Sony Acquires Kadokawa, Employees Rejoice

Sony's proposed acquisition of Kadokawa has generated a surprising reaction: employee enthusiasm. Despite potential loss of independence, Kadokawa staff express optimism, a sentiment explored further below.

Analyst Suggests Acquisition Benefits Sony More

While Sony's intention to acquire Kadokawa is confirmed, finalization remains pending. Analyst Takahiro Suzuki, speaking to Weekly Bunshun, suggests the deal primarily benefits Sony. Sony's shift towards entertainment necessitates strong intellectual property (IP) development, an area where Kadokawa excels with titles like Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring. However, this acquisition could compromise Kadokawa's operational autonomy. As noted by Automaton West, increased oversight from Sony might stifle creative freedom and lead to stricter scrutiny of projects not directly contributing to IP generation.

Kadokawa Employees Welcome Potential Change

Interestingly, Weekly Bunshun reports a positive employee response to the potential acquisition. Many interviewed express no objection, even welcoming Sony's involvement. This sentiment stems partly from dissatisfaction with the current Natsuno administration.

A veteran employee highlighted widespread employee discontent with the handling of a June cyberattack by the BlackSuit hacking group, which compromised over 1.5 terabytes of data, including sensitive employee information. President Takeshi Natsuno's perceived inadequate response fueled this dissatisfaction, leading to a belief that Sony's acquisition could lead to positive leadership changes. The prevailing sentiment seems to be: "Why not Sony?"

In conclusion, while the acquisition's impact on Kadokawa's creative independence remains uncertain, the positive employee reaction underscores deeper issues within the company's current leadership and a hope for improved management under Sony.