What were the original Japanese names of the first Pokémon video games?

The original Japanese names of the first Pokémon video games were Pocket Monsters Red and Green.

They were released for the Game Boy in Japan in 1996 and are the titles that began the video-game series. The Japanese branding used Pocket Monsters, while Pokémon became the international name of the franchise.

Outside Japan, the games were released as Pokémon Red and Blue. The Japanese Green version was not exported in its original form; international Blue was based on the later Japanese Blue revision. This is why fans sometimes incorrectly describe Red and Blue as the original Japanese pair.

The games introduced the Kanto adventure, the original 151 Pokémon, and Link Cable trading and battles. Players needed both versions, plus trades with other players, to obtain every species. Pokémon Yellow followed as an enhanced edition with Pikachu in a more prominent role, influenced by the animated series. The distinction between Japanese Green and international Blue is one of the most frequently mixed-up facts about Pokémon's beginnings.