What company name did Pokémon Center Co. adopt in October 2000?

Pokémon Center Co. adopted the name The Pokémon Company in October 2000.

The organization began in 1998 as Pokémon Center Co., a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its original purpose was to manage specialized Pokémon Center merchandise stores in Japan.

As the franchise expanded, the organization’s responsibilities grew beyond retail. It began coordinating brand management, licensing, publishing, marketing, and other Pokémon business activities, leading to its renaming as The Pokémon Company.

The company is often confused with Nintendo because Nintendo publishes many Pokémon games and owns Pokémon trademarks internationally. However, The Pokémon Company manages the franchise, while Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak are its joint owners in Japan. The Pokémon Company International handles operations outside Asia.