When did the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s first Japanese set launch?
Answer
October 20, 1996
The Pokémon Trading Card Game’s first Japanese set launched on October 20, 1996.
Known in Japan as the first Starter and Expansion Pack, the set was published by Media Factory and formed the basis of the Pokémon card game. It followed the video games’ Japanese debut by several months, extending the new franchise into tabletop play.
The set contained 102 cards and depicted Pokémon from the first generation. Its cards included Pokémon, Energy, and Trainer cards, which players used in two-player battles. The English Base Set arrived in the United States on January 9, 1999, after Pokémon had become popular there through the games and television series.
The Japanese release is sometimes confused with the English Base Set date. The two markets had different publishers and launch dates, making the October 1996 date specifically a Japanese milestone.