On what date was Pokémon’s first trading card set released in Japan?

Pokémon’s first trading card set was released in Japan on October 20, 1996.

Known in Japan as the 1st Starter & Expansion Pack, this set was created by Creatures Inc. and published by Media Factory. It established the basic format of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, with cards representing Pokémon, Energy, and Trainer effects.

The Japanese release came only months after the original Pokémon games debuted and helped turn Pokémon into a broader collecting and playing phenomenon. The set was later localized for the United States as Base Set, where it launched on January 9, 1999, after an earlier 1998 demo pack.

Base Set is often remembered for its famous English cards featuring Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur. Collectors also distinguish early printings by details such as the First Edition stamp and the absence of a card-image drop shadow on so-called shadowless cards. The Japanese launch date, however, belongs to the original 1996 set.