10 Isekai Anime & Manga With Protagonists Reincarnated As Merchants Or Traders

The usual isekai blueprint revolves around the notion of escapism, with protagonists relinquishing their previous existence for a life of adventure. However, some isekai anime and manga deviate from this standard premise by taking on a slightly more mundane narrative, one where the main character takes on the role of a merchant or trader.

From starting businesses in 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 October 1st, 2024, by Ahmed Rehan Nasir: The isekai genre has branched into all manner of absurd themes and premises, which makes the notion of being reincarnated as a merchant or trader seem rather tame. However, this theme defies the very concept of isekai escapism, as these protagonists end up taking roles that mirror real-life professions. Nevertheless, this subgenre within the isekai theme has its own charm, with viewers being roused by the notion of a slow existence in another world. For fans of this dynamic niche, this list has been updated with a few more anime and manga.

10 Sweet Reincarnation

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.52/5

True to its namesake, Sweet Reincarnation follows 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 of Sweet Reincarnation might 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.

9 The Coffee Shop In A Different World Station

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.68/5

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 Station offers a similar premise of cooking in another world, but with the setting of a kawaii coffee 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 Station is a unique manga that differs from the norm, offering readers a more laid-back isekai experience.

8 The Reincarnated Prince Becomes an Alchemist and Brings Prosperity to His Country

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.76/5

The Reincarnated Prince Becomes an Alchemist and Brings Prosperity to His Country is 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.

7 The Daily Life Of A Middle-Aged Online Shopper In Another World

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.77/5

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 World is a casual isekai manga that 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.

6 Different World Foundation

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.78/5

Different World Foundation starts off 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 Foundation presents an interesting lesson on leadership 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.

5 Magic Artisan Dahlia Wilts No More

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.85/5

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 her otherworldly 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 More is 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.

4 Parallel World Pharmacy

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.89/5

Being reincarnated in a new world doesn’t always have to equate to dangerous adventures, and Parallel World Pharmacy showcases 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 through his 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 Pharmacy was also part of the Japan Pharmaceutical Association’s campaign to bring awareness to the practices of the pharmaceutical field.

3 Farming Life in Another World

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.93/5

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 World takes 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 an enjoyable farming anime that serves as a refreshing break from tense narratives. Farming Life in Another World is 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.

2 Campfire Cooking In Another World With My Absurd Skill

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.06/5

True to its namesake, Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill is a slice-of-life cooking isekai with a protagonist that wants nothing to do with adventure. Tsuyoshi Mukouda is summoned to a new world as a hero, though his cheat skill “online supermarket” deems him useless for the kingdom.

He soon realizes that this skill allows him to buy cheap ingredients from modern-day Japan that are considered a luxury in the new world. Using this opportunity, Mukouda resigns himself to a peaceful life of cooking meals and feeding those he meets along the way. In this comfort-laden adventure, Mukouda enjoys the escapism of being “isekai’d,” all while remaining grounded as a traveling merchant. The anime becomes all the more entertaining with Mukouda’s roster of companions, whether it’s the mighty Fenrir or a tiny slime.

1 My Lady Just Wants to Relax

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.11/5

My Lady Just Wants to Relax is an isekai villainess manga with a protagonist destined for doom, yet the story manages to differentiate itself through an odd twist. Instead of fighting for her place in the novel’s story, Ronia accepts her condemnation and uses her newfound freedom to open a café in the countryside.

The manga presents a laid-back rendition of the villainess theme, which oddly makes it a refreshing storyline. With Ronia spending her days drinking coffee and fawning over beastmen who visit her café, My Lady Just Wants to Relax is perfect for a lightweight read. Despite lacking complex plot points and antagonistic characters, the manga has remained a fan-favorite owing to its laid-back premise and slow-existence isekai theme.