What company manages the Pokémon franchise alongside Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak?

The Pokémon Company manages the Pokémon franchise alongside its parent companies Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak.

The company was established in 2000 after the earlier Pokémon Center Co. Ltd. was restructured and renamed. Its role is to coordinate the many parts of the franchise, including games, merchandise, licensing, media, and brand operations.

Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak are the three companies that jointly own the franchise in Japan. The Pokémon Company provides the central organization that connects their interests and manages Pokémon as a unified global property.

The Pokémon Company International was established later to manage the franchise outside Asia. This distinction is why “The Pokémon Company” and “The Pokémon Company International” should not be treated as exactly the same entity.