Kazuma Kamachi

{{Short description|Pen name of the creator of A Certain Magical Index franchise}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Kazuma Kamachi

| image =

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| caption =

| pseudonym = {{Nihongo4|Kazuma Kamachi|鎌池和馬|Kamachi Kazuma}}

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

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| occupation = Author

| language = Japanese

| nationality = Japanese

| period = April 2004–present

| genre = Light novel, manga

| subject =

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| website = {{URL|http://dengekibunko.jp/author/kamachikazuma/}}

| signature = Kamachi Kazuma signature.svg

| influences =

| notableworks = A Certain Magical Index
A Certain Scientific Railgun
A Certain Scientific Accelerator
Heavy Object

}}

{{nihongo|Kazuma Kamachi|鎌池和馬|Kamachi Kazuma}} is the pen name of a Japanese author who has published over 100 light novel volumes. He is best known for the creation of the A Certain Magical Index franchise which, as of 2019, has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and has been licensed in North America by Yen Press with the first novel being released in Q4 2014.{{cite web|url=http://asciimw.jp/info/release/pdf/20130607.pdf|title=「第20回電撃大賞」小説大賞、イラスト大賞、学校大賞の3部門で、史上最多応募総数7,523作品!|publisher=ASCII Media Works|date=June 7, 2013|accessdate=October 15, 2014|language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-19/yen-press-adds-a-certain-magical-index-light-novels|title=Yen Press Adds A Certain Magical Index Light Novels|publisher=Anime News Network|date=April 19, 2014|accessdate=April 19, 2014}}

Career

Kazuma Kamachi has stated that ever since he was a child, he had always wanted to become a novelist, spending his student days in trying to achieve this dream. However, his intention was never to become a popular writer.{{Cite journal|title=Kazuma Kamachi 15000 Character Interview|journal=Kyara☆Meru Febri|volume=4}} From the time he was in junior high school, bit-by-bit he started writing, but it was not until he graduated from high school that he ever completed any of his work.

Kamachi submitted his novel Schrödinger's Machi (シュレディンガーの街) to the 9th Dengeki Game Novel Prize, but it was rejected in the third round.{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/676295299|title=Toaru majutsu no indekkusu no subete = Index librorum prohibitorum : Dengeki bunko kōshiki kaidokuhon|publisher=Media Wākusu|others=Kazuma Kamachi, 和馬 鎌池, Media Wākusu, メディアワークス|year=2007|isbn=978-4-8402-4042-0|location=Tōkyō|pages=124|oclc=676295299}} Despite this, his work caught the attention of editor-in-charge of the award, Kazuma Miki, who offered him a chance to write another work. For around a year, Kamachi exchanged and discussed prototype stories with Miki,{{Cite journal|date=September 2008|title=とらドラ!vs禁書目録|journal=Dengeki Bunko Magazine}} and made his debut with A Certain Magical Index in April 2004 after 6 or 7 revisions. The initial volume was written as a complete story in case that it would not sell; however, after selling well, it was decided that it would become a series. A Certain Magical Index would soon be adapted to a manga, then to an anime, a movie, games, etc. Thus turning into an extremely popular franchise. This, in turn, led to the series breaking many Dengeki Bunko, the series' publisher, records, such as being the first series to have 1, 2, and then 3 million copies in circulation. In April 2016, Kamachi signed a contract to write for Kazuma Miki's new company Straight Edge Inc. On July 10, 2020, he became the first Dengeki writer to have published 100 volumes under their label.{{Cite web|title=Straight Edge's Official Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/straightedge_na/status/1281406804950282241|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Twitter|language=en}}

He states that many of his pre-debut works, including the prototypes he sent to Miki, remain stored away at his house.

Personal life

Not much is known about Kazuma Kamachi's personal life, which is also true for other light novel authors in Japan. As an author, he is known for his consistent output in writing his books, releasing at least 3 per year. Starting in December 2014, Kazuma has been releasing novels monthly in 4 different titles while working on 3 different manga titles.

Kazuma Miki, editor of the A Certain Magical Index series, released a book and a chapter named Kamachi Kazuma the Legend which confirms as well as debunks rumors about him and talks about him.{{Cite web|title = 面白ければなんでもあり 【第二章 『とある魔術の禁書目録』御坂美琴はなぜ短パンを穿いているのか ~つくる(創作術)~】 試し読み|url = http://amwbooks.asciimw.jp/sp/nandemo/trial/C2-01/|website = amwbooks.asciimw.jp|accessdate = 2015-11-16|language = ja|archive-date = 2015-11-17|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032501/http://amwbooks.asciimw.jp/sp/nandemo/trial/C2-01/|url-status = dead}}

Works

=Novels=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"

|+ Light novels by Kazuma Kamachi

scope="col" style="width:65em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:8em;" | Year(s)

! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Volumes

! scope="col" style="width:5em;" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index
とある魔術の{{ruby|禁書目録|インデックス}}
Toaru Majutsu no Index

| 2004–2010

| 25

|

scope="row" | Heavy Object
ヘヴィーオブジェクト

| 2009–2021

| 20

|

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index: New Testament
新約 とある魔術の{{ruby|禁書目録|インデックス}}
Shin'yaku Toaru Majutsu no Index

| 2011–2019

| 23

|

scope="row" | Intellectual Village no Zashiki Warashi
インテリビレッジの座敷童
(lit. "The Zashiki Warashi of Intellectual Village")

| 2012–2015

| 9

| {{cite book |script-title=ja:インテリビレッジの座敷童 (6) (電撃文庫): 鎌池和馬, 真早: 本 |trans-title=The Zashiki Warashi of Intellectual Village |id={{ASIN|404865120X|country=jp}} |language=Japanese}}{{cite web |url=http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/201201000538 |script-title=ja:インテリビレッジの座敷童 |trans-title=The Zashiki Warashi of Intellectual Village |publisher=ASCII Media Works |access-date=October 15, 2014 |language=Japanese}}{{cite web |url=http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/312109300000 |script-title=ja:インテリビレッジの座敷童(4) |trans-title=The Zashiki Warashi of Intellectual Village (4) |publisher=ASCII Media Works |access-date=October 15, 2014 |language=Japanese}}

scope="row" | Kantan na Enquete desu
簡単なアンケートです
(lit. "A Simple Survey")

| 2012

| 1

| {{cite web |url=http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/201203000763 |script-title=ja:簡単なアンケートです |trans-title=A Simple Survey |publisher=ASCII Media Works |access-date=October 15, 2014 |language=Japanese}}

scope="row" | Waltraute-san no Konkatsu Jijou
ヴァルトラウテさんの婚活事情
(lit. "The Circumstances Leading to Waltraute's Marriage")

| 2012

| 1

| {{cite web |url=http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/311724700000 |script-title=ja:ヴァルトラウテさんの婚活事情 |trans-title=The Circumstances Leading to Waltraute's Marriage |publisher=ASCII Media Works |access-date=October 15, 2014 |language=Japanese}}

scope="row" | Kantan na Monitor desu
簡単なモニターです
(lit. "A Simple Monitoring")

| 2013

| 1

| {{cite web |url=http://asciimw.jp/search/mode/item/cd/311823000000 |script-title=ja:簡単なモニターです |trans-title=A Simple Monitoring |publisher=ASCII Media Works |access-date=October 15, 2014 |language=Japanese}}

scope="row" | The Unexplored Summon://Blood-Sign
未踏召喚://ブラッドサイン
Mitou Shoukan://Blood Sign

| 2014–2019

| 10

|

scope="row" | Toaru Majutsu no Heavy na Zashiki-warashi ga Kantan na Satsujinki no Konkatsu Jijou
とある魔術のへヴィーな座敷童が簡単な殺人妃の婚活事情
(lit. "A Certain Magical Heavy Zashiki-Warashi Deals With a Simple Killer Princess' Marriage Circumstances")

| 2015

| 1

| {{cite web |url=http://dengekibunko.jp/newreleases/978-4-04-869250-2/ |script-title=ja:とある魔術のヘヴィーな座敷童が簡単な殺人妃の婚活事情 電撃文庫公式サイト |publisher=Dengeki Bunko |access-date=January 29, 2016 |language=Japanese}}

scope="row" | Saikyou wo Kojiraseta Level Counter Stop Kenseijo Beatrice no Jakuten Sono Na wa "Buu Buu"
最強をこじらせたレベルカンスト剣聖女ベアトリーチェの弱点 その名は「ぶーぶー」
(lit. "The Weakness of Beatrice the Level Cap Holy Swordswoman That Made Being the Strongest Even More Trouble – His Name? Boo Boo ")

| 2016–2019

| 7

|

scope="row" | Magistellus Bad Trip
マギステルス・バッドトリップ

| 2019–2020

| 3

| {{cite web|url=https://dengekibunko.jp/product/magistels/321809000027.html |title=マギステルス・バッドトリップ |publisher=Dengeki Bunko |access-date=April 22, 2021 |language=ja}}{{cite web |url=https://dengekibunko.jp/product/magistels/322004000073.html |title=マギステルス・バッドトリップ Season 3rd |publisher=Dengeki Bunko |access-date=April 22, 2021 |language=ja}}{{cite web |url=https://yenpress.com/series/magistellus-bad-trip-light-novel |title=Magistellus Bad Trip (light novel) |publisher=Yen Press |access-date=23 May 2023}}

scope="row" | Apocalypse Witch
アポカリプス・ウィッチ

| 2019–2022

| 5

|

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index: Genesis Testament
創約 とある魔術の{{ruby|禁書目録|インデックス}}
Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index

| 2020–present

| 11

|

scope="row" | Shin Kaku Gi Kou to 11-nin no Hakaisha
神角技巧と11人の破壊者
Godhorn Tech and the 11 Destroyers

| 2021

| 3

|

scope="row" | A Certain Item of Dark Side
とある暗部の{{ruby|少女共棲|アイテム}}
Toaru Anbu no Shōjo Kyōsei (Aitemu)

| 2023

| 3

| {{Cite tweet |author=鎌池和馬公式情報 |author-link=Kazuma Kamachi |user=KAMACHI_KA |number=1607723912682700801 |date=December 27, 2022 |script-title=ja:◤特報!◢ 鎌池和馬が紡ぐ、新たな『とある』シリーズが幕を開ける!これは、学園都市の『暗部』に生きる少女たちの物語--。とある暗部の少女共棲(アイテム)著/鎌池和馬 イラスト/ニリツ 2023年3月 電撃文庫より発売予定!|trans-title=◤Special Report!◢ Kazuma Kamachi's new "Toaru" series is about to begin! This is a story of girls living in the "dark side" of Academy City. A Certain Dark Side ITEM Author/Kazuma Kamachi Illustration/Niritsu Scheduled to be released by Dengeki Bunko in March 2023! |language=Japanese |access-date=December 27, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227145319/https://twitter.com/KAMACHI_KA/status/1607723912682700801 |archive-date=December 27, 2022}}

=Manga=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"

|+ Manga by Kazuma Kamachi

scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:8em;" | Year(s)

! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Volumes

! scope="col" style="width:5em;" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | A Certain Scientific Railgun
とある科学の{{ruby|超電磁砲|レールガン}}
Toaru Kagaku no Rērugan

| 2007–present

| 19

|

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index
とある魔術の{{ruby|禁書目録|インデックス}}
Toaru Majutsu no Indekkusu

| 2007–present

| 31

|

scope="row" | Heavy Object
ヘヴィーオブジェクト

| 2009–2011

| 1

|

scope="row" | Heavy Object S
ヘヴィーオブジェクトS

| 2011–2013

| 3

|

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index: Endymion's Miracle
とある魔術の禁書目録 エンデュミオンの奇蹟
Toaru Majutsu no Indekkusu: Endymion no Kiseki

| 2013

| 2

|

scope="row" | A Certain Everyday Index-san
とある日常のいんでっくすさん
Toaru Nichijō no Indekkusu-san

| 2013–2016

| 5

|{{cite web|url = http://www.ganganonline.com/comic/indexsan/|script-title = ja:とある日常のいんでっくすさん - 漫画 - ガンガンONLINE SQUARE ENIX|publisher = Gangan Online|accessdate = January 30, 2016|language = Japanese|archive-date = May 30, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160530042555/http://www.ganganonline.com/comic/indexsan/|url-status = dead}}

scope="row" | A Certain Scientific Accelerator
とある科学の{{ruby|一方通行|アクセラレータ}}
Toaru Kagaku no Akuserarēta

| 2013–2020

| 12

|

scope="row" | Heavy Object A
ヘヴィーオブジェクトA

| 2015–2016

| 3

|

scope="row" | A Certain Idol Accelerator-sama
とある{{ruby|偶像|アイドル}}の{{ruby|一方通行|アクセラレータ}}さま
Toaru Gūzō no Ippō Tsūkō-sama

| 2015–2018

| 4

|

scope="row" | A Certain Scientific Railgun: Astral Buddy
とある科学の{{ruby|超電磁砲|レールガン}}外伝 アストラル・バディ
Toaru Kagaku no Rērugan Gaiden: Asutoraru Badi

| 2017–2020

| 4

|

scope="row" | A Certain Scientific Dark Matter
とある科学の{{ruby|未元物質|ダークマター}}
Toaru Kagaku no Dāku Matā

| 2019–2020

| 1

|

scope="row" | A Certain Scientific Mental Out
とある科学の{{ruby|心理掌握|メンタルアウト}}
Toaru Kagaku no Mentaru Auto

| 2021–present

| 4

|

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"

|+ Film by Kazuma Kamachi

scope="col" style="width:30em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:8em;" | Year

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Role

! scope="col" style="width:5em;" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index: The Movie – The Miracle of Endymion
劇場版 とある魔術の禁書目録 エンデュミオンの奇蹟
Gekijōban Toaru Majutsu no Indekkusu: Endyumion no Kiseki

| 2013

| story writer

|

=Video games=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"

|+ Video games by Kazuma Kamachi

scope="col" style="width:30em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:8em;" | Year

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Platform

! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Role

! scope="col" style="width:5em;" class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | Kakusansei Million Arthur
拡散性ミリオンアーサー

| 2011

| Android, iOS

| scenario writer

|{{cite web|url = http://www.square-enix.co.jp/smart/ma/|script-title = ja:拡散性ミリオンアーサー|publisher = Square Enix|accessdate = October 15, 2014|language = Japanese}}

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index
とある魔術の{{ruby|禁書目録|インデックス}}
Toaru Majutsu no Index

| 2011

| PlayStation Portable

| story writer

|{{cite web|url = https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0094D31I2|script-title = ja:とある魔術と科学の群奏活劇(通常版)|publisher = Amazon.co.jp|accessdate = October 15, 2014|language = Japanese}}

scope="row" | A Certain Scientific Railgun
とある科学の{{ruby|超電磁砲|レールガン}}
Toaru Kagaku no Rērugan

| 2011

| PlayStation Portable

| story writer

|

scope="row" | A Certain Magical Index: Struggle Battle
拡散性ミリオンアーサー
Toaru Majutsu no Index Struggle Battle

| 2012

| Android, iOS

| story writer

|{{cite web|url = http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/563/563177/|script-title = ja:ソーシャルゲーム『とある魔術の禁書目録(インデックス)頂点決戦(ストラグルバトル)』の事前登録が開始!|publisher = Dengeki|accessdate = February 26, 2017|language = Japanese}}

scope="row" | Toaru Majutsu to Kagaku no Ensemble
とある魔術と科学の{{ruby|群奏活劇|アンサンブル}}
(lit. "A Certain Magical and Scientific Ensemble")

| 2013

| PlayStation Portable

| story writer

|

scope="row" | Kairisei Million Arthur
拡散性ミリオンアーサー

| 2016

| Android, iOS
PS4, PS Vita

| scenario writer

|

Awards

  • Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!
  • 2009 - 4th Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2010 - 9th Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2011 - 1st Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2012 - 2nd Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2013 - 2nd Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2014 - 3rd Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2015 - 4th Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2016 - 7th Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2017 - 3rd Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index
  • 2019 - 9th Place in Best Novel Series, A Certain Magical Index

References

{{Reflist|2}}