On what date was Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. founded in Japan?

Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was founded in Japan on April 23, 1998.

The company began as a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures and Game Freak. Its initial purpose was to manage specialized Pokémon Center merchandise stores in Japan. The first Pokémon Center store opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, on July 18, 1998.

The company’s original name can cause confusion because it was later renamed The Pokémon Company. In October 2000, it expanded beyond store operations and became the organization responsible for broader Pokémon brand management, licensing and related business activities.

The three founding companies remain central to the franchise’s ownership and management structure. The Pokémon Company is not the same as Game Freak, the developer of the main role-playing games, or Nintendo, the original publisher. Its role is to coordinate and manage many parts of the larger Pokémon brand across games, cards, animation, merchandise and licensing.