Which company was renamed The Pokémon Company in October 2000?

Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was renamed The Pokémon Company in October 2000.

Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak established Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. in April 1998. The company initially focused on managing Pokémon Center stores and related merchandise in Japan. As the franchise expanded, its responsibilities grew beyond retail.

The reorganization created a centralized company for brand management, licensing, publishing, marketing, and other Pokémon business activities. The modern Pokémon Company remains jointly owned by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak, the three companies closely associated with the franchise's games and trading card business.

Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. should not be confused with Pokémon USA, Inc., which was established in 2001 to handle licensing in the Americas. The name change also explains why older histories may describe the franchise's management organization under a different corporate name.