On Thursday, December 19, 2024, Sony Group Corporation announced a strategic partnership with Kadokawa Corporation , cementing its position as the Japanese publisher's largest shareholder. Starting January 7, 2025, Sony will own 10% of Kadokawa , after acquiring more than 12 million shares for an estimated 50 billion yen .
The agreement represents a milestone in the collaboration between the companies and presents significant ambitions: expanding the global reach of Kadokawa's intellectual property (IP). Plans include film and series adaptations, co-production of new anime, and the international distribution of this content through Sony platforms.
Takeshi Natsuno, CEO of Kadokawa, enthusiastically commented: “We are very pleased with this partnership. The alliance will strengthen our IP creation capabilities and allow us to explore new media opportunities with Sony’s support. This collaboration is a strategic step towards bringing our content to a wider audience while maximizing the value of our IPs in the medium and long term.”
Therefore, Sony President Hiroki Totoki also highlighted the benefits of the partnership: "With this partnership, we will combine Kadokawa's extensive creative ecosystem with Sony's expertise in expanding entertainment globally, including anime and games. Together, we will advance Kadokawa's 'Global Media Mix' strategy and Sony's 'Creative Entertainment' vision."
The community received Kadokawa's announcement with enthusiasm:
- A partnership like this promises a lot!
- Sony and Kadokawa together? This could change everything.
- Will FromSoftware end up under Sony's control?
- At least it's better than falling into the hands of foreign companies.
- At only 10%, it is not yet a subsidiary of Sony.
Although opinions are divided, the collaboration is seen as a strategic move to protect and expand the global relevance of Japanese content. Ultimately, the partnership promises to shape the future of the entertainment industry, positioning Sony and Kadokawa as leaders on the global stage.
Source: Official Website
