What Japanese title was used for the Pokémon video game series at launch?

The Pokémon video game series launched in Japan under the title Pocket Monsters.

The name was shortened internationally to Pokémon, a contraction of “Pocket Monsters.” The Japanese title appears in the names of the original games, Pocket Monsters Red and Green, released for the Game Boy in 1996. The shortened name helped distinguish the brand in overseas markets while preserving the idea of carrying creatures in a pocket-sized game system.

Pokémon is not the original name of a single character or species. It refers to the wider franchise, which includes video games, animation, trading cards, films, merchandise, and spin-offs. The brand’s Japanese title is still used in Japanese-language Pokémon media and products.

A common mix-up is assuming that Pokémon was always the official worldwide title. In fact, the international name was adapted from Pocket Monsters, with the accent mark helping its pronunciation and visual identity. The franchise began with games, but its multimedia expansion soon made the shortened name globally familiar.