In 2017, the popularity of the isekai genre was reaching its peak in Japan, but it was also beginning to generate significant debate in the light novel industry. This genre, which revolves around protagonists who are reborn or transported to fantastical worlds, had become so prevalent that many readers and writers began to show signs of fatigue. It was in this context that Kadokawa, one of the most important publishers in the medium, took a step that caught the attention of the entire community: explicitly prohibiting the use of isekai plots in its NOVEL 0 light novel contest.
That year’s call made its objective clear from the beginning:
- «We’re looking for novels that today’s adults want to read, with an adult male protagonist! Everything is allowed, except isekai stories. The genres, settings and eras are completely free as long as they do not include this theme!».
This decision was not an isolated case. A year earlier, in 2016, the Bungaku Free Market literary event had also imposed a similar restriction, vetoing “reincarnation or transportation to another world” plots in a short story contest. Even the most enthusiastic readers of the genre recognized that the market was oversaturated with similar stories, which led to a growing demand for originality in narrative proposals.
The ban was not so much an attack on the genre itself, but a response to growing criticism that light novels were falling into repetitive patterns. Comments on social networks and forums at the time reflected a mixture of relief and resignation: «It’s a respite. There are too many same stories, it’s not exciting anymore“, and “The problem is not the isekai, but the clichés like ‘cheat skills’ and harems».
Some users argued that the reliance on the “great contrast” between worlds had become a narrative crutch.where the construction of deep and original characters was relegated to the background. However, there were also those who argued that the genre could continue to evolve: «Moving from a town to the city, or moving from school to the working world, are essentially also forms of isekai. It is a reflection of the changes in our livesand is valid when spelled correctly».
In previous competitions, such as the Fourth Online Novel Grand Prize organized by “Shousetsuka ni Narou” (the platform that gave rise to hits like “Re:Zero” and “Mushoku Tensei”), most of the winners had been isekai plots. Although it was a lucrative and popular genre, its omnipresence was beginning to stifle other forms of literary creativity.
The NOVEL 0 contest sought to highlight more mature proposals, with plots and characters that appeal to an adult audience. This call marked a peculiar moment in the history of light novels: the moment when isekai, the undisputed king of the market, was put on pause to make room for other stories.
Although restrictions on isekai in specific contests did not mean its demise, this temporary “ban” became a wake-up call for the industry. The genre remains a major force in light novels and anime, but the 2017 anecdote stood as a reminder of the need to diversify narratives and encourage innovation in the world of fiction.
Fountain: Livedoor News
© livedoor
