What was the original name of the company founded in 1998 to operate Pokémon Center stores?

The company founded in 1998 to operate Pokémon Center stores was Pokémon Center Co., Ltd.

It was established on April 23, 1998, as a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its initial purpose was narrower than the modern organization’s role: it managed specialized Pokémon merchandise stores in Japan.

The first Pokémon Center store opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, on July 18, 1998. In October 2000, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was reorganized and renamed The Pokémon Company, expanding its responsibility to brand management, licensing, publishing, and franchise coordination.

This history explains why the names are easy to confuse. The Pokémon Company is the modern brand-management organization, while Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was its earlier corporate identity. Pokémon USA and The Pokémon Company International were later organizations serving international markets.