Which company was formed in 1998 to manage Pokémon licensing and merchandise?

The Pokémon Company was formed in 1998 to manage Pokémon licensing and merchandise.

The organization was established by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. Its early work included managing Pokémon Center stores and coordinating the franchise’s expanding commercial activities. As Pokémon moved beyond its original games into cards, animation, toys, books, clothing, and international products, centralized management became increasingly important.

The company was originally known as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd., reflecting its connection to specialized Pokémon merchandise stores. It later adopted the name The Pokémon Company. The first Pokémon Center opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, in 1998, providing a dedicated retail home for official goods.

The Pokémon Company is not the same as Game Freak, which develops the main series games, or Nintendo, which publishes and co-owns many Pokémon products. Its role is broader brand management: licensing, marketing, production coordination, and franchise operations. The international branch, The Pokémon Company International, was established later to handle activities outside Asia.