KADOKAWA has acquired a 70% stake in Italian manga publisher Edizioni BD S.r.l., marking a strategic push into Europe’s second-largest manga market. The Milan-based publisher, known for its J-POP Manga label, will continue with current CEO Marco Schiavone retaining 20% ownership, while local book distributor Messaggerie Libri holds the remaining 10%.
The deal announced May 14 represents KADOKAWA’s latest move in its ambitious global expansion plan, following recent acquisitions in France, Thailand, and Indonesia. Founded in 2005, Edizioni BD publishes approximately 500 Japanese titles annually and has built substantial distribution networks through Italy’s major bookstores.
“The Italian manga market has grown significantly since Japanese anime first aired there in the 1970s,” said Tsuyoshi Natsuno, KADOKAWA’s CEO. The company plans to leverage Edizioni BD’s market position to expand its European presence while increasing offerings beyond manga into light novels and related merchandise.
The acquisition aligns with KADOKAWA’s “Global Media Mix with Technology” strategy, for which the company has allocated ¥29.7 billion (US$191 million) through March 2030. This approach coincides with Sony’s recent increased investment in KADOKAWA, making it the publisher’s largest shareholder with approximately 10% stake.
While financial terms weren’t disclosed, KADOKAWA indicated the deal would have minimal impact on its current fiscal year results.
