On what date was the Pokémon TCG Base Set released in Japan?

The Pokémon TCG Base Set was released in Japan on 20 October 1996.

Known in Japan as the first Starter and Expansion Pack, Base Set was the first card set for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Creatures Inc. created the game, and Media Factory published the original Japanese cards.

The Japanese release followed the launch of Pokémon Red and Green by several months. Its cards were based on Pokémon from the first generation and introduced the collectible format that would become one of the franchise’s most enduring parts.

Base Set contained 102 cards in the English release, including the famous holographic Charizard. The American release came later, on 9 January 1999, which is why collectors sometimes cite two different dates. The Japanese launch is the relevant date when asking when the original Pokémon card set debuted.