Publishing Creation Event "NovelJam 2026" Where Authors, Editors, and Designers Gather for 3 Days to Create a "Book" to be Held Again This Year in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Okinawa

NPO HON.jp (Nerima Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ryo Takano) will hold "NovelJam 2026," a publishing creation event where authors, editors, and designers form teams to complete everything from novel writing to publication in three days, from September to November 2026. This year, it will be held sequentially in three locations: Tokyo, Nagoya, and Okinawa. Applications are now open! We have also launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise operating funds.

Group photo from NovelJam 2025

Key Feature: World's First Live Publishing Event to "Complete a Book from Scratch in 3 Days"

NovelJam is a unique event where participants gather in person, form teams, and complete everything from novel writing to editing, proofreading, cover design, and sales in three days.

2026 Challenges:

Sequential Three-Location Event: Expanding to the largest scale ever in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Okinawa.

Inter-Regional Competition: Implementing a competition for work quality between locations.

Completely Volunteer-Run: Non-profit cultural creation activities by an NPO.

Participants will focus solely on novel creation for three days. The constraint of time limits, in turn, sparks explosive creativity.

【NovelJam 2026 Event Overview】

Dates

【Nagoya Venue】September 3 (Fri) - September 5 (Sun), 2026

【Tokyo Venue】October 10 (Sat) - October 12 (Mon, Holiday), 2026

【Okinawa Venue】October 10 (Sat) - October 12 (Mon, Holiday), 2026

Number of Participants Accepted

【Tokyo Venue: 5-7 teams】10-14 Authors, 5-7 Editors, 5-7 Designers

【Nagoya Venue: 2-3 teams】4-6 Authors, 2-3 Editors, 2-3 Designers

【Okinawa Venue: 1-2 teams】2-4 Authors, 1-2 Editors, 1-2 Designers

For details on participation requirements, notes, and application procedures, please check this page on the official website.

https://www.noveljam.org/2026/07/14178/

Scenes from NovelJam 2025

Track Record: Over 100 Works Created in 7 Events, Producing Literary Award Winners

Past Achievements:

Event History: Held 7 times since 2017

Number of Works Created: Over 100 works in total

Participant Achievements: Produced winners of various literary awards and works adapted into audiobooks.

Event History:

1st Event (2017): 16 works completed in 2 days

2nd Event (Spring 2018): 16 works in a 2-night, 3-day camp format

3rd Event (Autumn 2018): Produced 16 highly dense works

4th Event (2019): All works completed in a concentrated 1-night, 2-day period

5th Event (2021): Continued in an "online" format despite the pandemic

6th Event (2024): Revived in three locations: Tokyo, Niigata, and Okinawa

7th Event (2025): Held simultaneously in three locations: Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Okinawa

Scenes from NovelJam 2025

We Want to Break Through the Difficult Situation Surrounding "Publishing"

As many of you know, the situation surrounding "publishing" is currently very challenging. NovelJam is an alternative existence aiming to break through this reality! Let's experience not only print but also digital publishing. Instead of creating alone, let's create while stimulating each other as a team. We want to continue providing a "space" for expanding the circle of friends who create and publish together.

Crowdfunding: Support for a Social Experiment to Fundamentally Transform Japan's Creative Culture

NovelJam requires funds for venue rental, personnel costs, travel expenses, accommodation, meeting expenses, printing and binding, public relations, judge honoraria, and other administrative costs. As it is run on a non-profit basis, we struggle with fundraising each time.

Crowdfunding Campaign Page <Campfire>

https://camp-fire.jp/projects/937099/

While it is sometimes said that "publishing is a local industry of Tokyo," in the digital network era, vibrant publishing activities should be possible anywhere by anyone. To foster human resources who will lead the future of creation and digital publishing in regional areas, we want to minimize the cost burden on participants. Furthermore, to discover and nurture young talent, we want to offer preferential treatment to students and encourage their participation.

In other words, the funds we are seeking this time are not merely for holding an event. This is support for a social experiment to fundamentally transform Japan's creative culture.

Scenes from NovelJam 2025

NovelJam is More Than Just an Event

NovelJam is not just an event. It is a solid first step towards "a future where anyone can send their story out into the world."

What we have learned from the past seven events is that "constraints liberate creativity." The limited time of 72 hours over three days, meeting team members for the first time, brainstorming ideas based on a theme, and writing from scratch – all of these explosively draw out the dormant creativity within participants.

The miracle of a story being born in three days. It is by no means an easy challenge. But that is precisely why it has value, is interesting, and we believe it creates the future.

Dreams that cannot be achieved alone can be realized by working together. This is precisely what NovelJam has continued to prove over its seven events.

We sincerely await your support and encouragement.