The chairman of FromSoftware’s parent company has been charged with bribery

The chairman of FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa Corporation has been charged with bribery, it’s confirmed.

Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, who oversees the entire corporation and its numerous publishing, media, film and video game companies, was arrested on September 14 on suspicion of bribery.

He has now been charged with bribing a member of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee with ¥69 million ($476,000).

The corporation released a statement following the charge, which read: “Kadokawa Corporation announces that Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, Chairman of the Board, who was arrested on suspicion of bribery on September 14 2022, was prosecuted by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office today.

“We take this matter very seriously and deeply apologise to all those concerned, including our readers, customers, authors, creators, business partners, shareholders, and investors for the considerable inconvenience this matter has caused.”

In a statement made via his legal team to Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, chairman Kadokawa has stated his intention to resign.

“Today, I have decided to resign as chairman of Kadokawa,” Kadokawa said. “Recently, not only I but two other Kadokawa employees were arrested and prosecuted in connection with the corruption scandal involving the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I feel it necessary to take responsibiity for this. This incident is a great ordeal for Kadokawa, and I believe that it needs a new structure in order to overcome it.”

Kadokawa Corporation is the majority owner of EldenRing and Dark Souls studio FromSoftware, owning just under 70% (with Sony and Tencent owning the rest).

Further reading

16

Sony and Tencent are buying 30% of Elden Ring studio FromSoftware

FromSoftware says the investment may help it publish games globally

It also owns Spike Chunsoft, the studio best known for the Danganronpa, Mystery Dungeon and Zero Escape series.

Former Kadokawa Games CEO Yoshimi Yasuda is currently leading a remake of cult action game Lollipop Chainsaw, which was published by Kadokawa in Japan.

Yasuda’s new company, Dragami Games, acquired the rights to Lollipop Chainsaw from Kadokawa and is now working on the new version, despite the lack of involvement by creative director Suda51 and co-writer James Gunn.