Which company was founded as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. in April 1998 to manage Pokémon merchandise stores?

The Pokémon Company began as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. in April 1998 to manage Pokémon merchandise stores.

The organization was established through a joint investment by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its first role was operating specialized Pokémon Center stores in Japan, rather than managing every part of the franchise.

In October 2000, Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. expanded its responsibilities and adopted the name The Pokémon Company. It became responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, publishing, and coordination across games, cards, animation, films, and merchandise.

The founding name can cause confusion because The Pokémon Company is often described simply as a 1998 organization. Both statements refer to the same corporate history, but the company operated under its original name before the 2000 restructuring.