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Holmes of Kyoto Novelist Mai Mochizuki Tweets That Certain Editors Don't Bother with Light Novel Rankings
How can an aspiring light novelist catch the eye of an editor? Well, a recent Tweet by author Mai Mochizuki gives us a little hint.
― How can an aspiring light novelist catch the eye of an editor? Well, a recent Tweet by author Mai Mochizuki gives us a little hint. In Japan there are many ways for light novel publishers to find up-and-coming authors. From a number of different writing competitions, s...
Monogatari, Zaregoto Protagonists Chat In New NisiOisin Promo Video
Author celebrates 20th anniversary since debut
― NisiOisin has been celebrating the 20th anniversary since his novelist debut with 20 separate projects, including new merchandise and books. The final project launched on Wednesday, and it's the most in-character way of capping things off: The author wrote a rambling 17-minute conversation between the protagonists of his two most famous works. Monogata...
Former Kadokawa President Writes Novel About Starting Publishing Business Thanks to Middle School Girl
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya artist Noizi Ito draws cover illustration
― Former Kadokawa president Tatsuo Satо̄ flexed his storytelling muscles with an intriguing new novel: Taida na Ore ga Nazo no JC to Deatte Fukugyо̄ wo Kabushiki Jо̄jо̄ Sasechatta Hanashi ("I'm a Lazy Bum, But After I Met a Mysterious Middle School Girl, My Side Business Got On the Stock Exchange"). As the title so aptly desc...
Mushoku Tensei, So I'm a Spider, So What? Light Novels Top 2022 BookWalker Global Sales
Isekai light novels once again dominate the rankings
― It seems that BookWalker Global users still can't get enough of the isekai genre. According to the yearly sales rankings released on Friday, the bestselling titles are the Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, So I'm a Spider, So What?, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Ascendance of a Bookworm, and Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of O...
Sword Art Online Anime 10th Anniversary Book Ships on December 22
Book includes production staff comments, voice actor interview, Asuna cosplay by Love Live! Superstar!!'s Liyuu
― Kadokawa's Dengeki G's Magazine unveiled the cover of its "Sword Art Online 10th Anniversary Book" on Friday. The date (December 2) commemorates Kirito and Asuna's first meeting in Aincrad's first-floor labyrinth. The book will ship in Japan on December 22. The book will bundle a B2-size ...
Light Novel Author's Work Canceled Even After Ranking in Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!
Zento Sakurame's Mondaiji no Watashi-tachi wo Kaeta no wa, Onaji Class no Monaka-senpai romantic comedy ranked 20th among new series
― Novelist Zento Sakurame announced on Monday that their Mondaiji no Watashi-tachi wo Kaeta no wa, Onaji Class no Monaka-senpai (The Person Who Changed Us Problem Children Is Our Classmate Monaka-Senpai) romantic comedy light novel was "canceled due to sales." Sakurame ...
Amazon Japan Pulls Dr. Stone Science Consultant's Book After Prefecture Designates It as 'Harmful'
Tottori prefectural government did not disclose the reasoning behind its designation
― In February, Amazon Japan delisted two books in Yakuri Kyо̄shitsu's Arienai Rika (Impossible Science) non-fiction series. Yakuri Kyо̄shitsu is the name of a writer's group of science writers; they are notable for acting as consultants for the Dr. Stone manga series from volume 10 onward. The series is well-regarded...
Hideo Kojima's Official Endorsement Printed On Lycoris Recoil Spinoff Light Novel
The Metal Gear, Death Stranding creator has been a vocal fan of the anime on Twitter
― Last month, we reported that Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima has been getting really into Lycoris Recoil. His newfound fandom has now come to its logical conclusion: his official endorsement comment printed on the spinoff light novel's wraparound cover. このたび、小島監督より小説『リコリス・リコイル Ordinary days』へコメン...
MyAnimeList, Honeyfeed Announce 2nd Web Novel Contest
US$3,000 cash prizes for winners in School, Rom-Com, Cyberpunk categories
― Anime database website MyAnimeList and web novel platform Honeyfeed announced the details of their second web novel contest on Monday. In addition to US$3,000 cash prizes for the winners in each of the three genre categories, the winning entries will be sent to manga publisher Kodansha to review for possible publication and/o...
J-Novel Club Challenges You To Try The Infamous When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace Rant
Can you channel Saori Hayami's legendary performance of Hatoko's "I don't understand" speech?
― In 2014, the When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace anime took viewers by surprise when childhood friend Hatoko made an impassioned rant at protagonist Andou about how she doesn't understand his chuunibyou delusions. Saori Hayami's voice performance was rumored to have been performed in one take, and...
Texas Republican Rep Cites Goblin Slayer As "Obscene" Book To Ban From Schools
Rep. Matt Shaheen describes book's content as "graphic images of women being raped by demons"
― Matt Shaheen, Republican representative of Texas's 66th district, cited Goblin Slayer as an example of an "obscene" book to ban from schools. He described the content to the Houston Chronicle as "graphic images of women being raped by demons" and stated: "Anyone who believes this is acceptable is mentally ...
Monogatari Author NisiOIsin Commemorates 20th Anniversary Since Novelist Debut
Zaregoto's 1st volume debuted on February 5, 2002 when NisiOIsin was just 20 years old
― The first volume of NisiOisin's debut novel series Zaregoto was first published in Japan on February 5, 2002. The author was just 20 years old at the time. To commemorate the occasion, NisiOisin left a comment on his official Twitter account, translated as follows: Thanks to all of you, I have reached my 20th ann...
New Light Novel Heroine Is Just As Cute As hololive's Gawr Gura
Umidori Tо̄ketsu no "Detarame" na Jijо̄ light novel features character designs by Gawr Gura designer Amashiro Natsuki
― hololive English's Gawr Gura is currently the world's most popular Virtual YouTuber, sitting pretty with over 3.75 million subscribers. A new light novel published by MF Bunko J, titled Umidori Tо̄ketsu no "Detarame" na Jijо̄ ("Tо̄ketsu Umidori's 'Untruthful' Circumstances"), featur...
Light Novel Author Explains the Lack of "Ugly" Characters In Manga, LNs
It's costlier and more time-consuming to draw unattractive characters
― Why are manga and light novel characters almost always conventionally attractive? Light novel author Takenoko offered an answer on their Twitter account on Sunday: According to an illustrator acquaintance they spoke to, "ugly" characters cost more to draw. Takenoko emphasized that this is not a matter of artistic skill; the manga...
Overlord Author Says Next Volume's Draft Is Over 700 Pages
Volume 15 will be split in two parts, series to end at volume 17
― Kugane Maruyama wrote on Twitter on Tuesday that the draft for the next volume of his Overlord light novel series has surpassed 700 pages. Because of this, volume 15 will be split into two books. He asked fans to be a little more patient, and assured that he is currently working intently to ensure that the books will come out within a...
MyAnimeList, Honeyfeed Web Novel Contest Announces Winners
Organizers confirm the contest will return for 2nd round
― Anime database website MyAnimeList and web novel platform Honeyfeed announced the winners of its web novel contest on Monday. In addition to cash prizes, the top three winning entries will be sent to manga publisher Kodansha to review for a possible manga adaptation. The winning submissions are as follows: 1st Place: REALM ASSASSIN by Pearlyn...
German Fans Are Disappointed That Tokyopop's New Light Novels Are Translated From English, Not Japanese (Updated)
Tokyopop Germany General Manager Susanne Hellweg revealed in an interview with the Manga Passion German news website on October 9 that the publisher's recent light novel lineup, which includes The Rising of the Shield Hero, Konosuba - God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!, and Overlord, is translated from English instead of Japanese. The move represents a departure from Tokyopop's previous strat...
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Gets Remade as Children's Books
Simplified 3-part version of light novel's 1st volume shipped on Wednesday under Micro Magazine's new Kanade Bunko imprint
― A children's book version of Fuse's That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime light novel series was released in Japan on Wednesday. It is part of the debut lineup of Micro Magazine's Kanade Bunko imprint, which launched this month. The illustrations are drawn by Moryo based on c...
The Idolm@ster Producer Writes Book Decoding the Franchise's Success
Yozo Sakagami's secret is making everything personal
― The Idolm@ster series producer Yozo Sakagami (known affectionately as "Gami P") will release a business book on October 28 decoding the franchise's success. Titled Shunjinkо̄ Shikо̄ (Main Character Thinking), the book promises to explain the essence of "how to move people." The cover depicts the popular Idolm@ster character Haruka Amami. The book...
Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Author Teases 'Big Project'
Yuki Yaku said the project "will definitely surprise everyone."
― Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki light novel author Yuki Yaku teased on his Twitter account on Tuesday that he is currently working on a "big project" that "will definitely surprise everyone." He explained that the reason that the novel's 10th volume is still forthcoming is because of this project, remarking that his schedule became "qui...
Isekai Bad Boys Meet in Mushoku Tensei Smartphone Game Collab with Konosuba
Kazuma and co. join the fray in collab event from September 15
― The rascally Kazuma and the rest of Konosuba's motley crew are joining the world of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation for a limited-time event. The Mushoku Tensei ~Game ni Nattemo Honki Dasu~ (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation - I'll Seriously Try Even If It's Made Into a Game) smartphone game will hold a Konosuba collaboration ...
Light Novel About Russian Girl's Romantic Miscommunication Teases VTuber Debut
Russophile voice actress Sumire Uesaka plays Alya on Kadokawa's July 29 livestream
― Kadokawa teased on Thursday that the title character in SansanSun and Momoko's Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san (My Seatmate Alya Sometimes Becomes Really Lovey-Dovey While Talking in Russian) novel series will make her debut as a Virtual YouTuber. The novel's story centers on Masachika Kuze an...
Kadokawa Culture Museum Claims to Have World's Largest Light Novel Library
Museum expanded its collection to 35,000 books since opening last year
― The Kadokawa Culture Museum held a post-refurbishment opening ceremony on Thursday. The first floor of the building contains the "Manga/Light Novel Museum." It currently holds around 35,000 books, boasting the status of "the world's largest light novel library." The museum first opened to the public on August 1. It contained 25,...
Dengeki Bunko Heroines Compete Over Who Has the Strongest Love
Sword Art Online's Asuna, Mahouka's Miyuki, The Misfit of Demon King Academy's Misha & Sasha compete in Twitter campaign
― Last year, Sword Art Online's Kirito, The irregular at magic high school's Tatsuya, and The Misfit of Demon King Academy's Anos competed in a Twitter campaign to determine who was the strongest among them. Now the lead heroines are getting a shot, although the measure isn't raw s...
MyAnimeList, Honeyfeed Web Novel Contest Removes Controversial Submission Rule After Backlash
Original rules stated that authors waive creative rights through submitting
― Anime database website MyAnimeList and web novel platform Honeyfeed announced an English-language web novel writing contest on Saturday. In addition to cash prizes, the top three winning entries will be sent to manga publisher Kodansha to review for a possible manga adaptation. The original submission rules (archived here) ...
Kakegurui Writer Apologizes for Canceled Isekai Revenge Manga
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, Reincarnated as a Slime creators respond to controversy
― Following the cancelation of the Isekai Tenseisha Goroshi -Cheat Slayer- ("Killing the People Reincarnated into the Other World -Cheat Slayer-") fantasy manga, writer Homura Kawamoto (Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler) issued an apology on their Twitter account, translated as follows: I deeply apologize for ...
Oregairu's Iroha Promotes I LOHAS Water in Yomiuri Shimbun Ad
Series author Wataru Watari writes original story about Iroha to commemorate her birthday
― Two peas in a pod: Fan favorite Oregairu character Iroha (also affectionately known as "Irohasu") is celebrating her birthday by promoting the I LOHAS (pronounced "Irohasu") distilled water. Series author Wataru Watari also wrote an original story about Iroha, published on I LOHAS' official website. The collab...
I'm in Love with the Villainess Author Responds to Alterations in English-Language Release
Omitted section included comments on how gay entertainers are represented on Japanese television.
―
UPDATE: 03/19/2021 Seven Seas has issued the following statement: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Those portions of the text were removed during the editorial process at the time, but we have since changed how we edit these books to make sure important lines are not lost. We'll be revisi...
Light Novel Author Saginomiya Misaki Announces Health-Related Hiatus
Sankaku no Kyori wa Kagiri Nai Zero ranked #8 in Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2019
― Light novel author Saginomiya Misaki (Sankaku no Kyori wa Kagiri Nai Zero, Hiyori-chan no Onegai wa Zettai) announced on Twitter on Saturday that he will be taking a temporary hiatus from writing between one to several months long due to health reasons. He wrote that he had recently been pushing himself too hard with w...
Redo of Healer Author: English Light Novel Translation Was 'Refused' By An Overseas Publisher
'We tried to publish the English version, but it was refused by an overseas publisher.'
― Redo of Healer author Rui Tsukiyo tweeted in English that an English language version of the light novel series was "refused" by an overseas publisher. "I've received several inquiries about buying the English version of 'Redo of Healer', but it doesn't exist," they stated. "We tried to publish the English versi...
Ascendance of a Bookworm, My Next Life as a Villainess, Reincarnated as a Slime, Re:ZERO Top Global BookWalker Sales
Yet none could take first place from this two volume BL title...
― Manga and light novel e-book store BOOKWALKER released the list of its top-selling series for 2020. While much of the top 10 is filled with popular light novels with anime adaptations, first place went to the BL manga You Are My Princess (Kimi wa Boku no Ohimesama) by Hiroto Kujirada. The two-volume adult series is fully voiced and fo...
New Haruhi Novel Gets Reprint Within Two Days of Its Release
The "emergency reprint" is already underway!
― The Intuition of Haruhi Suzumiya, the latest entry in author Nagaru Tanigawa and illustrator Noizi Ito's The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya novel series, is selling out so fast that a reprint was already announced merely two days after the novel's release in Japan on November 25. The official Twitter account for the franchise revealed on November 27 that ...
Dennō Coil Director Mitsuo Iso Appointed Judge for 16th Shogakukan Light Novel Award
The annual light novel writing competition gives cash prizes and a guaranteed publishing deal to winning submissions.
― GAGAGA Bunko announced on its Twitter account on Wednesday that anime director Mitsuo Iso has been appointed a guest judge for the 16th Shogakukan Light Novel Award. The annual light novel writing competition gives cash prizes and a guaranteed publishing deal to winning submissions....
Latest NisiOisin Novel is a Battle Royale Between Pregnant Women
Delivery Room novel by Monogatari author ships on September 30
― Monogatari author NisiOisin's latest novel, titled Delivery Room, has an unusual premise: Five pregnant women are invited to a mysterious battle royale-like situation with the prize of a healthy childbirth on the line. Publisher Kodansha describes the novel as follows: Miyako Mamamiya receives a letter of invitation. In it is written: 5...
Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Fan Is Inspired to Get Buff
Light novel author Yūki Yaku shares fan's 100-day workout journey in viral tweet
― The story of Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki (Jaku-chara Tomozaki-kun) is about a skilled gamer who is inspired to make some radical improvements to his social life by applying some of the lessons he has learned through gaming. The novels have even inspired its fans to change their own lives. Light novel author Yūki Yak...
LINE Novel App Ends Service on August 31
User-submitted novel service was first announced in April 2019
― The LINE Novel online app closed its service on August 31. The online service, which allowed users to publish novels online, was first announced in April 2019 and launched in August that year. The app launched alongside the LINE Bunko Edge imprint, which was create to publish LINE Novels in print form alongside established light novel a...
Light Novelist Masami Morokuchi Announces Indefinite Hiatus
Author notes increasing lack of interest in his works by FANBOX subscribers
― Light novel author Masami Morokuchi made his debut with the 2005 novel Scorpion, the first in his Densetsu Kari (Legendary Hunting) series. He followed it up with four more novel series, Satsujin
Kikanjo, Shingetsu ga Noboru made (Until the New Moon Rises), Are you Alice?, and Teiden Shōjo to Hanemu no Orchestra. His one-of...
Author Accidentally Includes Zelda Ingredients in New Novel
Thanks to hasty googling, John Boyne's new novel includes references to Octorok eyeball, red lizalfos tail and Hylian shrooms
― The perils of hasty online research for authors was demonstrated today when a Reddit user spotted a curious anomaly in a new novel. A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom is a historical novel with a 2,000-year sweep, written by Irish author John Boyne, whose previous books incl...
A Certain Magical Index Author Kazuma Kamachi Publishes His 100th Novel Through Dengeki Bunko
2nd Sо̄yaku Toaru Majutsu no Index novel shipped on Friday
― On Friday, author Kazuma Kamachi published the second volume of his Sо̄yaku Toaru Majutsu no Index (Genesis Testament: A Certain Magical Index) light novel series, the third part of the A Certain Magical Index saga. According to Kamachi's Twitter account, the release of this book marks the 100th novel the author has published through Dengek...
Mamoru Oshii's '50 Movies, 50 Years' Book to Release in August
Acclaimed anime and live-action director Mamoru Oshii will release a book titled Oshii Mamoru no Eiga 50-nen 50-pon (Mamoru Oshii's Movies: 50 Movies, 50 Years) on August 8, which is also the date of Oshii's 69th birthday. The book compiles various essays he has written about movies, with each year dedicated to a different film. The list of films discussed is as follows: 1968: 2001: A Space Odysse...
The Misfit of Demon King Academy Wants Reader Comments for Original Wraparound Book Cover
Anime premieres on July 4
― The television anime of Shu's The Misfit of Demon King Academy light novel series launched a Twitter campaign on Tuesday soliciting reader comments to be featured on a wraparound book cover. 30 lucky applicants will receive a cover with their comment printed on it, which they can wrap around their own copies of the light novels. To enter the competition, simply go to the a...
8 Manga Artists Illustrate New Covers of Classic Children's Novels
Artist lineup includes Sumito Ōwara, Paru Itagaki, Arina Tanemura, Inio Asano, more
― The summer children's book fair "Kimi wa Mada, Meisaku no Omoshirosa wo Shiranai" (You Still Don't Know How Interesting the Classics Are) is issuing new editions of eight classic children's novels, with covers drawn by acclaimed manga artists. The list of participating manga artists is as follows: Inio Asano (Solani...
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Novel Ranks in Top 10 Books Chosen By Elementary School Students
Seven Days War, Butt Detective novels also rank
― The Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba novel Kimetsu no Yaiba: Shiawase no Hana (Kimetsu no Yaiba: Flower of Happiness) is ranked 10th in a favorite children's book poll conducted among over 250,000 elementary schoolchildren. The Butt Detective and Seven Days War novels also ranked at 8th and 9th respectively. The poll was conducted by the non-profit orga...
Sword Art Online Editor is Writing His Own Web Novel
Former Dengeki Bunko editor-in-chief and A Certain Magical Index and Sword Art Online editor Kazuma Miki has been dipping his toes into writing novels himself. On February 10, he started publishing a web novel on the online novel website "Shōsetsuka ni Narō." The story is titled Cheat no Ō: Isekai Tensei no Saikyō Yūsha VS Mura no Jūnin (The Cheat King: The Strongest Hero Reincarnated in Another W...
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai Light Novel PV Previews University Arc
10th volume shipped in Japan on Friday
― Dengeki Bunko released a PV for the 10th volume of Hajime Kamoshida's Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai light novel series on Wednesday. The PV previews the university arc of the series, featuring voice over by Kaito Ishikawa (Sakuta Azusagawa), Asami Seto (Mai Sakurajima), Nao Tōyama (Tomoe Koga), Atsumi Tanezaki (Rio Futaba), Maaya Uchida (Nodoka To...
Goddess Believers Push Aqua to the Top in Konosuba Character Popularity Poll
Aqua beat her rivals by over 1.5 million points in a poll that was definitely not rigged
― After a miserable defeat to Megumin, Eris, and Iris in the first "general election" character popularity poll, KONOSUBA main heroine Aqua has risen to the top of the second poll, the results of which were released on Friday. Aqua accrued a whopping 3,389,400 points, leaving her rival Megumin a distant second at...
Yaoi Manga Under One Roof With the Beast, The Rising of the Shield Hero Top Bookwalker Global Sales Ranking
Manga and light novel e-book store BOOKWALKER released the list of its top-selling series for 2019. The top two were a pairing of opposites with the first volume of Chihaya Kuroiwa's yaoi manga Under One Roof With the Beast taking first place followed by the isekai fantasy light novel series The Rising of the Shield Hero. Bookwalker describes the plot of Under One Roof With the Beast:
Daigo is sta...
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou Illustrator Celebrates Series 10th Anniversary
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou light novel illustrator Keeji Mizoguchi posted an image to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the series on Sunday. He wrote: "In October 10, I accepted the request to work on character designs, and in January the next year, the first volume was published. Congratulations to The Pet Girl of Sakurasou for its 10th anniversary, and thank you so much! It's been 10 years sin...
After Near 10 Year Streak, Misaka Loses Her Top Spot in Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!'s Character Ranking
Classroom of the Elite's Kei Karuizawa nabs the top spot for female character ranking
― A Certain Magical Index's Mikoto Misaka has been a long-standing favorite among voters of Takarajimashima's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) poll. She has been the number one female character since 2010, a streak that has been interrupted only once in 2015 when she came second to Yukino Yu...
Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!: Sword Art Online is the Light Novel of the Decade
Reki Kawahara's virtual reality-themed light novel series has ranked in the top 10 every year from 2011-2019
― The 2020 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) guidebook reported its list of the top light novel series on Monday. In addition to revealing the top-voted bunkobon (smaller A6-sized books) and tankōbon (larger B6-sized books) for the year, the g...
Dengeki Bunko Celebrates Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2020 Results with a Rap
Dengeki Bunko's Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai Suru, Unnamed Memory top cumulative rankings
― The 2020 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) guidebook is out, and to celebrate its titles taking the top spot, light novel publisher Dengeki Bunko released a special movie featuring rap artist ACE. ACE is Brazilian and was raised in Japan and was chosen to perfor...
Kochikame Creator Publishes 1st Business Tips Book
Kochikame manga creator Osamu Akimoto will publish his first book on business titled Akimoto Osamu no Shigoto-jutsu (Osamu Akimoto's Work Technique) on August 5. The book details how Akimoto managed to serialize a successful manga for 40 years through schedule management and introduces how to create a similar life rhythm for office workers. Akimoto's technique centers on creating "free time" for b...
Ojamajo Doremi's New Novel Imagining the Girls in Their 20s to Ship in October
Novel by anime writer is sequel to Ojamajo Doremi 16 light novel series
― Kodansha Light Novel Bunko's Twitter account announced on Wednesday that the Ojamajo Doremi 20's novel will ship on October 3. The novel, which depicts the cast as adults, was originally slated for a summer release. The light novel series first launched in 2011 as a spinoff sequel to Toei Animation's television anime series. Th...
Boys-Love Light Novel Label Platinum Bunko Ceases Publication
The boys-love light novel label "Platinum Bunko" will cease publication after 16 years. The company's current works will continue to be available electronically. Printemps Shuppan's BL manga magazine Canna will continue. Various boys-love authors have reacted to the news with sadness and sobering words about the state of the industry. Author Izumi Katsura tweeted: "I didn't have any ties to Platin...
BookWalker Announces Next Big Light Novels Poll Results For 2019
Kadokawa's e-book vendor BookWalker announced the winners of its yearly "next big light novel hit" contest on Monday. The results were selected from light novels that first debuted between April 2018 and March 2019, and which still have less than five volumes published in e-book form. Similarly to the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) rankings, the results were sorted into ...
Rimuru Class Changes Into an Idol For That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Event
Rimuru and his friends from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime have gotten new outfits to match the upcoming "That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Idol" event, which will run from August 22 to September 9 at the Shinjuku Marui Annex in Tokyo. As you can see from the event's key visual shown at the top right, the girls (plus Rimuru) bring out their cutest frilly idol outfits, while Benimaru spor...
Light Novel Authors Team Up For 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Isekai' Doujin Novel For Comiket 96
Authors include The Saga of Tanya the Evil's Carlo Zen, Re:Zero's Tappei Nagatsuki
― Light novel authors Carlo Zen (The Saga of Tanya the Evil), Natsuya Semikawa (Isekai Izakaya "Nobu"), Hōkō Tsuda (Yaruki Nashi Eiyūtan), Tappei Nagatsuki (Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-), Katsuie Shibata (Hito Yoru no Nagai Yume), Natsu Hyūga (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) are collaborating on a self-published li...
Sword Art Online's First 8 Volumes Get Limited Edition 10th Anniversary Covers
'The Day Before' short story also begins serialization on 10th anniversary website
― Sword Art Online's first eight volumes will receive limited edition 10th anniversary covers drawn by series illustrator abec. The new editions will go on sale in Japanese bookstores from early August. The illustrations will also be on display at Sword Art Online's 10th anniversary exhibit. In addition, the series wil...
Konosuba Fan Community Allows Members to Become Curators of Official Fanbook
It's common for a popular anime and manga series to get fanbook anthologies filled with tribute art and manga by other artists. It's not so common for the readers to have direct involvement in the production of these books, but joining a Konosuba fan community for 800 yen a month will allow you to become an "online editor" for the Konosuba fanbook. The project, which is called "Kono Subarashii Dok...
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Manga, Novels Top BookWalker Sales for 2019 (First Half)
Taiki Kawakami's manga adaptation of Fuse's That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime novels was the top-selling series on Kadokawa Shoten's e-book vendor BookWalker for the first half of 2019. The novels placed second. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime won the grand prize for the BookWalker 2018 award. The manga was also the top seller on BookWalker for 2018. Fuse launched the story serially ...
Manga Creator Arina Tanemura Designs Virtual YouTubers for Tokyo Cinderella Story Channel
Virtual YouTubers have a multitude of entertainment uses, although the most popular like Kizuna AI and Kaguya Luna are known for their Let's Play videos and first-person antics. The channel Tokyo Cinderella Story is taking a different approach by creating a dramatic love story starring two virtual YouTubers that also offer romance advice. Popular manga artist Arina Tanemura designed the characters...
Arifureta Author May Have Prompted Anime's Staff Change
Series was delayed in January 2018, new staff was announced in April 2018
― On January 15, 2018, Arifureta - From Commonplace to World's Strongest author Ryo Shirakome wrote an update on his user page on the user-submitted novel site Shōsetsu ni Narō discussing the anime's delay until 2019. The anime was originally slated for April 2018. Although the post was edited soon after publication to remove a...
Rem Tops How Not To Summon a Demon Lord Best Girl Contest on Japanese, Global BookWalker Store
Rem will get a bonus short story and illustration in light novel's 13th volume
― It's official: If your name is Rem, you're probably the best girl. The Japanese and global storefronts of Kadokawa's e-book service BookWalker held a joint contest in April and May for users to vote for their favorite girl in Yukiya Murasaki's How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord light novel series. Rem was the top-voted girl ...
BookLive! E-Book Service Publishes Top Manga, Light Novels for 2019 (1st Half)
The e-book publisher BookLive! published the top 50 manga in multiple categories and light novels for the first half on 2019. The results are grouped by "Shōnen/Seinen," "Shōjo/Jōsei," "Light Novels," "Novels/Literature," "Boys-Love" and "Business Books/Manual." You can check out all the lists here or scroll down to see the top 10 for the "Shōnen/Seinen," "Shōjo/Jōsei," "Light Novels," and "Boys-L...
The Ring's Sadako Meets the Apocalypse in Shūmatsu no Sadako-san Manga
She's tried terrifying the locals and making her big break on social media, but how would The Ring's biggest ghost handle the apocalypse? Shūmatsu no Sadako-san (Sadako at the World's End) manga takes the begrudged ghost and puts her in a post-apocalypse scenario. The Ring series novelist Koji Suzuki is supervising the story with manga artist Koma Natsumi. The story begins after the end of the wor...
Kana Hanazawa Narrates Stan Lee's Alliances: A Trick of Light Audio Book
The Audible original Stan Lee's Alliances: A Trick of Light was in the works before the comic giant passed away in November. Lee created the story about teens, social media, and super powers with Luke Lieberman and Ryan Silbert. The English version is read on Audible by actress Yara Shahidi while the Japanese version brought in popular voice actress Kana Hanazawa. The Monogatari and Psycho-Pass vo...
Fate Franchise's Gilgamesh VA Recites The Epic of Gilgamesh for Audiobook
The servants in the ever-expanding Fate universe are based on heroes both famous and infamous, real and mythological. One of the more popular characters is Gilgamesh, the haughty blonde king of ancient Mesopotania. The character is voiced by Tomokazu Seki and is central to the upcoming Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia television anime. The story of Gilgamesh is recounted in the E...
Publishers Weekly: NisiOisin is No. 2 Author with Most Translated Books in the U.S. in Last Decade
19 NisiOisin books were published in the U.S. from 2008 to 2018
― According to Publishers Weekly's Translation Database, 19 translations of NisiOisin novels have been published in the U.S. from 2008 to 2018. This puts the Monogatari and Zaregoto author as the writer with the second highest number of books with English translations in the U.S. in the last 10 years. It should be noted that light novels...
Honey and Clover, March comes in like a lion Creator Draws Anne of Green Gables
The July issue of Hakusensha's MOE magazine features cover artwork by Honey and Clover and March comes in like a lion creator Chica Umino. Umino drew character Anne Shirley from Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic series Anne of Green Gables (known in Japan as Akage no Anne) for the cover. The cover art corresponds to the issue's editorial "Must Read! Overseas Children's Literature for Adults." The edi...
Overlord Author Kugane Maruyama Expresses Frustration at Fan Translations
Maruyama had tentative plans to end series at volume 18, although he may end it sooner.
― On May 23, a Twitter user tweeted at Overlord author Kugane Maruyama the link to an English fan translation of an Overlord novel titled Bōkoku no Kyūketsu-hime (The Vampire Princess of the Lost Country). This novel was distributed as a bonus item to people who purchased every DVD/Bluray volume of the Overlord II...
Eureka Seven Character Designer Kenichi Yoshida Illustrates Soccer Novel
Character designer and animator Kenichi Yoshida provided the cover art and illustrations for the newly released Hoshi Furu Shima no Footballer (The Footballer's Starry Island) novel. The novel is the first written by real-life soccer game announcer Yasuo Kurashiki. Kurashiki has previously penned non-fiction and other books about soccer. The "fantasy football" story centers on a 15-year-old boy Ha...
BookWalker's Global Store Holds 'How Not To Summon a Demon Lord's' Best Girl Contest
Voting on both Japanese, global stores lasts from April 25 to May 31
― It's time to settle the matter of who's the best girl from Yukiya Murasaki's How Not to Summon a Demon Lord light novel series once and for all. The Japanese and global storefronts of Kadokawa's e-book service BookWalker are holding a joint contest for users to vote for their favorite girl. The winning girl will get a bonus short ...
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas Tops BookLive Best Romance Novels List
your name., Socrates in Love, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, more recommended
― The e-book publisher BookLive! held a questionnaire for its readers to find the best of the best of its romance novel offerings. The company published a list of 50 novels of bittersweet, heart-pounding, and nostalgic love stories based on the results. You can check out the full list in the link above, but here's the top...
Filo, Melty Narrate The Rising of the Shield Hero Ad Celebrating 6.2 Million Copies in Print
Light novel and manga series printed 2.2 million copies between February and April this year.
― The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel and manga series is celebrating 6.2 million copies in print with an ad narrated by Filo (voiced by Rina Hidaka) and Melty (voiced by Maaya Uchida). The ad was posted on the KADOKAWAanime YouTube channel on April 10 and promotes the 13th volume of the manga, which w...
LINE Novel Service Gets Lavishly Animated Ads By loundraw, CloverWorks
LINE Bunko Edge light novel imprint also launched, featuring new series by A Certain Magical Index's Kazuma Kamachi.
― The LINE Novel online service where users can publish novels online through the LINE app launched on Tuesday. Two animated ads were released simultaneously with the launch. loundraw (Tsukigakirei, I want to eat your pancreas character designer) served as supervisor, director, script ...
Osamu Tezuka's Former Assistant Pens Book About Life Around Office Dining Table
What was it like to eat dinner with one of the most important figures in manga history? Osamu Tezuka's former assistant Akio Hotta released his book discussing that formative period on April 10. Tezuka Osamu Assistant no Shokutaku (Osamu Tezuka Assistant's Table) looks back at what Tezuka's team of assistants were eating and their work habits alongside other adventures like the treasures they disc...
The Ultimate Video Game Music Book Covers 40 Years of Tunes
The Japanese publisher Ele-King will release what could be one of the most thorough books on video game music. The Game Music Disc Guide 1978-2019 is slated for release on May 31 and will cover 40 years worth of video game jams. Video game music has had a noticeable influence on pop culture. The documentary series Diggin' in the Carts from Red Bull Music Academy (RIP) looked at Japanese video game...
Reki Kawahara Reflects on 10 Years of Sword Art Online
The first volume of the fan-favorite light novel series Sword Art Online debuted in Japan on April 10, 2009. Today marks the light novel series' 10th anniversary and publisher Dengeki Bunko opened a special site with art by illustrator abec to commemorate the anniversary. Author Reki Kawahara offered his own thoughts upon reaching this major milestone. I said again and again that "it's my goal to ...
Danmachi Author Discusses Continuity Differences Between Film and Novels
In an interview with Comic Natalie, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (henceforth Danmachi) light novel author Fujino Ōmori discussed the anime-original film Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion and how it fits into the Damachi timeline. Ōmori wrote the screenplay for the film and clarified that it would be set between seasons 1 and 2 of the anime (...
Light Novel About Sex Slave Cancelled After Author's Heated Tweets Against Illustrator
'I Chose to Leave Because I Was Threatened with Expulsion from the Party Unless I Became the Sex Slave of the Female Hero' will receive no further releases beyond volume 2.
― Light novel publisher Dash X Bunko announced on February 22 that the I Chose to Leave Because I Was Threatened with Expulsion from the Party Unless I Became the Sex Slave of the Female Hero (Onna yūsha ni jibun no seidorei ni na...
Oregairu Illustrator Ponkan8 Holds Exhibit to Commemorate Release of Final Light Novel Volume
14th and final volume of Oregairu is expected to go on sale on March 19.
― To commemorate the upcoming release of the 14th volume of Wataru Watari's My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected light novel series (also known as Oregairu), illustrator Ponkan8 will hold an exhibit from March 9 to April 21. The exhibit will be held at the Gallery GoFa in Aoyama, Tokyo. The exhibit will show off both...
Twitter User Charts Length of Light Novel Titles Over Time
Longest title is from Keiichi Sigsawa's 'Strangled' series.
― Light novels have gained notoriety in recent years for the sheer length of some of their titles. This isn't just restricted to light novels; Japanese book and film titles tend to be long in general. However, light novels are particularly infamous for the quirky premises laid out in their titles. Japanese Twitter user @GenreCodeLovers poste...
DeNA's Hacka Doll News App Predicts Most Likely Anime Adaptations for 2019
DeNA's Hacka Doll news app reported seven anime, manga, character figures, and games it thinks are most likely to inspire a television anime this year based on the app's trend feature as of January 28. Ranking at the top of the list is game director Yoko Taro's NieR: Automata PlayStation 4 game. Game producer Yosuke Saito said in 2018 that there was a "50%" chance of another installment in the Nie...
The Devil is a Part-Timer! Author Reveals Real-Life Locations He Visited For Research
Satoshi Wagahara also teases his next work.
― The Devil is a Part-Time light novel author Satoshi Wagahara revealed the real-life locations that he visited on research trips for his stories in the March 2019 issue of Dengeki Bunko magazine. The report is the first in what the magazine promises to be a regular feature focusing on the research light novel authors perform for their stories. Wagahara wro...
50 Japanese Voice Actors Share Acting Tips in Interview Compilation Book
A new book titled The Way of the Voice Actor: 50 Voice Actors Share Their Knowledge and Hints (Seiyūdō: Meiyū 50-nin ga tsutaetai shigoto no kokoroe to ikiru hinto) went on sale in Japan on February 8. The book compiles interviews with 50 veteran Japanese voice actors, including Kenichi Suzumura (Masato Hijirikawa from Uta no Prince-sama, Sōgo Okita from Gintama) and Hiroyuki Yoshino (Yasutomo Ara...
Princess Kaguya, Other Classic Japanese Tales Reimagined as Boys-Love
A new book series is reimagining literary classics for a modern audience... as boys-love stories. The first volume of BL Selection Classic Literature launched last October with its own rendition of The Tale of Princess Kaguya and The Tale of Ise. A second volume shipped in January with a reimagined version of The Kojiki. The first volume is "translated" by Emma Yukifune, which in this case means s...
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Novels, Manga Win Bookwalker 2018 Award
Overlord and Goblin Slayer win runner-up awards.
― Kadokawa Shoten's e-book publisher BookWalker announced the results of its yearly book awards on February 8. The results of the award are determined by a combination of user votes, sales ranking, and general reputation among the literary community. This year's grand prize winner is Fuse's That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime novels and the corresp...
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Author Says He Only Discovered Story's Theme in Volume 2
In an interview on Excite News posted on Tuesday, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime author Fuse shared the circumstances in which the novel was initially created. He said that he first began posting the story on the popular Japanese web novel site "Shōsetsuka ni Narō" (Let's Become Novelists) as practice before submitting his work to writing competitions, and that he was making up the plot a...
Sword Art Online Author Reki Kawahara Says Female Characters Should Not Be Treated as Trophies
Kawahara remarks that his outlook changed after receiving feedback at overseas events.
― In an interview posted on Dengeki Online on Friday, Sword Art Online author Reki Kawahara sat down with Bloom Into You manga artist Nio Nakatani and voice actor Ai Kayano (who voices Alice in Sword Art Online and Sayaka in Bloom Into You) to discuss their thoughts on each other's work. Kawahara and Nakatani profe...
Haruhi Suzumiya Artist Questions Fans About How 'True' Her New Art Is
Novels will be re-released by Kadokawa Bunko starting in January.
― Haruhi Suzumiya artist Noizi Ito drew new artwork of the series' titular heroine to commemorate the re-release of the novels in January. Although the re-release will be published by Kadokawa Bunko (a mainstream novel publishing line, not a light novel imprint) and will not feature Ito's illustrations, Kadokawa Bunko's announcement on...
Mai Shows Off Her Disappearing Act in Large-Scale Seishun Buta Yarō Ad
― In Hajime Kamoshida's Seishun Buta Yarō series, the heroine Mai is invisible to the gazes of everyone except the protagonist Sakuta. It appears that her "Puberty Syndrome" is in effect even in real life if a recent large-scale advertisement at the JR Akihabara Station is anything to go by. From December 10 to 16, a large poster inside Akihabara Station features characters from the Seishun Buta Yar...
NisiOisin Novel Characters Appear in Crossover Monogatari Novel
― Characters from various NisiOisin novels will appear in a new crossover book that Kodansha Box will publish. The short novel collection, titled Mazemonogatari (Mix Story), will be the first time that characters from other NisiOisin stories appear in the Monogatari series. NisiOisin is best known for writing the Monogatari and Zaregoto series, both of which have been adapted into anime. He is also ...
Pop Team Epic Is Yahoo!'s Most Searched Anime of 2018
Voice actress Yumiko Kobayashi, video game Monster Hunter World also take top spots
― Bkub Okawa's Pop Team Epic managed to confound, entertain, and surprise viewers each week, earning its spot as Yahoo! Japan's most searched anime series of 2018. Popuko and Pipimi's anti-comedy was announced as one of the top three searched series along with Darling in the Franxx and The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival o...
Shouta Aoi x Little Twin Stars Mook Offers Readers a Pastel Mani-Pedi
The adorable Sanrio mascots Little Twin Stars are keeping their third member and musical talent Shouta Aoi with them for a bit longer. Aoi, known for his musical chops in the idol anime DYNAMIC CHORD, King of Prism: PRIDE the HERO, MARGINAL #4 the Animation, Utano☆Princesama Legend Star, Tsukiuta. THE ANIMATION, and Shōnen Hollywood - Holly Stage for 50 is teamed up with Little Twin Stars for coll...
Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2019 Releases Statistics on Web Novel and e-Book Readership
The 2019 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) guidebook revealed its list of the top light novel series on Saturday. The guidebook lists the cumulative rankings of light novels according to polls conducted among both fans and "collaborators" (critics, publishers, influencers, and other people related to the light novel industry). On top of the rankin...
A Certain Magical Index's Touma, Misaka Top Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2019 Character Poll
The Ryuo's Work is Never Done! and 86 illustrator Shirabii tops the illustrator poll.
― The 2019 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) guidebook revealed the results of a fan poll for the most popular light novel characters of 2018. Tōma Kamijō and Mikoto Misaka from A Certain Magical Index topped the most popular male and female character poll respectiv...
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