Pokémon Center Co., Ltd., the predecessor of The Pokémon Company, was established in 1998.
The company was created to operate Pokémon Center stores in Japan. These stores sold Pokémon games, toys, cards, clothing, and other merchandise, giving the rapidly expanding franchise dedicated retail locations.
The organization’s corporate history can be confusing because the name The Pokémon Company is associated with a later restructuring. Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was established in 1998, while the company was renamed and reorganized as The Pokémon Company in 2000. The distinction matters when matching dates to the company’s formal names.
Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures are the three companies commonly identified with the ownership and management structure behind Pokémon. The Pokémon Company coordinates licensing, marketing, publishing, and other franchise activities. The international subsidiary, The Pokémon Company International, later took responsibility for regions outside Asia.