Kazuma Kamachi, a renowned Japanese author, has published over 100 light novel volumes under his pen name. He is best known for creating the A Certain Magical Index franchise, which has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and has been licensed in North America by Yen Press.
From a young age, Kamachi had always dreamed of becoming a novelist. He spent his student days striving to achieve this goal, but his intention was never to become a popular writer. Instead, he focused on honing his craft, gradually developing his writing skills from junior high school onwards.
Kamachi's big break came when he submitted his novel Schrödinger's Machi to the 9th Dengeki Game Novel Prize, although it was rejected in the third round. However, the editor-in-charge, Kazuma Miki, was impressed by his work and offered him a chance to write another novel. For approximately a year, Kamachi collaborated with Miki, exchanging and discussing prototype stories, before making his debut with A Certain Magical Index in April 2004.
The initial volume was written as a standalone story, but after selling well, it was decided to turn it into a series. A Certain Magical Index went on to become a massive hit, spawning a manga, anime, movie, and video games, and breaking numerous records for Dengeki Bunko, the series' publisher.
In April 2016, Kamachi signed a contract with Straight Edge Inc., a new company founded by Kazuma Miki, and on July 10, 2020, he became the first Dengeki writer to publish 100 volumes under the label.
Interestingly, many of Kamachi's pre-debut works, including the prototypes he sent to Miki, remain stored away at his house, a testament to his dedication to his craft and the journey he took to become the successful author he is today.
