When did the first Pokémon TV episode air in Japan?

The first Pokémon television episode aired in Japan on April 1, 1997. Titled “Pokémon— I Choose You!”, it introduced Ash Ketchum, Pikachu, and the anime's journey structure.

The series was produced by OLM and broadcast on TV Tokyo. Its story follows Ash as he travels through Pokémon regions, earns Gym Badges, and competes in Pokémon Leagues. The anime helped turn the game characters into global pop-culture figures and gave Pikachu an especially prominent role.

The Japanese broadcast predates the English-language premiere. International versions used localized names, dialogue, and opening sequences, so dates differ by territory. A widely reported 1997 seizure incident involving the episode “Dennō Senshi Porygon” led Japanese broadcasters to pause the series and prompted new production guidelines.