When was the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s original Japanese set released?

The original Japanese Pokémon Trading Card Game set was released on October 20, 1996.

Known as the 1st Starter & Expansion Pack, it was published in Japan by Media Factory. The set adapted Pokémon’s creatures and battle identity into a collectible tabletop game based on cards, Energy, attacks, and deck construction.

The game later reached English-speaking markets with the Base Set, which was released in the United States on January 9, 1999. Wizards of the Coast handled the early English publication, while the Japanese game had already existed for more than two years.

The Japanese set is often confused with the English Base Set because both are treated as foundational releases. Their dates and publishers differ, so the question’s wording matters: it asks for the original Japanese release, not the first United States release.