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Kodansha BOX Newcomer Award

こうだんしゃボックスしんじんしょう

A genre-agnostic novel newcomer open submission award hosted by the Kodansha BOX label. Its feature is that editors read all submitted works directly.

FictionIllustrationCriticism/Non-fiction
Established
2006
Organizer
Kodansha BOX
Category
Light Novels and Web Literature
Selection Method
Open call
Target
Newcomer
Frequency
4 times a year (3 times a year from 2013)
Status
Ended

Description

Launched in 2006 as the "Ryūsui Taishō" alongside the launch of the Kodansha BOX literary book label, renamed to "Powers" in 2009. It solicited submissions in the novel, illustration, and criticism/non-fiction categories, but the criticism/non-fiction and illustration categories were later discontinued, and it was discontinued in 2014 and merged into the Mephisto Prize. Under regulations with no upper page limit and a minimum of 350 pages or more, it published selection roundtable discussions and submission numbers on the official site and the bulletin magazine "Pandora".

Prize

Main Prize
Book publication of the winning work

Related Awards

  • Mephisto Prize
  • Faust Prize
  • Kodansha Birth
  • Gunzō New Writers' Prize

Official Resources

https://web.archive.org/web/20160930012818/http://kodansha-box.jp/powers/index.html

Past Winners

No winner
No winner
コタニ夕多 こたに ゆうた Powers

A Kodansha BOX Newcomer Award Powers winner. As the title suggests, it appears to be a youth novel built around intersecting voices or perspectives like left and right stereo channels, but reliable standalone bibliographic publication could not be confirmed.

A Kodansha BOX Newcomer Award winner with a title suggesting intersecting perspectives and voices.

youthmultiple perspectivesnewcomer awardKodansha BOX
Kyouya Orimori おりもり きょうや Powers

This youth horror novel follows transfer student Shuji, who is led by the eccentric librarian Mawatari into a strange test called the Spiritual Sensitivity Examination. Beyond supernatural fear, it portrays young people learning kindness and self-acceptance.

A strange examination beginning deep inside the library slowly loosens the hearts of the young characters.

416 pages
youth horrorspiritual sensitivitylibrarygrowthhealing
Akinari Asakura あさくら あきなり Powers

This ensemble youth mystery centers on a boy who can see numbers on people's backs indicating their luck for the day. Young people with different circumstances come together, and events that seem coincidental gradually connect as the story moves toward the truth.

Numbers seen on people's backs turn coincidence into inevitability.

602 pages
youth mysteryensemble dramaspecial abilityforeshadowingincident
歩祐作 あゆ ゆうさく Powers

This coming-of-age novel follows a year in the lives of a girlfriend chasing her dream, an incorrigible but likable friend, and a narrator who has not yet decided on a future. It portrays the ordinary time of high school students without special powers as a season that will never return.

A youth novel about an ordinary high-school year that will never come again.

361 pages
youthhigh school lifefuturefriendshiplove
管野ユウキ かんの ゆうき Powers

A story in which a high school student from Ibaraki awakens as a Japanese Navy pilot near the end of the Pacific War and is forced to confront life, return, and the pull toward suicide attacks. His bond with a childhood friend in the present becomes the emotional focus across time.

A boy from the present is thrown into the time of young pilots flying into a sky from which they may not return.

274 pages
time slipwaraviationyouth
沢田学人 さわだ がくと Talents

A work recorded in connection with the Kodansha BOX Newcomer Award. Searches by title and author did not confirm publication as a standalone book, paperback, or collection.

It remains in award records, but no book publication was confirmed.

new writer awardunpublishedKodansha BOXprize-winning work
Yasuko Yasushi やすこ やすし Talents

A youth novel in which three people searching for a missing cat form a countryside appreciation group and drift into the depths of a small incident. Beneath its relaxed air, the story reveals ties between place and people.

Within breezy everyday life, a small incident changes the outline of home.

330 pages
youthhometowncatcountryside
手代木正太郎 てしろぎ しょうたろう Talents

Set in the age of Tokugawa Iemitsu, this youth historical fantasy follows the outsider Yagyu Rokumaru as he faces enemies calling themselves Miyamoto Musashi. It fuses swordfighter fiction with a rock sensibility.

A renegade Yagyu rock samurai cuts into an Edo conspiracy with an eight-beat pulse.

331 pages
period fictionswordfightersyouthhistorical fantasy
Madoka Maruyama まるやま まどか Powers

A linked story about a girl who manages a forest where those who died by suicide become trees and suffer, then warns people in dreams before they take their own lives. Interwoven lives create a fable about suicide and possible rescue.

Voices of the dead trapped in the forest reach toward the living and their tomorrow.

244 pages
suicidefablelinked storiesrescue
木村強 きむら つよし Talents

狼の恋人 is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

狼の恋人 is a prize-recognized work by 木村強.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
四季剣一 しき けんいち Talents

僕と彼女と母の死体 is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

僕と彼女と母の死体 is a prize-recognized work by 四季剣一.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
Torii Nagomu とりい なごむ Talents

シャングリラ is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

シャングリラ is a prize-recognized work by 鳥居なごむ.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
Itsuki Morino もりの いつき Powers

レッドアローズ is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

レッドアローズ is a prize-recognized work by 森野樹.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
千石サクラ せんごく さくら Talents

ネジマキチョウチョ is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

ネジマキチョウチョ is a prize-recognized work by 千石サクラ.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
蜺河識夢 にじかわ しきむ Talents

syojo is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

syojo is a prize-recognized work by 蜺河識夢.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
Riki Minato みなと としき Powers

マージナルワールド is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

マージナルワールド is a prize-recognized work by 湊利記.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
十町長雨 とまち ながあめ Talents

きれいな自殺手 is an entertainment novel for younger readers, foregrounding a strong premise and active characters with the momentum expected of a newcomer prize entry.

きれいな自殺手 is a prize-recognized work by 十町長雨.

light novelcharactersnewcomer prize
Kyosuke Kagami かがみ きょうすけ Talents

戦闘破壊学園ダンゲロス is a work of light novel by 架神恭介. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

戦闘破壊学園ダンゲロス is an important light novel work in the award history of 架神恭介.

516 pages
青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
紅蓮櫻 ぐれん さくら Talents

黒式セーラー is a work of light novel by 紅蓮櫻. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

黒式セーラー is an important light novel work in the award history of 紅蓮櫻.

青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
Katsumi Arasawa しんざわ かつみ Powers

コロージョンの夏 is a work of light novel by 新沢克海. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

コロージョンの夏 is an important light novel work in the award history of 新沢克海.

356 pages
青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
Shinseiki かみよ のぞみ Powers

神戯―DEBUG PROGRAM― Operation Phantom Proof is a work of light novel by 神世希. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

神戯―DEBUG PROGRAM― Operation Phantom Proof is an important light novel work in the award history of 神世希.

青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
井上スナ いのうえ すな Talents

僕の中の君が、君の中の僕に挨拶をする is a work of light novel by 井上スナ. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

僕の中の君が、君の中の僕に挨拶をする is an important light novel work in the award history of 井上スナ.

青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
西陽武十 Talents

総理探偵 is a work of light novel by 西陽武十. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

総理探偵 is an important light novel work in the award history of 西陽武十.

青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
Ryusei Shidou しどう りゅうせい grand prize

雷撃☆SSガール is a work of light novel by 至道流星. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

雷撃☆SSガール is an important light novel work in the award history of 至道流星.

316 pages
青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
Horo Sugiyama すぎやま ほろ grand prize

R.I.P. レスト・イン・ピース is a work of light novel by 杉山幌. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

R.I.P. レスト・イン・ピース is an important light novel work in the award history of 杉山幌.

256 pages
青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
Unosawa Subaru うのさわ すばる grand prize

さよなら彦 is a work of light novel by ウノサワスバル. It centers on 青春と非日常 and layers in キャラクター小説, showing the distinct qualities of an award-winning work.

さよなら彦 is an important light novel work in the award history of ウノサワスバル.

246 pages
青春と非日常キャラクター小説light novel
Hiroaki Iwaki excellence award

'ようこそ、ロバの目の世界へ。' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Hiroaki Iwaki.

'ようこそ、ロバの目の世界へ。' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Hiroaki Iwaki.

181 pages
human relationships
辻鷹佑 excellence award

'P.C.~ペアレンタル・コントロールド~ こんなに近くで 極彩色虚言泡沫絵巻' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by 辻鷹佑.

'P.C.~ペアレンタル・コントロールド~ こんなに近くで 極彩色虚言泡沫絵巻' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by 辻鷹佑.

human relationships
Seiji Kagami かがみ せいじ grand prize

'白の断章' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Seiji Kagami.

'白の断章' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Seiji Kagami.

361 pages
human relationships
Sho Kurono くろの しょう excellence award

'マッドドリーム・アンド・マジカルワールド' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Sho Kurono.

'マッドドリーム・アンド・マジカルワールド' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Sho Kurono.

195 pages
human relationships
Kiyomi Amahara あまはら せいかい excellence award

'ファイナリスト/M' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Kiyomi Amahara.

'ファイナリスト/M' is a winning work of the 講談社BOX新人賞 by Kiyomi Amahara.

700 pages
human relationships
Kazuyoshi Izumi いずみ かずよし excellence award

A fast-moving love story about a game creator whose dull everyday life is overturned by a girl he meets online.

エレGY draws readers in through its focus on online romance.

309 pages
online romancegame creatorloneliness
Azusa あずさ excellence award

A Kodansha BOX novel by Azusa about shifting inner states and unstable relationships.

Switch draws readers in through its focus on change.

233 pages
changerelationshipsKodansha BOX
Tsubuo Koyanagi こやなぎ つぶお excellence award

A youth novel from Kodansha BOX that moves lightly between everyday reality and imagination.

くうそうノンフィク日和 draws readers in through its focus on youth.

249 pages
youthimaginationKodansha BOX