Pokémon (short for Pocket Monsters, pronounced Poh-kay-mauhn) is a Game Boy game that first
debuted in Japan, February 27th,1996. In the fall of 1998 Pokémon came to the US. It wasn't long until it became the highest selling game in the history of Japan. With its cute, little characters
such as Pikachu, demand for the little monsters grew. Soon, Pokémon merchandise had been stocking up on shelves with dolls, puppets, glasses, stamps, stationary, rings, clothes, and even Pokémon
costumes.
The Official Pokémon Website