Sony Wants to Buy Kadokawa and Their Employees Are Thrilled

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

Sony's confirmed bid to acquire Japanese conglomerate Kadokawa has sparked a wave of optimism among Kadokawa employees, despite potential losses in autonomy. This article explores the reasons behind their positive outlook.

Analyst: A Win for Sony, Uncertain for Kadokawa

While Sony's intent to purchase Kadokawa is official, negotiations are ongoing. Analyst Takahiro Suzuki, in an interview with Weekly Bunshun, suggests the acquisition benefits Sony more significantly than Kadokawa. Sony's shift towards entertainment necessitates strong intellectual property (IP) development, an area where Kadokawa excels, boasting titles like Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring. However, this acquisition could compromise Kadokawa's independence and lead to stricter management, potentially hindering creative freedom, according to Automaton West's translation of industry commentary.

Kadokawa Employees Welcome the Change

Despite potential drawbacks, many Kadokawa employees reportedly favor the Sony acquisition. Weekly Bunshun interviews reveal a generally positive sentiment, with employees expressing a preference for Sony's leadership. This positive reception is partly attributed to dissatisfaction with the current Natsuno administration.

A veteran employee cited the inadequate response to a June cyberattack by the BlackSuit hacking group as a key reason for the positive reaction. This attack resulted in the theft of 1.5 terabytes of data, including sensitive employee information. The perceived lack of decisive action by President Takeshi Natsuno has fueled employee discontent, leading many to believe a Sony takeover might bring necessary leadership changes. The prevailing sentiment seems to be that a change in leadership, even with a loss of independence, is preferable to the status quo.