On what date was Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. founded, later becoming The Pokémon Company?

Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was founded on April 23, 1998, and later became The Pokémon Company.

The company was established as a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its original purpose was to manage Pokémon Center merchandise stores in Japan, rather than oversee every part of the franchise.

The first Pokémon Center store opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, on July 18, 1998. As the brand expanded through games, cards, animation, films, and merchandise, a broader management organization became necessary.

In October 2000, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. expanded its responsibilities and adopted the name The Pokémon Company. This creates a common date confusion: the corporate predecessor began in 1998, while the current name and wider franchise-management role date from 2000. The three founding companies remain central to the franchise's ownership structure.