What was the founding date of the company now known as The Pokémon Company?

The company now known as The Pokémon Company was founded on April 23, 1998.

It was originally established as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its first purpose was managing specialized Pokémon Center merchandise stores in Japan rather than overseeing every part of the franchise.

The company was renamed The Pokémon Company in October 2000. That restructuring expanded its role to brand management, licensing, marketing, and coordination across games, cards, animation, films, and merchandise.

The founding date is therefore different from the renaming date. April 23, 1998 identifies the creation of the original company, while October 2000 marks the adoption of the current name. The Pokémon Company is also distinct from The Pokémon Company International, which manages much of the franchise’s business outside Asia.