What was the original Japanese name of the first Pokémon game pair?

The original Japanese game pair was called Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

These titles were released for the Game Boy on February 27, 1996. The franchise’s Japanese name is Pocket Monsters, commonly shortened to Pokémon, and the original pair used Red and Green as its version colors. The games introduced the Kanto region, the first 151 Pokémon, and the trading system that became central to the series.

International releases used Pokémon Red and Blue rather than Red and Green. This change can cause confusion because many fans assume Blue was part of the first Japanese launch. In fact, Pokémon Blue was released later in Japan as an enhanced version, and its updated artwork and programming formed the basis for the international versions.

The Red and Green pairing is therefore a useful anniversary fact: it identifies the true starting point of the main series while distinguishing the Japanese release from the versions most players encountered elsewhere. Green was not originally released internationally as the counterpart to Red.