Nola Novel and Keio Corporation launch SF short story contest

The creative platform Nola Novel, operated by indent Co., Ltd., has announced a collaborative short science fiction story contest with Keio Corporation titled “Station, Town, Future.” The competition invites professional and amateur writers to imagine life in the Hashimoto area of Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, between the years 2050 and 2100.

Participants are required to include a station within their narrative. The grand prize winner will receive 50,000 yen, and winning works are scheduled to be displayed on digital signage within Keio Corporation trains and stations. The contest is open to individuals regardless of age or residence, though submissions must be in Japanese. The deadline for entries is January 12, 2027.

Separately, indent Co., Ltd. announced the commercial release of “The Magic of the Library Begins Quietly 1,” the winning work from the first Nola Original Grand Prize. Published by Hifumi Shobo, the fantasy novel is available in bookstores and online starting October 15, 2026.