2023 #Novel note Summary 100 Works

I read a lot again this year.

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"You can't really get people to read novels on note, right?"
"It's tough when you work hard to write something and no one reads it..."
"Alright, then let's read 100 works at the end of the year!"

...And so, I started the 100-novel note summary three years ago. It's here again this year! To the 100 fans who might be out there somewhere, thank you for waiting!

Compared to when I started, the note official team has established a novel category for their year-end summaries (which makes me happy!), and the Creative Awards have been super exciting. These days, I really feel the vibe that you can read novels on note.

It's no exaggeration to say that note has fully matured as a platform where you can read novels. Probably.

So, what should I do this year...? It's already a place where you can read plenty of novels, so the original motivation is... maybe I don't really need to do this anymore...

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Let's do it. The inertia of the third year, no waiting.

Above all, reading is fun. It's the best.
However, even though I started earlier each year, I've never been this down to the wire... Come to think of it, my summer vacation homework always started in earnest around the 30th. Sometimes I even missed the deadline. I want to praise myself.

To everyone who told me their recommendations and favorites via forms, Twitter X, and everything else, thank you so, so much!! When I reloaded at the last minute, quite a few works had been taken down (is everyone cleaning up their works at the end of the year?), and I miscounted the numbers, so I was panicking! But thanks to you, I was able to read a lot!
(I'm sorry, there were a few that went over 100 at the last minute, so I'll go read them later!!)

Well then, here you go!

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1. The story of what happened when my smartphone started acting up and I went to get it checked out, and it turned into something terrifying

A single button pressed the wrong way leads to something terrifying...! The light yet detached narrative style is addictive; I end up laughing at every note I read...! I love it.

2. Short story "Who was smoking Neo Cedar?"

The story develops rapidly from a simple question...! It has the sense of speed of a prank, like following a documentary. It's fun to picture the comedian's face! I love it.

3. Momotaro read aloud by Kenshi Yonezu

Changing the tone of voice makes such a difference...! It feels reachable yet elusive, understandable yet airy. When you pack introspection into Momotaro, it really becomes a story... It makes me laugh...!!

4. The flight attendant has been...

This world view is strange, and the feeling of being drawn in as you read it smoothly is addictive. This is what makes text interesting...! I love it so much.

5. "Former Demon King Maou-chan" Part 1, Episode 1, Aimu Light Novel P

I like the feeling of gradually stepping out of the reality of light novels, but anyway, it was a fun piece packed with elements...!!

6. Episode 1: Touring AV Production Office Interviews

It's a world I know very little about, so it's fresh. Is this what an interview is like...? Since it's an autobiographical novel or essay, I end up reading a lot into the context of the writer, but it was good because the writing was simple and easy to read!

7. Lid

I wonder what this is, this feeling of a chilly, refreshing sense of liberation mixed in after finishing it. That mysterious, unpleasant feeling toward something in the countryside, it exists, doesn't it...? It pulls you right in. I like it.

8. Short story: We who are immortal

I was really taken by this after reading it, and sometimes the words just suddenly pierce through me as I read. The gentle tone and the way death is perceived. The balance. I'm so glad I read it... I love it too much.

9. Picasso

Writing that is open to interpretation, like free-form haiku, is fun because it changes depending on the reader. A piece with a wonderful rhythm of sound, it's good...!!

10. NFT Novel "Title Wanted" Koro & Fantasista

A project that turns a novel into content through participation is interesting...! The boy-meets-girl story starting like a fairy tale is also exciting. Because there's distance, the anticipation makes you restless, doesn't it...! I like it.

11. Declaration of living as a bear "Bear's Love" 1

The introduction from the synopsis is something that really makes you curious...!!! It's nice when a "why?" like this is clearly presented. Why a bear? I'm curious!!

12. Together with Mom.

The stages are so different that the way they vent is almost refreshing... But maybe the roots of people's hearts are similar. It makes me curious about the main story too! I love it.

13. "Akechi Mitsuhide's Ordinary Daily Life" Chapter 1

I tend to build up historical figures from textbooks in my mind, so it was refreshing to think, 'I bet they had casual conversations like this...' It's easy to read and interesting. I love it.

14. [Serialized Novel] "Ice Prompt" Episode 1 (Creative Award 2023 Work-Life Novel Category Entry)

The chilly air like a tightened necktie and the jump. Business has that side of 'what kind of face do you show?', doesn't it... The unsettling atmosphere and the sense of drama to come are captivating... I love it!

15. The sound of inhaling and bathing in blue

The top, the title, the powerful prose. A segment that pulls you in. I think this feeling changes depending on the reader, but the sense of speed is pleasant. I love it.

16. A High School Girl and Black Objects

Writing about dreams is like trying to grasp the sky, which is difficult, but that indescribable 'unpleasantness' remained as a post-reading impression, and it was really good... It's scary...!!

17. Creative Award 2023 [Starlight the Rabbit!] Chapter 1 - Illustration Story Category

Public servants in any age...! Buddies that transcend longing and attributes are so exciting. The introduction is just so thrilling and really good...!! I love it.

18. I wish I hadn't fallen in love.

Isn't wanting to write after reading the best way to consume a story! Everyone surely has that 'back then' moment they suddenly remember, and it stabs at you like a winter sigh... It was good...!!

19. ONCe again.

There's no way such an encounter wouldn't get you fired up. Card games really have a timeless appeal. I want this to become a reality~~~!!!

20. Four-character idiom fortune telling

From an innocent recreation to... before you know it. The images and colors held by the kanji keep coming out, and then the ending. It's substantial, interesting, and genuinely scary. I love it so much.

That's all for the picks from the standard categories!

From here on are the recommended works that you all taught me!

21. Short Story: Like a God

If cause and effect are true, there are things in this world that are so buggy they just don't make sense. But even there, there is probably something precious and a sparkle to be found. The gentle narrative style really hits home... I love it.

22. Coin Chocolate Toss / 1.0 Gram

The feeling of being pulled out of the daily cycle, that sense of instability, is incredibly captivating. The way the newspaper and the character's emotions overlap and are used is just so good... I love it.

23. Short Story: 'Moon-Viewing Thief'

A gentle scheme in a gentle time. Seasonal events have different charms for every family, and an inn that can share that is wonderful. It warms the heart~~~! I love it.

24. Novel: To Get Through the Night [3771 characters]

Rinko-san's writing, which mixes contradictory things like cold happiness, has a sense of humidity that becomes addictive. It's lonely, but it's a mystery that you'd surely pick up if you found it. I love it so much.

25. Serial Novel 'Obostella' Episode 1: 'Gonan of the Northern Village'

Fairy-tale fantasy and a matter-of-fact reality are woven together, and the lingering sense of unease makes me curious about what happens next...! It's very engaging, so please check it out...!!

26. The Princess with the Big Belly

I ended up Googling Victoria sponge cake with the thumb I used to finish reading this. Fluffy and crisp, a lighthearted fantasy. It was exquisite! That soft writing style is so good...!! I love it.

27. Novel: 'GRACE✨My Oshi-katsu (1)' (Commemorating 1000 note posts)

I believe that at every stage of life, there are stories and sparkles that you need at that moment. I think it would be great if more and more people were exposed to novels like this. Ah~~~! The excitement like when you find a favorite item is just so good~~~!! Definitely check it out!!!

28. A Lie Was Displayed in Shinsaibashi.

When you fall under the spell of obsession or passion, there are times when you feel like you have to pilot yourself even though it's your own self. A night that becomes a catalyst for changing yourself; the brilliance and the feeling of quiet time make for a very comfortable piece. Please read it in the middle of the night...!!!

29. Short Story / Electric Fan Burial

The absurdity born from the unique worldview and characters. I love this addictive writing style... If you like sci-fi with no exit, please check it out...! You'll get hooked.

30. Short Story / Ihari, Ihari, Ihari

I think there's an approach to the elements that form a story called 'where to start telling it from,' and the fact that it starts from here is... fresh and fun. And unsettling. The captivating writing style is addictive and so good...! I love it.

31. Short Story / Shopping Mall

Whether it's fantasy or an absurd world, as you read while sliding between the two... you fall. It's a perfect balance of hard-boiled and strangely realistic. It's so good...!!

32. Short Story "Even So, We"

From the chaos comes a straightforward message. I imagine they'll keep saying "even so" in their hearts while gradually coming to terms with each other. A short story with a refreshingly honest writing style, so good...!

33. November Sky

An unforgettable magic. I feel like everyone carries somewhere within them a softness that returns them to "that time" in an instant. Sweet and bittersweet. Sigh~~~!!! It really draws you in... I love it.

34. Waiting for Synapse Depletion 《#PolarBearLiteratureClub》

The instability of the narrator really builds suspense and draws you in... This is the kind of piece you end up reading multiple times because you're curious. So good...!!

35. Dream of Running Away (Short Story) #PolarBearLiteratureClub

The cage is within yourself. Hmm... the feeling of being increasingly trapped is so interesting... I also like the sense of humidity in the writing.

The Polar Bear Literature Club is incredibly strong...!!!!

36. When in Doubt, Ride the Ferris Wheel.

Spun with kindness, yet filled with an unfillable longing. The straightforward prose and the way the sounds come to mind, creating a reading experience that feels like being wrapped up in something... I like it.

37. Drive-in Namima | Novel: Curry Rice Edition

I love this piece so much. Eating is truly living, yet it's strange how it exists within memories—the past, things that can't be undone, and words swallowed. It touches my heart every time I read it. It's incredibly good. I love it.

38. [Palm-sized Story] Esper

Oh no! I can only say... oh no! A palm-sized shock. Power!!!!!! (I was totally taken by it)

39. Short M&A Novel: Sleeping Beauty

I learned so much...! I started by switching back and forth between the glossary and the story with my thumb, but then I gave up and just dove into the story, and oh, how wonderful! It's fun, and I just love this kind of tone in a text~~~! Pac-Man is so cool!!

40. [Short Short] Life Span Investment (2,966 characters)

A lighthearted development thanks to a clever title. Fun, and a little heart-pounding at the end. It's packed with the joy of short-shorts, it's so good~~!! I love it.

41. Short-short: Eventually, the World Becomes the Sea

The concept is out there, yet strangely realistic and funny. That lingering sense of dread really hits you later, doesn't it? The kind of darkness that might show up in your dreams—so good...!!

42. 4:00 A.M. at the Bottom of the Water

The sense of claustrophobia is beautifully eerie, and it just keeps pulling you in. ...Wait, 13 years old!? Wow!!! Amazing. At 13, I was just doing things like 'My turn! Draw!'...

43. Novel: What Nurse Uzuki Sees 1 #CreativeAward2023

Even though it's a highly specialized world, I was drawn right in by the suspense. The way the mysteries are scattered makes it impossible to stop reading—it's the best... The morning McDonald's episode is so relatable~~!! Love it!

44. Let's Wake Up

I loved the first two lines and the final sentence so much that I read them over and over... The journey from the beginning to the end while reading. Waking up. Sometimes we are saved by the past versions of ourselves living inside someone else. I must wake up. I'm glad I read this. Love it.

45. 'Even So, I Won't Give Up.' Episode 1

It's difficult to maintain the right distance when you're close to 'living.' It's definitely a tough situation, but it feels positive somehow, which makes me happy to read. Stories where you find yourself wishing for the characters' happiness are great, aren't they...! I'm curious about what happens next! Love it.

46. [Short Story] Purple Signal

It's difficult when you aim your kindness in the wrong direction. Kindness without a core is easy, so I want to make sure I hold onto a firm one. A stinging short story, heavy and good...!

47. The Gods' Gentle Bite (2) #ShirokumaLiteratureClub

A jump in the story from a fantastical world. The humidity of the narrative is great, and I love how I can just soak in it. Definitely check out the first part too!

48. Stains of Moonlight

A passing night that surely everyone has experienced. Perhaps the promises we leave hanging are what support us. A hard-boiled style mixed with gentle intersections—the Yagi world is in full swing and I love it. Definitely check it out!

49. [Palm-sized Story] My Day

A watershed moment of revenge where you don't know which way it will fall. A dense, palm-sized story; I loved how the scenes I suddenly remember stay in my head... It hits hard. Love it.

50. Thoughts on 'Ayako of the Fingers' #SpringPirikaEntry

A mysterious world where the story twists and turns, and the jumps are comfortable. The feeling of being drawn in, making me re-read it several times going 'Huh? Wait, what?' is great. I love it.

51. Like a Missing Tooth in a Comb ~Joining a Black Company~

The symbolic numbers and the slightly distant, dry writing style feel real. The frank way of writing and the text that emerges from experience have a weight to them that is amazing.

52. If You Open This Box <5680 characters> Kobunsha Bunko Yomeba! 20th 'Box' Entry

A story with a comfortable, mysterious feel like a foreign short story. It's easy to read and has a touching kindness. It's nice. The feeling that holding onto 'someday' and passing it to someone else connects wishes resonates. I really love it.

53. The Yokai's Daughter #ShortStory

A heartwarming short story where you get pleasantly defeated, and it's a joy to be defeated. The humor of the situation and the rally of warm conversations that blow it away are really good. I couldn't help but feel warmed by the tension leading to the end!

54. Short-Short 'Clam Sand Purging'

Hehe, this is one I wrote, and it was recommended! A year-end short-short, please check it out!

55. August Avocado 《 1 》

The vague sense of unease from the humid metaphors draws you into the suspense. There's something scary about the millimeter behind happiness, isn't there... I wonder what will happen. This is one that makes me curious...!!

56. Midwinter Lemons are Small, Sweet, and Sad #ChristmasFridayTwilight2023 ①

A sudden brake from an opening that feels like running until out of breath. The sadness that feels like inhaling cold winter air is nice. Twilight, how nostalgic~~~!!! Thank you for writing this!

57. [5-Minute Romance] A Love Story Between My Admired Senior and Me

Admiration and romance are completely different emotional lines, but it's a total bug that they trigger similar reactions. Before you know it, it's horror. A short story that chills you with the feeling of being trapped, it's good...!

58. Short Story: Do Thoughts Become Reality?

I stumbled at the entrance, but please keep going like this, it's already funny! I like this kind of short-short, and the slight chill is also comfortable. It's good...!!

59. Peach Blossom Pillow ① Story of A

The futuristic feel of 'what if...' and the characters are fun! And when you think about it seriously, it's a bit scary...!! I wonder if desire and happiness are correlated... I like it.

60. [What if Cinderella's Protagonist was the Mean Stepsister] The Story of the Extra Shoe Prepared [Creative Fairy Tale]

I think creating a story that everyone knows is all about the angle you tell it from, and this was just amazing... The opening sentence is so good, and the ending that follows. It's an easy-to-read story that makes you wish for the characters' happiness. The aftertaste is so good. I love it.

61. Novel | Round Sphere

The closed-off miniature garden is startling, but when you think about it on a larger scale, the real world is the same, isn't it...! A short-short that takes a complete turn, it's just so good...!!

62. On the Absolute Superiority of Moles

A short story full of fetishism from the top image. You think, 'So that's where it lands,' but since this kind of thinking isn't entirely impossible, the horror element is just...!! So good~~!!

63. [Serialized Novel] 'Honeybee Caprice' Episode 1 (Creative Award 2023 Mystery Novel Category Entry)

The cheerful atmosphere and the sharp tension unique to the school setting. The premise is so good, it's one that makes you curious~~! It's a long story, but it's easy to read and great, so please check it out!

64. Novel: Nursing Home Death Game 1 #CreativeAward2023

First of all, this premise—what is this, it's so intriguing. It's not just that one idea, but the dry writing style and the red of the blood splatter. I really love the sensitivity of the colors in Rinko-san's novels. It's so compelling that it keeps you reading! I love it.

65. 'One Night, Two Days' Episode 1

It's like jumping into a campfire with firecrackers in a crazy situation, layering one danger on top of another. And yet, it's somehow lighthearted and keeps you reading... What's going to happen!? It's one that makes you curious~~!!!

66. 'Wife's Bones' Episode 1 (5 Episodes Total)

When life comes to a sudden halt, you notice things that were taken for granted until now. The description of the knots in the ceiling is nice, and the humidity of the story feels just right. I love it.

67. Thinking Screen

No, this is just... laughably... awful...! The snappy dialogue between Oribashi-kun and the doctor is also comfortable and makes for an easy-to-read sci-fi short story collection. It was fun and had a nice, slightly chilling feel! I love it.

68. 'Boyani Ice Cream' (1/2) *Creative Award 2023

The distance between the events and the narrator is just right, making it a pleasant read. The scattered mysteries also keep your interest, making you curious about what's next...! You'll want to read both parts at once, so please do!

69. Human Shape Part 1 Episode 1 #CreativeAward2023

Both the era and the setting are depicted fluidly, making it easy to get immersed. The sense of darkness is cool and nice. If you like sci-fi, period pieces, and action, you'll definitely get hooked! I love it.

70. [Novel] The Sound of Rain and My House

There is life in every world. A mysterious world and a strangely realistic home appliance. It's damp, yet somehow cheerful—I like it. I love it.

71. good night

A poem-like short story, a night where you strain your ears as if you've spent time there before. The sounds of the city make you imagine life. It's gentle and wonderful...!!

72. Subordinate and Boss [Short Story]

Ah, this situation of 'I can't ask directly because of our relationship, but I want to play along' is so relatable, I totally get it. The fact that it ends like that is so funny...! I really want them to turn it into a good laugh later on...!! I love it.

73. [Serialized Novel] The Day You Disappeared - Two Regrets and the Light of the Dynasty - Episode 0 Prologue - Spilled Water Cannot Be Gathered -

The prologue, the hook from the first episode. This is the kind of thing that makes you so curious!! Brilliant!!
The excitement of not being able to stop tapping to see how it links up, combined with the unsettling mystery, is just great. I love it.

74. Tatsubi

The scorching description and the falling ending. This is a powerful short story that really traps you. The metaphor for eternity was so relatable! You must read this.

75. Like a Cinema Episode 1 | Serialized Novel

The happiness of looking back is surely sweeter and more painful than what is right in front of you. The feeling of instinctively wishing for the protagonist's happiness is so moving... I'm curious about what happens next! I love it.

76. Residual Dream

A sense of calm appears the most abnormal. The detached progression is so scary! The one millimeter behind you where you don't even realize someone is a psychopath is the scariest. It's that 'scared but want to see' feeling—I'm curious about what happens next. I love it.
Shirokuma Literature Club, you guys are really strong...! Amazing!

77. [Novel] Someone Else's Substitute

I just came back from drinking with my father at my parents' house at the end of the year, and I drank up the time our family had dissolved into a glass of golden liquid. I love Ueda-san's descriptions of food and alcohol, and as I read, my own memories overlapped with them—I love it so much! You must read it!

78. [Short Story] Herbal Tea in the Pantry

Work gets done because of someone's something to make ends meet. Intimacy after becoming an adult depends on whether you can find a comfortable distance... There are many comrades, no, even just having one proper comrade makes me happy. I was a comrade in hating herbal tea too! You must read it!!

79. Short Short [Shiritori Power Generation]

The idea is divinely funny, and the mechanism is amazing! A short short that you read once, and then read again. I love things like this! I love it.

80. #Komaki Kosuke Literature Award ①

20 characters that stir the imagination—I wonder what happened after that reply...! Both the project and the collected works are amazing...!! I love it.

81. Novel: Uterus and Confusion [10,351 characters]

The destination of thoughts that drift away. I love the balance between the tactile sensation and scent of Rinko-san's shadows, and the brightness of the sounds. A heavy 10,000 characters that really stick with me; I love it. Highly recommended.

82. Novel: Vacuum Cleaner Battle [4,447 characters]

A jump-battle sequence from a bizarre, strange world. I carelessly got excited... what is this! A super fun 4,000 characters...!! I love it too much.

83. [Short Story] In the Night That Never Ends

Work, and the line you cross beyond it. Someone's normal can sometimes be someone else's help. A night that makes you feel restless and frustrated. I want it to continue like this~~~!! I love it.

84. Boiled Egg Man (Short Story)

The mystery begins from a single cut of daily life...! I like this kind of thing. It's a comfortable read with a nice hard-boiled feel and the scent of literature. I love it.

85. Mystery Short: 'Sustainability Reincarnation'

Hehe, thank you for recommending it! I write things like this too, please check out my mystery!

86. Short Story | Tear Pencil

If I were to pick up this pencil, what would I write? I write essays and other things every day, but what would be the final sentence left behind? A short-short that really hits home, it was good...!

87. Long Flight

The strange atmosphere of the airport and the cabin is written perfectly, and my heart floats while reading it. The excitement, the thrill, the nervousness, and the anxiety all sink into seats like 19C or 25A once we take off. I love Tadokoro-san's writing that makes me want to go on a trip, again this year. I love it.

88. Short-Short 71 'That Red Sofa'

Down-to-earth strangeness and the punchline of a punchline. A piece full of the real pleasure of a light, easy-to-read short-short. I love BKB's short-shorts because they are fun no matter which one you start with. Amazing!

89. [Novel] Even After Being Dumped, Simply Put

The fact that all of humanity faces the same kind of crisis is just...! The imbalance between the simple, clear, straightforward stupidity and Christmas is funny. It feels like something is about to start but doesn't—please start~~~! Such loveliness. I love it.

90. Year 2000, To Shibuya

That time when we could wear a sense of invincibility so defenselessly disappears before we know it. Every era has its own kind of invincibility, doesn't it? A short story that makes you feel ticklish with the sensation of having lost it. Good stuff.

91. G's Anello

The moment I finished reading, I felt the ultimate disgust and despair, and I just wanted to scream "Aaaah!!!!!!"... It was a standout (dark) anomaly even in the Anonymous Ultra-Short Story Contest. It hits you even on a re-read...! Lol
The best.

92. To My Dear Child-Killer: Part 1

I'm in the middle of raising kids right now, so I totally get it...!! And then, the unease is thrown in. The local feel and the candid narrator are so realistic, I was drawn right in...! This is the kind of story where you just have to know what happens next. I love it.

93. Ring #Komaki Kosuke Literary Award

A solid drama in just 20 characters. Even in tragedy, I feel like I can look forward somehow. A text that makes you want to look up, so good~~!!

94. Thank Yous Rain Down #Shirokuma Literature Club

The words we spit out circulate and shape who we are. I want to keep raining down thank yous. Even if it's rain. A gentle short story, good stuff.

95. [Short Short] I'm a Hitman (2,064 characters)

A gentle hitman short-short that unfolds in a loop. I'm taken by the brilliant technique, like the North Wind and the Sun...!! So good...!!

96. Short Short "Returning the Night"

Thank you for recommending this at the last minute! I want to write more short-shorts that can capture a slice of life. Please keep supporting me 🐐

97. Novel: The Hole That Appears in Shinichi Hoshi's Short-Shorts

I love this incredibly geeky hole setting and the falling-down ending, like a gun that you know is going to fire. I really love the detached writing style that becomes addictive. I met Mr. Ushiroya this year, and everything I've read of his is interesting; I'm a fan. It's really great. You must read it!

98. [Short Story] Grandma When I Arrive in Heaven

A short story that unfolds vividly. Because we are a mother and daughter, there are things we say too much or can't say at all. The feeling of letting out a soft sigh in 3 minutes is bittersweet and warm. Good stuff...!!

99. Lantern

Assuming there's such a thing as too many years passed to be involved without reserve, maybe it still takes experience or time to bridge that gap. Even if we can't understand each other, maybe we can start from the fact that we can't. A short story where the description of the item and the movement of the heart are moving. I like it.

100. The Robot and the Girl at the Used Bookstore

A background that makes you imagine the expansion of the world, and the detached interaction between the two. A short story with no dialogue, where the straightforward narrative really hits home. The way the descriptions flow so smoothly is just wonderful. I love it.

After reading 100 works, I get the impression that novels on note are increasingly defined by strong communities and individual projects, in addition to the power of the authors' works themselves. It's a turning point in the sea of creation, and I'm so happy to see such a positive change!

I hope I can read a lot more next year!
Thank you for writing.
I'm happy to have read them.

I'm going to write more too!

Well then, have a great year!

The end.