Kadokawa's Kakuyomu website announced on Saturday that it is holding a contest for "entertainment novels that adults want to read." The website is partnering with Kadokawa's Novel 0 light novel label for the contest.

Any original novel that does not have a story where the hero finds himself in a different world is eligible for submission. However, submitted novels must feature adult male protagonists. The contest is open to anyone, and writers can submit more than one novel. The winner will receive 300,000 yen (about US$2,600) and the chance for Novel 0 to publish their novel.

The submission period will be open from June 1 to July 16, and a reader selection period will run simultaneously. The finalists will be announced around the beginning of August. The Novel 0 editorial department will select the winner, who will be announced in September.

The website does not provide a reason why novels involving protagonists thrown into alternate worlds are excluded. The reason may be that the genre has been saturating Japanese websites that allow writers to post novels and short stories for free. Kakuyomu is one such publishing site, which also held a contest last year to turn a submitted novel into manga.

Kadokawa launched the Novel 0 label in February 2016. The label produces works aimed at men in their 30s, and it has the theme of "A cool adult way of living."

[Via Yaraon!]