Which company was established to manage licensing and other business for the Pokémon franchise?

The Pokémon Company was established to manage licensing and other business for the Pokémon franchise.

The organization coordinates activities such as licensing, production, publishing, marketing, and franchise-related deals. Its ownership structure reflects Pokémon's unusual origins: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures are the joint owners associated with the property.

The company is often confused with Game Freak, the studio that developed the original Pokémon games, or Nintendo, the publisher and platform company. Those organizations remain closely connected to Pokémon, but The Pokémon Company handles broader franchise management.

The business has changed over time. Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was established in 1998 and originally focused on Pokémon Center stores; after restructuring, it became The Pokémon Company in 2000. The Pokémon Company International later took responsibility for operations outside Asia.