Sony Wants to Buy Kadokawa and Their Employees Are Thrilled

Sony's bid to acquire Kadokawa has sparked excitement among Kadokawa employees, despite potential concerns about loss of independence. Let's explore the reasons behind their optimistic outlook.

Analyst Suggests Acquisition Benefits Sony More Than Kadokawa

Sony's confirmed intention to purchase Kadokawa, while still under negotiation, has generated mixed reactions. Analyst Takahiro Suzuki, as reported by Weekly Bunshun, suggests the acquisition is primarily advantageous to Sony. Sony's shift towards entertainment necessitates a stronger IP portfolio, a weakness Kadokawa excels in, boasting significant IPs across anime, manga, and games (including titles like Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring). This acquisition would bolster Sony's content creation capabilities.

However, this comes at the cost of Kadokawa's autonomy. As noted by Automaton West, the acquisition may lead to stricter management and increased scrutiny of projects not directly contributing to IP development.

Kadokawa Employees Welcome Sony's Potential Acquisition

Despite the potential downsides, Weekly Bunshun reports a surprisingly positive response from Kadokawa employees. Many interviewed expressed approval, viewing Sony as a preferable alternative to the current leadership.

This positive sentiment stems largely from dissatisfaction with the current Natsuno administration, particularly their handling of a June cyberattack by the BlackSuit hacking group. The attack resulted in a massive data breach, compromising sensitive internal documents, user information, and even employee personal data. The perceived inadequate response from President and CEO Takeshi Natsuno has fueled employee discontent, leading many to believe a change in leadership under Sony's ownership would be a welcome improvement. The hope is that Sony's acquisition would lead to a change in management, starting with the removal of the current president.