When Isekai Goes Both Ways

Ever since Kazuhiro was little, his dreams have consisted of grand adventures in a fantasy world. One day, while dreaming of the fantasy world, he explores a dungeon with his elf friend, Marie. While searching the dungeon, they are both killed by a dragon. Kazuhiro wakes up thinking nothing is out of the ordinary. He has died several times in the fantasy world and always wakes up. However, he starts to get concerned when he feels movement next to him. When he turns over, he is startled to see Marie in the bed next to him. Kazuhiro realizes that his dreams have been real all along. What does this new development mean for Kazuhiro and his friend from another world?

One of the things that I like about this show is that you get two varied forms of isekai in one show. Kazuhiro represents the traditional isekai, as a person from the modern world gets transported to a fantasy land. He goes on adventures, learns how to fight, speaks various languages, and learns about magic.

However, Kazuhiro’s isekai experience breathes new life into the genre in two ways. He can travel back and forth to the magical and modern worlds as much as he pleases. He can’t die in the magical world, so he can travel to diverse places without the high-stakes tension of death looming over him. Also, Kazuhiro can bring people back and forth between the magical and modern worlds. It is nice to see Kazuhiro show Marie his culture and customs. It adds a layer to the show by showing a reverse isekai of how a fantasy character reacts to the modern world. 

Marie’s reactions on her visits to Japan are a joy to watch. Instead of being timid or hesitant about her new surroundings, she takes a proactive approach. The viewers get to see slice-of-life moments of Marie learning to read the Japanese language by watching TV shows, movies, and checking out library books. She learned about the many foods and experiences that Japan had to offer. She even tried to reach out and make friends in the modern world. 

I loved the fact that Marie embraced all these things because not only did it show her willingness to learn, but also her openness to immersing herself in the culture. Many people are not open to change, especially when things are so dissimilar from the way they normally do things. However, Marie loved touring the modern world. It varied significantly from what she knew, but she took everything in stride while learning the ways of Japan with Kazuhiro. 

One thing I felt was a missed opportunity was the mystery around Kazuhiro’s grandfather. It hints at the fact that he knows that his grandson not only travels to another world, but also that Marie is a magical being. However, it leaves several questions: How did he know? Did his dreams lead to the world that Marie is from or somewhere else? The audience will never know, which bugs me to no end.

Despite that loose end, I really loved the show. I think that it teaches how to be a tourist in a foreign country. While checking out the sites in a new place is always a good way to get the lay of the land, it is more important to interact with the culture. Interacting with the natives and learning their customs regarding food, fashion, entertainment, etc. gives you a deeper understanding of the country you are exploring. If you ever go to a new place, try to emulate Marie’s attitude toward exploration. It will ensure that you will have a more memorable time.