Historical eventDecember 161997

Dennō Senshi Porygon

"Dennō Senshi Porygon", an episode of the Japanese television series Pokémon, induced epileptic seizures in 685 children.

Everything on December 16Original source

In context

When
Tuesday, December 16 199729 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1990s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1997.

What happened

"Dennō Senshi Porygon", an episode of the Japanese television series Pokémon, induced epileptic seizures in 685 children.

December 16 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1989Romanian revolution
  2. 19921992 deportation of Hamas members
  3. 1997United Kingdom BSE outbreak
  4. 1997Dennō Senshi Porygon
  5. 2011Zhanaozen massacre
  6. 20122012 Delhi gang rape and murder
  7. 20132013 Metro Manila Skyway bus accident
  8. 2014Lindt Cafe siege
  9. 2014Pakistani Taliban
  10. 20222022 Batang Kali landslide
  11. 20242024 Abundant Life Christian School shooting

Also in 1997

  • May 11Deep Blue (chess computer)Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in six games to become the first chess computer to win a match against a world champion.
  • September 11NASANASA's Mars Global Surveyor reaches Mars.
  • September 11Kurkse tragedyKurkse tragedy: Fourteen Estonian soldiers of the Baltic Battalion are drowned or die of hypothermia during a training exercise in the Ku…
  • September 111997 Scottish devolution referendumAfter a nationwide referendum, Scotland votes to establish a devolved parliament within the United Kingdom.
  • September 13German Air ForceA German Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 and a United States Air Force Lockheed C-141 Starlifter collide in mid-air near Namibia, killing 33.
  • September 14Howrah–Ahmedabad Superfast ExpressEighty-one killed as five bogies of the Ahmedabad–Howrah Express plunge into a river in Bilaspur district of Madhya Pradesh, India.
  • September 18Ted TurnerUnited States media magnate Ted Turner donates US$1 billion to the United Nations.
  • September 18Ottawa TreatyThe Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is adopted.

Everything we record for 1997 →

Sources

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“Dennō Senshi Porygon”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/denn-senshi-porygon-1997-december-16, accessed October 28, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Dennō Senshi Porygon happen?

December 16 1997 — 29 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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