What was The Pokémon Company’s former name from 1998 to 2000?

The Pokémon Company’s former name from 1998 to 2000 was Pokémon Center Co., Ltd.

The company was founded in April 1998 as a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its original purpose was to manage Pokémon Center stores and related merchandise in Japan, rather than oversee every part of the global franchise.

In October 2000, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. expanded its responsibilities and adopted the name The Pokémon Company. The reorganization helped centralize brand management, licensing, marketing, and the coordination of products such as games, cards, anime, films, and merchandise.

The name can be confused with Pokémon Center, the retail-store chain. The stores are one part of the broader business, while The Pokémon Company is the corporate organization responsible for managing the franchise. This distinction explains why both names appear in Pokémon history.