Which company was founded in 1998 to manage Pokémon Center stores in Japan?

Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was founded in 1998 to manage Pokémon Center stores in Japan.

The company was established on April 23, 1998, as a joint venture involving Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak. Its original purpose was operating specialized Pokémon merchandise stores, rather than managing every part of the franchise.

The first Pokémon Center store opened in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, on July 18, 1998. These stores sold games, cards, toys, clothing, plush items, and other branded products. The retail operation helped turn Pokémon’s fictional world into a dedicated physical shopping experience.

In October 2000, the company expanded its responsibilities beyond the stores and adopted the name The Pokémon Company. That history causes a frequent mix-up: The Pokémon Company is the later, broader organization, while Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. is the company’s original name. The three founding owners remain central to Pokémon’s corporate structure.