What was the name of the first Pokémon video-game release in Japan?

The first Pokémon video-game release in Japan was Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

Nintendo launched the paired Game Boy role-playing games on February 27, 1996. Their Japanese title was Pocket Monsters, commonly shortened to Pokémon. The two versions contained version-exclusive Pokémon, encouraging players to connect their systems and trade creatures that could not be obtained in a single game.

The international releases used different naming and version choices. Japan later received an enhanced Pokémon Blue, while overseas players received Pokémon Red and Blue. The original Japanese Green version therefore has a distinctive place in Pokémon history and is often incorrectly treated as the same product as the international Blue release.

Together, Red and Green established the core structure still associated with the series: a journey through a region, Gym challenges, a Pokémon League, and a Pokédex to complete. They also introduced the original 151 Pokémon species.