What was the Japanese release date of Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition?

Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition was released in Japan on September 12, 1998.

Yellow was an enhanced version of the first-generation Pokémon games. Instead of choosing Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle at the beginning, the player received Pikachu, reflecting the anime’s portrayal of Ash and his reluctant companion.

Pikachu followed the player outside its Poké Ball, and the game incorporated additional characters and story details associated with the television series. Players could also obtain Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle during the adventure, making Yellow a variation on the original collecting structure rather than a completely new generation.

The game was released internationally in 1999. Its Japanese date is easy to confuse with those overseas releases, or with the 1996 Japanese launch of Red and Green. Yellow remained a first-generation title and used the same Kanto setting.