Currently going through 20+ year old collection, how the hell did I end up with Japanese cards?

I did some googling and it said Neo Revelation (Awakening Legends) was released in Japan in 2000, but the English versions were released in 2001. I was 5-6 years ago by then. Were these Japanese cards ever released for purchase in North America? Or did my dad jump through some loops to get this? (Can’t ask him now, have no contact with him). Just really curious because I’m genuinely confused lol