Creative Festival "Natsugatari '26" Featuring Seven Contests Kicks Off Applications! Campaign Offering Luxury Prizes Like Premium Wagyu Also Held Simultaneously

KADOKAWA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Takeshi Natsuno; hereinafter KADOKAWA) has begun accepting applications for "Natsugatari '26" on "Kakuyomu," a web novel site jointly developed with Hatena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto; President & CEO: Yoshimi Kurisu).

"Natsugatari '26" Special Site

https://kakuyomu.jp/special/entry/natsugatari_2026

The web novel site "Kakuyomu" has started accepting applications for "Natsugatari '26," a major event that will liven up the summer of creativity with seven diverse contests.

The lineup ranges from contests for beginners that anyone can easily participate in, to those that offer a chance for a professional debut through book publication and comic adaptation. Not only can you enjoy choosing the contest that suits you, but challenges in new genres are also highly welcome. Furthermore, a luxurious campaign offering prizes such as premium wagyu is also starting simultaneously. This summer, why not dive into the world of creation with "Natsugatari" as your catalyst?

*Applications are accepted until September 8 (Tue) at 11:59 AM.

Campaign Underway to Win Luxury Prizes Including Premium Wagyu

[Campaign 1] Aim for Complete Conquest! Apply for Multiple Contests!

We have prepared luxurious gifts based on the number of contests you participate in. Please challenge yourself to create in various genres to aim for these wonderful prizes.

Prizes

2 or more contests applied: [Lottery for 60 winners] 500 yen Book Card Net Gift

3 or more contests applied: [Lottery for 30 winners] 1,000 yen Book Card Net Gift + Tori Plush Toy Strap

Complete Conquest (6 or more contests applied) [Lottery for 10 winners] 3,000 yen Book Card Net Gift + Tori Plush Toy Strap + 5,000 yen Wagyu Catalog Gift

▼ Plush toy strap of "Kakuyomu" mascot character "Tori" (10cm, palm-sized)

Event Period

During the application period for "Natsugatari '26" (until September 8, 2026 (Tue) at 11:59 AM)

▼ Please check the application details in advance.

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[Campaign 2] Opening Lines Post Campaign

Post the opening lines of your work (or a work you plan to apply with) via quote RT on X. If you are still preparing, expressing your enthusiasm like "I want to participate in this contest" or "I want to write a story like this" is also acceptable. Readers can also participate by posting "I want to read a story like this."

Prize

500 yen Book Card Net Gift (Lottery for 50 winners)

Event Period

July 1, 2026 (Wed) Noon - July 8, 2026 (Wed) 11:59 PM

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Seven Diverse Contests Underway

1 Kakuyomu Tokimeku Novel Award

Numerous opportunities for book publication and comic adaptation! 12 KADOKAWA labels participating in selection

Romance, BL, work, hobbies, friendship, bonds. We are broadly seeking stories that stir readers' hearts, transcending genre boundaries.

[Application Categories]

Western/Isekai Romance Category: Love romances with love as the main theme, set in Western or other worlds.

Chinese/Japanese Style Romance Category: Love romances with love as the main theme, set in Chinese or Japanese-style worlds.

BL Category: BL works with love as the main theme.

Heroines with Substance ~Work, Abilities, Magic, Hobbies~ Category: Stories with a "heroine with substance" as the protagonist, not focused on romance. Setting is not specified.

Stories of Companionship and Bonds ~Bromance, Ensemble, Animals, Non-humans~ Category: Stories not focused on romance. Protagonist's background is not specified.

Short Story (Beginner) Category: Word count 400-4,999 characters. Short stories on the themes of the above five categories will be accepted. A lottery will be held for 30 participants to win a 1,000 yen Amazon Gift Card! *No editorial review.

[Judges]

Beans Bunko Editorial Department, Kadokawa Bunko Editorial Department, B's-LOG Bunko Editorial Department, Fujimi L Bunko Editorial Department,

Media Works Bunko Editorial Department, LSComic Editorial Department, COMICit Editorial Department, Comic B's LOG Editorial Department,

COMIC BRIDGE Editorial Department, Sylph Editorial Department, Gene Editorial Department, FLOS COMIC Editorial Department

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2 Kadokomi Manga Original Story Contest

Why not turn that idea into a manga? Submission format is "Manga Original Script." Grand Prize winner will be serialized on Kadokomi.

"Kadokomi," which offers a variety of manga from popular KADOKAWA works to original app titles, and the web novel site "Kakuyomu" are teaming up to hold a manga original story contest.

We are seeking "manga original scripts," not novels. Please submit manga for 5 episodes (equivalent to 1 comic volume), focusing on dialogue and stage directions. The grand prize winner's work will be adapted into a manga by a KADOKAWA-selected artist and serialized on "Kadokomi."

[Application Categories]

Kadokomi Manga Original Story Contest Category *Editorial review included*

Challenge with Just One Scene! [Beginner] Category *No editorial review*

[Judges]

Kadokomi Editorial Department, Asuka Editorial Department, ALIVE Editorial Department, LSComic Editorial Department, Comic Newtype Editorial Department (Gundam Ace Editorial Department), Comp Ace Editorial Department, Shonen Ace Editorial Department, Sylph Editorial Department, Dengeki Maoh Editorial Department, Dragon Age Editorial Department, Doradora Sharp# Editorial Department, FLAPPER Editorial Department, FLOS Editorial Department, MANGA Bar Editorial Department, Young Ace Editorial Department

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3 Kakuyomu Mystery & Horror Novel Contest

Seeking the next hit web-born mystery and horror novels!

This contest will be held in three categories: "Full-Length Mystery Category" and "Full-Length Horror Category" for long-form entertainment novels with the aim of publication by KADOKAWA, and the "Short Story [Beginner] Category" which is easy for beginners to participate in. In the full-length categories, you can apply for the "Theme Award," where editors search for works that are "currently of interest," for which you can apply for both. The judges will be Mr. Kyouya Orimori, a bestselling author active in both mystery and horror genres, and "Oshiete! Occult Sensei," a popular horror YouTuber with over 100 million total views.

[Application Categories]

Full-Length Mystery Category: 80,000 - 140,000 characters

Full-Length Horror Category: 80,000 - 140,000 characters

Short Story [Beginner] Category: 400 - 4,999 characters

[Judges]

Kyouya Orimori

Oshiete! Occult Sensei

Mystery & Horror Works Discovery Project Team (Voluntary KADOKAWA Novel Editors)

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4 Kakuyomu Share World "Shinkaku Kanteikyoku" Novel Contest

The story of "Shinkaku Kanteikyoku" begins here.

A contest is being held to solicit novels of 10,000 characters or more written based on the world setting of the Kakuyomu Share World "Shinkaku Kanteikyoku." The official website for "Shinkaku Kanteikyoku" provides various settings for the share world. Please check the details and participate in the contest.

[Application Categories]

General Category: 10,000 characters or more

Beginner Category: 100 characters or more, up to 4,999 characters

[Judges]

Boken Planning Bureau (Touichiro Kawashima, et al.)

Kakuyomu Editorial Department

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5 [High School Students Only] Kakuyomu Koshien 2026

A challenge to put your potential into words.

The high school student-only novel contest "Kakuyomu Koshien" will be held again this year. Mr. Hayato Ayasaki, who won the "Encouragement Award" at the 16th Dengeki Novel Award and debuted with "Aozora Shigure" from Media Works Bunko, will serve as a judge and will also participate in the award ceremony.

[Application Categories]

Long Category: 5,000 to 20,000 characters

Short Category: 400 to 4,999 characters

[Judges]

Hayato Ayasaki (Novelist)

Koichiro Takano (Secretary General, Council for the Promotion of Written Culture, Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Head Office)

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6 2nd Kakuyomu Tanka Award

Tanka can be written by anyone. That tanka can only be written by you.

Tanka is a poem written according to the 5-7-5-7-7 syllable structure. No seasonal words are necessary. The contest will be held in two categories: "10-Tanka Series Category" and "Single Tanka Category." We welcome everyone, from those who are not usually familiar with tanka to those who have already written many tanka!

[Application Categories]

10-Tanka Series Category: We are seeking "series" of 10 tanka with a title and a unified theme.

Single Tanka Category: We are accepting submissions on a single tanka basis.

[Judges (10-Tanka Category)]

Teru Aomatsu

Kazuto Gunji

Torisan no Mabuta

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7 Kakuyomu Review Contest

Convey the charm of works with your words! A chance to win Book Card Net Gifts every month.

Tell us about your favorite work on Kakuyomu. We are looking for reviews that can evoke the desire to read in others. Here, you may also discover hidden masterpieces.

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What is "Kakuyomu"?

"Kakuyomu" is a web novel site for all who love stories, where anyone can write and read stories in their preferred style, and share their favorite stories with others. It supports creative activities in various forms, including numerous contests such as the "Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest" (renamed "Kakuyomu Contest" from the 10th edition) where grand prize winners can win the right to publication, and allowing secondary creations of popular works from inside and outside KADOKAWA.

https://kakuyomu.jp/

Related Information

"Natsugatari '26" Special Page

https://kakuyomu.jp/special/entry/natsugatari_2026

Web Novel Site "Kakuyomu"

https://kakuyomu.jp/

"Kakuyomu" Official X (Twitter)

https://twitter.com/kaku_yomu