Which company was established on April 23, 1998, to manage Pokémon Center stores in Japan?

Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was established on April 23, 1998, to manage Pokémon Center stores in Japan.

The company was created as a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its original purpose was narrower than the modern Pokémon business: it operated specialized Pokémon merchandise stores, beginning with the first location in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

In October 2000, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. expanded its responsibilities to cover the wider franchise and adopted the name The Pokémon Company. That later organization handles brand management, licensing, publishing, marketing, and other Pokémon-related business.

This history creates a common mix-up. The Pokémon Company is often described as having been established in 2000, which refers to the rebranding and expanded role. The legal predecessor, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd., dates to 1998 and is the precise answer to this question.