Kadokawa Corporation Explained

Kadokawa Corporation
Native Name:Japanese: 株式会社KADOKAWA
Romanized Name:Kabushiki gaisha KADOKAWA
Former Name:Kadokawa Dwango Corporation (2014–2019)
Type:Public KK
Founder:Genyoshi Kadokawa (for the Kadokawa Shoten branch)
Hq Location:Fujimi, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Hq Location Country:Japan
Area Served:Global
Key People:Takeshi Natsuno (president)
Revenue: [1]
Revenue Year:2023
Income Year:2023
Num Employees:5,349[2]
Assets Year:2023

, formerly is a Japanese media conglomerate that was created as a result of the merger of the original Kadokawa Corporation and Dwango Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2014.[3] [4]

History

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.[5] 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.[6]

On July 1, 2019, Kadokawa Dwango was reorganized again;[7] 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 each receive a 1.93% stake in the company via American investment company of Japanese subsidiary, KKR Japan acquired a 12% stake.[8]

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.[9]

Arrest of chairman

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 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Kadokawa has denied the allegations, and his company announced that it would cooperate with the investigation.[10] 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.[11] In July 2024, the company announced that it had acquired anime studio Doga Kobo.[12]

2024 ransomware attack

See 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.[13] [14]

Group companies

Kadokawa Corporation serves to bring together several affiliated Japanese companies related to Kadokawa Shoten under what is known as the Kadokawa Group.[15] 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;[16] the film and visual companies deal with Japanese feature films and DVD sales of international films and anime;[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]

Publication

Group media

Films and visuals

Others

Overseas

Technology

See main article: Pixel Game Maker MV.

Former subsidiaries

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Summary of Consolidated Financial Results for the Year Ended March 31, 2023 (Based on Japanese GAAP) . en-EN . May 11, 2023 . May 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230511213321/https://ssl4.eir-parts.net/doc/9468/ir_material_for_fiscal_ym6/134970/00.pdf . May 11, 2023.
  2. Web site: KADOKAWA Integrated Report 2022 . group.kadokawa.co.jp . en-EN . April 27, 2023 . April 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427010032/https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/global/ir/integratedreport/ . live .
  3. News: May 14, 2014. Dwango to merge with Kadokawa. The Japan Times. April 13, 2015. July 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706124159/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/14/business/corporate-business/publisher-kadokawa-web-video-giant-dwango-eye-tie-up. live.
  4. News: October 1, 2014. Publisher Kadokawa, Internet firm Dwango complete merger. The Japan Times. April 13, 2015. May 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190505131037/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/01/business/corporate-business/publisher-kadokawa-internet-firm-dwango-complete-merger/. live.
  5. Web site: Kadokawa Corporation: Corporation History.
  6. Web site: Ressler . Karen . Nobuo Kawakami Steps Down as Kadokawa Dwango President . Anime News Network . February 16, 2019 . February 16, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153504/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-02-15/nobuo-kawakami-steps-down-as-kadokawa-dwango-president/.143351 . live .
  7. Web site: 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. May 14, 2019. ja. Pronexus Inc.. E-IR. May 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190514080105/https://ssl4.eir-parts.net/doc/9468/tdnet/1706202/00.pdf. live.
  8. Web site: Kadokawa Corporation Forms Capital Alliance with CyberAgent, Sony. Anime News Network. February 5, 2021. February 5, 2021. February 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210205140514/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-05/kadokawa-corporation-forms-capital-alliance-with-cyberagent-sony/.169158. live.
  9. Web site: Notice Concerning Strategic Alliance with Tencent Group . Kadokawa Corporation . July 30, 2022 . October 29, 2021.
  10. Web site: Kadokawa chairman arrested over Tokyo Olympics bribery scandal. September 15, 2022. Kyodo News . September 15, 2022.
  11. Web site: Publisher Kadokawa's chairman indicted over Olympics bribery. October 4, 2022. Kyodo News. October 4, 2022. October 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221004063556/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/10/3cf5f8324ffe-publisher-kadokawas-chairman-to-be-indicted-over-olympics-bribery.html. live.
  12. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Kadokawa Acquires Anime Studio Doga Kobo . Anime News Network. July 11, 2024. July 11, 2024.
  13. News: Jiji . Hackers behind Kadokawa cyberattack claim new info leak . 3 July 2024 . The Japan Times . 3 July 2024 . en . July 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240703101026/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/07/03/japan/crime-legal/kadokawa-cyberattack-leak/ . live .
  14. News: Sudo . Tatsuya . More Kadokawa data leaked as deadline for ransom passes . 3 July 2024 . The Asahi Shimbun . July 2, 2024 . July 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240703111017/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15329137 . live .
  15. Web site: KADOKAWA Corporation. ja:グループ会社一覧. Group Company Summary. Kadokawa Group Holdings. November 10, 2013. ja. June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614070632/https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/company/group.html. live.
  16. Web site: Publishing businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings. Kadokawa Group Holdings. November 21, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120301080558/http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/ir/annual/2007/04/index.html. March 1, 2012. dead.
  17. Web site: Movie/Visual businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings. Kadokawa Group Holdings. November 21, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20131110220224/http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/ir/annual/2007/05/index.html. November 10, 2013. dead.
  18. Web site: Cross media businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings. Kadokawa Group Holdings. November 21, 2009. November 17, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101117202205/http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/ir/annual/2007/06/index.html. live.
  19. Web site: Other businesses under Kadokawa Group Holdings. Kadokawa Group Holdings. November 21, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20101117201045/http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/ir/annual/2007/07/index.html. November 17, 2010. dead.
  20. Web site: Report: Kadokawa Acquires Dark Souls Developers From Software. Silliconera. April 28, 2014. May 21, 2014. May 31, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140531232913/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/28/report-kadokawa-acquires-dark-souls-developers-software/. live.
  21. News: KADOKAWA Announces Acquisition of Anime News Network's Media Business . November 1, 2022 . Anime News Network . en . November 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108030614/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2022-11-01/kadokawa-announces-acquisition-of-anime-news-network-media-business/.191434 . live .
  22. News: About Kadokawa's Investment in ANN . November 1, 2022 . Anime News Network . en . November 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103222354/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/site-news/2022-11-01/about-kadokawa-investment-in-ann/.191443 . live .
  23. January 5, 2024. Establishment of a Joint Venture with Gramedia, the largest publisher and largest bookstore network in Indonesia. January 11, 2024. January 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240110194824/https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/global/information/news_release/2024010501_en.html. live.
  24. Web site: January 9, 2024. Media Giants Gramedia and Kadokawa Establish a Joint Venture in Indonesia. KAORI Nusantara. EN. January 11, 2024. January 11, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240111013015/https://kaorinusantara.or.id/english/20082/media-giants-gramedia-and-kadokawa-establish-a-joint-venture-in-indonesia. live.
  25. Web site: 2022-05-26 . Kadokawa Games to divest part of its business to Dragami Games, a new company established by Yoshimi Yasuda . 2023-07-31 . Gematsu . en-US.
  26. Web site: 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. PR Times. June 14, 2007. April 11, 2012. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150404212301/http://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001527.000000000.html. April 4, 2015.
  27. Web site: https://www.cci.co.jp/special/newsrelease/pdf/2003_0624_1.pdf. ja: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. Cyber Communications. April 11, 2012. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110713074044/http://www.cci.co.jp/special/newsrelease/pdf/2003_0624_1.pdf. July 13, 2011.
  28. Web site: https://www.sonynetwork.co.jp/corporation/release/2007/pr070626.pdf. ja:－「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～. So-net Entertainment. April 11, 2012. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130412090047/http://www.so-net.ne.jp/corporation/release/2007/pr070626.pdf. April 12, 2013.
  29. Web site: http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/topics/20091001.pdf. ja: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. Kadokawa Group Holdings. April 11, 2012. ja. January 3, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110103150144/http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/topics/20091001.pdf. live.
  30. Web site: Mages goes independent from Kadokawa Group, 5pb. to consolidate into Mages . Romano, Sal . July 26, 2019 . Gematsu . July 26, 2019 . April 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200409183738/https://gematsu.com/2019/07/mages-goes-independent-from-kadokawa-group-5pb-to-consolidate-into-mages . live .
  31. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20101028104044/http://www.medialeaves.co.jp/. MediaLeaves, Inc. announcement. MediaLeaves. October 28, 2010. April 11, 2012. ja.
  32. Web site: https://www.ptw.co.jp/news/sarugakucho.pdf. ja:株式会社猿楽庁の株式取得（子会社化）に関するお知らせ. Pole To Win. April 11, 2012. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130719075221/http://www.ptw.co.jp/news/sarugakucho.pdf. July 19, 2013.
  33. Web site: 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～. Panasonic. April 11, 2012. ja.
  34. Web site: http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/topics/20100930.pdf. ja: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. Kadokawa Group Holdings. April 11, 2012. ja. August 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110829114039/http://www.kadokawa-hd.co.jp/topics/20100930.pdf. live.

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