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In 2017, KADOKAWA made a surprising move in the world of light novels: it banned the isekai genre from a major contest.
The decision, which shocked both aspiring writers and fans alike, was part of an effort to encourage fresh perspectives and reduce the saturation of similar stories that were dominating the market at the time.
Isekai, the genre where protagonists are transported from the real world to a fantasy world, had been growing in popularity for years.
With characters gaining special powers and embarking on epic adventures, isekai stories had become a staple of modern light novels.
Series like Re:Zero and Mushoku Tensei had cemented the genre’s place as a fan favorite, but as more titles entered the market, a sense of redundancy began to set in. Fans then began expressing frustration with the genre’s predictability and lack of originality.
It was in response to this growing concern that KADOKAWA’s light novel label, NOVEL 0, announced a major change in the submission guidelines for its 2017 contest.
The official rules stated that isekai reincarnation and isekai transfer themes would be excluded from the competition, explicitly encouraging submissions in all other genres.
“We are broadly seeking novels that adult men of today would think, ‘I want to read this!’ As long as it’s not isekai reincarnation, any subject is welcome! The era, setting, and content can be of any genre!,” KADOKAWA stated.
While the ban was limited to a single contest, it highlighted the industry’s awareness of genre fatigue among readers and creators. By setting such guidelines, KADOKAWA’s aim was to encourage writers to explore new themes and narratives, potentially leading to a more diverse light novel market.
However, it’s important to note that this ban applied solely to the specific contest and did not indicate a broader shift in KADOKAWA’s publishing strategy.
The publisher continued to release and support isekai titles across its various platforms.
The 2017 ban on isekai in the NOVEL 0 contest sparked intense debate across online forums.
Many viewed it as a response to the genre’s overwhelming popularity, suggesting a need for diversity in storytelling.
They also voiced their concerns that the genre had become formulaic, with too many stories following the same predictable structure: ordinary protagonists finding themselves in a new world, quickly gaining extraordinary abilities, and facing off against powerful enemies.
Conversely, others saw it as a restrictive move that could stifle creativity and limit the exploration of diverse narratives.
Source: Livedoor News
