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

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

The organization was established by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak, the companies closely connected to the Pokémon franchise. Its responsibilities include licensing, brand management, publishing, marketing, and coordinating products across games, cards, animation, and merchandise.

The company's history includes an earlier corporate name, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. It was created in 1998 and later restructured and renamed The Pokémon Company in 2000. This timeline can cause confusion when sources describe the organization as being founded in 1998 or established under its current name in 2000.

The Pokémon Company International manages the franchise outside Asia. Nintendo remains one of the key corporate owners, but The Pokémon Company is the dedicated organization that coordinates the wider brand.