Interest
Real-World Jonathan's Restaurant Inspires Alternate World Light Novel
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
Isekai (alternate world) is a popular genre of manga, anime, and especially light novels. In a typical isekai story, the usually male protagonist finds himself in a fantastical alternate world that is very different from the ordinary human world. However, Yutaka Funabashi and Sunao Tobe's new light novel takes a novel approach to draw from reality and focus on the actual Japanese family restaurant chain Jonathan's.
Funabashi provided the story for the collaboration novel, titled Yōkoso! Jonathan's Isekai Dungeon Chika 1-kai-ten e (Welcome to Jonathan's Alternate World Dungeon Underground 1st-Floor Shop!), and Tobe drew the illustrations. Kodansha Lanove Bunko released the novel on June 30. Funabashi posted a picture of advance copies of the novel, and Tobe posted a celebratory image on Twitter when the volume went on sale.
見本でいただいた「ようこそ!ジョナサン異世界ダンジョン地下1階店へ」、改めて読み返してみた。イラストあるって凄い……!
— 船橋由高@ジョナサン異世界ダンジョン店 (@yutakafunabashi) June 24, 2017
私は自分の作品が大好きな人なので、楽しく読めました。
読んでくれた人も、楽しんでくれるといいなぁ。
あと、ジョナサンのフライドポテト、めっちゃ食べたくなった! pic.twitter.com/lgLQvK1Dpx
本日6/30講談社ラノベ文庫より『ようこそ!ジョナサン異世界ダンジョン地下1階店へ』(著:船橋由高先生)が発売になります。
— 戸部淑 (@tobesuna) June 29, 2017
ジョナサンと完全コラボでこれから一月ほど系列店のレジにて広告も流れるとのことです。見て&読んでいただけますと嬉しいです。 pic.twitter.com/iK6KFPeBr9
The story centers on a young man named Ayumu who starts working a part-time job at a certain Jonathan's that connects Japan to an alternate world. Various monsters come into the restaurant to eat, and Ayumu works hard to satisfy them. One day, a witch girl named Reisu visits the restaurant. Ayumu completely falls for Reisu, but he is the victim of a curse. Reisu says she will search for the key to resolving the curse.
Net commenters responded to the novel's release with a mixture of surprise, mild confusion, and amusement. One commenter said that perhaps the JUSCO supermarket chain would be the next store to inspire a light novel. Another commenter mused that if it's an underground restaurant, the Saizeriya Italian restaurant chain seems more appropriate.
What real-world shop do you think could serve as the setting for a new light novel? Tell us in the forum!
[Via Nijipoi]