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Kadokawa Corporation

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Kadokawa Corporation
Native name
株式会社KADOKAWA
Kabushiki gaisha KADOKAWA
FormerlyKadokawa Dwango Corporation (2014–2019)
Company typePublic
TYO: 9468
Industry
Founded
  • November 10, 1945; 79 years ago (1945-11-10) (as Kadokawa Shoten)
  • June 6, 1997; 27 years ago (1997-06-06) (as Dwango)
  • October 1, 2014; 10 years ago (2014-10-01) (as Kadokawa Dwango Corporation)
FounderGenyoshi Kadokawa (for the Kadokawa Shoten branch)
HeadquartersFujimi, Chiyoda, Tokyo,
Japan
Area served
Global
Key people
Takeshi Natsuno (president)
RevenueIncrease ¥258,109 billion[1] (2024)
Decrease ¥18,454 billion[1] (2024)
Total assetsDecrease ¥340,310 billion[1] (2024)
Number of employees
5,349[2]
Websitegroup.kadokawa.co.jp/global/
Kadokawa SakuraTown Complex in Tokorozawa, Saitama

Kadokawa Corporation (Japanese: 株式会社KADOKAWA, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Kadokawa), formerly Kadokawa Dwango Corporation,[3] is a Japanese conglomerate based in Fujimi, Chiyoda, Tokyo.

Created as a result of the merger of the original Kadokawa Corporation and Dwango Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2014,[4][5] the company has holdings in entertainment (including anime and video game studios), publishing, and real estate among other assets.

History

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The holding company known today as Kadokawa Corporation was originally founded in 1945 as Kadokawa Shoten, to "revitalize Japanese culture through publishing" in the postwar era.[6] It was merged with Dwango Co., Ltd. to form Kadokawa Dwango on October 1, 2014, and became a subsidiary of Kadokawa Dwango.

In February 2019, Kadokawa Dwango announced that Dwango would stop being their subsidiary to be a direct subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation in a reorganization of the company. This made Kadokawa Corporation the sole subsidiary of the holding company Kadokawa Dwango.[7]

On July 1, 2019, Kadokawa Dwango was reorganized again;[8] only the publishing business remained in Kadokawa Corporation, and it was renamed Kadokawa Future Publishing, while Kadokawa Dwango itself became the second iteration of Kadokawa Corporation and the holding company of all of the Kadokawa Group companies. The original name Kadokawa Shoten remains as a brand and a division of Kadokawa Future Publishing.

On February 4, 2021, Kadokawa announced that the company had formed a Capital Alliance with Sony and CyberAgent to strengthen the company's creation, development, and acquisition of new IP while also maximizing use of existing IPs. As part of the agreement, both Sony and CyberAgent would receive a 1.93% stake in the company.[9]

By August 2021, Kakao Japan had acquired an 8.3% stake in Kadokawa, making them the largest shareholder at the time.[10] On October 29, 2021, Kadokawa announced that it had formed a capital and business alliance with Tencent, which acquired a 6.86% stake in the conglomerate for ¥30 billion ($264 million). The aim of the alliance is for Kadokawa to expand its global reach using Tencent's platforms. China, where the company has an existing joint venture with Tencent, is a particular target.[11]

In January 2024, Kadokawa announced that they've entered a partnership with Belgium publishing company Dupuis to acquire a 51% stake in the latter's manga imprint Vega Dupuis and had launched a joint venture business with Dupuis that could bring Kadokawa's own titles as well as publishing Japanese and Korean comics to the French market named Vega SAS with Dupuis retaining a 49% stake in the now joint venture imprint.[12][13]

In July 2024, the company announced that it had acquired anime studio Doga Kobo.[14]

In November 2024, it was reported that Sony Group Corporation was in talks to acquire Kadokawa.[15] Sony, which had acquired shares in the company in 2021,[16] had previously discussed acquiring Kadokawa outright, but was only interested in its anime and video game assets. However, Kadokawa insisted that acquisition offers encompass the entire company.[16][17]

On December 19, 2024, Sony announced a "strategic capital and business alliance" with Kadokawa, under which it is set to acquire 12 million new shares for ¥50 billion ($320 million) on January 7, 2025, giving Sony a 10% stake and making them Kadokawa's largest single shareholder. As part of the agreement, Kadokawa is set to collaborate with Sony on projects involving its IPs, including anime co-productions, live-action adaptations, and widening distribution.[16]

Arrest of chairman

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Main article: Concerns and controversies at the 2020 Summer Olympics § Olympic sponsorship contract scandals

In September 2022 chairman Tsuguhiko Kadokawa—son of founder Genyoshi—was arrested as part of a police investigation into bribery. Prosecutors alleged that the Kadokawa chairman authorized a ¥76 million payment (adjusted to ¥69 million under Japan's statute of limitations) to a consulting company with ties to a former executive of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee in exchange for being selected as an official sponsor of the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Kadokawa has denied the allegations, and his company announced that it would cooperate with the investigation.[18] Kadokawa was indicted by prosecutors on October 4, 2022. Later that day he announced his intent to resign as the chairman of his company. He continued to deny the allegations and vowed to prove his innocence at trial.[19]

2024 ransomware attack

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Main article: 2024 cyberattack on Kadokawa and Niconico

On June 8, 2024, a group of hackers called BlackSuit launched a ransomware attack on multiple websites owned by Kadokawa, including the video streaming website Niconico, resulting in most of its services being temporarily suspended. On June 27, the hacker group published a statement on the dark web, claiming responsibility for the attack and threatening to release 1.5 terabytes of stolen data, which included business partner information and user data, unless a ransom was paid.[20][21]

Group companies

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Kadokawa Corporation serves to bring together several affiliated Japanese companies related to Kadokawa Shoten under what is known as the Kadokawa Group.[22] These companies are of three types: publishing, film and visuals, and cross media. The publishers primarily deal with books, bunkobon paperbacks, manga, and visual media magazines;[23] the film and visual companies deal with Japanese feature films and DVD sales of international films and anime;[24] the cross media companies deal with digital content, urban information and television program information magazines, along with information transmission combining paper media, the Internet, and mobile phones.[25] Other aspects of the group are handled by the other business segment which primarily takes care of video games, real estate leasing, and comprises an advertising agency.[26]

Technology

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Main article: Pixel Game Maker MV

Former subsidiaries

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  • Asmik Ace
  • Daihyakka News: Merged with Dwango in July 2019.
  • Kadokawa Entertainment: On November 1, 2009, Kadokawa Entertainment was merged into Kadokawa Pictures.
  • Kadokawa Group Publishing: On April 1, 2013, Kadokawa Group Publishing was merged into Kadokawa Group Holdings.
  • Kadokawa Games: In May 2022, Kadokawa Games divested its business into a separate company called Dragami Games, including its IPs.[35]
  • Kadokawa J:COM Media: Established in November 2005 as a joint venture between Kadokawa Shoten and J:COM.[36] It was eliminated in June 2010.
  • So-net Kadokawa Link: Established on June 27, 2007, with So-net Entertainment (43.5%), Kadokawa Mobile (43.5%), and Dentsu E-link[37] (13.0%).[38]
  • Kadokawa Mobile and Movie Gate: On October 1, 2009, Kadokawa Mobile merged with Movie Gate to form Kadokawa Contents Gate.[39]
  • Kadokawa Production: On October 1, 2013, the company was dissolved and integrated into Kadokawa Corporation.
  • Mages: On July 12, 2019, Mages was acquired by Chiyomaru Studio, a concept and copyright company also headed by Mages CEO.[40]
  • MediaLeaves: On January 10, 2010, MediaLeaves was merged into Enterbrain.[41]
  • NTT Prime Square: On November 30, 2010, Fan service ended a joint venture with NTT.
  • Sarugakucho: Became part of Kadokawa Group Holdings under Enterbrain during the ASCII acquisition. On March 31, 2010, Pole To Win announced that it has acquired Sarugakucho.[42]
  • Studio Lide: Closed in April 2019.
  • Words Gear: On September 26, 2006, Panasonic announced the establishment of Words Gear with Kadokawa Mobile and Tokyo Broadcasting System, effective on October 2, 2006.[43] On September 30, 2010, Kadokawa Group Holdings announced that it will merging Words Gear into Kadokawa Contents Gate, with Kadokawa Contents Gate as the surviving company, effective on January 1, 2011.[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Summary of Consolidated Financial Results for the Year Ended March 31, 2024 (Based on Japanese GAAP)". May 9, 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "KADOKAWA Integrated Report 2022". group.kadokawa.co.jp. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  3. ^ カドカワ株式会社, Kadokawa Kabushiki-gaisha, until October 1, 2015 株式会社KADOKAWA・DWANGO
  4. ^ "Dwango to merge with Kadokawa". The Japan Times. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  5. ^ "Publisher Kadokawa, Internet firm Dwango complete merger". The Japan Times. October 1, 2014. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  6. ^ "Kadokawa Corporation: Corporation History".
  7. ^ Ressler, Karen. "Nobuo Kawakami Steps Down as Kadokawa Dwango President". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  8. ^ "会社分割（簡易吸収分割）の実施、商号変更及び定款一部変更、並びに代表取締役及び役員の異動に関するお知らせ" (PDF). E-IR (in Japanese). Pronexus Inc. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  9. ^ Mateo, Alex (February 5, 2021). "Kadokawa Corporation Forms Capital Alliance with CyberAgent, Sony". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  10. ^ Kim, Joo-wan; Cha, Jun-ho; Koo, Min-ki (August 17, 2021). "Kakao Group's past, present and future as conglomerate". The Korea Economic Daily. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  11. ^ "Notice Concerning Strategic Alliance with Tencent Group" (PDF). Kadokawa Corporation. October 29, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  12. ^ "KADOKAWA forms French Joint Venture with Dupuis of European Média-Participations Group". Kadokawa. January 25, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  13. ^ Hazra, Adriana (February 3, 2024). "Kadokawa Launches Joint Venture Business With French Publisher Dupuis". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 11, 2024). "Kadokawa Acquires Anime Studio Doga Kobo". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Sen, Anirban; Nussey, Sam (November 19, 2024). "Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring'". Reuters. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c Batchelor, James (December 19, 2024). "Sony to become largest shareholder of FromSoftware parent Kadokawa Corporation". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  17. ^ Mochizuki, Takashi (November 26, 2024). "Sony's Pursuit of Anime Publisher Holds More Opportunity Than Risk". Bloomberg News. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  18. ^ "Kadokawa chairman arrested over Tokyo Olympics bribery scandal". Kyodo News. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  19. ^ "Publisher Kadokawa's chairman indicted over Olympics bribery". Kyodo News. October 4, 2022. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  20. ^ Jiji (July 3, 2024). "Hackers behind Kadokawa cyberattack claim new info leak". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  21. ^ Sudo, Tatsuya (July 2, 2024). "More Kadokawa data leaked as deadline for ransom passes". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  22. ^ "KADOKAWA Corporation" グループ会社一覧 [Group Company Summary] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Group Holdings. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  23. ^ "Publishing businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings". Kadokawa Group Holdings. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  24. ^ "Movie/Visual businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings". Kadokawa Group Holdings. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  25. ^ "Cross media businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings". Kadokawa Group Holdings. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  26. ^ "Other businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings". Kadokawa Group Holdings. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  27. ^ "Report: Kadokawa Acquires Dark Souls Developers From Software". Silliconera. April 28, 2014. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  28. ^ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-05-07/kadokawa-establishes-new-anime-studio-bellnox-films/.210570
  29. ^ https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/global/business/video.html
  30. ^ https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/global/business/video.html
  31. ^ "KADOKAWA Announces Acquisition of Anime News Network's Media Business". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "About Kadokawa's Investment in ANN". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  33. ^ "Establishment of a Joint Venture with Gramedia, the largest publisher and largest bookstore network in Indonesia" (Press release). January 5, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  34. ^ "Media Giants Gramedia and Kadokawa Establish a Joint Venture in Indonesia". KAORI Nusantara. January 9, 2024. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "Kadokawa Games to divest part of its business to Dragami Games, a new company established by Yoshimi Yasuda". Gematsu. May 26, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  36. ^ "角川ジェイコム・メディア 「J:COM Walker」創刊 J:COM さいたま、J:COM 相模原・大和 各サービスエリアで8 月に発行" (in Japanese). PR Times. June 14, 2007. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  37. ^ インターネット分野専門の広告会社「電通イー・リンク」を設立 (PDF) (in Japanese). Cyber Communications. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  38. ^ －「地域情報映像」×「ネット地域広告」×「ネット対応機器」－ 「株式会社ソネット・カドカワ・リンク」を3 社共同で設立 ～高品質映像で嗜好に適した情報と出会える『地域情報探訪サイト』を構築～ (PDF) (in Japanese). So-net Entertainment. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  39. ^ 連結子会社 角川モバイルとムービーゲートの合併に関して (PDF) (in Japanese). Kadokawa Group Holdings. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  40. ^ Romano, Sal (July 26, 2019). "Mages goes independent from Kadokawa Group, 5pb. to consolidate into Mages". Gematsu. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  41. ^ "MediaLeaves, Inc. announcement" (in Japanese). MediaLeaves. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  42. ^ 株式会社猿楽庁の株式取得（子会社化）に関するお知らせ (PDF) (in Japanese). Pole To Win. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  43. ^ "角川・松下電器・TBS 3社が電子書籍事業会社 「ワーズギア株式会社」設立で合意 ～読書端末とコンテンツを提供～" (in Japanese). Panasonic. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  44. ^ グループ企業再編による 映像・雑誌・デジタル事業の強化について (PDF) (in Japanese). Kadokawa Group Holdings. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
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