Featured authors, essayists, and culinary experts take the stage! A series of events to support your creative work #CreativeAward2026
In conjunction with the "Creative Award 2026," we will be holding related events to support creator's work.
We will invite leading creators from various genres, including novels, essays, and food, as guests to share tips on creation and advice on how to share your work. You are also very welcome to attend only the events with themes that interest you. Please feel free to join us.
All events are free to attend・available via online streaming・with archives planned for release. You can sign up even if you don't have a note account. If you are thinking about applying for the Creative Award, please join us.
Event List (Updated 5/22)
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3/15 (Sun) "How to Hook the Reader" (*Already held)
Guest: Fumiaki Maruto
Related Category: Novel Category
4/15 (Wed) "Creative Award Information Session" (*Already held)
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May 1 (Fri) "How to write essays that turn daily life into a 'work of art'" (*Already held)
Guests: Honoka Nagase, Yuki Ishikawa (Interviewer)
Related Category: Essay Category
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May 8 (Fri) "How are recipes that move people created?" (*Already held)
Guests: Kaoru Ariga, Akari Hasegawa
Related Category: Food Category
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5/22 (Fri) "How to Create Stories" (*Completed)
Guests: Satoshi Ogawa, Reita Shiga (Interviewer)
Related Category: Novel Category
An interview with Honoka Nagase: "How to write essays that turn everyday life into a 'work of art'" (Interviewer: Yuki Ishikawa)
May 1, 2026 (Fri) 19:00~ | In-person venue + YouTube streaming
In this public interview, Yuki Ishikawa—a writer and essayist who consistently shares tips on building a writing habit—will host Honoka Nagase, an author popular for her essays that chronicle daily life with plenty of humor. They will delve deeply into Honoka Nagase's journey, including
the realistic path from posting diary entries and essays to getting published, and the secrets to writing about everyday life as an essay.
After the talk event, we plan to hold a networking session with both guests at the venue, as well as a book sale and signing event for Honoka Nagase.
Recommended for those who:
・Want to know the tips for crafting their daily life into an essay
・Want to hear about the realistic path to getting published
・Are planning to enter the Essay Category of the Creative Awards 2026
Details & Registration
*Applications for in-person attendance are now closed
Speaker Profiles
Honoka Nagase
Born in Hokkaido in 1988. Resides in Tokyo. Her work "My Husband is a Paleontologist" won the Futabasha Award in the Essay Category at the Creative Awards 2024 hosted by note. In November 2025, she published her first book, "Wazawaza Kaku Hodo no Koto da" (Things Worth Writing About), which includes popular note articles such as the award-winning piece, as well as essays serialized on Futabasha's literary website "COLORFUL." The book was reprinted just one month after its release and is currently in its 5th printing. note:
https://note.com/nghngh X:
https://x.com/nagase_h
Yuki Ishikawa
After working at the web media outlet 'Shin R25,' became a freelance writer. Primarily writes reports and columns. The book 'A Writing Magazine to Make You Love Writing,' which was born from a series on note, has sold over 50,000 copies. Other books include 'Writing Habits,' 'Living as My Clumsy Self,' 'Listening Habits,' 'ADHD Office Worker Becomes a Freelancer,' and 'Relaxed Time Management.' Loves saunas, manga, and Hello! Project. note:
https://note.com/milkprincess17 X:
https://x.com/milkprincess17
Kaoru Ariga x Akari Hasegawa: 'How are recipes that move people created?'
Friday, May 8, 2026, 19:00– | In-person venue + YouTube streaming
We welcome soup author Kaoru Ariga and culinary expert/registered dietitian Akari Hasegawa as guests to hear about their starting points as culinary experts active in many fields, including publishing, serials, and media appearances, as well as things they want to try in the future.
Akari Hasegawa began her path as a culinary expert after discovering Kaoru Ariga's recipes. We will have an in-depth conversation about what they consider to be 'recipes that move people,' as well as their thoughts on creating books as culinary experts and sharing content on social media.
▼ Recommended for people like this
・Those interested in how to create 'recipes and writing that move people'
・Those interested in jobs that involve sharing content on the themes of cooking and food
・Those planning to enter the Food Category of the Creative Awards 2026
Details and Application
※Applications for in-person attendance have closed
Speaker Profiles
Kaoru Ariga
Soup author. Born in Tokyo. Currently sharing food styles, including kitchen tips and tools, through various media, with a focus on soup recipes that fit modern life. Also regularly conducts 'Soup Trips' to visit soup dishes across Japan. Author of many books, including the Recipe Book Award-winning 'Even If I'm Late, I Can Make This Soup' (Bunkyosha), 'Soup Lesson' (President Inc.), 'Kaoru Ariga's Tonjiru Revolution' (Ie no Hikari Association), and 'My Delicious Miso Soup' (Shinsei Publishing). Her latest book is 'If You Can Make Soup, You're Halfway to Cooking for Yourself' (Orange Page). note:
https://note.com/kaorun
Akari Hasegawa
Culinary expert and registered dietitian. Worked as a talent and actor from age 10. Later studied nutrition at university and obtained a registered dietitian license. Currently sharing recipes under the theme of 'simple and rich meals that make ordinary days happy.' Her recipes, which even busy people 'can't help but want to make' and which provide vitality for the next day, have garnered attention from many on social media. Author of many books, including 'Comfort Food That Deliciously Satisfies a Tired Mind and Body' (KADOKAWA), 'Self-Care Meals That Help Me Get Organized' (Shueisha), and 'New Standard Recipes for Those of Us Short on Time: "Maybe I'm a Genius!"' (Kodansha Practical Books). Her latest book is 'Akari Hasegawa's "New" Basic Cooking' (Orange Page). X:
https://x.com/akari_hasegawa
Novelist Satoshi Ogawa's 'How to Create Stories'
Friday, May 22, 19:00– | In-person venue + YouTube streaming
Novelist Satoshi Ogawa, who won the Naoki Prize for "Maps and Arms" and has the film adaptation of "Your Quiz" coming soon.From inspiration to completion, how do you maintain the core of a work and shape it to attract readers?—We will ask Satoshi Ogawa about the behind-the-scenes of his creative process, including what kind of "questions" sparked his representative work, "Your Quiz."
The interviewer is Reita Shiga, a writer for QuizKnock and a winner of the 2025 Creative Awards. He will draw out the core of Ogawa's creative process.
▼ Recommended for people like this
・Those planning to enter the Novel category of the Creative Awards 2026
・Those who want to write a novel but are worried about how to start
・Those who are writing a novel but are anxious about finishing it as an entry
・Those who want to hear about Ogawa's process from inspiration to completion and the behind-the-scenes of his creation
・Those interested in questions unique to Shiga-san
Details and Registration
*Applications for in-person attendance have closed
Speaker Profiles
Satoshi Ogawa
Novelist. Debuted in 2015 after winning the 3rd Hayakawa SF Contest Grand Prize for "This Side of Utronica." In 2023, he won the 168th Naoki Sanjugo Prize for "Maps and Arms" and the 76th Mystery Writers of Japan Award [Best Novel and Short Story Collection Category] for "Your Quiz." Recent works include "Novel Thinking for Verbalization." The film adaptation of "Your Quiz" is scheduled for release in May 2026.
Reita Shiga
Born in Tokyo, graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts. Joined the University of Tokyo-based knowledge group "QuizKnock," led by quiz king Takuji Izawa, in June 2017, and currently works as an editor and writer for their web media. Also active in writing, focusing on essays and tanka poetry, and media appearances. I love talking, writing, and being surrounded by lovely clothes.
note:https://note.com/shigareita
X:https://x.com/Petzvaled
Creative Awards Information Session
April 15 (Wed) 20:00~ |X SpaceBroadcast
Whether you are participating in the Creative Awards for the first time or have participated in the past, you may have questions about how to take part in the "Creative Awards 2026." Therefore, we are holding an information session where the Creative Awards management staff will directly answer your questions.
At the information session, we will mainly answer questions submitted in advance.
Please feel free to send us anything you are curious about after reading the special site and FAQ, or any anxieties or concerns you have regarding your entry.
Please submit your advance questions via theGoogle Form.
* The content answered at the information session will be published as a report article on the note editorial department account at a later date, and will also be reflected in theFAQ page. Even if you cannot attend on the day, please feel free to send in your questions in advance.
Notes (Common to all events)
・The handling of information you provide by note inc. shall be in accordance with note inc.'sPrivacy Policy.
About Creative Awards 2026
The "Creative Awards 2026," a creative contest for works in all genres, will be held starting April 8. We are accepting entries in various categories, including novels, essays, manga, food, and business.
The application deadline is July 8, 2026 (Wed). For details on how to enter and the regulations, please check the Creative Awards 2026 special site, which will be released on April 8.
We look forward to your participation!