If anybody in Chicago is going to Japan soon and needs one...
(ok, actually I have a compatible manaca from Nagoya, maybe those are still available?)
Maybe I should get an electronic Suica on my iPhone just in case though.
After looking around Nagoya's Manaca websites [0] they don't seem to talk about any suspension of card distribution. JR West ICOCA also seems like is business as usual [1].
Still, it is quite surprising to see an early 00s piece of technology which does not use really advanced chips to have production shortages.
[0] https://www.kotsu.city.nagoya.jp/jp/pc/topics/index.html?cat...