Highlights
- Finding a reverse isekai light novel like The Devil Is A Part-Timer is difficult, but untranslated novels on Bookwalker and Booklive are worth checking out.
- Demon Lord 2099 is a unique reverse isekai set in a futuristic version of Tokyo, and it will be adapted into an anime in 2024.
- The Saint Was Summoned A Long Time Ago. In Japan. is a slice-of-life light novel with a manga adaptation that rearranges events to build a deeper connection with the protagonist.
Finding a reverse isekai light novel like The Devil Is A Part-Timer can be difficult, but not impossible. Most titles picked up by English publishers have, or will soon have, anime adaptations. The Devil Is A Part-Timer itself gained mainstream appeal in North America through its anime back in 2013.
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But even untranslated reverse isekai light novels have great stories worth checking out. Websites such as Bookwalker and Booklive make it easier for readers to select text for machine translation or kanji dictionaries. There is also a healthy discussion of Japanese-only reverse isekai light novels on popular forums to help fans go through novels as accurately as possible.
1 Demon Lord 2099
Sci-Fi Futuristic Demon Lord Reverse Isekai
Japanese Name | 魔王2099 (Maō 2099) |
Original Run | January 20, 2021 – present |
Volumes | 3 |
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English Publisher | Yen Press |
Demon Lord 2099 is a unique reverse isekai as it’s set in the future instead of modern Japan. Moreover, its setting is a fusion of 2023 Earth and the magical fantasy world of Alneath. Tokyo would later be transformed into the city-state of Shinjuku, where the light novel is set.
Demon lord Veltol Velvet Velsvalt would be reborn into this setting 76 years later. Although faced with magiengineering, the fusion of Alneath’s magic and Earth’s technology, Veltol still aspires for world domination.
Veltol’s quest for world domination will be adapted into an anime in 2024 by Food Wars studio J.C. Staff.
2 Why Not Go To Jusco With Me, Valkyrie?
Rural Slice-Of-Life With An Otaku Princess And Tsundere Valkyrie
Japanese Name | 女騎士さん、ジャスコ行こうよ (Onna Kishi-san, Jusco Ikou yo?) |
Original Run | September 2014 – September 2015 |
Volumes | 4 |
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Original Publisher | KADOKAWA |
Rin Ichirou was a normal high schooler from the boonies in Hiraya, Nagano Prefecture. His quiet nerdy life is disrupted when he finds Princess Pau, a hardcore otaku, and the loyal but simple Valkyrie, Clauzela Lou Kotovic, between rice paddies during a storm.
Before he knows it, Pau establishes an embassy in his home, not knowing that his town is stranger than it appears. What follows are hijinks packed with Japanese nerd humor, memes, and cross-cultural jokes. Why Not Go To Jusco With Me, Valkyrie? also has a short manga adaptation available for comic fans.
3 The Saint Was Summoned A Long Time Ago. In Japan.
Ex-Saint Tries To Live Peacefully In Small Japanese City
Japanese Name | 聖女はとっくに召喚されている。日本に。(Seijo wa Tokkuni Shokan sa Rete iru. Nihon ni.) |
Original Run | August 22, 2023 (Light Novel) |
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Original Publisher | Akita Shoten |
Rei Natsukawa is a model clerk at Kikawa Metal and a fortune teller at a bar. She was also Alexandra Oriele, the saint of another world who still bears her supernatural abilities in modern Japan. Using her saintess power, Rei tries to live a peaceful life in spite of scummy companies, an evil miasma, and Earth’s gods sending trouble her way.
Manga fans are in luck, as The Saint Was Summoned A Long Time Ago. In Japan. was picked up for a manga adaptation. Its manga smartly rearranges events to naturally build the reader’s connection to Rei and her mysterious past.
4 A Salad Bowl Of Eccentrics
A Sister’s All You Need Writer’s Next Long Series
Japanese Name | 変人のサラダボウル (Henjin no Sarada Bōru) |
Original Run | October 19, 2021 – Present |
Volumes | 5 |
Genres | Comedy |
Original Publisher | Shogakukan |
29-year-old broke detective Sousuke Kaburaya runs into Sara D’Odin by chance. He quickly finds out that Sara’s a magical princess from another world. They end up living together, while other people from Sara’s world pop up in Japan.
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Grasshopper-eating knight Livia crosses over and becomes happily homeless under the tutelage of fellow bum Suzuki. Others become cult leaders, cabaret workers, ruthless lawyers, and more as the city turns into a weird salad bowl of otherworlders and normies.
Studio Comet and SynergySP will release an animated adaptation of A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics or Hensara in 2024. Meanwhile, Shonen Sunday Comics carries its manga adaptation.
5 Sasaki And Peeps
Middle-Aged Man Reverse Isekai Adventure
Japanese Name | 佐々木とピーちゃん (Sasaki to Pii-chan) |
Original Run | January 25, 2021 – Present |
Volumes | 5 (Released in English) |
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English Publisher | Yen Press |
Middle-aged, tired, and unfulfilled by his dead-end corporate job, Sasaki looks for companionship in an adopted pet Java sparrow. To his surprise, his sparrow Peeps turns out to be the reincarnated legendary sage Piercalo.
But instead of pure heroics, Sasaki and Peeps tackle entrepreneurship and start an import business between their worlds. Nevertheless, Sasaki gets caught up in inter-dimensional hijinks, death games, and succession wars.
Sasaki and Peeps has five volumes out in English, with a sixth in the works. Isekai veteran Silver Link will handle its anime adaptation, slated for 2024.
6 The Son Of The Hero
Another Reverse Isekai From The Devil Is A Part-Timer’s Author
Japanese Name | 勇者のセガレ (Yuusha no Segare) |
Original Run | January 2017 – November 2019 |
Volumes | 4 |
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Original Publisher | ASCII Media Works |
In this reverse isekai by The Devil Is A Part-Timer writer Satoshi Wagahara, the otherworlder has come to a city near Tokyo to find the legendary hero. Dianaza Krone has as an envoy to entreat the Hero of Salvation to save their world again.
Unfortunately for Yasuo and Nodoka, that hero is their dad, Hideo Kenzaki. To keep their life peaceful, they have to think of a way to keep their dad home. At the same time, they need to find a solution for Diana, whose world is once again threatened by a demon lord.
7 Regarding That We Decided To Live In The Countryside With The Female Knight Who Came To Us
Alt Title: I Decided To Live With The Female Knight Who Came To The Countryside
Japanese Name | 俺んちに来た女騎士と田舎暮らしすることになった件 (Orenchi ni Kita Onna Kishi to Inakagurashi suru Koto ni Natta Ken) |
Original Run | August 5, 2017 – Present |
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English Publisher | Takarajimasha |
As expected of a light novel, this work tells the reader its basic premise from the title alone. Regarding That We Decided To Live In The Countryside With The Female Knight Who Came To Us follows the “we” and female knight.
The “we” in this case is 32-year-old Saeki Kanji, a salaryman turned farmer. While tending to his deceased parent’s farm, a female knight named Christina Brunhild Von Melvis knocks on his door. Despite his misgivings, Saeki allows Christina to stay the night.
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Christina’s culture shock extends from food preferences to the color of the sky and things Saeki takes for granted. Saeki, on the other hand, finds his unchanging days suddenly filled with life. Their friendship grows as Christina adjusts to her new life and Saeki accepts having another person on his farm.
8 Welcome To Japan, Ms. Elf!
Romantic Slice-Of-Life With A Cute Elf
Japanese Name | 日本へようこそエルフさん。 (Nihon e Yōkoso Erufu-san.) |
Original Run | August 25, 2018 – Present |
Volumes | 8 |
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English Publisher | J-Novel Club |
Kitase Kazuhiro lives a completely normal life as a salaryman. His dreams are another story. In them, Kazuhiro would dream of a fantasy world where he goes on adventures with his elf friend Marie.
However, Marie doesn’t stay in his dreams. He wakes up with her by his side one day after they are killed by a dragon in his dreams. They quickly discover that he and Marie can go back to the fantasy world by sleeping, and vice versa by dying or via slumber.
Their day-to-day lives change as Marie gets used to Japanese life and Kitase grows his powers in the other world. Not long after, Kitase invites more friends to Japan, all while progressing his and Marie's journey through dungeons.