Updated Jun 10, 2026 by Kadokawa Corporation
Legal
Published by Kadokawa Corporation
Kadokawa Corporation announced that its Nomination Committee will nominate a new board member, Kouji Okura, for the 12th Annual General Meeting on June 24 2026. The board slate totals twelve candidates, of which 58.3 % are independent directors, 25 % are women, and 8.3 % are non‑Japanese. The only retiring board member is Ayumi Uzawa, an independent director. Okura, 69, brings extensive experience from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, where he held senior accounting and audit roles before becoming president and CEO of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding. His background in finance, governance, risk management, and structural reform positions him to strengthen Kadokawa’s corporate governance and strategic oversight. The company also confirmed changes in its chief officer and corporate officer structure effective June 24. Chief Human Resource Officer Naohisa Yamashita, Chief Literature & Film Officer, and Chief Manga & Light Novels Officer remain in place. New appointments include Sho Tanaka as Chief Anime Officer, tasked with leading animation and production initiatives, and Masayuki Aoyagi as President and CEO of Arclight Inc. Corporate officers were also reorganized, with new roles for Takashi Sensui (Chief Global Officer) and Hidetaka Miyazaki (Corporate Officer, Game Business), among others. These appointments reflect Kadokawa’s focus on strengthening governance, diversifying its leadership, and aligning executive roles with its core media and entertainment business segments across Japan.
FASF May 14, 2026 For Immediate Release Company name: KADOKAWA CORPORATION Representative: Takeshi Natsuno, Chief Executive Officer (Stock Code: 9468, TSE Prime Market) Contact: Shinobu Murakawa, Chief Operating Officer (TEL 03-5216-8212) Notice Regarding a Candidate for Member of the Board and Changes in Chief Officer and Corporate Officer Positions KADOKAWA CORPORATION (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chief Executive Officer: Takeshi Natsuno; the “Company”) hereby announces that its Nomination Committee resolved on May 14, 2026, to nominate a candidate for appointment as a Member of the Board at the 12th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for June 24, 2026. The Company also resolved the following appointments of Chief Officers and Corporate Officers as follows. 1. Candidates for Member of the Board (total of 12 persons, including 7 persons as candidates for Member of the Board, Independent) Name Post Takeshi Natsuno Member of the Board Naohisa Yamashita Member of the Board Shinobu Murakawa Member of the Board Noriko Kase Member of the Board Nobuo Kawakami Member of the Board Hiroo Unoura Member of the Board, Independent Ruth Marie Jarman Member of the Board, Independent Tadaaki Sugiyama Member of the Board, Independent Yu Sasamoto Member of the Board, Independent Etsuko Okajima Member of the Board, Independent Koichi Kusano Member of the Board, Independent Kouji Okura (newly appointed) Member of the Board, Independent * 58.3% of the candidates for Member of the Board this fiscal year are independent director candidates, 25.0% are women and 8.3% are not Japanese.
Okajima Member of the Board, Independent Koichi Kusano Member of the Board, Independent Kouji Okura (newly appointed) Member of the Board, Independent * 58.3% of the candidates for Member of the Board this fiscal year are independent director candidates, 25.0% are women and 8.3% are not Japanese. 2. Member of the Board to be Retired Name Post Ayumi Uzawa Member of the Board, Independent
3. Career Summary of New Candidate for Member of the Board Kouji Okura October 9, 1957 (age 69) April 1980 Joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. April 2009 General Manager, Accounting Department, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. April 2011 Director, Internal Audit Department, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. January 2013 Deputy Head, Aerospace Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. October 2013 Vice President; Deputy Head, Commercial Aviation & Transportation Systems; and General Manager, Business Strategy Planning Department, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. October 2015 Executive Officer; Deputy Head, Commercial Aviation & Transportation Systems; and General Manager, Shipbuilding & Ocean Development Division, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. January 2018 President and CEO, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. June 2020 Director and Full-time Audit and Supervisory Committee Member, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Reasons for Nomination as an Independent Member of the Board and Expected Roles Mr. Kouji Okura has many years of experience in the accounting divisions of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and possesses extensive expertise in finance and accounting, including leadership in responding to financial liberalization and globalization. He has promoted business structural reforms based on objective evaluations and has played a leading role in strengthening governance and risk management systems, demonstrating substantial experience and insight in corporate governance.
ip in responding to financial liberalization and globalization. He has promoted business structural reforms based on objective evaluations and has played a leading role in strengthening governance and risk management systems, demonstrating substantial experience and insight in corporate governance. Furthermore, as the executive responsible for structural reforms in the commercial aircraft and shipbuilding businesses, he has contributed to business restructuring, including the reorganization of manufacturing systems and a corporate spin-off. Based on these qualifications, the Company has nominated him as an Independent Member of the Board to contribute to the Company's management through his expertise. 4. Changes in Chief Officers and Corporate Officers (as of June 24, 2026) Name New Position Former Position Member of the Board Member of the Board Naohisa Chief Human Resource Officer Chief Human Resource Officer Yamashita Chief Literature & Film Officer Chief Literature & Film Officer Chief Manga & Light Novels Chief Manga & Light Novels Officer Officer Chief Publishing Officer Masayuki Aoyagi President and CEO, Arclight, Inc. Chief Publishing Officer President and CEO, Arclight, Inc. Takeshi Kikuchi Corporate Officer, Studio Business Chief Studio Officer Daijo Kudo Corporate Officer, Licensing Chief Anime Officer Business Sho Tanaka Chief Anime Officer Corporate Officer, Anime (newly appointed) Business&Game Business
◆Sho Tanaka (newly appointed) ● Reason for the appointment To lead strategic initiatives across both the animation business and production operations by leveraging extensive experience in the animation industry. (Reference) Planned Chief Officer and Corporate Officer Structure Following the 12th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders Scheduled for June 24, 2026 Chief Officers (as of June 24, 2026) Name Position Takeshi Natsuno Chief Executive Officer Chief Human Resource Officer Naohisa Yamashita Chief Literature & Film Officer Chief Manga & Light Novels Officer Chief Publishing Officer Shinobu Murakawa Chief Operating Officer Noriko Kase Chief Compliance Officer Takashi Sensui Chief Global Officer Sho Tanaka Chief Anime Officer Corporate Officers (as of June 24, 2026) Name Position Takeshi Kikuchi Corporate Officer, Studio Business Hidetaka Miyazaki Corporate Officer, Game Business Masahiro Onai Corporate Officer, Manga & Light Novels Business Masafumi Kurihara Corporate Officer, Marketing Hiroyuki Watanabe Corporate Officer, Manga & Light Novels Business Masato Ito Corporate Officer, Manufacturing & Logistics Hajime Matsuda Corporate Officer, Human Resources & General Affairs Daijo Kudo Corporate Officer, Licensing Business Shinya Kato Corporate Officer, Global Koichi Kira Corporate Officer, Publishing Business Takeshi Sasaki Corporate Officer, Marketing Tomonori Sugaya Chief Financial Officer Tatsuro Suzuki Corporate Officer, Corporate Strategy Eri Fujimoto Corporate Officer, Publishing Business End of document
ess Shinya Kato Corporate Officer, Global Koichi Kira Corporate Officer, Publishing Business Takeshi Sasaki Corporate Officer, Marketing Tomonori Sugaya Chief Financial Officer Tatsuro Suzuki Corporate Officer, Corporate Strategy Eri Fujimoto Corporate Officer, Publishing Business End of document Notice: This document is a translation of the original Japanese document and is only for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy between this translated document and the original Japanese document, the latter shall prevail.
The announcement sets out the terms under which Nippon Ichi Software Co., Ltd. will issue new share subscription rights to its directors, executive officers, auditors, employees and the same categories at its subsidiaries. The primary aim is to boost motivation and morale and to align the interests of key personnel with the company’s performance, in accordance with the Companies Act and the approval obtained at the 32nd ordinary shareholders’ meeting. A total of 1,908 subscription rights will be granted, each covering 100 ordinary shares for a combined target of 190,800 shares. Allocation is divided among 560 rights for directors, 43 for executive officers, 70 for auditors, 1,123 for employees, 40 for subsidiary directors and 72 for subsidiary employees. Recipients comprise five directors, one executive officer, three auditors, 121 employees, three subsidiary directors and 23 subsidiary employees. No cash contribution is required at grant, and the exercise price will be calculated as the average closing price of the company’s ordinary shares for the month preceding the allocation date, multiplied by 1.05 and rounded up, with a floor at the allocation‑day closing price. The allocation date is set for 22 July 2025, and the exercise window runs from 1 August 2028 to 31 May 2035. Capital increases resulting from exercised rights are limited to half of the statutory increase ceiling, with the remainder allocated to capital reserves. Rights may be reclaimed free of charge if the holder ceases to meet the eligibility conditions or in the event of mergers, share exchanges or other reorganisations, and any transfer of rights requires board approval. The framework applies to the company’s listed shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and its subsidiaries, reflecting a corporate‑wide incentive program spanning the next decade.
The leadership structure of Square Enix Holdings as of July 31, 2025, reflects a strategic emphasis on balancing creative expertise with global corporate governance. Under the leadership of President and Representative Director Takashi Kiryu, the board comprises twelve directors, a significant majority of whom are classified as outside directors under Japan’s Companies Act. This composition indicates a commitment to independent oversight, particularly within the Audit and Supervisory Committee. Share ownership among the executive team varies significantly, with President Kiryu holding the largest stake at 50,071 shares, followed by Yoshinori Kitase with 19,485 shares, while outside directors maintain comparatively nominal holdings. The organizational framework is further defined by a comprehensive skills matrix designed to ensure diverse institutional knowledge across six core competencies: corporate and global management, media entertainment, IT and technology, legal and risk management, finance and accounting, and organizational development. While internal directors like Kiryu, Kitase, and Yu Miyake provide the foundational expertise in media entertainment and technology, the outside directors bolster the board’s capabilities in specialized areas such as legal compliance and financial auditing. Notably, Abdullah Aldawood and Tracy Fullerton bring multi-disciplinary strengths in global management and technology, aligning with the company's international growth objectives. This governance model serves to integrate creative production experience with rigorous fiscal and legal standards. By maintaining a high ratio of outside directors and documenting specific skill sets, the leadership structure aims to mitigate risk while fostering innovation within the global entertainment market. The inclusion of an Honorary Chairman, Yasuhiro Fukushima, further suggests a continuity of institutional values alongside the modernized oversight provided by the Audit and Supervisory Committee members. This strategic alignment of personnel is positioned to support the company’s operational stability and long-term strategic planning through the 2025 fiscal period.
The Computer Entertainment Society (CESA) announces a recruitment drive for contract personnel and outsourced partners to support its expanding human‑resource development initiatives within Japan’s video‑game sector. The role centers on planning and operating creator training programs, facilitating the introduction of game‑based curricula in schools in collaboration with government bodies, and acting as a liaison for industry‑wide issues. Additional responsibilities include coordinating with public agencies, conducting research on the gaming industry, managing outreach and publicity, overseeing committee activities, and handling web, event, and social‑media communications tied to commissioned projects. Candidates are expected to possess at least five years of professional experience, demonstrable negotiation and coordination skills, and a strong interest in gaming. Preferred backgrounds include prior interaction with governmental entities, experience driving contract‑based projects, and familiarity with educational or certification activities related to games. Basic PC proficiency in spreadsheet, word‑processing, and presentation software is required, while prior employment in game companies or teaching roles is advantageous. Employment is offered either as a full‑time contract employee with a standard 9:00‑17:30 schedule in Shinjuku, Tokyo, or as an outsourced partnership negotiated according to individual expertise. Contract terms are annual, renewable up to three years, with an hourly wage starting at ¥1,800, subject to experience. Benefits encompass health, pension, unemployment, and workers’ compensation insurance, a complete two‑day weekend, and a smoke‑free office environment. Applications are to be submitted via the CESA inquiry form, followed by a two‑stage interview process conducted online and in person.
KADOKAWA Corporation has formalized a decision to allocate additional funds to its performance-linked stock remuneration plan, facilitating the acquisition of company shares through an established trust mechanism. This strategic move aims to incentivize executive officers of the parent company and directors of its various subsidiaries, excluding outside directors. By aligning executive compensation with corporate performance and shareholder value, the initiative seeks to foster long-term growth and strengthen the commitment of leadership across the group’s diverse business segments. The transaction involves the acquisition of 903,100 shares of common stock, valued at approximately 2.935 billion yen. These shares will be obtained through the disposal of treasury stock, with the transaction scheduled for completion on February 18, 2026. The trust, originally established in 2017 through the consolidation of previous incentive plans from Dwango and KADOKAWA Future Publishing, serves as the vehicle for this distribution. Under the terms of the trust agreement, voting rights associated with the shares held within the trust will not be exercised, ensuring a neutral impact on corporate governance proceedings during the holding period. This financial arrangement extends the operational timeline of the existing remuneration framework, with the trust period now projected to conclude at the end of August 2027. The management of the trust remains under the oversight of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and an independent third-party administrator to ensure transparency and adherence to beneficiary requirements. This capital allocation underscores a continued reliance on equity-based incentives to drive executive performance within the Japanese media and entertainment conglomerate.