34-582: Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko ( 角川スニーカー文庫 , Kadokawa Sunīkā Bunko ) is a light novel publishing imprint of the Japanese publishing company Kadokawa Shoten , a division of Kadokawa Corporation . It was established in 1988 and is aimed at a male audience. Some light novels published under this imprint were serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's light novel magazine The Sneaker , which was published between 1993 and 2011. The Kadokawa Corporation website
68-427: A manga art style and are often adapted into manga and anime . While most light novels are published only as books, some have their chapters first serialized monthly in anthology magazines before being collected and compiled into book format, similar to how manga is published. Light novels developed from pulp magazines . Plots frequently involve romantic comedy and isekai fantasy. To please their audience, in
102-551: A 70% to 80% share of the market. In 2009, light novels made ¥30.1 billion in sales, or about 20% of all sales of bunkobon format paperback books in Japan. There are currently many licensed English translations of Japanese light novels available. These have generally been published in the physical dimensions of standard mass market paperbacks or similar to manga tankōbon , but starting in April 2007, Seven Seas Entertainment
136-534: A brand and a division of Kadokawa Future Publishing. On February 4, 2021, Kadokawa announced that the company had formed a Capital Alliance with Sony and CyberAgent to strengthen the company's creation, development, and acquisition of new IP while also maximizing use of existing IPs. As part of the agreement, both Sony and CyberAgent would receive a 1.93% stake in the company. By August 2021, Kakao Japan had acquired an 8.3 percent stake in Kadokawa, making them
170-474: A police investigation into bribery . Prosecutors alleged that the Kadokawa chairman authorized a ¥76 million payment (adjusted to ¥69 million under Japan's statute of limitations ) to a consulting company with ties to a former executive of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee in exchange for being selected as an official sponsor of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games . Kadokawa has denied
204-550: A reputation as being "mass-produced and disposable," an extreme example being Kazuma Kamachi who wrote one novel a month for two years straight, and the author turnover rate is very high. As such, publishing companies are constantly searching for new talent with annual contests, many of which earn the winner a cash prize and publication of their novel. The Dengeki Novel Prize is the largest, with over 6,500 submissions (2013) annually. They are all clearly labeled as "light novels" and are published as low-priced paperbacks. For example,
238-498: A similar increase in popularity as it has in the Japanese subculture once it becomes recognized by the consumer audience. Popular literature has a long tradition in Japan. Even though cheap, pulp novels resembling light novels were present in Japan for years prior, the creation of Sonorama Bunko in 1975 is considered by some to be a symbolic beginning. Science fiction and horror writers like Hideyuki Kikuchi or Baku Yumemakura started their careers through such imprints. Another origin
272-788: A venture to publish more light novels in the United States. The leader of this, publisher Yen Press , is a joint venture between Hachette Book Group (which owns 49%) and Japanese publisher Kadokawa (which owns 51%). Other publishers such as Seven Seas Entertainment , Viz Media (owned by Shogakukan and Shueisha ), Vertical (owned by Kodansha USA ), One Peace Books , J-Novel Club (owned by Kadokawa), Cross Infinite Worlds , Sol Press have all been making an effort to publish more light novels in English. Additionally, light novel authors have been starting to make guest appearances overseas at anime conventions. The 2019 Anime Expo , one of
306-428: A web novel initially published in 2002, contributed to the popularization of 'Isekai' as a genre. This web novel became extremely popular, forming various adaptations such as an anime, manga, and even various movies and spinoff series. Because of the success of Sword Art Online , other novels such as KonoSuba, Overlord and Re:Zero became increasingly more popular. The success of Sword Art Online and 'isekai' as
340-605: A whole contributed to the creation of write-your-own fiction websites in Japan and increasing popularity of light novels in the west as well. The Kadokawa Group's local subsidiary, Kadokawa Taiwan ( Chinese : 台灣角川 ; pinyin : Táiwān Jiǎochuān ), translated and sold Chinese versions of their own light novels in Taiwan and Hong Kong , after being established as the first overseas branch in 1999 by Kadokawa Japan. In 2007, Chingwin and Shueisha signed an exclusive contract to publish Super Dash Bunko and Cobalt Bunko under
374-570: Is also a magazine called Tenman Light Novels , which established a Newcomer's Award and says that the awards for the best full-length works may even be presented in Japan. Additionally, translated versions of other works such as Nisio Isin 's Katanagatari have also been published in China . In South Korea , Daewon C.I. , Haksan Publishing and Seoul Cultural Publishers, Inc are known to translate many popular Japanese titles, and they are easily available at larger bookstores. The publication pace
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#1732781067730408-443: Is currently undergoing emergency maintenance and remained unavailable due to the 2024 cyberattack on Kadokawa and Niconico on June 8, 2024 from a group of hackers called BlackSuit. Light novel A light novel ( Japanese : ライトノベル , Hepburn : raito noberu ) is a type of popular literature novel native to Japan , usually classified as young adult fiction , generally targeting teens to twenties . The definition
442-574: Is known as the Kadokawa Group. These companies are of three types: publishing, film and visuals, and cross media. The publishers primarily deal with books , bunkobon paperbacks, manga , and visual media magazines; the film and visual companies deal with Japanese feature films and DVD sales of international films and anime ; the cross media companies deal with digital content, urban information and television program information magazines, along with information transmission combining paper media,
476-505: Is quite fast, and it can be said that Korea is one of the countries outside of Japan that accepts Japanese light novels the most. Like in other countries, there are awards as well. In the United States , hundreds of different light novels have been translated into English, the two largest publishers being Yen Press and Seven Seas Entertainment . The success of anime adapted from light novels, such as Sword Art Online , along with
510-517: Is the serialization of Record of Lodoss War in the magazine Comptiq . Kim Morrissy of Anime News Network reported that Keita Kamikita, the system operator of a science fiction and fantasy forum, is usually credited with coining the term "light novel" in 1990. After noticing that the science fiction and fantasy novels that had emerged in the 1980s were also attracting anime and manga fans because of their illustrations by famous manga artists , Kamikita avoided using terms like "young adult" because
544-465: Is very vague, and wide-ranging. The abbreviation of " raito noberu " is ranobe ( ラノベ ) or, in English, LN . The average length of a light novel is about 50,000 words, and is published in the bunkobon format ( A6 , 10.5 cm × 14.8 cm [4.1 in × 5.8 in]). Light novels are subject to dense publishing schedules, with new installments being published in 3–9 month intervals. Light novels are commonly illustrated in
578-733: The 1970s, most of the Japanese pulp magazines began to put illustrations at the beginning of each story and included articles about popular anime , movies and video games . The direction of light novels evolved to cater to newer generations of readers, with light novels becoming fully illustrated in the popular art style. The popular serials then began to be printed in their now known novel format. Often light novels are chosen to be adapted into manga , anime, and live-action films. Some of them are serialized in literary magazines such as Faust , Gekkan Dragon Magazine , The Sneaker and Dengeki hp , or media franchise magazines like Comptiq and Dengeki G's Magazine . Light novels have
612-708: The Kadokawa Group and Cobalt Bunko in Germany, for which publishing is done by Carlsen Verlag . A web novel is a literary work that is published mainly or exclusively on the Internet. Web novels offer authors the opportunity to share their stories directly online in a continuous format, reaching a wide audience. In Japan, many light novels begin as web novels before being revised and published in print. This model allows authors to receive valuable feedback from readers and further develop their works before physical publication. The low entry barrier also provides unknown authors with
646-451: The allegations, and his company announced that it would cooperate with the investigation. Kadokawa was indicted by prosecutors on October 4, 2022. Later that day he announced his intent to resign as the chairman of his company. He continued to deny the allegations and vowed to prove his innocence at trial. On June 8, 2024, a group of hackers called BlackSuit launched a ransomware attack on multiple websites owned by Kadokawa, including
680-501: The biggest Anime conventions of the year, featured creators such as Kumo Kagyu, author of Goblin Slayer , and Fujino Omori, the author of Is It Wrong to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon? . One popular genre in the light novel category is isekai ( 異世界 ) or "different world" stories. In these stories usually feature an ordinary person that is transported from a modern city life to a world of fantasy and adventure. Sword Art Online,
714-498: The chance to gain recognition and build a fan base without relying on the support of a traditional publisher. Kadokawa Corporation Kadokawa Corporation ( Japanese : 株式会社KADOKAWA , Hepburn : Kabushiki-gaisha Kadokawa ) , formerly Kadokawa Dwango Corporation , is a Japanese media conglomerate that was created as a result of the merger of the original Kadokawa Corporation and Dwango Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2014. The holding company known today as Kadokawa Corporation
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#1732781067730748-515: The company announced that it had acquired anime studio Doga Kobo . Reuters reported in November 2024 that the entertainment and electronics giant Sony was in talks to acquire Kadokawa. Sony had previously discussed acquiring Kadokawa, but Kadokawa demanded Sony acquire the entire company, while Sony only wanted Kadokawa's anime and video game assets. In September 2022 chairman Tsuguhiko Kadokawa—son of founder Genyoshi—was arrested as part of
782-539: The company. This made Kadokawa Corporation the sole subsidiary of the holding company Kadokawa Dwango. On July 1, 2019, Kadokawa Dwango was reorganized again; only the publishing business remained in Kadokawa Corporation, and it was renamed Kadokawa Future Publishing , while Kadokawa Dwango itself became the second iteration of Kadokawa Corporation and the holding company of all of the Kadokawa Group companies. The original name Kadokawa Shoten remains as
816-417: The largest shareholder. On October 29, 2021, Kadokawa announced that it had formed a capital and business alliance with Tencent , which acquired a 6.86% stake in the conglomerate for ¥30 billion ($ 264 million). The aim of the alliance is for Kadokawa to expand its global reach using Tencent's platforms. China, where the company has an existing joint venture with Tencent, is a particular target. In July 2024,
850-441: The most celebrated artists from pixiv and the most successful works are adapted into manga, anime, games and live-action movies. Since the mid-2000s, it has become increasing popular for publishers to contact authors of web fiction on their blog or website to publish their work in print form. The material is often heavily edited and may even feature an altered story, which might compel someone who had already read it online to buy
884-497: The name Elite Novels. Subsequently, GA Bunko and HJ Bunko , which were slowly starting to gain popularity in Japan, also signed exclusive contracts with local publishers. As time went on, the original exclusive contracts were gradually opened to other publishers. Translated versions of Kadokawa works are published by Kadokawa's Chinese subsidiary, Guangzhou Tenmon Kadokawa Doman Co. Ltd. In addition to Japanese light novels, there are works by Chinese as well as Taiwanese authors. There
918-483: The novels did not appeal to one particular demographic. The 1990s saw the smash-hit Slayers series which merged fantasy-RPG elements with comedy. Some years later MediaWorks founded a pop-lit imprint called Dengeki Bunko , which produces well-known light novel series to this day. The Boogiepop series was their first major hit which soon was animated and got many anime watchers interested in literature. Dengeki Bunko writers continued to slowly gain attention until
952-570: The price for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya in Japan is ¥540 (including 5% tax), similar to the normal price for trade paperbacks—light novels and general literature—sold in Japan. In 2007 it was estimated (according to a website funded by the Japanese government) that the market for light novels was about ¥20 billion (US$ 170 million at the exchange rate at the time) and that about 30 million copies were published annually. Kadokawa Corporation 's publishing subsidiary , which owns major labels like Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko and Dengeki Bunko , has
986-411: The print release as well. The free novel publication website Shōsetsuka ni Narō is a popular source for such material. Popular works like Sword Art Online , That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime , Overlord , Re:Zero and KonoSuba were originally popular web novels that got contacted by a publisher to distribute and publish those stories in print format. In recent times, there has been
1020-608: The small light novel world experienced a boom around 2006. After the huge success of the Haruhi Suzumiya series, the number of publishers and readers interested in light novels suddenly skyrocketed. Light novels became an important part of the Japanese 2D culture in the late 2000s, with series such as A Certain Magical Index selling large amounts of copies with each volume release. The number of light novels series put out every year increases, usually illustrated by
1054-409: The surge in popularity of the isekai genre has helped to make light novels more mainstream. Furthermore, online book stores, particularly Amazon Kindle , have a tendency to overly recommend light novel titles after a customer has purchased one which, along with Ebooks being more accessible than physical books, has boosted their sales. In Europe , TOKYOPOP mainly translated and publishes works by
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1088-481: The video streaming website Niconico , resulting in most of its services being temporarily suspended. On June 27, the hacker group published a statement on the dark web , claiming responsibility for the attack and threatening to release 1.5 terabytes of stolen data, which included business partner information and user data, unless a ransom was paid. Kadokawa Corporation serves to bring together several affiliated Japanese companies related to Kadokawa Shoten under what
1122-416: Was originally founded in 1945 as Kadokawa Shoten , to "revitalize Japanese culture through publishing" in the postwar era. It was merged with Dwango Co., Ltd. to form Kadokawa Dwango on October 1, 2014, and became a subsidiary of Kadokawa Dwango. In February 2019, Kadokawa Dwango announced that Dwango would stop being their subsidiary to be a direct subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation in a reorganization of
1156-493: Was the first English publisher to print light novels in their original Japanese bunkobon format. Other United States English-language publishers that license light novels are Tokyopop , Viz Media , DMP , Dark Horse , J-Novel Club , Yen Press (Kadokawa's American joint-venture with Hachette Book Group ), and Del Rey Manga . The founder of Viz Media, Seiji Horibuchi, speculates that the US market for light novels will experience
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