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Kotoba-to Newcomer Award

ことばとしんじんしょう

Open call newcomer literary award sponsored by Kankanbou. Winning works are published in the literary mook "Kotoba to".

Novel
Established
2020
Organizer
Kankanbou
Category
Pure Literature
Selection Method
Open call
Target
Newcomer
Frequency
1 per year
Application Deadline
around June
Announcement Period
around November
Status
Active

Description

Recruitment began in 2020 with the launch of the literary mook "Kotoba to." Editor-in-chief Atsushi Sasaki and the "Kotoba to" editorial team handle the selection. The 1st winning work (honorable mention) was published in "Kotoba to" vol.2. It was renewed at the 4th round, increasing the maximum submission pages from 100 to 200 sheets, and winning works are now published as single-volume books in addition to appearing in "Kotoba to."

Prize

Main Prize
Winning works are published in the literary mook "Kotoba to." From the 4th round onward, they are also published as single-volume books.
  • Publication in literary mook "Kotoba to"
  • Publication as single-volume book (from 4th round onward)

Selection

Selection Process

1st to 3rd rounds
Judges Atsushi Sasaki and the "Kotoba to" editorial team
From 4th round onward
Judges Kaori Ekuni, Yūki Takiguchi, Yumi Toyosaki, Sumito Yamashita, Atsushi Sasaki

Related Awards

  • List of literary awards

Official Resources

http://www.kankanbou.com/kotobatoaward/

Past Winners

井村日出夫 いむら ひでお honorable mention
福原悠介 ふくはら ゆうすけ honorable mention
池谷和浩 いけたに かずひろ award

A linked short-story collection led by the award-winning title piece, set in a world where social VR and everyday life are gently intertwined.

Virtual princesses quietly seep into ordinary life.

224 pages
linked short storiesVRtechnologyeveryday life
藤野 ふじの honorable mention

A commended work from the fifth Kotobato Newcomer Prize, recorded as an allegorical short story in the pages of Kotobato vol. 7.

A slight shift in reality becomes the story’s unease.

short storyallegorylosscontemporary literature
Setsuro Fukuda ふくだ せつろう award

A man heading to a meeting is drawn by a stranger into a strange izakaya and drifts into a labyrinth-like night in a psychological road movie.

An ordinary rendezvous turns into a labyrinthine night.

224 pages
fictionroad moviepsychologyizakaya
井口可奈 いぐち かな honorable mention

A work introduced through the Kotobato Shinjinsho; it can be read as a short piece that plays with rhythm and texture, but no standalone book edition could be confirmed.

The work can be confirmed, but no book edition has been found.

short fictionKotobato Shinjinshounpublished
笛宮ヱリ子 ふえみや えりこ award

"だ" is a 受賞 work from the Kotoba-to Newcomer Award 2021-2. It stands out for its distinctive premise and atmosphere.

A 受賞 work from Kotoba-to Newcomer Award 2021-2.

Kotoba-to Newcomer Awardaward-winning work
大沼恵太 おおぬま けいた award

"ゾロアスターの子宮" is a 受賞 work from the Kotoba-to Newcomer Award 2021-1. It stands out for its distinctive premise and atmosphere.

A 受賞 work from Kotoba-to Newcomer Award 2021-1.

Kotoba-to Newcomer Awardaward-winning work
山縣太一 やまがた たいち award

"体操させ、られ。してやられ" is a 受賞 work from the Kotoba-to Newcomer Award 2021-1. It stands out for its distinctive premise and atmosphere.

A 受賞 work from Kotoba-to Newcomer Award 2021-1.

Kotoba-to Newcomer Awardaward-winning work
金名サメリ honorable mention
永井太郎 ながい たろう honorable mention