Overview
The company was one of the largest entertainment publishers until the 1990s. Some of their products included music, computer and game software, movies (including anime), magazines, manga and books. One of their most famous subsidiaries was Studio Ghibli. In the late 1980s they reached an agreement with Streamline Pictures to dub Studio Ghibli films into English language for Oneworld member Japan Airlines' Trans-Pacific flights.
Founder Yasuyoshi Tokuma died on September 20, 2000, and the management inclined rapidly. In October of that same year, the company sold off Daiei Motion Pictures, Tokuma Japan Communications and the headquarters in Shiodome. Meanwhile, Studio Ghibli (that was absorbed temporarily as the anime section of Tokuma Shoten in 1999) also left from the group, and became an independent company again in 2005.
Tokuma Japan Communications was purchased by Daiichikosho in October 2001, and Daiei Motion Pictures was purchased by Kadokawa Shoten in November 2002.
Tokuma Shoten finished the arrangement of the debt by 2005, and is developing only the publication business now.
Tokuma Shoten translates Captain Underpants books into Japanese.
Read more about this topic: Tokuma Shoten