't worry.
As with debit cards, the credit card nerd members of our editorial department will make recommendations based on our own prejudice!
First of all, for those who are making a credit card for the first time, we will introduce a recommended card with "no annual fee" and "relatively easy to pass the screening" as the two key points.
If you go to AEON frequently, get an AEON Card!
Aeon is located from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, and those who live in the suburbs are probably familiar with Aeon.
The AEON Card is an excellent way to save money not only at AEON, but also at AEON Group stores.
- Double points at Aeon Group stores!
- 5% off purchases on "Customer Appreciation Days" on the 20th and 30th of every month!
- If you apply by 5:00 p.m. on the same day, you can pick up your card at a store in as little as 5 minutes!
- You can choose your card brand from Visa, Mastercard, and JCB!
- Accumulated points can be converted to WAON points!
As this is a credit card issued by Aeon, those who frequently use the card at Aeon Group will be able to earn a lot of points.
Aeon has an image of a huge shopping mall "Aeon Mall", but there are many stores with various concepts such as "Daiei", "Maxvalu", "Maibasuketto", "Sunday", "Acore", and "Forus".
The key point is that it is easy to be screened.
In addition to the above-mentioned points, the appeal of the AEON Card is that it is easy to be approved for a credit card as a "first-time credit card". The first time you use Aeon, you will be asked to apply for a new credit card.
Credit cards require the ability to repay the amount spent by the credit card company, so the screening process requires the ability to repay.
However, AEON Card is available for those who are 18 years old or older (high school students are not accepted), and there is no annual income information on the application form.
As long as you are not on the so-called "black list," you have a high probability of being approved.
Why not consider an AEON Card as your first credit card as an AEON user?
Rakuten Card, which earns a lot of points in Rakuten's economic zone!
The Rakuten Group's Rakuten Card, which is synonymous with your first credit card, will help you earn more and more points if you use it well.
- Get 5,000 yen worth of points when you newly enroll!
- Earn up to 3X points at Rakuten Ichiba!
- There is an Academy Card for students!
- You can choose a card brand from Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and American Express!
- You can use your accumulated points at Rakuten Ichiba and charge them to Edy!
If you use Rakuten Group often, you can earn points from Rakuten Group!
You can earn multiple points!
In many cases, recharging electronic money is not eligible for points, but Rakuten Card earns 1 point (1 yen) per 200 yen for recharging Rakuten Edy.
In addition, you can earn 1 point per 200 yen by paying with Rakuten Edy.
You can also charge your accumulated points to Rakuten Edy, so you can earn more and more Rakuten Points!
Of course, you can earn points when you shop at Rakuten Ichiba, and you can also earn points at chain stores such as FamilyMart and McDonald's when you show your barcode!
It's not only a game, but also an asset-building activity!
You can also use your Rakuten Points to invest in Rakuten Securities, purchase virtual currency with Rakuten Wallet, and build assets.
LAN Cableman is investing his Rakuten Points, saying, "I don't feel comfortable investing with cash on hand, but with points I can easily invest," and is successfully building assets in the Rakuten Economic Circle.
Easy to be approved for the credit card!
I told you that the aforementioned AEON Card is also easy to pass the examination, but you may be thinking, "It is your opinion that it is easy to pass the examination, isn't it?" Some of you may be thinking, "It's your opinion that it is easy to pass the screening, isn't it?
However, Rakuten Card issues a student-only credit card called "Rakuten Card Academy"!
The credit card is only for students between the ages of 18 and 28, but it can be applied for by students with no income, and is probably one of the easiest credit cards in Japan to get approved for.
Please consider this credit card for your first credit card debut.
Recommended for game lovers! Epos Card, popular among young people!
Epos Card is often named as the first credit card I had. Although there is a strong image that Epos Card = Marui's card, it is actually highly supported by young people, and is one card that I would recommend to gamers without a second thought.
- No. 1 merchant Visa brand!
- Get 2,000 yen worth of points for new cardholders!
- Earn 2 to 30 times more points at "Tamaru Market"!
- You can get a separate card number for online shopping!
- Travel insurance is included!
- A lineup of game and animation rewards!
Rakuten Card and Aeon Card also offer membership benefits and points, but the fact that Saiga NAK, a gaming media company, recommends this card means...
A lineup of cards with gaming and anime rewards!
In fact, Epos Card issues credit cards in collaboration with many companies, stores, and services, and among them, they collaborate with games and anime!
For game companies, they issue the Capcom Epos Card and the Koei Tecmo Games Epos Card, among others, and also offer a wide variety of card designs.
The gaming companies issue the Capcom Epos Card and the Koei Tecmo Games Epos Card, and there is a wide variety of card designs.
Capcom Epos Card has designs of popular titles such as MON-HAN and Parma the Prisoner of War!
The Capcom Epos Card offers special benefits for each game title, such as limited-edition goods and illustrations!
Koei Tecmo Games Epos Card has designs of Liza and Lulua from the Atelier series!
Koei Tecmo Games is known for its Atelier series. From the Atelier series, credit cards with designs of "Liza's Atelier: Queen of Everlasting Darkness and the Secret Lair," "Lulua's Atelier: Alchemist of Arland 4" and "Atelier Online: Alchemist of Braceil" have been issued.
And not only the designs, the Atelier series credit cards offer a 2,000 yen discount on purchases at the official GUST online store, GUST SHOP, as a new member benefit!
If you are a gamer wondering which card to get, Capcom Epos or Koetek Epos are the two choices for you.
If you're not sure which gaming credit card to get, I'd recommend the safest, regular Epos card!
If you have an AEON Card or Rakuten Card with a non-Visa brand, I think it is also "possible" to have an Epos Card as a "sub card ".
Once you get used to the credit card life, you can explore new credit cards!
This was an introduction for first-time credit card holders, but once you get used to the credit card life, you may want to look into other credit cards.
For example, JCB and American Express cards are expensive and have an image of not being used in many places, but most gaming platforms accept PayPal, so you should have no trouble.
Also, the QR code payment system "Nantokapai" has an image of only accepting Visa and Mastercard credit cards, but "au Pay," for example, accepts American Express for recharges, and JCB is also accepted. For example, "au Pay" can be charged with American Express, and JCB can also be charged, although it depends on the card issuer.
If you do not have a credit card, first create a credit card that is relatively easy to create, and then look for a credit card that suits you.