Kadokawa is looking to broaden its business activities following Sony’s acquisition of about 10% of its shares, which includes the shares Sony already held. This investment totals 50 billion yen, equivalent to roughly $322 million, and was finalized on January 7, 2025.
This partnership between the two conglomerates marks a significant advancement in their collaborative efforts, elevating their joint projects to new heights. The implications of this deal could be substantial, influencing the anime industry both in the near future and over a longer period.
Kadokawa’s CEO, Takeshi Natsuno, recently shared with Nikkei that the company is increasing its initial goal of publishing 7,000 volumes annually to an impressive 9,000 volumes. This includes a diverse range of content such as novels, manga, and various other book types.
The Original Target Was Set In 2023
The original goal set was quite ambitious, revealed in 2023 when they also shared plans to boost their anime production. Prior to that, in 2021, they aimed to create 40 anime projects each year, including TV shows, films, and various formats, by 2023. This was followed by an even more daring objective introduced in 2023.
They aim to provide a greater volume of content while also reaching a broader audience. However, for some, Kadokawa’s ambition to expand seems to exceed what the industry can support, leading to numerous anime series facing delays attributed to “production circumstances” and various quality concerns.
Kadokawa Wants To Reach A Wider Audience
Kadokawa is actively working on broadening its reach into various countries and continents, focusing on translating its content into multiple languages. The recent news about Crunchyroll Manga’s return suggests that Sony will play a significant role in this strategy. Kadokawa has indicated that the agreement involves a partnership for distributing its publications.
t’s important to note that Kadokawa is a co-owner of Yen Press, meaning they aren’t solely reliant on Sony for the English publication of their titles. This partnership gives them some flexibility in how they distribute their works.
It’s important to remember that the earlier version of Crunchyroll Manga didn’t offer translations of its titles into other languages, even as Crunchyroll began its international expansion. This situation might be tied to contractual limitations, which could have prevented them from translating those manga into languages besides English.