Kadokawa Corporation has selected three English-language isekai novels for potential Japanese publication following a record-breaking worldwide writing contest held in collaboration with MyAnimeList and qdopp’s Honeyfeed platform.
The winners emerged from 1,240 submissions in the MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 – THE ISEKAI.
The contest was co-hosted by Kadokawa, qdopp Inc., and MyAnimeList Co., Ltd., and conducted on Honeyfeed, a web-novel submission platform operated by qdopp.
It marked Kadokawa’s first large-scale English-language writing competition aimed at discovering global talent for Japan’s light-novel market.
“KADOKAWA’s first English-language novel contest on Honeyfeed received 1,240 submissions, the highest number in the platform’s contest history. We are deeply honored by this response and delighted to see such strong interest from English-speaking creators in Japan’s light novel market,” the Editorial Department stated.
After an initial round of voting by Honeyfeed users and volunteers, the finalists were evaluated by a panel led by The Rising of the Shield Hero author Aneko Yusagi alongside Kadokawa’s editorial team.
Following this, one Grand Prize winner and two Contest Winners Prize recipients were selected. Check them out below:
Grand Prize Winner:
- Isekai’d with my dog, I’m not the hero?! by Frettiko
Synopsis:
An average guy named Mitsuta is reincarnated into another world along with his pet dog, Toast. However, the goddess becomes utterly smitten with the adorable Toast and grants all of the hero’s bonuses to him instead. For a level 99 “Hero” Pomeranian, defeating monsters is a walk in the park. Meanwhile, his owner Mitsuta remains stuck at level 1…
Constantly dragged along by the free-spirited Toast, Mitsuta gathers a group of quirky companions and runs an odd-jobs business, gradually carving out a place for himself in this new world. At this rate, they might even end up defeating the Demon King someday? A fluffy, feel-good comedy about a fun-filled isekai life with a beloved pet.
Contest Winners Prize:
- HR in Another World: Building the Strongest Parties with my Appraisal Skill by Kaorin
Synopsis:
Hiroyuki, an HR manager, is summoned to another world by a goddess. He has no combat ability whatsoever, but armed with the Divine Appraisal skill, which reveals hidden potential, he recruits allies and assembles the ultimate party.
As Hiroyuki builds his team, however, the shadow of an assassin targeting him draws near… In a world far harsher than expected, can this hero’s party stand up to the Demon Lord’s army? A grand adventure begins as Hiroyuki uses his appraisal skills to save the world.
- Drinking Buddies: Hangover In Another World! by Literate_Manul
Synopsis:
Marcus and Gus are transported to another world while hungover. Desperate to impress an elf princess, they end up boasting that they will “defeat one of the Demon Lord’s generals.” By sheer chance, Marcus awakens to beer magic and starts blasting beer while shouting “Hop Missile!”, while Gus’s right arm, whose power he cannot consciously control, suddenly awakens… With zero ability and zero planning, but unmatched bravado, these two men launch into a wildly unpredictable isekai buddy comedy!
The Grand Prize winner Frettiko will receive USD 5,000, while Kaorin and Literate_Manul will each receive USD 3,000 as Contest Winners Prize recipients.
All three works will be assigned Kadokawa editors, with the Grand Prize-winning novel scheduled for translation and publication in Japan, targeting a 2027 release, and the two other works to be revised with the aim of potential Japanese publication.
Regarding the Grand Prize-winning novel, Isekai’d with My Dog, I’m Not the Hero?!, KADOKAWA stated that it “stood out for its catchy, approachable premise, making it easy to imagine on the shelves of Japanese bookstores. The novel delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud comedic moments, along with charming portrayals of Toast, the adorable dog. We were eager to read more about Toast’s exploits, his bond with the protagonist Mitsuta, and Mitsuta’s growth over the course of the story.“
Looking ahead, Kadokawa confirmed that it plans to continue hosting similar web-novel contests both in Japan and internationally.
Source: Press Release