#Japan #Tokyo #Board Nominees #KADOKAWA #Koichi Kusano

KADOKAWA Announces New Board Candidates

KADOKAWA Corporation, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has formalized its list of candidates for the upcoming board of directors. The nominees were decided during the executive meeting held on May 8, 2025, and will be presented at the 11th Annual Shareholders Meeting scheduled for June 26, 2025. The initiative reflects the company’s commitment to transparency and good governance in corporate management.

Board Candidate Details

In total, twelve nominees are proposed, with a notable emphasis on diversity. Of the twelve candidates, seven are external directors, showcasing a dedication to incorporating a varied perspective within the company’s leadership. The nominees include:

1. Toru Natsuno - Director
2. Naohisa Yamashita - Director
3. Shinobu Murakawa - Director
4. Noriko Kase - Director
5. Ryohei Kawakami - Director
6. Hiroshi Ura - External Director
7. Marie German-Luce - External Director
8. Tadaaki Sugiyama - External Director
9. Yutaka Sasamoto - External Director
10. Ayumi Uzawa - External Director
11. Etsuko Okajima - External Director
12. Koichi Kusano (newly appointed) - External Director

It is vital to note that 58.3% of the nominees for this year are external directors, while 25.0% are women and 8.3% are foreign nationals. This significant representation underlines KADOKAWA’s initiative to foster inclusiveness and gender equality in corporate governance.

Retiring Directors

The following directors are set to retire:

• - Xining Zhou - Director
• - Akihiko Shiba - External Director
• - David McDonald - External Director

Profile of New External Director Candidate

Koichi Kusano

• - Born: March 22, 1955 (70 years old)

Koichi Kusano's distinguished career began with his legal registration in April 1980. He has since held various significant positions, including:

• - 1994 - Auditor at Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• - 1999 - External Director at Rakuten Inc.
• - 2004 - Partner and founder at Nishimura & Asahi law firm
• - 2007 - Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo
• - 2013 - Professor at Keio University
• - 2014 - Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School
• - 2019 - Justice at the Supreme Court
• - 2025 - Re-registered as a lawyer

Koichi Kusano has built a reputation for his expertise in corporate law and M&A, coupled with vast international experience. He has taught in various law schools around the world, bringing a broad view of governance that will greatly benefit KADOKAWA’s strategic decisions.

The nomination of Kusano as an external director is expected to leverage his extensive knowledge and experience to guide KADOKAWA through the complexities of modern corporate law and enhance the company's governance practices.

About KADOKAWA Corporation

KADOKAWA is a comprehensive entertainment company engaged in publishing, visual media (anime and live-action), gaming, web services, and EdTech. The organization is focused on discovering talent worldwide to create diverse intellectual properties (IP) and is committed to leveraging technology to deliver these IPs globally. Their strategy, termed "Global Media Mix with Technology," aims to maximize the value of their intellectual properties. Visit KADOKAWA Group for more details.