Kadokawa Corporation, qdopp Inc., and MyAnimeList co-hosted the MyAnimeList x Honeyfeed Writing Contest 2025 — The Isekai presented by Kadokawa, and winners have now been announced. The contest was held on Honeyfeed, a novel submission platform operated by qdopp.
The judges selected one grand prize winner and two contest winners from a pool of 1,240 entries. The grand prize winner is guaranteed publication in Japan, and the two contest winners may be offered publication in Japan.
This was Kadokawa’s first English-language novel contest on Honeyfeed. Following an initial round of voting by users and volunteers, final judging was conducted by The Rising of the Shield Hero author Aneko Yusagi and Kadokawa editors.
Grand Prize: “Isekai’d with my dog, I’m not the hero?!” by Frettiko
The grand prize winner receives $5 thousand USD and their entry will be published as a light novel. According to the press release, the book will be assigned to a Kadokawa editor and is scheduled for translation and publication, with a target release in 2027.
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.
“‘Isekai’d with My Dog, I’m Not the Hero?!’ feels like a novel written with a strong understanding of Japanese light novels,” said judge Aneko Yusagi. “The characters are comical, the pacing is brisk, and the story offers a genuinely light, comedic reading experience. I read it with excitement, eager to see what would unfold in the misadventures of this delightfully mismatched party.”
Contest Winner: “HR in Another World: Building the Strongest Parties with my Appraisal Skill” by Kaorin
Contest winners receive $3 thousand USD and may be offered publication of their entry as a light novel. Entries will be assigned to a Kadokawa editor for revision with the aim of translation and publication in Japan.
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.
Contest Winner: “Drinking Buddies: Hangover in Another World” by Literate_Manul
Contest winners receive $3 thousand USD and may be offered publication of their entry as a light novel. Entries will be assigned to a Kadokawa editor for revision with the aim of translation and publication in Japan.
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 cover artworks included in this article are images provided by each contest author in their contest application and are not official book cover illustrations. The Beat did not include art submitted by Literate_Manul due to its being created with ChatGPT.
Featured art is by Seira Minami, illustrator of The Rising of the Shield Hero.
