The CEO and Board Chairman of Kadokawa, Mr. Norihiko Kadokawa, was relieved off of his duties officially on October 6, 2022. Along with him the Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Maki Matsubara was also relieved off of his duties. However, both will remain on the company’s board of directors.

Both the directors of Kadokawa had resigned few days ago amidst the bribe controversy related to Tokyo Olympics 2020.

There were also arrests related to the same case on September 27. The person arrested was Yoshiyuki Yoshihara, an advisor and former senior managing executive officer of the company. Also, Kyoji Umaniwa, former head of the 2021 Office and on October 4, Rekihiko Kadokawa was also arrested with bribery charges by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.

Kadokawa, the company, is accused of paying consulting fees to a company affiliated with Haruyuki Takahashi, a former member of the organizing committee, as a bribe in order to gain an advantage in the decision to select sponsors for the publishing division of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Kadokawa, the company, said the resignation was a solemn response to the arrest and indictment of its executives and staff. On October 5, KADOKAWA also established a Governance Verification Committee to investigate the facts of the case. The committee will investigate the causes of the company’s governance, internal controls, etc., and make recommendations for measures to prevent recurrence.

All the members of the committee are not part of the Kadokawa group and have no vested interest in the company.

　Mr. Norihiko Kadokawa, who resigned, is the second son of Kadokawa Shoten founder Genyoshi Kadokawa, the predecessor of KADOKAWA.
　

Source: Animation Business Info