Sunday, 4 October 2026
Anime, manga, and games, with a take · A Yukimedia publication

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Kadokawa

Kadokawa is expanding its overseas talent pipeline and consolidating its anime production subsidiaries under Studio One Base, while continuing to announce manga, light novel, and anime projects and publishing partnerships. The company is running its second English light novel contest and second World Manga Contest, and its CSP network will bring over 100 creators to Tokyo Game Show 2026.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated 16h ago

Kadokawa's anime production business is being restructured. On September 8, 2026, the company said it would merge five subsidiaries (ENGI, Studio KADAN, Chiptune, Bellnox Films, and Raging Bull) into a new company called Studio One Base, based in Ikebukuro's Sunshine City and scheduled for establishment in November 2026 with about 310 employees. A September 12 story set the base in Toshima Ward, named Tsuyoshi Kikuchi as representative director and president, and confirmed Kadokawa holds 100% of the capital. A September 17 briefing showed the new hub's interior, including its three areas (Focus, Tuning, Resonance) and a Creator Academy building inside Sunshine 60.

Overseas pipelines have widened. A second English light novel contest for overseas writers is running under MF Books, with books from the first contest targeted for 2027. The second Kadokawa World Manga Contest opened September 7, 2026, with winners due around May 2027; the first edition drew 1,959 entries from 118 countries. That first edition's awards went to Vietnam's Syo.Era and Taiwan's Eli Lin. On the distribution side, Manta added more than 300 Kadokawa and Square Enix manga titles, and Kadokawa is one of eight IP holders named for the second Tokyo IP Market.

Anime projects remain steady. The Sekiro: No Defeat anime gets an eight-episode TV run in January 2027, the same footage as the film in theaters since September 4. Other titles with dates include Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle part 2 (October 13), Sasaki and Peeps season 2 (October 7), FX Senshi Kurumi-chan (October 1), The World's Finest Assassin season 2 (January), The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage's Carefree Life in Another World (January 2027), and the Medalist film (February 19, 2027). Victoria of Many Faces is renewed for a second season, and a Persona 30th anniversary exhibition runs at Ueno Royal Museum from January 21 to February 7, 2027.

Key facts

Studio One Base merger
Kadokawa will integrate ENGI, Studio KADAN, Chiptune, Bellnox Films, and Raging Bull into Studio One Base in November 2026, with about 310 employees and 100% Kadokawa ownership. ↗
Studio One Base hub
The production hub opens this autumn with areas named Focus, Tuning, and Resonance, plus a Creator Academy building inside Sunshine 60. ↗
English light novel contest
A second contest for English-speaking writers is running, supervised by MF Books head Satoshi Arima; books from the first contest target a 2027 release. ↗
World Manga Contest
Entries for the second contest run September 7, 2026 to February 28, 2027, with winners around May 2027; the first edition drew 1,959 entries from 118 countries. ↗
Sekiro anime TV run
Sekiro: No Defeat will air as an eight-episode TV series starting January 2027; the film screening since September 4 is an edited version of the TV series. ↗
Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle part 2
The second cours premieres October 13, 2026, with Studio feel. animating and Yuji Tokuno directing. ↗
Sasaki and Peeps season 2
Season 2 debuts October 7 with Yushi Ibe directing at SILVER LINK and MADKID performing the opening 'Unbroken.' ↗
FX Senshi Kurumi-chan
The anime premieres October 1, directed by Yuki Ogawa at Passione, with Aina Suzuki performing both themes. ↗
Medalist film
The film set after the TV anime's second season opens February 19, 2027, with the cast and staff returning. ↗
Manta distribution deal
Manta added more than 300 Kadokawa and Square Enix manga titles worldwide, including The Apothecary Diaries and Tokyo Ravens. ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Announced
second English light novel contest for overseas writers (Anime Expo panel) · 2026-09-19
Announced
preorders open from Friday, September 11, 2026 at bookstores and online bookstores nationwide · 2026-09-18
Announced
will integrate five anime production studios into Studio One Base Co., Ltd. (November 2026) · 2026-09-12
Announced
Juufuutei Raden to publish first book "Juufuutei Raden, Hajimete no Geijutsu Hen'ai" (book announcement) · 2026-09-11
Announced
merger of five anime studios into Studio One Base (September 8) · 2026-09-08
Announced
worldwide distribution deal with Manta · 2026-09-07
Announced
main promotional video and October 1 debut for FX Fighter Kurumi-chan TV anime · 2026-09-01
Announced
second season and special episode · 2026-09-01
Announced
Q1 FY2027 results · 2026-08-14
Announced
FX Fighter Kurumi-chan TV anime will debut in October · 2026-08-05
Announced
booth at Fate/Grand Order Fes. 2026 Chaldea School Festival · 2026-07-17
Announced
sale of advance items from 14 Fate-related works · 2026-07-17
Announced
venue-limited clear cards and purchase bonuses · 2026-07-17
Announced
argued that removing Natsuno without a successor would disrupt reform efforts · 2026-07-09
Announced
participation in the second Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, held at TIFFCOM 2026 · 2026-08-29
Announced
PC version distribution on DMM GAMES · 2026-08-20
Announced
VTubers from Re:AcT and Re:AcT Gaming will use KADOKAWA's YouTube MCN, the Creator Support Program (CSP) · 2026-08-11
Announced
full lineup for Anime Expo 2026, including dedicated exhibits for the 10th anniversaries of Re:Zero, KonoSuba, and Bungo Stray Dogs, plus a display for Sentenced to Be a Hero ahead of its second season · 2026-06-19
Announced
received a recommendation from the Japan Fair Trade Commission for violating the Freelance Law · 2026-06-11
Announced
formed a new subsidiary, Kadokawa Retail Ventures, to manage its Manga Spot bookstores in the United States · 2026-05-16
Announced
KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA ATELIER (KWMA) initiative · 2026-05-19
Announced
Da Vinci magazine will cease publication with its November 2026 issue · 2026-05-26
Release
manga · 2027-01-28 · Japan · 2026-09-18
Release
manga · 2026-06-17 · 2026-06-17
Noted
Kadokawa released a teaser for the television anime. · 2026-09-18
Noted
will assist the creators and publish their event reports to widen the show's reach · 2026-09-16
Noted
Reservations for the book opened September 11. · 2026-09-11
Noted
KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST 2026 · 2026-09-09
Noted
Kadokawa's board and majority of shareholders backed Natsuno's reform agenda over the demands of the company's largest shareholder, Oasis Management. · 2026-07-09
Noted
an overreliance on isekai and narou-kei formulas contributed to a 51.3% drop in operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 2026 · 2026-05-20
Noted
plans to reform its genre strategy, including a new steering committee and an early retirement program for employees aged 45 and older · 2026-05-20
Noted
reported a 51.3% drop in operating profit for FY2026 · 2026-06-15
Noted
domestic publishing business posting a ¥1 billion loss · 2026-06-15
Noted
blamed over-reliance on narou-style fantasy and isekai · 2026-06-15
Noted
forecasts a recovery in FY2027 · 2026-06-15
Noted
failed to clearly state compensation conditions in writing and did not pay by the due date in past transactions with freelancers involved in publication production · 2026-06-11
Noted
apologized and said it has begun implementing preventive measures · 2026-06-11
Noted
Kadokawa Corporation reported a 51.3% drop in operating profit for FY2026, citing oversaturation of the isekai genre, a lack of major anime sequels, and rising costs. · 2026-05-22

Connections

Produces
sentenced to be a hero, bishojo shika inai seitokai no gidai ga itsumo ore na ken, my happy marriage, arx 7 arbalest, sekiro no defeat, persona 30th ex, konosuba god s blessing on this wonderful world blessing this wonderful town, kadokawa plastic model series 1 48 arbalest, studio one base, puchimas petit idolm ster, suikoden star leap, lycoris recoil, chitose is in the ramune bottle, sasaki and peeps, the apothecary diaries, proud to be the villainess, the world s finest assassin gets reincarnated in a different world as an aristocrat, xross stars art collection ii, visions 2027 illustrators book, medalist, the delinquent girl beside me suddenly dyed her hair black, konosuba god s blessing on this wonderful world this lovable city wants prosperity, seishun wa sankakukei no loop, uchu nanchara kotetsu kun, oe ariake hen, riku, steins gate, shikishima tetora, limit zero breakers, howling blaze soen no kenshi, koko na kanojo to kanojo no heya de shiteru koto, iron wok jan, wicked spot
Produces of
noboru segawa

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/kadokawa. CC BY 4.0.

Claim activity

When a claim about Kadokawa was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces Sentenced to Be a Hero 5h ago · source
  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces My Happy Marriage 22h ago · source
  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! -Blessing This Wonderful Town!- Sep 20 · source
  • Confirmed worldwide distribution deal with Manta Sep 18 · source
  • Confirmed main promotional video and October 1 debut for FX Fighter Kurumi-chan TV anime Sep 16 · source
  • Confirmed second season and special episode Sep 16 · source
  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces Puchimas! -Petit Idolm@ster- Sep 16 · source
  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces Suikoden Star Leap Sep 15 · source
  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces Lycoris Recoil Sep 15 · source
  • Confirmed FX Fighter Kurumi-chan TV anime will debut in October Sep 13 · source
  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle Sep 12 · source
  • Confirmed Kadokawa produces Sasaki and Peeps Sep 11 · source

All coverage

16h ago

Sentenced to Be a Hero Game Reveals Second Teaser and Two Original Characters

Kadokawa unveiled the second teaser key visual and second teaser video for Sentenced to Be a Hero -Game of the GODDESS-, a smartphone game for Android and iOS developed by VIC GAME STUDIOS. Light novel author Rocket Shokai supervises the original scenario. Returning anime cast include Yohei Azakami, Mayu Iizuka, Shizuka Ishigami, and Shun Horie. New original characters are Miyu Tomita as Noi Marjella and Fuka Izumi as Lisabella.

17h ago

Bishōjo shika Inai Seitokai Novel Gets Manga Adaptation by Tarara

The 157th issue of Kadokawa's Dengeki Daioh G magazine launched the manga adaptation of Seiji Ebisu's novel Bishōjo shika Inai Seitokai no Gidai ga Itsumo Ore na Ken on Monday, with Tarara drawing the manga. Kadokawa published the novel in April 2025 with illustrations by Fuwari. The story follows Minamisawa Academy student council president Yurina Himesaki and a council whose members each privately seek romantic advice about the same boy.

19h ago

Killing Bites Writer Shinya Murata Launches Shinoblade With Daichi Matsuse

Kadokawa announced Friday that Shinya Murata has launched a new manga, Shinoblade, with artist Daichi Matsuse in the Manga BAR e-manga magazine, run by Kadokawa and Kakao Piccoma. Murata writes and storyboards; Matsuse draws. The story follows the strongest female ninja, who lived in Hattori Hanzo's shadow, and wakes in another world at the moment she dies.

22h ago

My Happy Marriage Special Episodes Set for October 25 With New Opening Theme by Riria.

Kadokawa announced on Friday that the three-episode My Happy Marriage special will air on TV Tokyo and other stations starting October 25 at 7:00 p.m. JST, with streaming on Netflix and other services beginning the same day at 8:30 p.m. JST. All three episodes arrive on the same day. A main promotional video reveals the opening theme, "Shiawase de Namida ga Deru no wa." (Crying Tears of Happiness.), performed by Riria. Reina Ueda and Kaito Ishikawa return as Miyo and Kiyoka, and M.A.O plays new character Kimio Nagaba. Takehiro Kubota directs at Kinema Citrus and handles series composition, with Mika Tanaka and Ikuho Negi writing scripts and Evan Call composing music. Kashitaro Ito performs the ending theme. The special continues the story as Miyo and Kiyoka prepare for their wedding.

22h ago

Kadokawa's CSP and Karaoke JOYSOUND for STREAMER Form Partnership

Kadokawa announced on October 1, 2026 that its Creator Support Program has entered a partnership with XING's Karaoke JOYSOUND for STREAMER. Creators using CSP, whether individuals or corporate-affiliated, will be able to use the karaoke service's higher-tier plans at a special price. Those plans carry a larger song lineup and support monetization. CSP has worked on projects that used the karaoke service before, including December 2025's Challenge to the World's No. 1 Singing Stream Relay and the 2026 regular program Virtual Utajiman. Karaoke JOYSOUND for STREAMER supports singing covers and singing streams on YouTube, Twitch, Niconico Douga, and TikTok LIVE. It gives access to more than 40,000 songs and starts at 3,500 yen including tax for 30 days. CSP launched in March 2022. Its participating channels number more than 780, with cumulative subscribers above 68 million as of March 2026.

3d ago

Kadokawa and Marvel Announce Spider-Man Manga Set in Shibuya

Kadokawa and Marvel Comics have launched a joint project called MARVEL | KADOKAWA, announced at the MARVEL FANFARE panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2026. The first wave will consist of five titles, with two confirmed so far. Spider-Man is drawn by tokitokoro, who previously worked on Jeff the Land Shark for Marvel Comics. Its protagonist is Haruto Hachidori, a male high school student living in Shibuya who suddenly gains spider powers and swings through the city while a shadow lurking beneath it begins to move. Spider-Gwen is handled by Ryusei Yamada, who drew Captain Marvel illustrations for MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL. Its story follows Gwen Stacy, a high school student and drummer in the band Mary Janes, who gains powers after a radioactive spider bite in a laboratory and protects the city as Spider-Woman. Both Japanese titles remain undecided. Both works will begin serialization on Kadokawa's KadoComi service within 2026, with collected volumes planned afterward.

Sep 25

Kadokawa Reveals Package Art for 1/48 Full Metal Panic Arbalest Model

Kadokawa opened preorders for a 1/48 scale plastic model of the ARX-7 Arbalest from Full Metal Panic!, the Arm Slave piloted by Sousuke Sagara. The kit is about 177mm tall, supervised by mechanical designer Kanetake Ebikawa, and uses color-separated molding and pre-painted parts. The regular package shows the Arbalest holding a Boxer 57mm shotgun; the deluxe set adds a package depicting the forest battle's Lambda Driver activation.

Sep 25

SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT Anime Gets 8-Episode TV Run In January 2027

The staff of SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT announced that the anime will air as an eight-episode television series starting in January 2027. The television version follows the story of the theatrical film while adding new episodes and cuts, presented weekly with material not included in the film. Qzil.la returns for animation production, with Kenichi Kutsuna as director, Takuya Sato on series composition, and Takahiro Kishida on character design. The cast carries over from the film, including Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf, Miyuki Sato as Kuro, and Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina. The film began a three-week limited run in Japanese theaters on September 4, 2026, and additional screenings were set from October 2 after demand. Crunchyroll will stream the series worldwide excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus. ARCH, which produces for the committee, stated the project began as an eight-episode series and was released early as an edited film.

Sep 23

MegaHobby Expo 2026 Sets September 26 Date with 13 Manufacturers

MegaHobby EXPO 2026 F-DASH!!! runs Saturday, September 26, 2026 at AKIBA_SQUARE on the second floor of Akihabara UDX, with free admission. Thirteen companies including organizer MegaHouse, Alter, Kotobukiya, KADOKAWA, Hobby Japan, Aniplex, Claynel, Oami, Q's Q, MIMEYOI, Thousand, Alice Glint, and Design Coco will display new products. Stage events cover Alter Mecha's Yukikaze re-releases, a One Piece P.O.P program, and a Cyber Formula talk show.

Sep 20

Kadokawa to Hold Persona 30th Anniversary Exhibition at Ueno Royal Museum in 2027

Kadokawa announced on September 20, 2026 that it will hold a large-scale exhibition, PERSONA 30th EX., to mark the 30th anniversary of the Persona series. The event will take place at the Ueno Royal Museum in Ueno, Tokyo, from January 21 to February 7, 2027. The exhibition will feature displays of never-before-shown materials and areas that recreate the series' world setting. According to the announcement, the content is designed to let visitors enjoy the series more deeply. On January 20, the day before the opening, something related to the exhibition is planned. Further news will be announced on the official X account at 19:00 on October 23, so those interested should follow it.

Sep 20

Kadokawa Names Machico's "WOOHOO!" as Machisuba Theme Song

Kadokawa announced on September 20, 2026, at the "Machisuba Special Stage in TGS2026," that Machico's new song "WOOHOO!" is the theme song for the KonoSuba game "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! ~Prosperity to This Lovable Town!~" (Machisuba). The track was written for the game. Ikuko Iijima handled lyrics and composition, and Koji Mizuguchi handled arrangement. Machico, who has sung theme songs for the KonoSuba anime, said the song is packed with the power to make a chaotic everyday more lively. The game is an otherworld trouble life RPG with an original story, supervised by original author Natsume Akatsuki with cooperation from illustrator Kurone Mishima. Kadokawa plans distribution in 2026 for PC and mobile, with the date undecided. An X campaign runs from September 20 to September 28, drawing two winners who follow the official account and repost the designated post to receive canvas art bearing Machico's handwritten autograph.

Sep 19

Kadokawa Opens Second English Light Novel Contest For Overseas Writers

Kadokawa is running a second contest for English-speaking writers who want to enter the Japanese light novel market, announced at an Anime Expo panel. The UGC global publishing project started last year, with frettiko as grand prize winner and Kazesenken scouted as a web novel author. Books from the first contest have a target release of 2027. MF Books head Satoshi Arima supervises the label and its twelve editors.

Sep 18

KADOKAWA Will Release Juufuutei Raden's First Book On January 28, 2027

KADOKAWA will publish "Juufuutei Raden, Hajimete no Geijutsu Hen'ai Koto Hajime," the first book by hololive VTuber Juufuutei Raden, on Thursday, January 28, 2027, with preorders open from Friday, September 11, 2026 at bookstores and online bookstores nationwide. The book covers museum manners, art appreciation points, and recommended museums, plus an interview and a cover illustration by Chagoma.

Sep 18

Kadokawa Releases Six More Arbalest Images Ahead Of February 2027 Launch

Kadokawa has released six additional images of its 1/48 scale ARX-7 Arbalest plastic model from Full Metal Panic!, bringing the total to seven. The new images show the Lambda Driver activated state holding the Boxer 57mm scatter gun in the right hand and the Monomolecular Cutter in the left, plus a kneeling parking pose. Preorders run on Kadokawa Store until October 21, 2026, with release set for February 2027.

Sep 18

Middle-Aged Sage Anime Teaser Names Tomokazu Sugita, Sets January 2027

Kadokawa released a teaser for the television anime of Yasukiyo Kotobuki's The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage's Carefree Life in Another World. Tomokazu Sugita plays protagonist Zelos Merlin, the first cast member announced. The teaser also gives the premiere date: January 2027. Takayuki Inagaki directs at YANCHESTER, with Hiroko Kanasugi on series scripts and Mariko Fujita designing characters.

Sep 17

KADOKAWA Opens Studio One Base Hub For Five Group Anime Studios

KADOKAWA will open Studio One Base this autumn, a production hub that gathers five group studios: ENGI, Studio KADAN, Chiptune, Bellnox Films, and Raging Bull. A September 17 media briefing showed the interior, including creator desks. The Main Studio building is split into three areas: Focus for individual immersion, Tuning for information sharing, and Resonance for meetings and screenings. A Creator Academy building sits inside Sunshine 60.

Sep 16

Kadokawa Opens Second World Manga Contest

Kadokawa will accept entries for the second Kadokawa World Manga Contest from September 7, 2026, through February 28, 2027, with winners announced around May 2027. The contest keeps the Manga With Dialogue and Wordless Manga categories, judged by Kadokawa editors and the organizing team. The first edition drew 1,959 entries from 118 countries and regions, and Kadokawa assigns editors to winners to develop their work toward a serialized debut.

Sep 16

KADOKAWA to Bring Over 100 CSP Creators to Tokyo Game Show 2026

KADOKAWA announced that CSP, the YouTube multi-channel network it operates, will invite more than 100 creators who use the service to Tokyo Game Show 2026, running September 17 to September 21 at Makuhari Messe. TGS2026 keeps a creator invitation category for MCNs and agencies, added the previous year. KADOKAWA will assist the creators and publish their event reports to widen the show's reach.

Sep 16

Puchimas! Manga Ends December 25 After 16 Volumes

Kadokawa's Dengeki Maoh magazine announced that Akane's Puchimas! -Petit Idolm@ster- manga ends in the magazine on December 25, with the 16th and final volume due at the end of February 2027. The four-panel series launched in 2008 and follows the 765Pro idols and the Puchidoru creatures. Five volumes bundled anime DVDs, and the manga inspired two net anime seasons.

Sep 14

Suikoden Star Leap Manga Ends With Final Chapter

Aki Shimizu's manga adaptation of the Suikoden: Star Leap game ended with its final chapter in the October issue of Kadokawa's Comic Flapper magazine, released September 4. The manga launched in November 2025, following the game's story set before the first Suikoden and after Suikoden V.

Sep 14

Lycoris Recoil Manga Adaptation to End in Two Chapters

The Lycoris Recoil manga adaptation by artist Yasunori Bizen and writer Spider Lily will end in two chapters, according to the October issue of Kadokawa's Comic Flapper magazine. The manga launched in September 2022, and Kadokawa shipped the ninth compiled volume on August 21.

Sep 12

KADOKAWA To Fold Five Anime Studios Into Studio One Base In November 2026

KADOKAWA will integrate five anime production studios, ENGI, Studio KADAN, Chiptune, Bellnox Films, and Raging Bull, into a new company called Studio One Base Co., Ltd. in November 2026. The new company will be based in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, with Tsuyoshi Kikuchi as representative director and president. About 310 employees will move over, and KADOKAWA will hold 100% of the capital.

Sep 11

Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle Anime Part 2 Debuts October 13

Kadokawa announced on Friday that the second cours of the Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle television anime will premiere on October 13, 2026. The first broadcast is set for AT-X at 11:00 p.m., with later airings that evening on Tokyo MX, BS11, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, Fukui Broadcasting, and TV Aichi. An episode 13.5 recapping the series so far airs the week before. Cider Girl performs the opening theme "Saku" and aruma performs the ending theme "Doko nimo Ikenai Mama." Sora Amamiya joins the cast as Mai Todo. Studio feel. returns to animate, with Yuji Tokuno directing and Naruhisa Arakawa overseeing series composition alongside original author Hiromu. The first cours debuted in October 2025, and its delayed run of episodes 11 through 13 aired in March 2026.

Sep 11

Juufuutei Raden to Publish First Book with KADOKAWA in January 2027

Hololive VTuber Juufuutei Raden will release her first book, "Juufuutei Raden, Hajimete no Geijutsu Hen'ai," from KADOKAWA on January 28, 2027. The 136-page A5 volume covers museum manners, viewing points for works such as "The Starry Night" and "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," and recommended museums. Masato Matsushima of the Tokyo National Museum supervises. Reservations opened September 11.

Sep 11

Sasaki and Peeps Season 2 Sets October 7 Debut and MADKID Opening

Kadokawa revealed the main trailer, a new visual, two cast additions, the opening theme, and an October 7 debut for Sasaki and Peeps season 2. MADKID perform "Unbroken." Tasuku Hatanaka joins as Himegami-kun and Yu Sasahara as Eriel. Yushi Ibe directs at SILVER LINK, with Yamato Ouchi as assistant director. The season airs on Tokyo MX, BS NTV, and AT-X, and Crunchyroll streams it.

Sep 9

KADOKAWA World Manga Contest Crowns Vietnam and Taiwan Creators

The KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST 2026 held its award ceremony on September 7, drawing 1,959 entries from 118 countries and regions. Gold Prizes went to Vietnam's Syo.Era in the Manga Category and Taiwan's Eli Lin in the Wordless Manga Category, with a French unit taking the Silver Prize.

Sep 8

KADOKAWA to Merge Five Anime Studios into New Studio One Base

KADOKAWA announced on September 8 that it will consolidate five of its anime production subsidiaries into a new company, Studio One Base, scheduled to be established in November 2026. The five studios are ENGI, Studio KADAN, Chiptune, Bellnox Films, and Raging Bull. The new company will be a wholly owned subsidiary of KADOKAWA, headquartered at the new anime production hub inside Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, which also carries the Studio One Base name and is scheduled to open in September 2026. The consolidation is the third phase of KADOKAWA's initiative "Create the people who create. Create the place to create." The company cites industry-wide challenges including talent shortages and rising production costs as the background for the move. Management and back-office functions will be centralized, while each studio's name, branding, and production lines will be maintained. KADOKAWA says its group anime studios have produced a combined 48 works and 486 episodes since 2018. Takeshi Kikuchi will serve as president of the new company, which is expected to have approximately 310 employees.

Sep 7

Manta Adds 300+ Manga Titles From KADOKAWA and Square Enix

Manta, the global content platform, announced worldwide distribution deals with KADOKAWA, Square Enix, and Square Enix's Manga UP! platform. More than 300 titles are being added, including The Apothecary Diaries, Proud to be the Villainess, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Tokyo Ravens. The company launched its manga category in April with Kodansha titles.

Sep 4

The World's Finest Assassin Season 2 Video Reveals New Cast and January Debut

Kadokawa streamed the first main promotional video and key visual for the second season of The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in a Different World as an Aristocrat on Friday, confirming a January premiere. The video introduces two new cast members: Sumire Uesaka as Epona Rhiannon and Yūsuke Tonozaki as Neusche Gephis. Masafumi Tamura returns to direct at SILVER LINK, with the rest of the core staff back.

Sep 2

FX Senshi Kurumi-chan Anime Sets October 1 Premiere With Main PV

The FX Senshi Kurumi-chan TV anime will begin broadcasting and streaming on October 1, 2026. A main PV with new footage was released. The opening theme 'FX Senshi Kurumi-chan' is sung by Suzuki Aina as lead character Fukuoka Kurumi, and the opening and ending themes begin distribution on music services October 2. An advance screening of episode 1 with a cast talk show is set for September 27 at Ikebukuro HUMAX Cinemas.

Sep 2

KADOKAWA Releases Amagami Konomi's First Middle School English Study Book

KADOKAWA released "Learn with Amagami Konomi and Suki! Middle School English Words & Phrases 1800" on September 1. It is the first study reference book by Amagami Konomi, a self-produced VTuber with over 840,000 YouTube subscribers, supervised by Kawai Juku English teacher Yuma Moriya. The 224-page volume covers middle school vocabulary, phrases, and conversation expressions, with fill-in-the-blank dialogues and a red sheet to hide answers.

Sep 1

FX Fighter Kurumi-chan TV Anime Sets October 1 Debut

Kadokawa revealed the main promotional video for the FX Fighter Kurumi-chan television anime on Monday, confirming an October 1 debut. Aina Suzuki, who voices lead character Kurumi Fukuga, performs the opening theme "FX Senshi Kurumi-chan" and the ending theme. The anime is directed by Yuki Ogawa at Passione, with Kenta Ihara writing and overseeing the series scripts.

Sep 1

Victoria of Many Faces Anime Gets Second Season and Special Episode

Kadokawa announced on Wednesday that the television anime of Syuu and Nanna Fujimi's light novel series Victoria of Many Faces will receive a second season and a new special episode. The announcement came alongside a new visual. The first season premiered on TV Tokyo and its affiliated channels on July 7 and concluded with its ninth episode on Tuesday. A recap episode is scheduled for next Tuesday. The anime is directed by Nobukage Kimura at Studio DEEN, with Naohiro Fukushima overseeing series scripts and Mina Osawa designing the characters. The cast includes Chika Anzai as Victoria, Shion Wakayama as Nonna, Yōhei Azakami as Jeffrey, and Kenji Nojima as Lancome. Haku. performs the opening theme song "Isshin," and KI_EN performs the ending theme song "En no Tsuki." The light novel series began on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in December 2021, and Kadokawa published the fourth volume on June 25. A manga adaptation by Komo Ushino launched on Kadokawa's Flos Comic website in December 2022, with its seventh compiled volume shipped on July 17. Yen Press publishes both the light novel and manga in English.

Aug 30

Medalist Anime Film Sets February 19, 2027 Premiere

Kadokawa revealed on Sunday a teaser trailer, teaser visual, character visuals, and the February 19, 2027 opening date for the upcoming anime film based on Tsurumaikada's Olympic ice-skating manga Medalist. The film will tell a story set after the end of the television anime's second season, with the cast and staff from the TV anime returning. The first season premiered in Japan on the "NUMAnimation" programming block on TV Asahi and 23 affiliated channels in January 2025, with Disney+ streaming it. The second season debuted on January 24 on the same block and ended on Sunday. Hulu is streaming the anime in the U.S., and Disney+ is streaming it in other countries and territories. The second season featured the returning cast and staff, with Hazuki Nakamura as art director and Kentaro Kashiwagi as compositing director of photography. The anime's second season opening theme was "Cold Night" by girl group HANA, and the ending theme was "Rookies" by Conton Candy. Japanese figure skater Rika Hongo took part in motion capture filming alongside the first season's Akiko Suzuki, who choreographed the skating routines. Tsurumaikada launched the manga in Kodansha's Afternoon magazine in May 2020, and Kodansha published the 15th compiled volume on July 22.

Aug 29

UniJapan Names Eight IP Holders for Second Tokyo IP Market

UniJapan announced on August 20, 2026 the first batch of IP holders for the second Tokyo IP Market: Adaptation & Remake, held at TIFFCOM 2026. Eight publishing and film companies, including KADOKAWA, Shochiku, Toei, and Square Enix, will meet film producers from Europe, the U.S., and Asia seeking live-action adaptation and remake rights for Japanese IP. The event runs October 28-30 in Tokyo.

Aug 28

The Delinquent Girl Beside Me Suddenly Dyed Her Hair Black Manga Ends

The October issue of Kadokawa's Monthly Shonen Ace magazine published the final chapter of Waka Sanada's manga adaptation of Teika's The Delinquent Girl Beside Me Suddenly Dyed Her Hair Black light novel series on Wednesday. The fourth and final compiled book volume ships in late November. One Peace Books publishes the series in English.

Aug 28

Horror Film 'Otogirisou' Free on YouTube Until September 4

KADOKAWA is streaming the 2001 live-action horror film 'Otogirisou' for free on its YouTube channel Kadokawa Cinema Collection from August 21 at 8:00 PM to September 4 at 7:59 PM. The film adapts Chunsoft's classic sound novel of the same name, a Super Famicom title released in March 1992 that established the sound novel genre. Directed by Ten Shimoyama, known for the Netflix live-action 'ERASED' and 'SHINOBI,' with scripts by Goro Nakajima and Takenori Sento, the film stars Megumi Okina as Nami. In the story, Nami learns of her biological father's death and visits his mansion deep in the mountains with her former lover, game creator Kohei, to uncover the secret of her birth. There she confronts shocking truths, including her father's true identity and the existence of her twin sister. Actress Kae Okunuki plays the dual roles of Nami and Naomi, a character deeply connected to her birth. The original game, released by Chunsoft in 1992, was the first publishing title from the company and the first entry in its sound novel series, with a scenario by Hideyoshi Nagasaka, a writer who won the Edogawa Rampo Prize. The film version inherits the game's setting and motifs while reconstructing the story with original elements.

Aug 20

KonoSuba Game Machisuba PC Version Heads to DMM GAMES

KADOKAWA announced on August 20, 2026 that the PC version of the new KonoSuba game, KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! - Prosperity in This Beloved City! (abbreviated Machisuba), will be distributed on DMM GAMES. The game is a smartphone and PC title based on the KonoSuba anime and original light novel, retaining the series' worldview and characters while offering an original story. Natsume Akatsuki, the original author, supervises production, and Kurone Mishima, the original illustrator, provides production cooperation. The genre is described as an "another world trouble life RPG." The smartphone version is available for pre-registration on the App Store and Google Play, with a 2026 release planned. To mark the platform decision, a special stage program, "Machisuba Special Stage in TGS2026," will be held at the DMM GAMES booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026 on September 20, starting at 15:00. The stage will feature Jun Fukushima, the voice actor for protagonist Kazuma, and KADOKAWA game producer Taiki Fujii, who will share the latest information and highlights. The event will be viewable on-site and via a YouTube live stream.

Aug 15

84 VTubers and Creators Enter CSP Karaoke Battle Event

KADOKAWA and EXING will run the online streaming event #CSP歌枠バトル Powered by カラオケJOYSOUND for STREAMER from August 12 to August 25, 2026. A total of 84 creators using the CSP program will compete in daily live streams using the JOYSOUND karaoke service's scoring function for the highest score, the Best Singing Award, and a commercial slot at JOYSOUND locations nationwide.

Aug 14

KADOKAWA Q1 Revenue Rises but Profit Falls as Game Segment Slips

KADOKAWA released Q1 FY2027 results on August 13. Net sales rose 5.3% year-on-year while operating profit fell 45.5%. The game segment declined against last year, when ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN contributed significantly. Publishing and IP creation grew on titles like Super Kaguya-hime!. FromSoftware has ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition and The Duskbloods scheduled from Q2 onward.

Aug 11

Re:AcT and Re:AcT Gaming Join KADOKAWA's CSP Program

KADOKAWA and mikai announced that VTubers from Re:AcT and Re:AcT Gaming will use KADOKAWA's YouTube MCN, the Creator Support Program (CSP). The program allows secondary use of copyrighted works such as games, anime, and karaoke audio, enabling broader activities for the members.

Aug 11

Seishun wa Sankakukei no Loop Manga Ends in October

Kei Hozumi and Mito's manga Seishun wa Sankakukei no Loop will end with its next chapter in the November issue of Kadokawa's Dragon Age magazine, releasing in October. The series, which follows a love triangle among three childhood friends, launched in March 2025. Its first compiled volume shipped on September 9.

Aug 10

Illustrator VTuber Nijipuka Nuhu Announces First Illustration Textbook

Illustrator VTuber Nijipuka Nuhu, affiliated with MillionProduction, will release her first book, "Character ga Ugokidasu Illustration no Kyokasho: Zero kara Hajimete Umaku Naru Mahou no Hint," on October 5, 2026, through KADOKAWA. The 128-page B5-size textbook covers her methods for drawing character illustrations, including basic steps, her personal points of focus, designing original characters, drawing deformed mini characters, and creating animations, which are her signature work. The book also includes reading sections such as a one-question-one-answer segment and a Q&A corner, plus a special conversation with illustrator and VTuber Shigure Ui. Nuhu, who describes herself as a fully self-embodied VTuber handling her own character design and Live2D modeling, has over 380,000 YouTube subscribers as of July 2026. She became an official CLIP STUDIO PAINT ambassador in March 2026. The standard edition is priced at 2,090 yen including tax, while a Kadokawa Store special edition with an acrylic stand is available for 4,070 yen.

Aug 6

Uchū Nanchara Kotetsu-kun Film Streams Opening Sequence

Kadokawa began streaming the opening sequence for the Uchū Nanchara Kotetsu-kun: Ukkari Detekita Uchūjin o Sagase! film on Thursday. The film opens in theaters on September 11 and centers on space pilot trainee Kotetsu, who hears about the possible existence of aliens and drives the whole academy to search for them. It combines anime footage with real footage of space, and the television anime cast reprises their roles.

Aug 6

Hashihime Developer ADELTA's Oe Game Gets Manga Adaptation

The September issue of Kadokawa's Young Ace Magazine announced on Tuesday that ADELTA's Oe game will receive a manga adaptation by Medamayaki titled Oe: Ariake-hen, debuting in the October issue. The game follows a detective investigating an actress's island funeral. ADELTA released the complete edition in April 2025.

Aug 5

FX Fighter Kurumi-chan TV Anime Sets October Debut, Adds Cast

Kadokawa announced the FX Fighter Kurumi-chan TV anime will debut in October, with a key visual and promo video. New cast members include Asami Seto, Ayasa Ito, and Miho Okasaki. Aina Suzuki performs the ending theme and stars as Kurumi Fukuga.

Aug 4

KADOKAWA and Hatena Jointly Develop AI Novel Editor RIKU

KADOKAWA and Hatena announced the joint development of RIKU, an AI-powered novel writing support service, and opened applications for a closed beta test. The application period runs until 23:59 on Monday, August 17, and is open to people aged 18 and over who are writing novels or want to write in the future. RIKU is designed not to have generative AI write the work itself, but to support the author through dialogue, helping with character and worldview construction, idea organization, and proofreading and editing. The service operates under the theme "You write the story. A partner by your side," positioning the AI as a companion that listens and helps organize thoughts, while the user remains the main entity writing the story and text. Works created or input by users on the service will not be used for AI learning, addressing concerns about training data. The development combines KADOKAWA's editorial expertise, gained through dialogue with authors, with Hatena's experience in user-generated content services like Hatena Blog. The two companies previously collaborated on the web novel site Kakuyomu since 2016. The closed beta test will be available on Windows, Mac, smartphones, and tablets, and a free Google account is required to apply.

Jul 27

Marvel Partners With Kadokawa for Manga Projects Starting This Year

Marvel Comics is partnering with Kadokawa for a series of original manga volumes, starting with tokitokoro's "Spider-Man of Shibuya" and a Spider-Gwen series by Ryūsei Yamada. Serialization begins before the end of 2026. The collaboration follows the end of Marvel's contracts with Shueisha and Sho-Pro Books, and comes as Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski moves to oversee Asia Originals.