Summary
The usualisekaiblueprint revolves around the notion of escapism, with protagonists relinquishing their previous existence for a life of adventure. However, someisekai anime and mangadeviate from this standard premise by taking on a slightly more mundane narrative, one where the main charactertakes on the role of a merchant or trader.
From starting businessesin new worlds to gaining cheat skills suited for being merchants, these anime and manga present an entirely novel narrative within the isekai landscape. These storylines are perfect for viewers looking for a digestible and lightweight premise, as they present a side of isekai anime and manga that isn’t usually explored.
Updated January 15th, 2025, by Ahmed Rehan Nasir:Isekai anime are predominantly known for their power fantasies and fast-paced stories, yet an entirely opposite niche exists within the isekai theme, one that focuses on the slow life of merchants and traders. While the notion of taking on the role of a mere merchant in another world might seem rather absurd, it fits the theme of fresh beginnings and leaving one’s previous existence behind. The success of this niche is further evidence of how viewers are intrigued by the concept of the slow life of a trader in a world of high fantasy. For those looking for anime and manga with merchant protagonists, this list has been updated with a few more exciting entries.
49+
Sui Juichiya
Japanese Title
Shounin Yuusha wa Isekai wo Gyuujiru!: Saibai Skill de Nandemo Fuyashichaimasu
The premise ofThe Merchant Hero Will Dominate Another Worldis quite similar toFarming Life in Another World, featuring a protagonist being given a second chance at life with a cultivation skill that grants him mastery of the art of farming. However, this manga cranks up the absurdities by generalizing the cultivation skill to objects beyond crops. With this skill, Shoji Akina can cultivate almost any item, whether it’s edible or inedible, organic or inorganic, or merely plastic.
With this odd skill, Shoji Akina dominates his new world by taking over the market in true entrepreneurial fashion. While the premise of the manga may seem absurd, especially with Shoji Akina’s overpowered cultivation skill, it is still an interesting read, as it offers a break from overpowered high fantasy narratives.
2018
65+
Inaka no Home Center Otoko no Jiyuu na Isekai Seikatsu
Not all isekai protagonists are lucky enough to be reincarnated with overpowered abilities, and Masaru is one such example. Reincarnated in another world with a handful of low-quality skills, Masaru gets the short end of the stick in this reincarnation fantasy. Luckily for him, his abilities are perfect for construction work, a profession that he was already quite adept at in his previous life.
With knowledge from his previous life combined with his newfound skills, Masaru goes on a construction adventure in an agricultural village in another world. With a slow-life theme and a lightweight narrative,The Home Improvement Store Employee Building an Agricultural Village in Another Worldmight not delve into anything too intense, though this makes it perfect for a light read.
True to its namesake,Sweet Reincarnationfollows the rebirth of a promising pastry chef in a fantasy world. Reborn as a child named Pastry, the prodigal chef sets off on his baking endeavors, all while bringing prosperity to his land through his ingenious desserts.
While the premise ofSweet Reincarnationmight sound appealing, the anime falls short due to its lack of direction. The series delves into themes such as political and royal drama, cooking, nation-building, and even romance, all within a span of twelve episodes. Without a clear identity, the anime ends up seeming like another generic isekai story with nothing much to offer. Sweet Reincarnation’s manga, on the other hand, ties the plot together without seeming like a convoluted mess. This is largely due to more breathing room for the manga to flesh out the characters, coupled with a focus on specific plot points such as Pastry’s cooking endeavors.
29
Isekai Ekisha no Kissaten
Cooking narratives tend to mesh well with the isekai format, though it’s no surprise considering the warm emotions these lighthearted storylines induce.The Coffee Shop in a Different World Stationoffers a similar premise ofcooking in another world, but with the setting of akawaiicoffee shop. Takumi and Nyaachi suddenly find themselves in another world, where they take refuge in a station building.
The duo decides to start a coffee shop within that station building, featuring an intricate two-part afternoon and morning menu with all sorts of baked delights. With the cafe becoming a success, the two are visited by regular patrons, giving way to wholesome interactions and interesting dynamics.The Coffee Shop in a Different World Stationis a unique manga that differs from the norm, offering readers a more laid-back isekai experience.
14
Tensei Ouji wa Renkinjutsushi to Nari Koukoku Suru
The Reincarnated Prince Becomes an Alchemist and Brings Prosperity to His Countryis a kingdom-building manga that throws in a fair amount of crafting and economics. After being reincarnated as a prince of a lowly kingdom, Hiro is tasked with the insurmountable responsibility of bringing his nation back on track.
While Hiro doesn’t take on the role of a merchant in the traditional sense, he manages to capture the essence of the craft by utilizing alchemy and modern-day knowledge to bring economic prosperity to his nation. With business, trading, and macroeconomics, the manga hits all the right notes in terms of presenting an engaging narrative.
48+
Around 40 Otoko no Isekai Tsuuhan Seikatsu
Kenichi is a middle-aged man who suddenly finds himself in a new world, albeit with no apparent reason behind this isekai set up. While trying to survive the monsters found within this new world, he discovers a cheat ability that only he has access to: “online store.”
By earning money in this new world, Kenichi has the power to buy modern items from his online store. Through this peculiar business model, Kenichi quickly rises to the top and becomes a successful businessman.The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another Worldisa casual isekai mangathat doesn’t have a definitive plot, though the narrative itself is quite amusing. Kenichi’s cheat ability is a common element in most isekai as well, though the manga adds a novel spin to the concept by forcing him to find work in this fantasy world.
66+
Isekai Kenkokuki
Different World Foundationstarts with a rather grim tone, with the protagonist being reborn as an orphaned child abandoned at a young age. However, Almus manages to turn things around with the knowledge he retained from his previous life, giving way to a small farming village run by orphans.
While the manga starts off with a focus on farming and agriculture, it eventually branches out to macroeconomics and nation-building after the village starts to flourish. With a farmer-turned-leader at the helm,Different World Foundationpresents an interesting lesson onleadership and management. Almus might take on the role of a leader down the line, yet his humble beginnings as a farmer and trader cement him as a merchant protagonist.
31+
Madougushi Dahlia wa Utsumukanai
Dahlia’s former life is laden with gloom and despair, but her untimely passing lands her a second chance at life in a fantasy world. Using her knowledge of manufacturing items and crafting tools, Dahlia soon becomes the talk of the town with herotherworldly products and new inventions.
With magic in the mix, Dahlia vows to enjoy every second of her new life and spend her days crafting magical items as a trader. Dahlia’s positivity and enthusiasm are rather contagious, which is a surprising change from her gloomy disposition in her previous life.Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No Moreis slightly heavy on the escapism aspects of isekai manga, though the story itself is quite wholesome as Dahlia finds her true self in this new world.
Being reincarnated in a new world doesn’t always have to equate to dangerous adventures, andParallel World Pharmacyshowcases this fact with a noble subtext. Kanji Yakutani is a medical researcher who passes away at a young age due to being overworked, yet he opens his eyes once more in another world as a 10-year-old child named Falma.
Realizing that medical care is a privilege confined to the upper echelons of society, Falma uses his noble status and past knowledge of medicine to make proper medical care accessible to all throughhis pharmacy business. This isekai anime alludes to the inaccessibility of proper medical care in the real world, making the narrative all the more profound.Parallel World Pharmacywas also part of the Japan Pharmaceutical Association’s campaign to bring awareness to the practices of the pharmaceutical field.
After living a life of misery and succumbing to a terminal illness, God takes pity on Hiraku and gives him another chance at life. Wanting to try his hand at farming, Hiraku receives the “Almighty Farming Tool” to aid him in his agricultural endeavors.
Similar to any isekai anime with a trader at the helm,Farming Life in Another Worldtakes an easy-going approach to its storytelling. The focus remains on Hiraku’s growth as a farmer, though the anime gets sidetracked with its harem antics down the line. Still, the series is anenjoyable farming animethat serves as a refreshing break from tense narratives.Farming Life in Another Worldis one of the few anime-adaptations out there that stands superior to its manga counterpart, arguably due to the anime’s vibrant setting and laid-back tonality.
