Sony's Kadokawa Investment Sparks Goal of 9000 Original IPs Per Year

Kadokawa, now a Sony Group subsidiary, ambitiously targets 9,000 original IP publications annually by fiscal year 2027. This represents a significant 1.5x increase from their 2023 output.

This aggressive expansion follows Sony's substantial investment, securing a 10% stake in Kadokawa. Kadokawa President Takeshi Natsuno, in an interview with Nikkei, outlined a plan to leverage Sony's global distribution network for international market penetration. A medium-term plan projects 7,000 titles by fiscal 2025.

To support this growth, Kadokawa will increase its editorial staff by 1.4 times, aiming for approximately 1,000 employees, ensuring efficient workflow and sustainable expansion.

Kadokawa's strategy involves a "media mix" approach, expanding existing IPs into anime and game adaptations. Natsuno emphasizes creating a system fostering diversity to yield major successes. This benefits Sony, owner of Crunchyroll (with over 15 million paid subscribers), by enriching its anime library with more Kadokawa IPs.

Kadokawa's extensive IP portfolio includes renowned titles like Bungo Stray Dogs, Oshi no Ko, The Rising of the Shield Hero, and My Happy Marriage, along with popular game IPs such as Elden Ring, Dragon Quest, and the Danganronpa series.

Sony's interest in multimedia expansion, including live-action adaptations and anime co-production, aligns perfectly with Kadokawa's ambitions, creating a synergistic partnership for global market dominance.