KADOKAWA just proved that the isekai boom shows no signs of slowing down—and that the next wave of hit stories might come from English-speaking writers.
The publisher, in partnership with qdopp Inc. and MyAnimeList Co., Ltd., announced the winners of the MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 – THE ISEKAI, a global search for English-language isekai fantasy talent. The contest drew 1,240 submissions, the highest in Honeyfeed’s history, with winners selected through user voting and final judging by Aneko Yusagi, author of The Rising of the Shield Hero, alongside KADOKAWA editors.
Taking home the top honor and $5,000 is Frettiko with Isekai’d with my dog, I’m not the hero?!
The premise alone explains why it won: an average guy named Mitsuta reincarnates into another world with his pet dog, Toast. The goddess falls so in love with Toast’s adorableness that she grants all the hero bonuses to the Pomeranian instead. Now Toast roams as a level 99 hero while Mitsuta stays stuck at level 1, running an odd-jobs business and getting dragged into adventures by his free-spirited pup.
Aneko Yusagi praised the story’s understanding of Japanese light novel sensibilities: “The characters are comical, the pacing is brisk, and the story offers a genuinely light, comedic reading experience. I read it with excitement.”
KADOKAWA’s editorial team added that the premise feels instantly at home on Japanese bookstore shelves. The novel will receive editorial support and is scheduled for translation and publication in Japan by 2027.
Two additional winners each received $3,000 and the same path to Japanese publication.
Kaorin’s HR in Another World: Building the Strongest Parties with my Appraisal Skill follows Hiroyuki, an HR manager summoned to another world with zero combat ability but a Divine Appraisal skill that reveals hidden potential. He builds the ultimate party while dodging assassins, blending workplace competence with classic isekai tropes. Judges praised its effective use of the appraisal skill trope and its expansive, open-world-game feel.
Literate_Manul’s Drinking Buddies: Hangover in Another World delivers something genuinely weird—and genuinely funny. Marcus and Gus wake up transported to another world while hungover, immediately lie to an elf princess about defeating a Demon Lord general, and somehow unlock absurd powers: Marcus gains “beer magic” (complete with “Hop Missile!” as a battle cry), while Gus’s right arm awakens uncontrollably. Judges called it “a brand of absurd humor that is strangely compelling,” noting that the drinking buddy protagonist duo feels fresh and distinctive for Japanese readers.
This wasn’t just a fun writing competition. It represents the first step in KADOKAWA’s Global UGC Publishing Project, an initiative to discover international talent and bring their work to Japanese readers. The logic is simple: Japanese anime and light novels have exploded globally, and overseas platforms are now fertile ground for creators influenced by those genres. KADOKAWA wants to find them before anyone else does.
The publisher isn’t stopping here. A Traditional Chinese-language contest, the Japan Debut Showdown☆Fantasy Light Novel Contest, announced winners in 2025 with results coming June 2026. Additionally, KADOKAWA plans to publish Why Kill? When Witches Can Be Tentacled!—another Honeyfeed discovery—alongside winners from the JNC Original Light Novel Contest.
For Frettiko, Kaorin, and Literate_Manul, this marks the beginning of a longer journey. Each winner works with a KADOKAWA editor to refine their novel for Japanese audiences, with translation and publication targeted for 2027.
The message to aspiring writers is clear: you don’t need to write in Japanese to break into the Japanese market. You just need a great story—preferably one with a level 99 hero dog.
Source: KADOKAWA
