History Main / SlowLifeFantasy

While the {{Subgenre}} is not exclusive to Japan, one possible reason for the sudden popularity is the explosion of the {{Salaryman}} and OfficeLady lifestyles within the nation, and the increasing issue of ''Karoshi'' (過労死 -- literally, "death from overwork"); to wit, "dying from overwork" is the #1 [[NecessaryFail cause of death]] for reincarnated heroes of these plots (sorry, [[MemeticPsychopath Truck-kun]], you've been laid-off). Many of these stories are aimed at either adults currently trapped in such a lifestyle, or young people who [[GrowingUpSucks dread their turn at it]]. This SubGenre is thus somewhat of a rejection of one of Japan's most core tenets: that hard work and self-sacrifice are inherently good. It also relates in a roundabout way to CapitalismIsBad, with commonalities with the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiwork antiwork movement]] and the Chinese concept of [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping "lying flat"]].

* ''An A-Ranked Adventurer's Slow-Living'': The story begins with TheHero Aldred and his adventuring party having fulfilled TheQuest, achieving glory, and then [[TheFellowshipHasEnded going their separate ways]]. He decides to retire to a [[{{Arcadia}} countryside village]] he once visited and [[CallToAgriculture live peacefully as a farmer and hunter]]. Unfortunately, his former bosses have [[MandatoryUnretirement other plans]] for him.

While the {{Subgenre}} is not exclusive to Japan, one possible reason for the sudden popularity is the explosion of the {{Salaryman}} and OfficeLady lifestyles within the nation, and the increasing issue of ''Karoshi'' (過労死 -- literally, "death from overwork"); to wit, "dying from overwork" is the #1 [[NecessaryFail cause of death]] for reincarnated heroes of these plots (sorry, [[MemeticPsychopath Truck-kun]], you've been laid-off). Many of these stories are aimed at either adults currently trapped in such a lifestyle, or young people who [[GrowingUpSucks dread their turn at it]]. This SubGenre is thus somewhat of a rejection of one of Japan's most core tenets: that hard work and self-sacrifice is inherently good. It also relates in a roundabout way to CapitalismIsBad, with commonalities with the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiwork antiwork movement]] and the Chinese concept of [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_ping "lying flat"]].

Some see these stories as escapist WishFulfillment that lets people dream of something good waiting after what seems like an unfulfilling life of meaningless and endless toil, while more cynical audiences see the subgenre as, at best, sidestepping the problem and, at worst, ''justifying'' it, since the protagonist is "rewarded" with a much better life, even after death. Another concern is that the anime industry (itself known for overworking its employees) [[TheManIsStickingItToTheMan is cashing in on the very genre which critiques it]] by adapting many light novels and manga with this premise to anime.

This trope is an increasingly-common overlap between the StockLightNovelHero and StockLightNovelEveryman (combining the fantastical origins or powers of the former with the mundane lifestyle of the latter).

* ''Manga/MagicArtisanDahliaWiltsNoMore'' follows the adventures of a modern-day woman who dies from overwork and is reborn in a fantasy world full of monsters, magic, and adventure. Her goal is to become a Magic Artisan (a craftsman who invents magic-imbued tools and material) to bring the comforts of 21st century Earth (like water heaters, blow-dryers, and portable cooktops) to her new home.

* ''An A-Ranked Adventurer's Slow-Living'': The story begins with TheHero Aldred and his adventuring party having fulfilled TheQuest, achieving glory and then [[TheFellowshipHasEnded going their separate ways]]. He decides to retire to a [[{{Arcadia}} countryside village]] he once visited and [[CallToAgriculture live peacefully as a farmer and hunter]]. Unfortunately, his former bosses have [[MandatoryUnretirement other plans]] for him.

* ''Literature/ByTheGraceOfTheGods'': Ryoma was a Japanese {{Salaryman}} who passed away from overwork and was offered a chance by three gods to be reborn in a new world as a child. He takes the offer and begins living alone in a forest, taming slimes and training them to do simple tasks. He is later found by a noble family that adopts him and finds that his extraordinary work ethic (which he retains from his prior adult life) and skill at commanding and cultivating slimes makes him an extremely productive member of society. The premise gets somewhat deconstructed when it's revealed that his mind is slowly regressing into that of an actual child, meaning that he would be unfit for any grander adventure even if he wanted to try it.
* ''Literature/CampfireCookingInAnotherWorldWithMyAbsurdSkill'': 29-year old salaryman Tsuyoshi Mukohda finds himself summoned to another world by accident, alongside four {{Stock Light Novel Hero}}es. Unlike the other summoned heroes, all he wants to do in the new world is travel around to various places, avoid trouble, and sample the cuisines of the world.

* ''Literature/MyLadyJustWantsToRelax'' is a combination of the Slow-Life Fantasy and the RebornAsVillainessStory. A modern Japanese salarywoman dies from overwork, and finds herself reincarnated as Ronia, the villainess of the romance WebSerialNovel she read. She attempts to prevent her downfall by being an ExtremeDoormat, only to find [[YouCantFightFate she still gets exiled anyway]]. However, Ronia takes her exiled life in stride, since this is the first time in two lives she can finally, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin relax]]. The novel is mostly about her time as a cafe owner on the borderlands, where she mingles with various beastkin and spirits. As an equivalent to adventuring in ''Isekai'' written for males, Ronia is [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest no longer]] interested in romance.

* ''Literature/TheSaviorsBookCafeStoryInAnotherWorld'' has an all-powerful being claiming to be {{God}} summoning a 30-year old woman to act as the magical savior of another world. Instead of all of the usual monster-slaying heroics associated with isekai, she uses ThePowerOfCreation to open her own Book Café.

* In ''Literature/TakeTwo'', a rich and famous bass guitarist named Breck is doing a gig when the concert is suddenly attacked by otherworldly {{samurai}} and he leaps into a shadowy portal to escape. There, he winds up in AnotherDimension called "Gotham" which looks somewhat like our world, except that the technology is a few decades behind and the population is a mix of both humans and creatures from other worlds like BeastMen, {{Shapeshifter}}s and so forth. Also, the trusty bass guitar he brought with him is now a TalkingApplianceSidekick. Once there, his only major concern is to find a way back home, but in trying to do so, he winds up spending the night with an attractive waitress named Claire as he tries to find a way to make a living. Further, a powerful interdimensional smuggler offers him a high-risk, high-paying job, Breck turns the offer down. One character even asks him if he intends to become a Hero, and Breck scoffs at the idea. [[spoiler:However, it's quickly revealed that the woman he's living with is a [[SuccubiAndIncubi succubus]], and this has numerous ramifications -- for example, in Gotham, all demons are either enslaved or killed on-sight and a succubus like Claire is in ''extremely'' high demand. Also, it's revealed that Breck is dying -- a problem rendered moot when he learns that Claire's succubus abilities can permanently suppress his terminal symptoms. Thus, when a group of bounty hunters out Claire as a succubus, Breck has no choice but to agree to take the smuggling job so that he can [[HerosSlaveHarem buy Claire as his slave]], both to save ''her'' and keep himself alive, planning to start his life over in Gotham.]]

* The premise of ''Podcast/HelloFromTheMagicTavern'' is that host Arnie fell through a portal from our world into the magical fantasy land of Foon, but while he claims is goal is to get back home, he spends most of his time hanging around in a tavern hosting a talk show podcast and getting to know people in the area. He repeatedly [[RefusedTheCall refuses the call]] to fight the Dark Lord, and his lack of effort in getting home becomes a RunningGag, as co-hosts often claim he hates/abandoned his wife and daughter, despite Arnie's pleas to the contrary.

* ''Literature/DrugstoreInAnotherWorld'': Reiji Kirio, a Japanese {{salaryman}}, gets TrappedInAnotherWorld and starts a drugstore, where he learns how to treat all sorts of magical and unusual ailments plaguing different people and fantasy races. The story is almost entirely without violent conflict and is more about the wacky hijinks of the main case of loveable goofballs.

* ''Literature/IveBeenKillingSlimesFor300YearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'' starts Azusa, a salarywoman who dies from overwork in her mid-20s and is offered a chance to be reborn in a new world by a goddess. She takes up the offer on the condition that she is allowed to be [[TheAgeless immortal]]. After settling into her new life, she spends the next 300 years living a modest life and getting no more exercise than killing 25 slimes per day. However, it turns out that doing so accidentally maxed out her level, making her the [[WorldsStrongestMan strongest being in the world]], and causing all sorts of problems as other warriors come to challenge her or people come to ask her for help. Azusa, in the meantime, simply wants to continue to live her nice, cushy life.

* ''Literature/CampfireCookingInAnotherWorldWithMyAbsurdSkill'': 29-year old salaryman Tsuyoshi Mukohda finds himself summoned to another world by accident, alongside four {{StockLightNovelHero}}es. Unlike the other summoned heroes, all he wants to do in the new world is travel around to various places, avoid trouble, and sample the cuisines of the world.

Some see these stories as escapist WishFulfillment that lets people dream of something good waiting after what seems like an unfulfilling life of meaningless and endless toil, while more cynical audiences see the subgenre as, at best, sidestepping the problem and, at worst, ''justifying'' it, since the protagonist is "rewarded" with a much better life, even after death. Another concern is that the anime industry (itself known for overworking its employees) [[TheManIsStickingItToTheMan is cashing in on the very genre which critiques it.]]

* Invoked and Averted in ''Literature/TrappedInADatingSimTheWorldOfOtomeGamesIsToughForMobs''. The protagonist wants to lay low and live quietly, but his efforts to get himself out of the plot [[SpringtimeForHitler end up backfiring]] and [[KickedUpstairs getting him promoted]].

* ''LightNovel/MyLadyJustWantsToRelax'' is a combination of the Slow-Life Fantasy and the RebornAsVillainessStory. A modern Japanese salarywoman dies from overwork, and finds herself reincarnated as Ronia, the villainess of the romance WebSerialNovel she read. She attempts to prevent her downfall by being an ExtremeDoormat, only to find [[YouCantFightFate she still gets exiled anyway]]. However, Ronia takes her exiled life in stride, since this is the first time in two lives she can finally, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin relax]]. The novel is mostly about her time as a cafe owner on the borderlands, where she mingles with various beastkin and spirits. As an equivalent to adventuring in ''Isekai'' written for males, Ronia is [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest no longer]] interested in romance.

* ''LightNovel/DeathMarchToTheParallelWorldRhapsody'': Ichiro Suzuki, a chronically overworked game developer, takes a nap in his cubicle after a long shift and wakes up in an endgame area of the MMORPG he had just been working on. Despite maxing his character level by wiping out the map with a cheat code he'd just added, he chooses to take it easy as the traveling peddler Satou, only getting involved in the world's problems when they interfere with his business and/or sightseeing.

* ''LightNovel/IveBeenKillingSlimesFor300YearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'' starts Azusa, a salarywoman who dies from overwork in her mid-20s and is offered a chance to be reborn in a new world by a goddess. She takes up the offer on the condition that she is allowed to be [[TheAgeless immortal]]. After settling into her new life, she spends the next 300 years living a modest life and getting no more exercise than killing 25 slimes per day. However, it turns out that doing so accidentally maxed out her level, making her the [[WorldsStrongestMan strongest being in the world]], and causing all sorts of problems as other warriors come to challenge her or people come to ask her for help. Azusa, in the meantime, simply wants to continue to live her nice, cushy life.

* ''Literature/CampfireCookingInAnotherWorldWithMyAbsurdSkill'': 29-year old salaryman Tsuyoshi Mukohda finds himself summoned to another world by accident, alongside four {{StockLightNovelHero}]es. Unlike the other summoned heroes, all he wants to do in the new world is travel around to various places, avoid trouble, and sample the cuisines of the world.

* ''Literature/CampfireCookingInAnotherWorldWithMyAbsurdSkill'': 29-year old salaryman Tsuyoshi Mukohda finds himself summoned to another world by accident, alongside four StockLightNovelProtagonist-style heroes. After finding out that he doesn't have the overpowered abilities of the Heroes, he leaves. All he wants to do in the new world is travel around to various places, avoid trouble, and sample the cuisines of the world.

* ''WebVideo/MothersBasement'' made [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ90L7YrkQc a video]] about various types of isekai, and two of the possible categories he proposed ("Hangout Isekai" and "Karoshisekai") are specifically centered on this genre.[[note]]Although his list included ''LightNovel/{{Konosuba}}'' and ''Anime/PrincessConnectReDive'' as examples -- neither of which would fit this trope's exact description.[[/note]]

* ''An A-Ranked Adventurer's Slow-Living'': The story begins with Aldred and his adventuring party having fulfilled TheQuest, achieving glory and then [[TheFellowshipHasEnded going their separate ways]]. He decides to retire to a [[{{Arcadia}} countryside village]] he once visited and live peacefully. Unfortunately, his former bosses have [[MandatoryUnretirement other plans]] for him.

* ''An A-Ranked Adventurer's Slow-Living'': The story begins with Aldred and his adventuring party having fulfilled TheQuest, achieving glory and then [[TheFellowshipHasEnded going their separate ways]]. He decides to retire to a [[Arcadia countryside village]] he once visited and live peacefully. Unfortunately, his former bosses have [[MandatoryUnretirement other plans]] for him.

* ''LightNovel/ByTheGraceOfTheGods'': Ryoma was a Japanese {{Salaryman}} who passed away from overwork and was offered a chance by three gods to be reborn in a new world as a child. He takes the offer and begins living alone in a forest, taming slimes and training them to do simple tasks. He is later found by a noble family that adopts him and finds that his extraordinary work ethic (which he retains from his prior adult life) and skill at commanding and cultivating slimes makes him an extremely productive member of society. The premise gets somewhat deconstructed when it's revealed that his mind is slowly regressing into that of an actual child, meaning that he would be unfit for any grander adventure even if he wanted to try it.
* ''LightNovel/CookingWithWildGame'': Apprentice chef Asuta Tsurumi finds himself in a fantasy world where the food culture is backwards compared to Earth, and instead of adventuring, starts a food revolution by introducing cooking techniques.