Japanese Giant Sony to Acquire Kadokawa

Sony's Potential Acquisition of Kadokawa: Employee Enthusiasm Amidst Concerns

Sony's confirmed bid to acquire Japanese media conglomerate Kadokawa has sparked a wave of optimism among Kadokawa employees, despite potential losses in autonomy. While negotiations are ongoing, the news has generated mixed reactions.

Analyst Weighs in: A Better Deal for Sony?

Economic analyst Takahiro Suzuki, speaking to Weekly Bunshun, suggests the acquisition benefits Sony more than Kadokawa. Sony's shift towards entertainment necessitates a stronger IP portfolio, a weakness Kadokawa excels in, boasting titles like Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring. However, this acquisition would place Kadokawa under Sony's direct control, potentially limiting its operational independence. As noted by Automaton West, this could lead to stricter management and increased scrutiny of projects not directly contributing to IP development.

Kadokawa Employees Welcome the Change

Despite this potential drawback, Weekly Bunshun reports a generally positive employee response to the prospect of a Sony takeover. Many interviewed expressed no opposition, viewing Sony as a preferable alternative. This sentiment stems partly from dissatisfaction with the current leadership under President Takeshi Natsuno.

A veteran employee highlighted widespread employee discontent with Natsuno's handling of a June cyberattack by the BlackSuit hacking group, which compromised over 1.5 terabytes of data, including sensitive employee information. The perceived lack of decisive action during this crisis has fueled employee support for a change in leadership, which they believe a Sony acquisition might bring.