Total Prize Money Over 3 Million Yen! Takarajimasha x Kakuyomu Launch 'Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! WEB Award'! Submissions Open June 1st!

Takarajimasha, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Makoto Sekikawa) is teaming up with the popular web novel site 'Kakuyomu' to launch the new 'Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! WEB Award'. Natsuya Semikawa, author of 'Isekai Izakaya Nobu'—a series that has seen numerous media mixes including anime and live-action drama adaptations—will participate as a special judge. The total prize money is over 3 million yen, with 2 million yen awarded to the grand prize winner. The winning work will be assigned an editor and is scheduled to be published as a book by Takarajimasha. The 'Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!' editorial department has developed numerous popular light novel works, starting with the publication of the 'Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!' guidebook, which introduces the most amazing light novels of the year. Notable titles include 'Isekai Izakaya Nobu', 'Tensei shite Inaka de Slow Life wo Okuritai', 'Neko to Ryu', 'Seikatsu Majutsushi-tachi, Dungeon ni Idomu', and 'Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku'. Beyond light novels, the company has also released many entertainment works across various genres, such as 'Hibike! Euphonium' and 'Kyoto Fushimi no Ayakashi Amamite'. Takarajimasha will continue to discover and nurture new authors and works, contributing to the revitalization of the industry. Grand Prize: 2 million yen Special Judge 'Natsuya Semikawa' Award: 1 million yen Special Awards (multiple planned): 300,000 yen each *Prize names are subject to change. Comment from Special Judge Natsuya Semikawa (Author of 'Isekai Izakaya Nobu'): Reading a light novel is like living another life and enjoying another world. I look forward to receiving submissions that offer readers a wonderful entertainment experience. [Natsuya Semikawa Profile] Born in 1983 in Osaka Prefecture. Debuted as a novelist in 2012. 'Isekai Izakaya Nobu' won the 2nd 'Narou-con Award' in 2014. Three manga adaptations of the series are currently being serialized (as of August 2024). It was adapted into an anime by Sunrise in 2018 and a live-action drama on WOWOW in 2020. Seasons 2 and 3 of the drama were broadcast between 2022 and 2023. How to Apply: Register your work on the 'Kakuyomu' submission screen, select 'Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! WEB Award' in the contest application section of the novel submission page, and publish it to complete your entry. *Only individuals registered as members on Kakuyomu can apply for the 'Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! WEB Award' (hereinafter referred to as 'this contest'). <> - Only original works (primary creation) created by the applicant are eligible for this contest. - The text must be at least 10,000 characters long by the end of the submission period. The format of the novel (long-form, linked short stories, etc.) is not restricted. *Consultations regarding additions, revisions, or title changes may occur during the book publication process. - Please check 'Completed' for finished works. - Works already published on Kakuyomu can also participate in this contest from the novel creation screen starting at noon on June 1, 2026 (Monday). - Multiple entries per person are accepted. However, the same work cannot be submitted multiple times. - The content of the submitted work must be written in Japanese. - If a submitted work wins, you will be required to provide the original data of the work (any storage format is acceptable), so please be careful not to delete or lose the data. Please check the application requirements before applying: https://kakuyomu.jp/contests/konorano_2026/detail Schedule: Submission Period: June 1, 2026 (Monday) Noon - July 31, 2026 (Friday) 11:59 AM Intermediate Selection Results Announcement: September 2026 *During the period from submission to final selection, 'early awards' may be granted based on the premise of winning one of the prizes. Final Selection Results Announcement: December 2026 *Subject to change. *Announced on Kakuyomu. Check the special site for the latest information and details! -> https://sugoiweb.jp/lp/lightnovel_contest2026/ Many Media Mixes! Takarajimasha's Light Novels Anime! Live-action drama! Isekai Izakaya Nobu Release Date: September 10, 2014 List Price: 1,320 yen (tax included) https://tkj.jp/book/?cd=02305701 1.4 million copies in the series! TV anime broadcast starts July 2026! Neko to Ryu Release Date: April 22, 2016 List Price: 1,320 yen (tax included) https://tkj.jp/book/?cd=02530101 2026 'restart' TV anime adaptation! Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku Release Date: June 8, 2012 List Price: 723 yen (tax included) https://tkj.jp/book/?cd=70803901 Takarajimasha's Manga, Light Novels, and Novels Gathered! 'Takarajima Sugoi! WEB' Previously, information was scattered across different sites by genre, making it difficult to grasp the scope and related information of a single work. 'Takarajima Sugoi! WEB' was born as a site that aggregates this dispersed information, allowing users to view Takarajimasha's manga, light novels, and novels in one place. It features the ability to view original novels, manga adaptations, series developments, and related information such as anime and live-action adaptations. It aims to promote new encounters between readers and works, and to serve as a place for content professionals looking for original works for adaptation.