[KADOKAWA CORPORATION] [3 consecutive monthly publications!] The Grand Prize winner of the 10th Kadokawa Bunko Character Novel Award goes on sale today!
KADOKAWA Co., Ltd. Press release: September 22, 2025 To Members of the Press [3 consecutive monthly publications!] The Grand Prize winner of the 10th Kadokawa Bunko Character Novel Award goes on sale today! KADOKAWA Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Director, Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO: Takeshi Natsuno) will release “The Strange Empress of the Declining Country,” winner of the Grand Prize in the 10th Kadokawa Bunko Character Novel Awards. The three winning works of the 10th Kadokawa Bunko Character Novel Award are scheduled to be published over three consecutive months starting in September 2025.
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Guidelines: https://kadobun.jp/awards/character-novels/#about ■Details of Past Award-Winning Works:
https://kadobun.jp/awards/character-novels/product/ [Released September 22nd! Grand Prize winner! 】 “Empress Ki of the Land of the Falling Sun” Author/Kamihina Jun Illustration/Ushizaname
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/7006/17714/7006-17714-9136b6a96bfbe738b1717123ca9c2cc5-1241×1760.jpg ＜A Chinese fantasy about an empress with extraordinary knowledge who reforms the world! ＞ “If I were a man, I could have become the prime minister.” The talented Muju, who made people say this, is now in a political marriage with the emperor in order to rebuild the Dayou Empire, which has been exhausted by the struggle for the throne. Even though the emperor told her at her marriage ceremony, “I will not recognize you as empress!”, Mengzhu devoted herself to government affairs for the sake of her beloved country and her own aspirations. Her favorite concubine, Jiu Ge, was not pleased with this. To put a stop to the harassment that is getting more and more vicious with each passing day, Mengzhu challenges Kuga to a job challenge with the position of Empress on the line. The Chinese fantasy of reforming society has arrived! “The Strange Empress of a Declining Country” Author: Jun Kamiki Illustration: Ame Ushiyama Release date: September 22, 2025 Price: ¥814 (¥740 tax) ISBN: 9784041164303 : KADOKAWA (Kadokawa Bunko) Work page:
https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322503001115/
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQXVSjXxtGs
[Released in October! Double winner of the Excellence Award and Reader’s Award! 】 “The Demon-Eating Princess of the Heian Harem: Kurodanjo and the Demons of the Imperial Palace” Author: Mahoro Iwai Illustration: Kurodeko
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/7006/17714/7006-17714-c17ac8fe646e86655be9e05025c5b762-1926×2670.png Cover illustration for “The Demon-Eating Princess of the Heian Harem: Kurodanjo and the Demons of the Imperial Palace” During the Heian period, Akeno, the daughter of a poor noble family, is suddenly asked by her father to become a demon. The demon refers to a demon-eater, a person tasked with tasting the food of nobles in the Imperial Court beforehand to check for poison. Tempted by her father’s pleas and the prospect of eating delicious food, Akeno agreed, and began serving at the Imperial Palace as a lady-in-waiting. Akeno also secretly wished to reunite with Prince Haruhisa, also known as Prince of Light, who gave her the fruit of the sun—a tangerine—when she was a child, and express her gratitude. However, when they arrive at the Imperial Palace, they find a series of disturbing incidents occurring. A young man dressed in all black, Kurodanjo (also known as Minamoto Suou), who excels in both the arts and martial arts, is intelligent but strict, and is pursuing the true identity of the “demon” of the Imperial Palace. Akeno, whose poverty has sharpened her palate and knowledge of food, decides to use it to uncover the truth behind the incident together with him…!? “The Demon-Eating Princess of the Heian Harem: Kurodanjo and the Demons of the Imperial Palace” Author: Mahoro Iwai Illustration: Kurodeko Release date: October 24, 2025 Price: ¥836 (¥760 tax) ISBN:9784041164358 Publisher: KADOKAWA (Kadokawa Bunko) Work page: https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322503001120/ [Released in November! Winner of the Kakuyomu Theme Award
(Supernatural Powers x Doting)! 】 “His Majesty the Emperor’s Exorcist: The Fallen Harem” Author: Hiiragi Illustration: syo5
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/7006/17714/7006-17714-d166dca2a8ce61bdb343ccc46de104e4-2123×2700.jpg Cover illustration for “His Majesty the Emperor’s Exorcist: The Fallen Harem” ＜A beautiful sorcerer exorcises evil! A Chinese
demon-exorcising fantasy that uncovers the secrets of the imperial family begins! ＞ Princess Kishun, the ruler of the Sen Empire, had the ability to see the invisible. No matter how beautiful a woman was, her face was covered in mist and infested with black insects. Moreover, Shun was afflicted with a mysterious illness and was growing weaker by the day. The illness was thought to be incurable, but the court physician, suspecting a “curse,” found a hope in old documents. It was the Yao family, a now-defunct family of “evil exorcisers.” And so she was called, the evil exorcist, Yao Liuli. Shun is surprised to see her wearing a black robe and a white mask. Because there’s no black mist or insects on her face… “His Majesty the Emperor’s Exorcist: The Fallen Harem” Author: Hiiragi Illustration: syo5 Release date: November 25, 2025 ISBN: 9784041164341 : KADOKAWA (Kadokawa Bunko)