[Application Open] Kodansha's "9th Aoi Tori Bunko Novel Award" to be held on Estar ~Grand Prize of 500,000 Yen, Guaranteed Publication for Gold Prize and above!~

Estar Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Masaki Yamashita) will host the "9th Aoi Tori Bunko Novel Award" for the first time in collaboration with Kodansha Ltd. on its novel submission site "Estar." This contest seeks children's novels across various genres targeting elementary and junior high school readers. The application period for works is from Friday, May 1, 2026, to Friday, July 31, 2026. "9th Aoi Tori Bunko Novel Award" Contest Special Page https://estar.jp/official_contests/159870 Chance for a publishing debut! Popular children's literature label seeks next-generation authors The "9th Aoi Tori Bunko Novel Award" is a novel contest jointly organized by Kodansha Ltd. and Estar. The Aoi Tori Bunko Novel Award is looking for "interesting and educational" works such as mysteries, horror, survival, romance, school stories, and those that also impart knowledge. Keeping "elementary and junior high school students" as the readers in mind, please write freely and expansively. We look forward to stories that will move the hearts of today's children. Additionally, this time, Grand Prize and Gold Prize winners will receive, as prizes, prize money and guaranteed publication, as well as reviews from popular Aoi Tori Bunko authors, Kaoru Hayamine (known for the "Kaito Queen" series) and Rokka Takasugi (known for the "Hinata to Hikari" series). "9th Aoi Tori Bunko Novel Award" Contest Special Page https://estar.jp/official_contests/159870 ■ Awards Official trophy + 500,000 yen supplementary prize + guaranteed publication + review from an Aoi Tori Bunko author Official certificate + 200,000 yen supplementary prize + guaranteed publication + review from an Aoi Tori Bunko author Official certificate + 50,000 yen supplementary prize ■ Schedule Application Period: May 1, 2026 (Fri) 12:00:00 to July 31, 2026 (Fri) 27:59:59 Interim Announcement: Scheduled for November-December 2026 Final Results Announcement: Scheduled for December 2026-January 2027 ■ Application Guidelines Word count: Approximately 30,000 to 50,000 characters Must be complete No age limit for applicants, professionals and amateurs welcome Mystery, horror, survival, romance/friendship, school stories, etc. Details of the application guidelines can be found on the contest's special page published on Estar. https://estar.jp/official_contests/159870 In conjunction with this contest, a special interview with an editor from Aoi Tori Bunko has been published. It contains must-read content for applicants, including what kind of works are sought for the contest, the current state of children's literature, and advice for aspiring authors. https://monokaki.ink/n/nd0c5551afa6d [Introduction to the Label] May every encounter with a book become a lifelong treasure. "Kodansha Aoi Tori Bunko" is a children's literature label that supports children's desire to "read" and "know." Since its inception in 1980, it has continuously created children's books. Fantasy, adventure, romance, mystery, non-fiction, and numerous timeless masterpieces. Aoi Tori Bunko offers books across various genres. Reading fosters imagination and broadens one's world. With Aoi Tori Bunko, you are sure to find the book you want to read. Aoi Tori Bunko Official Website https://cocreco.kodansha.co.jp/aoitori ■ About Estar Service started in 2010. It is a novel creation platform where works of various genres such as romance, fantasy, horror, mystery, BL, youth, and non-fiction are submitted. Submitted works that catch the eye of the Estar editorial department are offered publication and media adaptation support in partnership with over 40 publishers, assisting authors in their debut. Additionally, Estar constantly holds various contests tailored to authors' needs, such as the "Estar Novel Award" co-hosted with publishers, where winning works can obtain rights for publication and comic adaptation, and the "Delusional Contest" for short stories starting from 100 characters. We aim to enhance our services, including providing revenue-sharing functions like "Star Gift" as part of our creator support program, and will continue to support many aspiring novelists aiming for their debut. Moving forward, Estar will continue to be a creative community that delivers stories born from individual thoughts and words to the wider world, based on the concept of "a place where everyone can shine (everystar)." ■ Related Information ■ "Estar Novel Award 2026" Special Page https://estar.jp/official_con