was a monthly magazine about books published by Media Factory, launched in 1994 by Recruit. The first publisher was Yoshio Kimura, the editor-in-chief was Yasuhiro Nagazono, and the art director was Toshiaki Ichikawa.
Overview Da Vinci is a book information magazine that introduces new publications, popular books and comics. The magazine also features essays by famous people, reader-submitted columns, questionnaires, special features on the relationship between the world and books from a new perspective, and a wide range of information on new paperbacks, new books, and new comics. It also includes information on approaching authors for book signings. Although it is a literary magazine, it is subculture-oriented, actively introducing not only general novels but also manga and light novels. The covers are mainly modeled after popular young actors, musicians, and celebrities, each holding the book they like best. It is the magazine that created the manga essay genre. The magazine selected Haruko Ohtagaki and Saori Oguri, who were not yet on the scene, to create a bestseller, and "Manga Essay Theater" was born from that. Da Vinci was previously owned by Media Factory. Kadokawa has acquired Media Factory since then. In May 2026, it was announced that the magazine would end publication after 32 years, finishing with its November issue, released on October 6, 2026.
Da Vinci Literature Award The Da Vinci Prize for Literature was a newcomer's literary prize offered by Media Factory's (now KADOKAWA) magazine Da Vinci, accepting novels of 100 to 200 pages in 400-character manuscript paper. Any genre of work was acceptable. The winner received a cash prize of one million yen, and the winning work (or a collection of works including the winning work) was published by Media Factory (now KADOKAWA) .
Other than the Grand Prize, the cash prizes were 200,000 yen for the Excellence Award and Reader's Award, and 100,000 yen for the Editor-in-Chief's Special Award.
The contest ended with the 7th edition in 2012, and the Da Vinci "Story of Books" Grand Prize was established as the successor prize, limiting the content to "stories related to books. +YearAwardAward-winning workAuthor2006Grand PrizeYo-chan's Night.Azusa MaekawaExcellence AwardGo, HOMETachibana NatsumizuExcellence AwardBut BeautifulMahiro SawakiEditor's Special PrizePOKKA POKKAMitsuru Nakagawa2007Grand Prizerabbit breadAsako TakiwaExcellence AwardYamashita Batting CenterAtsushi SogabeEditor's Special PrizeFISH IN THE SKYAo Okamoto2008Grand PrizeMap manJunjo ShindoReaders' Choice AwardMorning glory morningRiriko TonoEditor's Special PrizeYoshino Kita High School Library CommitteeNagisa Yamamoto2009Grand PrizeBurdock Kiyoko's Cat SoulKaeruko Akeno2010Grand PrizeN/AN/AReaders' Choice AwardGet marriedTomonori Satonaka2011Grand PrizeLaughMizuo Kudo2012Grand PrizeN/AN/A
Da Vinci "Book Story" Grand Prize The Da Vinci "Book Story" Grand Prize (Da Vinci Real Story) is the successor to the Da Vinci Literature Award, which ended with the 7th edition in 2012. It launched in 2013, The prize is limited to "stories related to books," and invites entries of 250 to 350 pages of 400-character manuscript paper. The winner will receive a cash prize of one million yen, and the winning story will be published by Media Factory (now KADOKAWA).There are also prizes for excellence, readers' prizes, and special prizes. The final selection is made not only by the editorial department, but also by 100 readers' judges and bookstore staff, making it a unique literary award in its selection method. +YearAwardAward-winning workAuthor2013Grand PrizeFirst love goes beyond the slope Namiya FujiishiReaders' Choice AwardIware KitaYanagasawa Kada2014Grand PrizeBookstore with God Mahoroba no NatsuSenya Mihagi2015Grand PrizeN/AN/A
Book of the Year Award
The "Da Vinci" Book of the Year is an annual ranking that started in 2001. The ranking is not simply based on sales order, but on the votes of "book connoisseurs" such as book critics, bookstore employees, Da Vinci survey members, and reading meter users from all over Japan.
# Year Recipient 1020101Q84 by Haruki Murakami (overall)112011 by Hiro Arikawa (overall)122012 by Hiro Arikawa (novel category)Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa (male-oriented comic category)Chihayafuru by Yuki Suetsugu (female-oriented comic category)132013The Twelve Kingdoms by Fuyumi Ono (novel category)Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (comic category)142014 by Keigo Higashino (novel category) by Keigo Higashino (paperback category)Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama (comic category)152015Spark by Naoki Matayoshi (novel category) by Shion Miura (paperback category)March Comes In like a Lion by Chica Umino (comic category)162016Your Name by Makoto Shinkai (novel category) by Shuichi Yoshida (paperback category)March Comes In like a Lion by Chica Umino (comic category)172017Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura (novel category)Spark by Naoki Matayoshi (paperback category)March Comes In like a Lion by Chica Umino (comic category)182018 by (novel category)A Forest of Wool and Steel by (paperback category)Case Closed by Gosho Aoyama (comic category)192019Kingdom by Yasuhisa Hara (comic category)202020Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge (comic category)212021222022Spy × Family by Tatsuya Endo (comic category)232023Ikoku Nikki (comic category)242024Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami (comic category)252025Hon Nara Uru Hodo by Ao Kojima (comic category)
Da Vinci E-book Award The Da Vinci Electronic Book Award (Da Vinci Densho Seitaisho) is a media award for electronic books established in 2011 by Media Factory Inc. (now KADOKAWA)
Since 2012, it has been known as the E-Book Award. All e-book titles distributed during the last year are eligible. The grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of one million yen.
The e-book awards are given to e-books and e-comics in all genres except for adult titles distributed in the previous year, and are based on an original bestseller ranking based on annual sales data from 21 e-bookstores. This year's awards are the fourth in the series. This year marks the fourth time it has been held. The aim is to keep e-books boom from declining hence a bestseller award. It stopped after 2014.
Selection method: Original best seller from annual sales data of e-bookstores' aggregate rankings. The readers prize is based on readers' vote. +YearGrand PrizeLiterature AwardBook AwardManga AwardSpecial AwardReaders' Prize2011Marriage of NukakaSinging WhaleElemental Picture BookSennen GahoAppropriate DiaryMom, read! Otoehon before good night-reading Japanese folk tales-2012Ichiro InterviewsShuntaro Tanikawa's" Tanigawapanologue vol.0Piyo-chan's FriendOur MangaIntroduction to Men's Style +YearGrand PrizeNovel AwardManga Award Light Novel awardCulture awardHobbies AwardBusiness Award2013Space BrothersReiko Himekawa SeriesSpace BrothersCampioneIs that so! Modern historyA Woman Doctor's Guide to Real, Pleasant SexSteve Jobs (I & II)2014Attack on TitanOur Bubble GroupAttack on TitanThe Devil Is a Part-Timer!Statistics is the strongest studyThe magic of tidying up lifeZero I will add a small one to myself who has nothing
References
External links
Da Vinci News (Official Site) "Da Vinci" editorial department (@davinci_editor) --Twitter