Kadokawa Daiei Studio Co., Ltd., formerly is the film production division of the Japanese company the Kadokawa Corporation, which was established through the acquirement of Daiei Film.

History

left|thumb|Kadokawa Daiei Studio in [[Chōfu, which contains the .]]

right|thumb|Kadokawa Pictures absorbed [[Daiei Film assets to form Kadokawa Daiei Studio.]]

In 1945, Genyoshi Kadokawa established Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., focusing on the publishing business.

In 1975, Kadokawa's president, Haruki Kadokawa, decided to venture into the film business, launching the film division of Kadokawa Shoten; thus was born. His goal was to try to reap synergy benefits by creating film adaptations of the publishing house's most popular books and marketing them simultaneously. The company's first film was the 1976 release The Inugamis, directed by Kon Ichikawa and adapted from a Kadokawa Shoten published novel written by Seishi Yokomizo. Due to an aggressive marketing campaign, the film ended as the second-largest earner of the year in Japan. During his time at Kadokawa Shoten, Haruki Kadokawa was often hailed as the savior of Japan's struggling film industry.

<!--"Maihiko" is most likely a misprint of Tsuguhiko. I don't find anything in Japanese.-->

In March 2004, Kadokawa Daiei Pictures, Inc.<!--Nippon Kadokawa Pictures--> acquired a 44% stake in Nippon Herald Films Inc., an independent film distributor founded in 1956, and acquired the remaining 56% stake the following year. It later changed its name to Kadokawa Pictures.

On March 1, 2006, it merged with the Kadokawa Herald to become Kadokawa Herald Pictures Inc. and later Kadokawa Pictures. In 2007, it changed its name to Kadokawa Shoten Pictures, with as its president and CEO.

After a merger with Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. in 2011, it became the studio division of its parent company, Kadokawa Group Holdings Ltd. and maintained its name, Kadokawa Pictures, focusing on mixed-media business.

See also

  • Toho
  • Shintoho
  • Tsuburaya Productions
  • Daiei Film
  • Nikkatsu
  • Shochiku
  • Toei Company

References

  • Kadokawa Anime Channel at YouTube