Sony Wants to Buy Kadokawa and Their Employees Are Thrilled

Sony's Planned Acquisition of Kadokawa: Employee Enthusiasm Despite Potential Loss of Independence

Sony's confirmed bid to acquire the Japanese media conglomerate Kadokawa has generated a surprising reaction: widespread employee enthusiasm. While the acquisition may mean a loss of independence for Kadokawa, employees reportedly welcome the change, expressing optimism about the future under Sony's leadership. The reasons behind this positive sentiment are multifaceted.

A Strategic Move for Sony, Potentially Less So for Kadokawa

Sony Wants to Buy Kadokawa and Their Employees Are Thrilled

Economic analyst Takahiro Suzuki, in an interview with Weekly Bunshun, suggests the acquisition benefits Sony more significantly than Kadokawa. Sony's strategic shift towards the entertainment sector necessitates a stronger IP portfolio, an area where Kadokawa excels. Kadokawa boasts a wealth of popular IPs across anime, manga, and gaming, including titles like Oshi no Ko, Dungeon Meshi, and Elden Ring. However, this acquisition also brings the potential for reduced autonomy and stricter management under Sony's control. As noted by Automaton West, this could stifle Kadokawa's creative freedom, potentially leading to increased scrutiny of projects not directly contributing to IP development.

Employee Satisfaction: A Reaction to Current Leadership

Sony Wants to Buy Kadokawa and Their Employees Are Thrilled

Despite the potential drawbacks, numerous Kadokawa employees interviewed by Weekly Bunshun expressed support for the acquisition. The prevailing sentiment reflects a desire for change, stemming from dissatisfaction with the current Natsuno administration. The lack of a timely and effective response to a major data breach earlier this year, involving the theft of sensitive employee information by the BlackSuit hacking group, further fueled this discontent. Many employees believe a change in leadership under Sony's ownership would be a positive development.

The June cyberattack, which compromised over 1.5 terabytes of data including legal documents, user information, and employee personal details, highlighted shortcomings in the current management's crisis response. This incident appears to be a significant factor driving employee optimism about a potential Sony takeover.