Declaration of Light Novels

In Commemoration of the Opening of the Manga & Light Novel Library

Modern literature, exemplified by author Natsume Soseki, evolved into diverse forms of highbrow literature and mass-market novels during the Showa era. These works, over time, found their place as classics within contemporary Japanese textbooks.
However, the young adult demographic, in search of literature capturing the essence of youth, yearned for stories they could choose for themselves.
Light novels (a Japanese term for young adult novels) are often the first choice for adolescents not content with the literature already available to them, carved out a unique, rich literary space situated between children's literature and adult fiction.
The language used in light novels offers a vibrant representation of the contemporary era. A notable characteristic is the tangible sense that the author breathes the same air and shares the same era as the reader.
The roots of light novels can be traced back to "Record of Lodoss War" which based on "RPG replays and influenced by the UK's "Knights of the Round Table" and "The Lord of the Rings". The novel "Record of Lodoss War" was created by Ryo Mizuno based on a video game in which it is possible to spin an increasingly rich story as more players join the game.
This mere A6 pocket-sized publication occupied an entire corner of Kadokawa Bunko, became best seller that enthralled young boys and girls. According to a survey by the Mainichi Shimbun, it held the top spot in lending rates in middle and high school libraries for an impressive ten-year run.

Changing Time, Changing Publishing.

Throughout the extensive course of human history, Japanese content, often categorized as subculture, has infused a refreshing dynamism into the high-culture arts traditionally nurtured by the West. From manga and anime to video games, young people worldwide have shown a receptive affinity towards content originating from Japan. Yet, light novels – an additional, uniquely Japanese form of creative expression – demonstrate an even more formidable communicative prowess.

Although this library does accommodate comics, it can rightfully be considered the world's most extensive library specifically dedicated to light novels.

Tsuguhiko Kadokawa