Collector Club
Topps has unveiled one of the most eye-catching insert sets in recent memory with the upcoming 2025 Bowman Baseball release, anime-themed Kanji cards featuring four prominent Japanese players.
These limited-edition inserts are designed to mimic classic anime illustration, with Japanese character scripts celebrating each player’s heritage.
The cards are a major addition to Bowman’s evolving creative direction and will undoubtedly be among the most collectible inserts in this year’s product, especially Ohtani’s card.
The featured Japanese players
So far, Topps has confirmed that the following Japanese stars will be featured on Kanji cards in the 2025 set:
- Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Roki Sasaki – (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Shota Imanaga (Chicago Cubs)
- Kodai Senga (New York Mets)
- Ichiro Suzuki (formerly of Seattle Mariners)
- Hedeki Matsui (formerly of New York Yankees)
Each card displays the player’s name in Kanji, alongside anime-style artwork that reflects both their personality and presence on the field.
These aren’t just alternate artworks, Topps state that they have designed these as a cultural showcases that honour the players’ roots, while also pushing Bowman’s designs into new territory.
A cultural crossover for modern collectors
The inclusion of Kanji anime cards marks an intentional shift from Bowman’s traditionally clean, stats-focused approach into something more stylised and globally inclusive.
It’s a nod to the significant role Japanese players now play in Major League Baseball and an acknowledgment of the global reach of both anime and card collecting.
These cards also align with Bowman’s broader 2025 strategy of introducing more artist-driven insert content, building on what Topps has already explored in other lines like Topps Chrome Cosmic and Big League.
Where to buy and what else to expect
The Kanji cards are part of the 2025 Bowman Baseball product line, which includes two main configurations:
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Bowman Baseball 1st Bowmans
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Bowman Baseball Rookies
Both formats will include standard inserts, autographs, colour parallels and the highly sought-after 1st Bowman designations.
UK collectors can pick up sealed Bowman sets via a number of online stores listed on our dedicated list of sports card retailers , additionally they can follow the Topps news page for future updates on the product.
For all the latest on prospecting, inserts, and collector highlights from Topps and beyond, visit our sports card news section. You can also stay connected with everything happening in the hobby by heading to the main page of Collector Club.