Kadokawa Shoten is one of the largest publishers in Japan. It is very famous and popular. It also has a building in Hongo, Tokyo. (Its head office is located at Fujimi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.)
The company was established in 1945 by Great owner of the Kadokawa family. He was a Haiku poet and scholar of Japanese literature. The owner was the father of the president at present. He died young.
The first period was made by the owner. He started small-sized book series called "Kadokawa Bunko."
At first, Kadokawa Bunko served classics in Japan. On the other hand, Kadokawa Shoten published several dictionaries.
They were rather popular.
Kadokawa also published textbooks for high school students.
After the owner died, one of his sons, Mr. Haruki Kadokawa assumed the presidency. This was the second period.
He wanted to enlarge Kadokawa Shoten.
He looked unusual. He loved a word "Asuka." Asuka means Asu and Ka. Asu , a Japanese word, means tomorrow. Ka, a Japanese word, means perfume. On the other hand, Asuka means an ancient local place name in Nara prefecture. In Asuka, there are several monuments related with ancient supernatural power. He liked supernatural power. He published magazines called Asuka, for example, Monthly Asuka. He founded Asuka Shrine. He worked as its Shinto priest.
In fact, Hiroshi Aramata, a famous writer in Japan, wrote about him as a main character from Aramata's novel "Imperial Capital Story."
He made a new publishing method in 1970s. He promoted mysteries in Japan. Especially he promoted works written by Seishi Yokomizo and Seiichi Morimura. He published these works as books of Kadokawa Bunko. Next, he founded his own office for movie production. He produced a lot of movies based on those mysteries. These movies were called Kadokawa Eiga.
He promoted Kadokawa Bunko and Kadokawa Eiga through TV commercial films.
The method was called "Media-mixed Tactics."
Kadokawa became very famous. In 1980s, Haruki Kadokawa promoted idol stars. For example, he promoted Ms Hiroko Yakushimaru and Ms Tomoyo Harada as idol actresses.
The two got very popular.
However he had hemp in Japan. He was arrested. He had to resign from the presidency.
On the other hand, Haruki Kadokawa ran out his brother Tsuguhiko Kadokawa. Tsuguhiko Kadokawa founded a publisher, "Media Works" in 1992.
Media Works are supported by Shufu No Tomo Sha. "Shufu No Tomo Sha" is also a large-scale publisher in Japan. "Media Works" have published novels, comic books and magazines for youth. The magazines called "Dengeki" are rather popular. "Media Works have several popular titles, for example, "Sakura Wars" "Battle Athletess DAIUNDOUKAI" and "Fortune Quest Series."
After Haruki left, the third period of Kadokawa Shoten started.
As you know, Kadokawa Shoten has promoted anime, videogame and comic books. It has a lot of popular anime titles, "Neon Genesis Evangelion" "X" "Martian Successor Nadesico" "Lost Universe" "Silent Moebius" "Sorcerous Stabber Orphen" and "Slayers."
On the other hand, Kadokawa Shoten publishes "Weekly Tokyo Walker", a weeky local event information magazine for youth. Such magazine market was monopolized by "Pia." Pia has published the long standing magazine "Pia" for many years. However Pia reached the ceiling. (What is Pia? The B5-sized weekly magazine mainly deals with local event information including entertainment and professional sports. Pia has used very much small-sized types. Kadokawa has followed the way at "Newtype" the top magazine on Japanese anime. But when Kadokawa started its own town magazine, Kadokawa did not follow the Pia way. Then Pia had reached the ceiling. Pia wanted another advertizing way. At last Pia began seat-reserving system on events called "Ticket Pia." A lot of boothes of "Ticket Pia" are set up in Japan.) But Pia is loved by baby-boomers. Pia is not for youth at present. Kadokawa Shoten found another needs for youth. Kadokawa's Tokyo Walker defeated the long standing magazine "Pia" at last.
At last Tsuguhiko Kadokawa became the president of Kadokawa Shoten. He produced cinema-type EVA. The movie was very much popular.
Today (11/26/98) the listing of Kadokawa Shoten's stocks started at Tokyo Stock Exchange (Second Section). The price on the first day was 4,060 yen.
Total Capital: 65,318 million yen (March, 1998).
Shares Outstanding: 11,921 thousand shares (11/26/98).
Revenue: 78,803 million yen (March, 1998).
Net Profit: 8,155 million yen (March, 1998).
EPS: 305.4 yen (March, 1998).
Dividend: 25.0 yen (March, 1998).
The fouth period started. Nikkei Newspaper 11/27/98 issue reported that Tsuguhiko Kadokawa expected the revenue after three years of 100,000 yen.
He has been steady. He has been a coordinator. Perhaps 100,000 yen was made as a propaganda.
On the other hand, Fujimi Shobou is a subsidiary of Kadokawa Shoten. It publishes several magazines and novels for youth. Especially it is famous for novel-type Slayers series and novel-type Orphen series. These books are published as small-sized books called "Fujimi Fantasia Bunko."
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Keywords:
Battle Athletess DAIUNDOUKAI|Previous Column|Next Column
Fortune Quest Series
Lost Universe|Previous Column|Next Column
Martian Successor Nadesico|Previous Column|Next Column
Neon Genesis Evangelion|Previous Column|Next Column
Silent Moebius|Previous Column|Next Column
Slayers|Previous Column|Next Column
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen|Previous Column|Next Column
X|Previous Column|Next Column
