When was the first Pokémon television episode broadcast in Japan?

The first Pokémon television episode was broadcast in Japan on April 1, 1997.

The episode, titled “Pokémon—I Choose You!”, introduced Ash Ketchum, his first partner Pikachu, and the basic world of Pokémon training. It aired on TV Tokyo and began the animated series that would become one of the franchise's most recognizable parts.

The series was produced after the video games had already established the Pokémon concept. Its story was not a direct retelling of the games, although it used familiar elements such as Professor Oak, Pokémon battles, Gyms, and Pokédex technology. Pikachu's central role in the anime also helped make it the franchise's most widely recognized character.

The Japanese premiere is sometimes confused with the show's international broadcasts. The anime first aired in North America in 1998, and the Pokémon brand expanded globally around the same period. The first episode's original broadcast date is therefore earlier than the dates many international viewers remember.