The Pokémon Company began operating under its current name in 2000.
The organization was originally established in 1998 as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. Its early role focused on operating Pokémon Center stores in Japan. In 2000, it was restructured and renamed The Pokémon Company, taking on broader franchise-management responsibilities.
The company coordinates licensing, marketing, publishing, and other commercial activities across Pokémon’s many products. Its owners are Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures, the three companies closely connected to the game franchise.
The Pokémon Company should not be confused with The Pokémon Company International, which manages the franchise outside Asia. That international subsidiary was established later, in 2009, reflecting Pokémon’s increasingly global operations.