Is the 'Isekai Reincarnation' genre popular because reality is harsh?

To start with the conclusion,that is one reason, but it is not the only one.Trying to explain the isekai reincarnation boom solely with the term 'escapism' is quite a stretch.

This is because, while eras where reality was harsh have always existed, the genre of isekai reincarnation has only exploded in popularity relatively recently.

Certainly, there is a 'desire to start over'

When considering the characteristics of isekai reincarnation,

• being able to reset one's life

• not being dragged down by past failures

• being able to start in a new environment

• being able to restart while possessing abilities

are elements that appear frequently. This overlaps with the desire to 'start life over from the beginning' that many people have thought about at least once. School, work, human relationships, family environment. The more people struggle with various problems, the more likely they are to find this aspect attractive.

However, the essence is not the 'other world' but 're-evaluation'

Actually, what is important in isekai reincarnation works is the structure where the protagonist, who was not valued in the real world, is valued in a new world. For example,

• being treated as a failure

• being used up and discarded by a toxic company

• not being understood by those around them

• having their abilities unrecognized

are protagonists who then thrive in another world. In other words, what readers are seeking is not a change in the world itself, but an environment that recognizes their value.

Why it resonates with modern people

Even in stories of the past, there were hero tales, adventure stories, and rags-to-riches stories. However, in modern society, the feeling that 'if you work hard, you will definitely succeed' has weakened. Academic background, employment, income, social status. There are not a few people who feel that these things have become fixed.

Therefore, stories about 'starting over in another world' are more easily accepted than stories about 'climbing the ladder in the current world'.

High compatibility with gaming culture

The background behind the popularity of Isekai reincarnation also includes gaming culture. The influence of RPGs, in particular, is significant. Levels, skills, stats, classes, and growth—these are concepts that are taken for granted in games.

Because Isekai reincarnation works can utilize game rules that readers already understand, it is easy to create stories and easy for them to be understood.

It cannot be explained solely by the hardships of reality

If escapism were truly the only reason, then only much darker works would be popular. However, in reality,

• comedy

• slice-of-life

• slow life

• gourmet

• farming

and other such Isekai works are also popular. This shows that it is not simply about wanting to escape reality, but that there is an aspect of enjoying the possibility that 'this kind of life could have existed too.'

Rather, it is a collection of modern people's desires

Isekai reincarnation is a genre that makes it easy to satisfy desires such as

• wanting to start over

• wanting to be appreciated

• wanting to be free

• wanting to succeed

• wanting to go on an adventure

• wanting to demonstrate one's talent

• wanting to have companions

all at once. It can be said that this is why it became popular.

A more important factor

In fact, rather than "because reality is harsh," it might be closer to the essence to say, "because it is difficult to start over after failing in reality." In a game, you can load save data. But real life is not like that. Entrance exams, job hunting, human relationships, past choices—many things are difficult to undo.

That is precisely why the reincarnation setting, where everything is reset at the threshold of death and one begins life anew, holds such strong appeal.

An interesting point

In old heroic tales, the protagonist becomes a hero by overcoming trials. However, in modern Isekai reincarnation stories, there are many works where the protagonist is granted special abilities from the start. This can be interpreted not as the longing for effort itself having disappeared, but as the result of increased anxiety that "even if I try, it might not pay off."

Therefore, what readers are seeking may not be the omnipotent ability itself, but a world where effort and good intentions are justly rewarded.

Another perspective

When considering the reasons for the popularity of Isekai reincarnation, there is the aspect that it is not just "because reality is harsh," but also "because reality is too complex." In real society,

• educational background

• career history

• qualifications

• age

• connections

• family environment

and many other factors are intertwined. On the other hand, in Isekai reincarnation,

"the protagonist goes to another world"

at that point, everything is reset. The reader does not need to understand complex premises. It is a very easy-to-understand structure.

Conclusion

The reason for the popularity of Isekai reincarnation cannot be explained by the single phrase "because reality is harsh." However,

I want to start my life over.

I want to be recognized.

I want to try living in a different environment.

I want to go to a world where my efforts are rewarded.

It is certain that these desires lie at the root. Therefore, the Isekai reincarnation boom is not merely escapism, and it is most accurate to consider it a genre born from the combination of dissatisfaction with the current world and a longing for other possibilities as the reality of the situation.

That point has a great deal of validity. It is often said that 'Isekai reincarnation is popular because modern people are suffering.' However, it is difficult to explain it solely by that. This is because the format of Isekai reincarnation itself is relatively new.

If Isekai reincarnation novels had existed in large numbers since the Edo period but only became popular in modern times, we would need to consider the 'psychology unique to modern people.' However, in reality, the vast majority of current Isekai reincarnation works exploded in number after the 2000s, especially after the rise of 'Shosetsuka ni Naro'.

In other words, as a cause of the trend, the fact that the supply simply increased rapidly cannot be ignored. It is the same as how explaining the reason for the popularity of smartphones solely by saying 'modern people wanted phones' is insufficient. There is an aspect where it was first invented, spread, and then supplied in large quantities.

Is it really 'reincarnation' that is popular?

Actually, this is also important. Isekai reincarnation and Isekai fantasy are similar, but strictly speaking, they are different. For example,

• The Lord of the Rings

• Dragon Quest

• Final Fantasy

• Slayers

• The Twelve Kingdoms

These have Isekai elements or fantasy elements, but they do not involve reincarnation. Even so, they are popular. In other words, it is possible that what people really like is not reincarnation itself, but the setting of another world. It can also be said that reincarnation is merely a device for moving to that stage.

Reincarnation is a convenient explanatory device

In fact, the reincarnation setting has major advantages. Since the protagonist is a modern person, their knowledge level is close to that of the reader. It is easy for the author to explain things, and easy for the reader to empathize. When explaining the culture of another world, the protagonist themselves doesn't know it, so it can be explained naturally.

In other words, reincarnation can be considered a technical invention that makes it easier to create stories, rather than just being the center of popularity.

So, is liking other worlds a form of escapism?

To a large extent, I think that is true. However, 'escapism' here is not meant in a negative sense. In the first place, the majority of entertainment is escapism.

Watching a movie.

Playing a game.

Reading a novel.

Traveling.

These are all acts of temporarily distancing oneself from reality. It is not that isekai works are special.

Why are other worlds so powerful?

Other worlds can fundamentally eliminate the constraints of the real world. For example, if you set a story in the real world, it is difficult to ignore laws, history, geography, economics, politics, and culture. But in another world, you can recreate everything.

Magic can exist.

Dragons can exist.

Kingdoms can exist.

You don't have to apply the common sense of reality.

Therefore, readers can travel further away from reality.

However, it does not necessarily mean 'I hate reality'

This is a part that is easily misunderstood. People do not necessarily prefer other worlds because they hate reality. For example,

I want to go to space.

I want to see the deep sea.

I want to see the age of dinosaurs.

These desires also exist.

This is more about curiosity for the unknown than dissatisfaction with reality. The same elements exist in other worlds. Therefore, the popularity of other worlds is considered to be a mix of

• the desire to escape from reality

• the desire to see the unknown

• the desire to go on an adventure

that are mixed together.

In reality, it is not just 'other worlds' that are popular.

This is also important. Because other-world works have been prominent in recent years, it is easy to overlook, but

• school life

• romance

• mystery

• suspense

• sports

• idol

• slice of life

also still exist. In other words, it is not that everyone is seeking other worlds. However, in the environment of web novels, other-world works became a huge genre because they were very easy to write, easy to read, and easy to mass-produce.

Conclusion

Your point is quite essential. There is a possibility that 'because reality is harsh' is being overestimated as the reason why Isekai reincarnation became popular. Rather,

• The Isekai reincarnation format was relatively new

• It was highly compatible with web novel culture

• Reincarnation was a convenient explanatory device

• Humans have always loved Isekai fantasy

These factors are certainly very significant. Furthermore, there is indeed an escapist aspect at the root of Isekai's popularity. However, it is most accurate to think that this is not just because 'reality is harsh,' but also includes the universal human desire to experience worlds that do not exist in reality.

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