, formerly , is a Japanese

publisher Publishing is the activities of making information, literature, music, software, and other content, physical or digital, available to the public for sale or free of charge. Traditionally, the term publishing refers to the creation and distribu ...

and division of

Kadokawa Future Publishing is the publishing arm of Kadokawa Corporation, publishing manga, novels, light novels, magazines, tabletop role-playing games and other type of content with eight different publishing brand companies that previously merged with it. The company u ...

based in

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes

manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

, light novels, manga anthology magazines such as '' Monthly Asuka'' and '' Monthly Shōnen Ace'', and entertainment magazines such as '' Newtype''. Since its founding, Kadokawa has expanded into the

multimedia Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms, such as Text (literary theory), writing, Sound, audio, images, animations, or video, into a single presentation. T ...

sector, namely in

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

s (as Kadokawa Games) and in

live-action Live action is a form of cinematography or videography that uses photography instead of animation. Some works combine live action with animation to create a live-action animated feature film. Live action is used to define film, video games or ...

and animated films (as Kadokawa Pictures).

History

Kadokawa Shoten was established on November 10, 1945, by Genyoshi Kadokawa. The company's first publication imprint, Kadokawa Bunko, was published in 1949. The company went public on April 2, 1954. In 1975, Haruki Kadokawa became the president of Kadokawa Shoten, following Genyoshi Kadokawa's death. On April 1, 2003, Kadokawa Shoten was renamed to Kadokawa Holdings, transferring the existing publishing businesses to Kadokawa Shoten. On July 1, 2006, the parent company was renamed to Kadokawa Group Holdings and in January 2007, Kadokawa Group Holdings inherited the management and integration businesses within Kadokawa Shoten. The magazine businesses was transferred to the Kadokawa Magazine Group. The video game divisions of Kadokawa Shoten,

ASCII Media Works , formerly , is a Japanese Publishing, publisher and brand company of Kadokawa Future Publishing headquartered in Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. It originally formed on April 1, 2008, as a result of a Mergers and acquisitions, merger bet ...

and

Enterbrain , formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing founded on January 30, 1987, as . Magazines published by Enterbrain are generally focused on video games and computer entertainment as well as video game and strate ...

were merged into Kadokawa Games. Kadokawa Shoten ceased being a ''

kabushiki gaisha A or ''kabushiki kaisha'', commonly abbreviated K.K. or KK, is a type of defined under the Companies Act of Japan. The term is often translated as "stock company", "joint-stock company" or "stock corporation". The term ''kabushiki gaisha'' in ...

'' on October 1, 2013, when it was merged with eight other companies to become a brand company of

Kadokawa Corporation , formerly is a Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate based in Fujimi, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Created as a result of the merger of the original Kadokawa Corporation and Dwango (company), Dwango Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2014, the company has ...

Subsidiaries

* Kadokawa Haruki Corporation: Founded in 1976 Haruki Kadokawa as a film production company. The company was later merged into Kadokawa Shoten. When Haruki Kadokawa was still on bail following his 1993 arrest, Kadokawa Haruki Corporation was established by Haruki Kadokawa on September 12, 1995, as a publisher. *

Fujimi Shobo , formerly , was a Japanese publisher that specialized in light novels, manga, Japanese role-playing games, role-playing games and collectible card games. Founded in 1972 and reorganized three times, it was at times an independent company and at ...

: In 1991, Fujimi Shobo was merged into Kadokawa Shoten, but continued operations as a division of Kadokawa Shoten. * : In 1993, it was merged into Kadokawa Shoten. * Kadokawa Media Office: In 1993, it was merged into Kadokawa Shoten. * Kadokawa J-com media * Kadokawa Gakugei Shuppan Publishing: Formerly Hichō Kikaku, it was renamed on April 1, 2003. * Kadokawa Digix * Kids Net * Asmik Ace Entertainment: In 2006,

Sumitomo Corporation is one of the largest worldwide '' sōgō shōsha'' general trading companies, and is a diversified corporation. The company was incorporated in 1919 and is a member company of the Sumitomo Group. It is listed on three Japanese stock exchange ...

purchased the 27.6% common stock of Asmik Ace from Kadokawa Shoten, and distributed the 75.3% stock of Asmik Ace into a subsidiary of Sumitomo, leaving Kadokawa Shoten a 20% stake holder. In 2007, Kadokawa's stake of Asmik Ace was transferred to Kadokawa Group Holdings. In 2010, Sumitomo purchased the remaining 20% stake from Kadokawa Group Holdings. * Cinema Paradise * Taiwan Animate * Chara Ani

Magazines published

* '' Altima Ace'' * '' Asuka'' * '' Asuka Ciel'' * '' Ciel Tres Tres'' * '' Comp Ace'' * '' Comptiq'' * ''

Emerald Emerald is a gemstone and a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium.Hurlbut, Cornelius S. Jr., and Kammerling, Robert C. (1991). ''Gemology'', John Wiley & Sons, New York ...

'' * '' Gundam Ace'' * '' Kerokero Ace'' * '' Monthly Ace Next'' (discontinued) * '' Monthly Shōnen Ace'' * '' Newtype'' * '' The Sneaker'' (discontinued) * '' Young Ace''

Light novel imprints

* ''Kadokawa Beans Bunko'' Female focused light novel imprint. * ''Kadokawa Bunko CrossLove'' An erotic light novel imprint that's aimed at women. * ''Kadokawa Gin no Saji Series'' The fantasy novel imprint which both children and adults can enjoy. * '' Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko'' * ''Kadokawa Ruby Bunko'' Boys Love focused imprint. * ''Kadokawa Tsubasa Bunko''

Manga titles published

* '' .hack//Legend of the Twilight'' * '' Angelic Layer'' * '' Baka and Test'' * '' Basquash!'' * '' Bio Booster Armor Guyver'' * '' Black Rock Shooter'' * '' Brain Powerd'' * '' Bungou Stray Dogs'' * '' Cardfight!! Vanguard'' * ''

Chrono Crusade , originally known in Japan (due to a typo) as ''Chrno Crusade'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Moriyama. It was serialized in Fujimi Shobo's ''Monthly Comic Dragon'' from 1998 to 2003 and later in ''Monthly Dr ...

'' * '' Cloverfield/Kishin'' ( prequel to

movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

) * '' Cowboy Bebop'' * '' Code Geass'' * '' Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star'' * '' Deadman Wonderland'' * '' Dragon Half'' * ''

Girls Bravo is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by and serialized from 2000 to 2005 in '' Shōnen Ace'' by Kadokawa Shoten. The story focuses on a high school boy who is allergic to girls who is transported to a mysterious world with a ...

'' * '' Escaflowne The movie: Girl In Gaya'' * '' Escaflowne: The Series'' * '' Eureka Seven'' * '' Hakkenden'' * ''

Haruhi Suzumiya is a Japanese light novel series written by Nagaru Tanigawa and illustrated by Noizi Ito. It was first published in 2003 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan with the novel ''The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya'', and has since been followed ...

'' * '' Highschool of the Dead'' * '' Hybrid Child'' * '' In Another World with My Smartphone'' * '' Junjo Mistake'' * '' Junjo Romantica: Pure Romance'' * '' Kannazuki no Miko'' * ''

Kantai Collection , abbreviated as , is a Japanese free-to-play web browser game developed by Kadokawa Games and published by DMM.com. The central theme of the game is the representation of World War II warships Moe anthropomorphism, personified as teenage girls ...

'' * '' Kemono Friends'' * '' Kerberos Panzer Cop'' * '' Konosuba'' * '' Legal Drug'' * '' Love Stage!!'' * '' Lucky Star'' * '' Ludwig II'' * '' Maoyū Maō Yūsha'' * '' Marionette Generation'' * '' Martian Successor Nadesico'' * '' Mirai Nikki'' * '' Miyuki-chan in Wonderland'' * ''

Multiple Personality Detective Psycho ''MPD Psycho'', short for , is a Japanese manga series written by Eiji Ōtsuka and illustrated by Shōu Tajima. ''MPD Psycho'' is a very successful series having sold more than four million copies in Japan as of 2007. It was originally publi ...

'' * '' Neon Genesis Evangelion'' * '' Nichijou'' * '' Prétear'' * '' Re:Zero'' * '' Record of Lodoss War'' * '' Rental Magica'' * '' Romeo × Juliet'' * '' Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi (The World's Greatest First Love)'' * '' Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san'' * ''

Sgt. Frog ''Sgt. Frog'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mine Yoshizaki. It was launched in '' Monthly Shōnen Ace'' in April 1999. The story follows the attempts of a platoon of frog-like alien invaders t ...

'' * ''

Shangri-La Shangri-La is a fictional place in Tibet's Kunlun Mountains, Uses the spelling 'Kuen-Lun'. described in the 1933 novel '' Lost Horizon'' by the British author James Hilton. Hilton portrays Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, gently ...

'' * '' Shibuya Fifteen'' * '' Shirahime-Syo: Snow Goddess Tales'' * ''

Slayers is a Japanese light novel series written by Hajime Kanzaka and illustrated by Rui Araizumi. The novels have been serialized in ''Dragon Magazine (Fujimi Shobo), Dragon Magazine'' since 1989, before being published into indi ...

'' * '' Sora no Otoshimono (Heaven's Lost Property)'' * '' Steel Angel Kurumi'' * '' Super Lovers'' * '' Tenchi Muyo!'' * '' The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service'' * '' The One I Love'' * The Summer Hikaru Died * '' The Vision of Escaflowne'' * '' Tokumei Kakarichō Tadano Hitoshi'' * '' Toilet ga Hanako-san'' * '' Shin Tokumei Kakarichō Tadano Hitoshi'' * '' Tokyo ESP'' * '' Trinity Blood'' * '' X'' * '' Yamada Taro Monogatari''

Video games published and developed

; Published * ''Abarenbō Princess'' * '' Buile Baku'' (known in Europe as ''Detonator'') (developed by KAZe) * '' Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete'' * '' Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete'' * ''

Sorcerous Stabber Orphen is a Japanese light novel series written by Yoshinobu Akita. It was adapted into manga, two anime television series and a Orphen: Scion of Sorcery, video game. As of December 2019, the novels had over 14 million copies in ...

'' * '' Yōkai Buster: Ruka no Daibōken'' (known in North America as '' The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates'') (Developed by Sting) * '' Lodoss Tou Senki'' (Developed by HummingBirdSoft) (

Super Famicom The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a Fourth generation of video game consoles, 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in No ...

) 1995 * ''Hippa Linda'' (known in North America as '' Stretch Panic'' and ''Freak Out'' in Europe) ( Sony PlayStation 2) (Developed by Treasure Co., Ltd.) 2001 * '' Sora no Otoshimono Forte: Dreamy Season'' (

Nintendo DS The is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens worki ...

) 2011 * '' Steins;Gate'' (

PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PA ...

) 2011 * '' Lollipop Chainsaw'' * '' Killer is Dead'' * '' Rodea the Sky Soldier'' ( Nintendo Wii U) and ( Nintendo 3DS) ; Developed * '' EbiKore+ Amagami'' (PlayStation Portable) * '' Earth Seeker'' * '' Sora no Otoshimono Forte: Dreamy Season'' (Nintendo DS) 2011 * ''

'' (Former) * '' Natural Doctrine'' * ''

Demon Gaze is a dungeon crawl video game developed by Kadokawa Games and Experience Inc. for the PlayStation Vita. Released in Japan on January 24, 2013, it was published in North America and Europe by NIS America in April 2014. The game takes place thousan ...

'' * '' Killer is Dead'' (Microsoft Windows) * '' Ring: Infinity'' (WonderSwan)

References

External links

* ** {{Authority control Book publishing companies in Tokyo Magazine publishing companies in Tokyo Mass media companies based in Tokyo Kadokawa Corporation subsidiaries Manga distributors Publishing companies established in 1945 Japanese companies established in 1945 Anime companies Video game companies of Japan Video game development companies Video game publishers