Kadokawa Dominates Light Novel Industry by Acquiring Media Factory

by dtshyk
Oct 12, 2011 12:18 AM | 38 Comments

According to Nikkei, Kadokawa Group Holdings has announced that they have incorporated Media Factory as a subsidiary of the holdings on October 12th. As a result, most of the major light novel publishers are now affiliated with Kadokawa Group.

Light novel publishers belonging to Kadokawa Group
Dengeki Bunko
　Shakugan no Shana
　Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
　Durarara!!
Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
　Full Metal Panic!
　Seitokai no Ichizon
　Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?
Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko
　Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
　Rental Magica
　Dantalian no Shoka
Kadokawa Beans Bunko
　Saiunkoku Monogatari
　Gosick
　Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru
Famitsu Bunko
　Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
　Bungaku Shoujo
　Yoshinaga-san'chi no Gargoyle
Media Factory Bunko J
　IS: Infinite Stratos
　Zero no Tsukaima
　Hidan no Aria

Light novel publishers unrelated to Kadokawa
Shueisha Super Dash Bunko
　Kure-nai
　Yokuwakaru Gendaimahou
　Mayoi Neko Overrun!
GA Bunko
　Haiyore! Nyaruko-san
　Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica
GaGaGa Bunko
　Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
　Toaru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku
HJ Bunko
　Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou

Source: Nikkei (PDF file)

20 of 38 Comments Recent Comments

I guess people aren't aware of this but the dollar is absolute crap and every country's economic condition right now is unstable. It's impractical to use it as a standard for exchange rate. Its much more realistic to think in terms of salaries or the average meal in the country. A cheap meal at a convenience store or a supermarket bento in Japan, (if someone went to Japan and only ate at McDonalds, they dont realize Mcdonalds and Starbucks are actually a luxuries in Asian countries) is around 400-600 yen. So a light novel is about the cost of a cheap meal in japan. Thats neither expensive nor cheap, just reasonable. Compare it to America, where manga is $12 dollars, its not a surprise why there is a decline in Manga bought. Its not that digital is better, its just in America, they make it impossible to exist through paper.

Oct 14, 2011 5:44 AM by taj69

Oh, jeez. Wow. According to the list/chart, I've never heard of anything Not associated with Kadowaka. I guess this is an accomplishment for them, being a giant monopoly and all, but I'm not so sure I'm as excited. I'm having trouble scraping together enough money for my otaku-needs as it is now. -.-V

Oct 13, 2011 8:53 PM by Forest-kun

Holly crap

Oct 13, 2011 3:31 PM by Setsuna200

jmal said:
$25 to 40? Maybe it they come with a DVD , or if you're converting into something other than USD, or if you're including single-item order international shipping from an expensive small-order shipper like Amazon.

OreImo: ¥578
Haganai: ¥609
Index: ¥578
Haruhi: ¥580
Basically, like $8 even at the current horrendous exchange rate.

Oct 12, 2011 7:26 PM by DateYutaka

GodlyKyon said:
How much are the average price of light novels before this anyways????

at the crrunt rate around $25 to 40

price like any low print run 1st eidton book

Oct 12, 2011 6:41 PM by DateYutaka

How much are the average price of light novels before this anyways????

Oct 12, 2011 6:37 PM by GodlyKyon

well... hope for the best?

Oct 12, 2011 5:59 PM by Neverarine

icekatana8825 said:
monopoly can't be a good thing, I was hoping media factory would be independent

right people say this and then saport funimation with we there 60% monopoly hippo crites

Oct 12, 2011 5:38 PM by DateYutaka

monopoly can't be a good thing, I was hoping media factory would be independent

Oct 12, 2011 4:53 PM by icekatana8825

Huh...... The only ones bot related to them are minor ones no one cares......

Infinite Stratos...... That's a HUGE gain. Man it's like the ao no exorcist of harem!

Oct 12, 2011 4:50 PM by GodlyKyon

dtshyk said:Chart: Market Shares of Light Novel Publishers in H1 2011

Hmmm Monopoly.... My... Oh well i dun read LN that much but if I ever learn to read japanese I wonder how will that affect me. Still that's not kewl... Prices and all that stuff...

Signs,
Green

Oct 12, 2011 2:41 PM by rebwaters

dtshyk said:
Chart: Market Shares of Light Novel Publishers in H1 2011

*shocked* I didn't know Kadokawa is THAT big....

: o

Oct 12, 2011 1:47 PM by Miyuki

Wow, surprising. I often see Kadokawa or Media Factory as sponsors in anime, so I assume that those anime are adaptations of light novels or manga released by them.

Oct 12, 2011 1:28 PM by Obinderu

Does this mean more light novels will be translated?

Oct 12, 2011 12:32 PM by RedFlameHaze

They still have to be priced to buy. Monopoly or not, it's not a "necessary item", and if the price goes too high they'd end up losing money if sales drop too low. Not to mention, since they produce different series, it's not like they're completely interchangeable to begin with—why would the price difference matter all that much? Are you -really- going to buy GoSick over IS if IS is your thing?

Besides, realistically, I imagine -most- of the English speaking readers of LNs either pirate* or buy localizations*, which I imagine is also a small enough market that prices can't go too much higher than they already are. I.e., are -you- really affected at all?

*Translation projects, much?
**Sure, we might say we'll learn Japanese and import the LNs someday, but how many really do, I wonder?

Oct 12, 2011 12:27 PM by bdxcr

If only more LN's would be translated into English so i could buy them...I'm a big fan of LN's.

Oct 12, 2011 12:02 PM by Selphie-

well surprise surprise

Oct 12, 2011 9:49 AM by Mr_Gutts

Cholisose said:
Huh, I wonder where this will lead then. I just hope more light novels will be translated...
@Hoppy - Was Kadokawa going to release a Nichijou light novel, or something?

I was referring to their anime division and Nichijou's BDs being severely overpriced. The anime didn't sell because of this

Oct 12, 2011 9:07 AM by Hoppy

Huh, I wonder where this will lead then. I just hope more light novels will be translated...

@Hoppy - Was Kadokawa going to release a Nichijou light novel, or something?

Oct 12, 2011 8:51 AM by Cho_Desu

McRib said:
Hooray for the lack of antitrust laws.
This totally wont completely fuck over the consumer.

This is Kadokawa, you see what happened with Nichijou, they will certainly fuck over the consumer.

Oct 12, 2011 8:31 AM by Hoppy

See All Comments