KADOKAWA CORPORATION announced on May 19 that it has acquired a 70% stake in Edizioni BD S.r.l., a major Italian publisher specializing in manga and light novels, on May 14, 2024.
The publisher will now operate as a subsidiary of KADOKAWA.
This move aligns with KADOKAWA’s ongoing “Global Media Mix with Technology” business strategy, which emphasizes the worldwide distribution of its diverse IP portfolio.
The acquisition signifies KADOKAWA’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the European market, particularly in Italy, which boasts the second-largest comics market in Europe after France.
Established in 2005, Edizioni BD has become a key player in the Italian manga and light novel scene, publishing nearly 500 titles annually in Italian. The publisher has been credited with pioneering manga distribution through major Italian bookstores and introducing Japanese-style book designs, including covers and obi bands, to the local market.
KADOKAWA highlighted Italy’s receptive environment for Japanese content, noting the early emergence of a manga translation and publishing market following the popularity of Japanese anime in the 1970s.
This growth was further supported by Italy’s established fumetti comic culture and the introduction of a Culture Pass program in 2016, fostering cultural engagement among young people.
Looking ahead, KADOKAWA intends to leverage Edizioni BD’s established infrastructure to not only expand the translation and publication of a wider range of Japanese manga, including titles beyond KADOKAWA’s own IP, but also to venture into new areas such as Japanese light novels and related merchandise.
The company also aims to foster greater collaboration between Edizioni BD and its other European bases, particularly in neighboring France, to further expand its overall presence in the European market.
“Edizioni BD has made a significant contribution to the growth of the Italian comics market over the past two decades. We are delighted to welcome Edizioni BD to the KADOKAWA Group. We will further strengthen our partnership with Edizioni BD with the aim of further expanding the market for manga and light novels in Italy,” stated Takeshi Natsuno, CEO of KADOKAWA.
Marco Schiavone, CEO of Edizioni BD, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “It is truly awesome to be the first Italian publisher to be the subject of a direct investment by a major Japanese entertainment company. Our goal of being a direct thread between Japan and our readers will be able to be achieved even more strongly. We have found in KADOKAWA an attentive and curious interlocutor, very interested in the specificities of our market and country and intent on magnifying the work of my team. We have an ambitious and exciting journey ahead of us!“
Source: KADOKAWA’s Official Website
