Background
This is going to be a list of all the old back unnumbered promos that were exclusively released in Japan from 1996-2001. The intention is to cover the original era of vintage Pokemon cards. At this point, I am considering any card artwork that was not printed in English to be “Japanese exclusive,” but am happy to update the list with a note for any card that has a print in a language that is not English. This is going to be a work in progress, so if I miss any or make mistakes (which I probably will), just drop a reply and I’ll do my best to update and keep the list accurate!
Details
- main focus of the list will be unnumbered promos
- will be ordered chronologically from release, as listed on Bulbapedia
- will be including information on 1996 promos, as there were only 2 unique cards released and they are the first cards released
- won’t include Japanese exclusive errors like “Nintedo” Ancient Mew (except 1996)
- won’t include Japanese exclusive finish, or glossy variants/ very vague print differences (except 1996)
- will refer to cards as “Card (collector ascribed name).” If I am unfamiliar with the name, I will leave it as is
- 99% of information is sourced from Bulbapedia and Pokumon, with some specific things pulled from videos of product being opened/ misc. google images
Unnumbered 1996
The only two unnumbered promos released in 1996 were Pikachu (Ivy Pikachu) and Jigglypuff. Both cards were printed in English as Black Star Promos. They were first printed on October 15, 1996 as CoroCoro Comic inserts (glossy), with the Pikachu incorrectly listing Ken Sugimori as the illustrator. This error is exclusive to the Japanese print.
This error was rectified in the November 30, 1996 release of Easily Understand How to Play Pokemon Cards, which features non-glossy prints of the same Pikachu and Jigglypuff. This Pikachu correctly lists Keiji Kinebuchi as the illustrator.
On September 15, 1998, the October 1998 Issue of CoroCoro Comics was released with a mail-in prize draw for another glossy print of Pikachu and Jigglypuff. Two thousands winners were sent a set of both, as well as Meowth and Brock’s Onix. This glossy print of Pikachu correctly lists Keiji Kinebuchi as the illustrator. The glossy, corrected Pikachu is presumably the rarest variant of this card.
Additionally, Pikachu and Jigglypuff were printed in English on Japanese card stock on March 1, 1999, in the Hyper CoroCoro Spring Issue. These cards are glossy and feature a gray promo star, similar to Black Star Promos.
In total, this means there were 4 distinct releases of Ivy Pikachu and 3 distinct releases of Jigglypuff: Glossy (Sugimori), Non-Glossy (Kinebuchi), Glossy (Kinebuchi), Glossy (English Gray Star); and Glossy (Jiggly), Non-Glossy (Jiggly), Glossy (English Gray Star Jiggly) respectively.
Unnumbered 1997
Slowpoke (Playmat Slowpoke)
- Originally released May 2nd, 1997.
- Included in official TCG Playmats as a promo.
- Original playmats came in Red, Green and Black.
- Released through Pokemon Centers and some toy shops.
- Reprinted in Pokemon Web
- Appeared in Pokemon Trading Card Game (GBC), but was never printed in English
'97 No. 1 Trainer
- Originally released at the first official Pokemon Card Game Tournament on June 14-15, 1997.
- Awarded to champions of qualifying rounds
- Received various reprints (potentially with minor differences), as it was also awarded at subsequent tournaments like Lizardon and Kamex Mega Battle Conference.
- Never printed in English
97’ No. 2 Trainer
- See No. 1 Trainer
97’ No. 3 Trainer
- See No. 1 Trainer
Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and Clefairy (Jumbo)
- Originally released as an insert in July 1997 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- Actually released on June 15th, 1997
- This is a Jumbo card, and was never printed in English
Surfing Pikachu (Mt. Fuji Surfing Pikachu)
- Originally released through the Pokemon JR East Stamp Rally in August 1997
- This card has a different background from the original Surfing Pikachu; this Mt. Fuji version specifically was never printed in English
- It was awarded to participants who collected all 30 stamps from train stations during the 2-day event
Imakuni?
- Originally released on August 15th, 1997, in the September 1997 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- Was also available in 1998-1999 through various other releases (mail-in prize, TMB)
- This card was reprinted with updated artwork/ template in Japanese EX Battle Boost, and later in Pokemon Generations
- The original artwork was never printed in English
Pikachu (1996 Promo; Different Artwork)
- Originally released through October-December 1997 for the Toyota Auto Campaign
- Gifted to visitors at participating Toyota dealerships, in a sealed booklet
- Reprinted in VHS Intro Pack as part of Bulbasaur Deck with a Bulbasaur set symbol
- This art was printed in English, but I believe this specific background variant was not
Mew (Bubble Mew; WHF)
- Originally released on a Special Limited Expansion Sheet at the 7th Next Generation World Hobby Fair from December 1997-February 1998
- It features the Pokeball set symbol commonly associated with the Vending Machine series
- It was reprinted in the Pokemon Song Best Collection CD in January 1999 (way to discern between the two releases?)
Mewtwo (WHF)
- Originally released on a Special Limited Expansion Sheet at the 7th Next Generation World Hobby Fair from December 1997-February 1998
- This card features the Vending Pokeball symbol and was also reprinted in the Pokemon Song Best Collection CD
- This card has a slightly altered artwork from the Black Star Promo given out for the theatrical release of Mewtwo Strikes Back
Hungry Snorlax
- Originally released from December 1997-January 1998 through the Nintendo 64 Double Get Campaign
- It was also reprinted in the Pokemon Song Best Collection CD
- This card was never printed in English
Meowth
- Originally released with the January 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- This card was never printed in English
Pokemon Illustrator
- Originally released in December 1997 with the January 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic, awarded to the winners of the Pokemon Card Game Illust Artist Contest
- Two additional illustration contests were held through CoroCoro Comic from May 1998-June 1998 inviting participants to design their own Pokemon card (Mewtwo’s Counterattack Commemoration Illust Artist Contest & Pikachu’s Summer Vacation Commemoration Illust Artist Contest)
- Winners were awarded 20 copies of their own card, as well as this card; further participants won Excellence/ Best Awards, as well as this card
- This is the only card to feature “Illustrator” at the top, rather than “Trainer,” and it also has a pen symbol in the bottom corner
- This card was never released in English
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Unnumbered 1998
Unnumbered 1998
Venusaur (Trade Please!)
- Originally released as an alternative artwork of the base set print, through the Trade Please campaign from February-July 1998
- This card was reprinted in the VHS Intro Pack and Pokemon Song Best Collection CD
- Both Trade Please and CD Collection variants feature the Pikachu Records logo in place of a set symbol
- A Black Star Promo variant was printed with the illustration slightly zoomed out and Venusaur off to the right-hand side of the card (Is the difference enough to be considered exclusive?)
Charizard (Trade Please!)
- Originally released as an alternative artwork of the base set print, through the Trade Please campaign from February-July 1998
- This card was reprinted in the CD Collection and as an XY-P promo for the 20th anniversary in 2016
- The Trade Please and CD Collection variants feature the Pikachu Records logo in place of a set symbol; this is not present on the XY-P print
- This artwork was never printed in English
Blastoise (Trade Please!)
- Originally released as an alternative artwork of the base set print, through the Trade Please campaign from February-July 1998
- This card was reprinted in the VHS Intro Pack and CD Collection
- Both Trade Please and CD Collection variants feature the Pikachu Records logo in place of a set symbol
- This artwork was never printed in English
Trade Please!
- Originally released for the Trade Please campaign in February-July 1998
- This card was reprinted as an XY-P promo for the 20th anniversary Trade Please campaign in 2016
- The 1998 print has a holofoil back and features the Pikachu Records logo in place of a set symbol
- This card was never printed in English
Brock’s Onix
- Originally released February 15, 1998, for the March 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- This card was included in Gym Heroes (Leader’s Stadium) and the Nivi City Gym Theme Deck with different artwork
- The original print was made available again in October 1998 through mail-in prize offering with CoroCoro Comic
- This artwork was never printed in English
Misty’s Staryu
- Originally released alongside Brock’s Onix in the March 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- This card was included in Gym Heroes (Leader’s Stadium) and the Hanada City Gym Theme Deck with different artwork
- The original print was offered again through the same means as Brock’s Onix, but in the November 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- This artwork was never printed in English
Jynx
- Originally released on March 15, 1998 in the April 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- Participation was done through a mail-in prize draw
- This card features the Pokeball Vending set symbol
- This card was never printed in English
Cubone
- This card was released alongside Jynx through CoroCoro Comic
- This card was never printed in English
Farfetch’d
- This card was release alongside Jynx and Cubone through CoroCoro Comic
- This card was never printed in English
Mewtwo Strikes Back (Jumbo)
- This card was released April 15, 1998 in the May 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comics (presumably as promotion for “Pokemon: The Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back,” which released in Japan on July 18th, 1998)
- This card features the CoroCoro logo on the bottom border of the card, as well as the CoroCoro dragon mascot in place of a set symbol
- This card was never printed in English
Touch Change! (Picasso Trainer)
- Originally released for the Garura Parent/ Child Tournament in May 1998
- This card was reprinted in Volume 5 of Pokemon Card Fan Club in June 1998
- This card was never printed in English
Kangaskhan (Trophy Kangaskhan)
- Originally released for the Garura Parent/ Child Tournament in May 1998
- These were side events held at each Kamex Mega Battle venue
- One child and one other played aged 16 or older partnered up for a team tournament
- Participation tickets were distributed by a lottery
- The tournament was 4 rounds long; teams would earn 2 stamps for winning a round, a draw would give each team 1 stamp, and a loss would give the losing team no stamps
- The team with the most stamps at the end of the tournament were awarded 2 copies of this card (2 copies awarded per Kamex Mega Battle venue)
- This card features the Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game logo in place of a set symbol
- This card was never printed in English
Pikachu’s Summer Vacation (Jumbo)
- This card was released on May 15, 1998 in the June 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comics
- It features the CoroCoro logo on the bottom border of the card, as well as the CoroCoro dragon mascot in place of a set symbol
Lt. Surge’s Electabuzz
- Originally released July 15, 1998, in the August 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- It was included in Gym Heroes (Leader’s Stadium) and the Kuchiba City Gym Theme Deck with alternate artwork
- The original print was offered again in late 1998 through Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic Special
- This artwork was never printed in English
Erika’s Dratini
- Originally released July 15, 1998 in the August 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic (alongside Lt. Surge’s Electabuzz)
- It was included in Gym Heroes (Leader’s Stadium) and the Tamamushi City Gym Theme Deck with alternate work
- The original print was offered again through the same means as Lt. Surge’s Electabuzz
- This artwork was never printed in English
Pokemon Plaza (Jumbo)
- Originally released September 15, 1998, in the October 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- This card features the CoroCoro dragon mascot in place of a set symbol
- This card was never released in English
Flying Pikachu (ANA/ Plane On Right)
- Originally released by All Nippon Airlines (ANA) in November 1998, through the “Get in a Jet! Double Chance Campaign.”
- Passengers could redeem two domestic boarding pass stubs and receive this card, along with a Dragonite card
- Similar to the Mt. Fuji Surfing Pikachu, this card features a slightly altered background exclusive to Japanese
Diglett (Asobikata)
- Originally released in copies of Easily Understand How to Play Pokemon Cards: Latest Edition, on November 13, 1998
- It was reprinted in the Web expansion on the e-Card layout
- This card was never printed in English
Dugtrio (Asobikata)
- Originally released alongside Diglett on November 13, 1998 in Easily Understand How to Play Pokemon Cards: Latest Edition
- It was also reprinted in the Web expansion on the e-Card layout
- This card was never printed in English
Brock’s Mankey
- This card was originally released in Gym Heroes (Leader’s Stadium) with alternate artwork
- It was reprinted with this artwork on a four-card insert on November 15, 1998, for the December 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic
- The four-card insert includes the next 3 cards
- This artwork was never printed in English
Erika’s Bulbasaur
- Originally released in Gym Heroes (Leader’s Stadium) with alternate artwork
- See Brock’s Mankey
- This artwork was never released in English
Misty’s Tentacool
- See Brock’s Mankey
- This artwork was never printed in English
Lt. Surge’s Jolteon
- See Brock’s Mankey
- Notably, each card in the December 1998 CoroCoro Comic insert features original art by Ken Sugimori, with the Gym Heroes arts being the official artwork, also by Ken Sugimori
- This artwork was never printed in English
Dragonite (Gameboy)
- Originally released on December 18, 1998 as an insert with the Pokemon Trading Card Game for Gameboy Color
- This card features a GB in place of a set symbol, indicating it’s ties with the Game Boy
- This card was never printed in English
