A: With a handful of PCE games, it is possible that the JP release had a lower production run than the North American release (Wataru!). Think about how NEC overestimated demand for TG-16 console, in general, and Keith Courage was included with every console.
Now, the question to ask is... even if Wataru was a popular TV show, would Hudson pump out 750,000+ Huey’s?
It was my understanding that in the first 2 years of the PCE, simply selling 200,000 copies of a game was considered very successful (maybe my numbers are wrong... this was “research” I did 15+ years ago from poor sources).
Anyway, regardless of actual data, it is conceivable that Bloody Wolf, Wataru, GunHed, and a few other titles were produced in much greater quantities for North America.
Supply and demand still is a factor in determining price, although it is compounded by many other things (popularity, perceived value, etc.)
I played Magical Chase regularly on consoles and an Express for over 20 years, keeping it loose with stacks of shuffling HuCards and it sustained very little wear.
Please send me HuCARD only in a plain business envelope. I’ll pay shipping to New Jersey. Thank you, comrade.