#Japan #Tokyo #KADOKAWA #Edizioni BD #Italian Manga

A Strategic Acquisition in the Manga Industry

On May 14, 2025, KADOKAWA Corporation, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, announced its agreement to acquire a stake in Edizioni BD S.r.l., a leading Italian publisher specializing in manga and light novels, based in Milan. With this acquisition, Edizioni BD will become a subsidiary of KADOKAWA, representing a significant step in the global expansion of Japanese intellectual property (IP).

Background and Purpose

KADOKAWA has consistently prioritized the creation and international expansion of a diverse portfolio of IP as part of its strategic business framework dubbed "Global Media Mix with Technology." This strategy aims to fortify and expand KADOKAWA's operational base across foreign markets, especially in North America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Founded in 2005, Edizioni BD has become a mainstay in the Italian publishing scene, releasing nearly 500 titles annually and nurturing a robust fanbase for Japanese content. The publisher has played a pioneering role in establishing distribution networks for manga through major bookstores in Italy. They have made significant innovations, such as introducing sophisticated cover designs and promotional materials akin to those found in Japan, thus enhancing the appeal and accessibility of manga to Italian readers.

Prior to the boom of Japanese content, Italy had already established a unique comic culture, referred to as "fumetti." The arrival of Japanese animated series in the 1970s catalyzed the early development of the manga translation publishing market in Italy. In 2016, Italy introduced the Culture Pass program, an initiative to support cultural activities for youth, making it one of the largest comic markets in Europe, following France.

With Edizioni BD now under its wing, KADOKAWA plans to ramp up the translation and publication of various Japanese manga works, as well as untapped light novels and related products. The alliance aims to strengthen connections with other KADOKAWA subsidiaries across Europe, including in neighboring France, thereby facilitating extensive business expansion within the region.

Comment from Marco Schiavone, CEO of Edizioni BD

Schiavone expressed enthusiasm about being the first Italian publisher to receive direct investment from a major Japanese entertainment company, stating, "Our mission to connect Japan directly with our readers will be achieved even more strongly. We are excited about our partnership with KADOKAWA, who shows an admirable curiosity and interest in our unique market conditions. We are set to embark on an ambitious and thrilling journey together!"

Comment from Tsuyoshi Natsuno, CEO of KADOKAWA

Natsuno highlighted Edizioni BD's substantial contributions to the growth of the Italian manga market over the past two decades. He remarked, "We are thrilled to welcome Edizioni BD into the KADOKAWA group. We aim to further expand the market for manga and light novels in Italy, and we look forward to deepening our partnership with them."

About Edizioni BD

• - Company Name: Edizioni BD S.r.l.
• - Location: Milan, Italy
• - Established: 2005
• - CEO: Marco Schiavone
• - Business Scope: Publishing manga and light novels (label: J-POP), creating and publishing translated comics and original Italian content (labels: BD, Tacotoon).
• - Shareholdings: KADOKAWA 70%, Marco Schiavone 20% (President & CEO), Messaggerie Libri 10% (distributor).

Impact on Operations

The financial impact of this acquisition on KADOKAWA's consolidated results is expected to be minimal in the current fiscal term.

About KADOKAWA Corporation

KADOKAWA is a comprehensive entertainment company engaged in publishing, anime, live-action films, gaming, web services, and EdTech. The company's strategy is to discover talent globally and create diverse IPs, leveraging technology to maximize IP value through expansive media adaptation. More details can be found on their official website.