What is the name of Pokémon’s first trading-card set, released in Japan in 1996?

Pokémon’s first trading-card set, released in Japan in 1996, was called the 1st Starter & Expansion Pack.

The set was published by Media Factory and launched on October 20, 1996. It formed the foundation of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which was developed by Creatures and based on the Pokémon video-game franchise.

The Japanese set is commonly associated with the English-language Base Set, although the names and release schedules were different. The Japanese release came more than two years before the English Base Set reached United States stores in January 1999.

The original set depicted Pokémon from the first generation and included cards for creatures such as Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, and Pikachu. Players use Pokémon, Energy, and Trainer cards in battles, normally with 60-card decks. The trading-card game expanded internationally and became one of the most enduring parts of the Pokémon franchise, alongside the video games, anime, films, and merchandise.