Imagine finding yourself in a whole other world where everything is filled with something different from what you have ever known. This idea is known as the isekai genre, a storytelling phenomenon that has captivated and caught the interest of audiences around the world. But how did this genre come to the surface? Let’s find out and understand the origin and its evolution. 

The Story of Urashima Tarō

Did you know that long before anime and light novels existed, there was one of the earliest tales in Japan that had the concept of traveling to another world? It is the story of Urashima Tarō, a fisherman who was taken to an underwater kingdom after rescuing a turtle. It only felt like a moment for him, yet when he came back, centuries had passed. 

This idea not only appears unique in Japan but also across the globe. Myths and legends often featured journeys to other realms, such as Greek heroes venturing to the underworld and the Celtic folklore about a fair folk luring mortals into their hidden fairy kingdoms. As these ideas evolved, Western literature began weaving similar tales. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland shows a girl who fell through rabbit holes into a surreal world where ordinary rules do not apply. These tales laid much of the foundation of isekai, in which the protagonist went to an extraordinary realm unexpectedly.

Warrior from Another World by Haruka Takachico

After the war, the medium of manga and anime had blossomed in Japan. The isekai genre began to take on its modern form. In 1979, Haruka Takachico’s novel Warrior from Another World introduced a unique narrative that focuses on characters transported to unfamiliar worlds, mixing science fiction with fantasy. As time went by, the dawn of the internet age also came, along with the rise of light novels and user-generated web novels. The genre began to grow, and so did its diversity. It is no longer confined to simple portal fantasies; it began to branch into reincarnation tales where characters relive lives with memories intact, virtual reality narratives trapped in digital realms, and reverse isekai where fantasy beings invade the modern world. Each subgenre explored different facets of escapism, power, personal growth, and societal reflection. 

In recent years, Korean manhwas have also emerged as an influential force in the genre’s ongoing evolution. The popularity of digital webtoons has enabled Korean creators to infuse the isekai framework with their unique cultural flavors and storytelling styles. Korean isekai manhwas often blend classic elements such as transmigration, reincarnation, and survival with themes of historical, strategy, and political intrigue. What sets many Korean isekai manhwas apart is their serialization on popular digital platforms with vertical scrolling and vibrant colored artwork, making the reading experience more accessible to mobile audiences. 

Today, isekai stands as a genre both beloved and endlessly adaptable. The genre continues to evolve, challenge, and inspire audiences worldwide. The reason for its enduring allure is simple yet profound. Who has not dreamed of stepping out of their everyday life and into a world where anything is possible? The evolution of the genre from humble myths and fairy tales into stories across mediums and cultures shows how the isekai genre remains as a testament to humanity’s timeless fascination with crossing into the unknown. It is forever inviting us to imagine, explore, and transform.