PUBLICATION/IP CREATION

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Creating New IP Centered Around Publishing

Publication and sale of books and magazines, publication and sale of e-books and e-magazines, sale of web ads, licensing, etc. We continuously create new works, amounting to some 5,900 titles annually (results for FY2023) in a diverse range of genres including literature, comics, light novels, children’s books, and how-to books. This is an important source for the development of our media mixes. We also used our own UGC (User Generated Content) platforms, such as “Kakuyomu,” our online novel site, in active initiatives to discover authors. Our base of titles now numbers over 130,000, and this abundant archive is a driving force for the Group’s growth. In our e-book business, in addition to creating IP, we directly operate “BOOK☆WALKER,” a general e-book store.

Books

Literature

We operate different imprints, including “KADOKAWA Bunko,” “KADOKAWA Horror Bunko,” and publish more than 300 works of primarily novels, including the works published in “Shosetsu Yaseijidai,” a literary e-magazine. We work on a broad range of genres and publish famous literary award winners and novels that served as the basis for the much-talked-about video adaptation, among many other works that we publish.

Business books, how-to books, lifestyle books, and non-fiction

We provide content related to work, living, and learning that increases readers’ quality of life and knowledge. A wide variety of books are included in this category, such as business books, how-to books, lifestyle books, non-fiction, translations, essays told in pictures, study guides, language learning books, academic books, and dictionaries. The “KADOKAWA Shinsho,” “KADOKAWA Sophia Bunko,” and “KADOKAWA Sensho” imprints are also included. We also hold seminars and other events.

Light novels and new literature

Since we established the light novel category, we have consistently published hit series. Our media mix includes animation, games, comics created based on novels etc., and goods. We publish light novels that have continued to start various movements as well as new web and UGC-based literature that is rising in popularity. Different labels are always discovering new talent from among the writers winning new-writer awards and from the Web and UGC platforms and providing entertaining novels that are adored by readers.

Children’s books

KADOKAWA publishes books that provide a wonderful reading experience for different growth stages, including picture books for infants to preschool children, character books, the “KADOKAWA Manga Gakushu Series,” including Nihon no Rekishi (History of Japan), and “KADOKAWA Tsubasa Bunko,” a collection of books for children.

Comics

KADOKAWA has published many works targeting readers aware of trends in society under the theme of “always anticipating the needs of the times,” and has received many manga awards. In recent years, it publishes an increasing number of works translated into various languages for overseas fans and electronic works distributed through the “Kadocomi” free manga distribution website before the publication of printed magazines. KADOKAWA also publishes works for overseas markets.

My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 ©MASHIRO/COMISMA INC.

With “TATESC COMICS,” a label that publishes vertically scrolling comics that are easily viewable on smartphones, we domestically and internationally distribute many vertically scrolling comics from Japan in vivid full color, ranging from popular KADOKAWA titles to original series.

We also launched “MANGA Bar,” a free e-manga magazine offering the latest stories from original titles, as part of a joint project with “piccoma,” an e-comic and e-novel service. Manga from a variety of genres are released through this magazine first each week.

https://tatesc-comic.com/

https://piccoma.com/web/event_detail/1983

e-books

e-books, online platforms

Digitalization that responds to changes in the market continues to progress at KADOKAWA group. We sell both paper and electronic formats for many books and magazines, and these are offered through various e-book stores.
Over 1.7 million e-books from over 1,500 publishers are sold on “BOOK☆WALKER,” a comprehensive e-book store directly operated by our Group.
We also operate “Kadocomi,” a free manga site, and “Kakuyomu,” a web novel site, and work to discover UGC (User Generated Content).
We will continue to expand our services for both paper and digital formats so that customers can enjoy content on a variety of devices.

https://bookwalker.jp/

https://comic-walker.com/

https://kakuyomu.jp/

Media

Magazines and mooks

We distribute magazines for a variety of generations and hobbies. This includes “Lettuce Club,” a lifestyle informational magazine, “Monthly The Television,” an informational magazine on TV, “Weekly Famitsu,” a comprehensive game magazine, “Chara Parfait,” character and game informational magazine for girls, “Newtype,” which includes the latest anime information, “Da Vinci,” which introduces seasonal books and comics.

Web media

We operate web media in a variety of genres, including: “Walkerplus,” a trend and trip information website; “Lettuce Club (WEB),” a lifestyle information website; “WEB The Television,” an art and entertainment information website; “Da Vinci Web,” a portal site for books and comics; “ASCII.jp,” a comprehensive IT information website; and “Famitsu.com,” a general entertainment information website.

https://www.walkerplus.com/

https://www.lettuceclub.net/

https://thetv.jp/

https://ddnavi.com/

https://ascii.jp/

https://www.famitsu.com/

Group companies

ARCLIGHT, Inc.

Arclight is deeply involved with the creation of board & card games, including the planning, design, publishing and selling of new titles.
They also act as the host of “Game Market,” the biggest board game event in Japan. Arclight aims to expand the industry from Japan by using gaming to bridge the gap between players regardless of language or background.
KADOKAWA ASCII Research Laboratories, Inc.

Widely engaged in research, consulting, marketing, the solution business, publishing, educational support projects, and more as the media research lab for the KADOKAWA Group. They work towards resolving customers' problems by comprehensively showcasing the Group's abundance of strengths in content, media, and research.
KADOKAWA UPLINK INC.

KADOKAWA UPLINK has its headquarters in Okinawa, handling editing and production of program information in “Monthly The Television,” a TV informational magazine published by KADOKAWA, and the “WEB The Television” website.
KADOKAWA UPLINK broadcasts entertainment information, focusing mainly on television programs.
KADOKAWA KEY-PROCESS Co., Ltd.

KADOKAWA KEY-PROCESS is a production company that continues to evolve prepress techniques and completely control data to produce multiple types of publication content.
KADOKAWA Game Linkage Inc.

KADOKAWA Game Linkage is attempting to create new value related to games. It develops game media, including publications under the brands of “Famitsu” and “Game no Dengeki,” online services and video distribution, produces gaming team “FAV gaming,” plans e-sports events, and products goods.
It will increase the excitement from games to users and will bring the fun of games to more people.
Kadokawa Book Navi Co.

Kadokawa Book Navi promotes sales for a variety of publications of the KADOKAWA group. Staff nationwide regularly visit bookstores and propose displays based on information about hit products and video adaptations. The motto is “Be a bridge between KADOKAWA and readers through the maintenance of displays at bookstores.”
KADOKAWA LifeDesign Inc.

KADOKAWA LifeDesign is engaged in the publishing and advertising business of the magazine “Lettuce Club” and “3 Minutes Cooking,” as well as the mail-order business for seniors through mail-order catalogs such as “Mainichi ga Hakken.”
GeeXPlus, Inc.

A management and marketing company that employs non-Japanese creators who love all kinds of Japanese content, from anime, games, and manga to food and tourism. They plan promotions using their own influences, create video, and distribute this video, targeting the English-speaking world.
SHINKIGENSHA Co Ltd

We are a publishing company that specializes in books related to fantasy, military topics, plastic models, anime, games, tabletop RPGs, and other hobbies.
Through our publications, we hope to provide information that is deeper, more enjoyable, and more useful for today’s diverse and ever-evolving society.
CHOUBUNSHA PUBLISHING CO., LTD.

CHOUBUNSHA publishes primarily children’s books. It has published a number of serials, which are placed in schools and public libraries. The company aims to publish books that call for children to think about the importance of life and peace, primarily the two bestselling series Hadashi no Gen and Sekai de Ichiban Mazushii Daitoryo.
PUBLUS Corporation

PUBLUS develops and offers e-book solutions using advanced technology and an abundance of experience, having its in-house “PUBLUS Reader” EPUB e-book viewer, which is compliant with the global EPUB standard, adopted by more than 100 companies, including major e-book shops and e-book distribution services for publishers.
Building Book Center Co.,Ltd.

Building Book Center plays an important role to connect content and customers, including production of the KADOKAWA group’s publications and online sales of books and goods. Equipped with the cutting-edge digital equipment inside “TOKOROZAWA SAKURA TOWN,” the Book Manufacturing and Distribution Factory enables small-quantity, high-quality production. It publishes and distributes books faster than ever.
ANIME NEWS NETWORK LLC

Anime News Network LLC engages in the media business focused on distribution of the latest news concerning Japanese anime, manga, light novels and other entertainment content to its English-speaking market userbase in North America and other parts of the world. ANN also operates a content database and community forums for its users to interact on its website and has established its position as one of the largest platforms specialized in its field in North America.
BOOKWALKER TAIWAN CO. Ltd.

Since February 2016, BOOKWALKER TAIWAN has offered the “BOOK☆WALKER TAIWAN” service, a traditional Chinese language e-book store. They offer a pleasant digital reading environment through comprehensive technical cooperation with Japan's “BOOK☆WALKER,” as well as showcasing the charm of Japanese e-books to Chinese readers (traditional characters) focusing mainly on Taiwan.
First Page Pro Company Limited

Founded in Bangkok in 2014. The company operates a translation and publishing business of Japanese light novels and comics, differentiating itself from its competitors by showing particular strength in the romantic comedy and sexy genres. Its published titles often rank within the top 20 in sales on major e-book platforms.
GUANGZHOU TIANWEN KADOKAWA ANIMATION & COMICS CO., LTD.

Since it was founded in Guangzhou, China in 2010, the company has been engaged in the “book wholesale business” by distributing light novels, literary novels, manga, and collections of paintings, while also developing original Chinese intellectual properties and expanding them globally. In addition to merchandise business, the company ventures into new fields outside the “book wholesale business,” such as animation, games, and digital products, actively promoting media mix strategies.
JNC Nina GmbH

Established in 2023. JNC Nina builds upon the English language market success of J-Novel Club in distributing Japanese light novels and manga by expanding its electronic book publications and subscription-based services to readers in the French and German-speaking markets.
KADOKAWA AMARIN COMPANY LIMITED

KADOKAWA AMARIN was founded in 2016 by KADOKAWA and AMARIN, the largest publisher in Thailand. To date, the company has been operating a wide range of businesses such as the translation and publication of Japanese light novels and comics, e-commerce, film distribution and the production of animation-inspired and copyrighted merchandise.
KADOKAWA GEMPAK STARZ SDN. BHD.

KADOKAWA GEMPAK STARZ is a major publisher of comics and books for children in Malaysia. In 2015, KADOKAWA acquired a stake in it. The company publishes original content, including the Primal Power series, in Japan, greater China, English-speaking countries and Southeast Asian countries. Going forward, the company will strive to maximize the value of its content by means of its media mix.
KADOKAWA TAIWAN CORPORATION

Founded in 1999. With eyes fixed on the future of the market of e-books in traditional Chinese characters, BOOKWALKER TAIWAN was founded in 2015 as a subsidiary to transplant the system and knowledge from “BOOK☆WALKER,” a Japanese e-book site.
The company established novel contribution platform “KadoKado” in 2021 and accelerated its digital transformation in accordance with the customs of this new age of book reading. Taiwan KADOKAWA has become the core of the KADOKAWA Group's overseas strategy. For example, it develops and improves original intellectual properties in greater China.
M12 Media LLC

Founded in 2016, J-Novel Club LLC changed its name to M12 Media LLC in 2025.
Under the J-Novel Club brand, the company continues to engage in the English publication of Japanese light novels and manga and operates a digital subscription service platform.
For North America and other English-speaking markets, J-Novel Club streams the latest translated chapters through its digital subscription service platform and subsequently distributes e-book format publications of the same titles through major English online stores.
O’FAN HOUSE Co., Ltd.

Established in 2024 as a joint venture with local partner BY4M. Leveraging BY4M's resources and promotional expertise, which have a proven track record in media mix projects involving video and book content for Japanese IP, we are expanding a publishing business in Korea that includes translated literary works, light novels, and comics, as well as original publications. Based on Korea's market characteristics as KADOKAWA's second-largest overseas publishing rights market after English-speaking regions, we are driving business growth through effective marketing and strong media mix capabilities.
PT PHOENIX GRAMEDIA INDONESIA

PT PHOENIX GRAMEDIA INDONESIA was established in 2024 as a joint venture between Gramedia, the largest publisher and the largest bookstore chain in Indonesia, and KADOKAWA. The company executes a media mix in Indonesia, focusing on the translation and publication of Japanese light novels and comics, merchandise sales, live event business and so on.
VEGA SAS

Founded in 2024 as a joint venture between KADOKAWA and the Média-Participations Group, a major European publisher, and Éditions Dupuis, a major French and Belgian comics publisher under the Média-Participations Group. Since 2021, Dupuis has been translating and publishing Japanese comics under the Vega label. The new VEGA SAS will focus on a wider range of Japanese and Korean comics, also, exploring new territories, including the development of Japanese light novels, which are in the early stages of growth in Europe.
YEN PRESS, LLC.

YEN PRESS was established in 2016 as a joint venture with Hachette Book Group, a major US publisher. YEN PRESS is a leading company in the Japanese light novel market in North America. It is also actively expanding business, including development of original works and entry into other English-speaking countries.