Haruki's life took a significant turn with the passing of his father in 1975, as he was appointed president of the esteemed Kadokawa Shoten. In this new role, he unveiled an audacious plan to propel his company forward, which entailed establishing a dedicated branch focused on film production and international adaptations of the most popular novels and comics from the publishing arm.
The inaugural film to emerge from this new venture was "The Inugami Family", a landmark production that paved the way for Kadokawa's future cinematic endeavors. The resounding success of this planning initiative emboldened Kadokawa to take on a new challenge: directing films himself. His directorial debut, "Dirty Hero", arrived in 1982, followed by "Love Story" in 1984.
However, it was his 1990 film "Heaven and Earth" that would ultimately earn him the most widespread acclaim. Unfortunately, Kadokawa's professional trajectory began to decline precipitously following his arrest for drug possession.
