On what date did the original Pokémon Base Set first release in Japan?

The original Pokémon Base Set first released in Japan on October 20, 1996.

Known in Japan as the first Starter and Expansion Pack, it was the first major set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Media Factory published the Japanese release, which contained cards based on Pokémon from the first generation.

The set is commonly called Base Set by English-speaking collectors, although the English version arrived much later. Wizards of the Coast released the English Base Set in the United States on January 9, 1999, creating a frequent date mix-up.

The Japanese set contained 102 cards and included iconic cards such as Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur. Its cards helped connect the new card game to the Game Boy games and became an important part of Pokémon’s expansion beyond video games.