JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World

JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World (Japanese: JKハルは異世界で娼婦になった, Hepburn: JK Haru wa Isekai de Shōfu ni Natta) is a Japanese novel by Kō Hiratori, first published in Japan as a web novel from October 2016 to August 2017 on the website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by Hayakawa Publishing, who published it in December 2017 with cover art by shimano. The novel follows the high school student Haru Koyama, who is transported to another world after her death, where she begins work as a sex worker.

JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World
First novel volume cover
JKハルは異世界で娼婦になった
(JK Haru wa Isekai de Shōfu ni Natta)
GenreIsekai
Novel series
Written byKō Hiratori
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runOctober 26, 2016August 2, 2017
Novel series
Written byKō Hiratori
Illustrated byshimano
Published byHayakawa Publishing
English publisher
ImprintHayakawa Bunko JA
Original runDecember 6, 2017December 4, 2019
Volumes2
Manga
Written byKō Hiratori
Illustrated byJ-ta Yamada
Published byShinchosha
English publisher
ImprintBunch Comics
MagazineManga Ōkoku
DemographicJosei
Original runJune 14, 2019September 22, 2023
Volumes7
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A second volume titled JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World: Summer, which is a collection of several short stories that complement the main story, was published in December 2019. The novel has also been adapted into a manga series, illustrated by J-ta Yamada.

Plot

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The Japanese high school student Haru Koyama and her male classmate Seiji Chiba are killed in a traffic accident and are teleported to another world together. While Chiba becomes an adventurer and goes out to slay monsters, Haru discovers that women aren't allowed to have special powers in the new world, so she decides to make a living as a sex worker.

Media

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JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World is written by Kō Hiratori. It started as a web novel on the website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in October 2016.[1] In December 2017, it was acquired by Hayakawa Publishing, who published it in print with cover art by shimano.[1] In North America, the publisher J-Novel Club licensed the series and published it as an e-book in English.[1]

A manga adaptation, illustrated by J-ta Yamada, started on June 14, 2019. It was serialized on the Manga Ōkoku website under its Utsutsu label.[2] It was published by Shinchosha in seven volumes in the tankōbon format from November 2019 to December 2023.[3] Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the manga in North America and will publish it under its Ghost Ship imprint.[4]

Reception

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JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World won an award in the doujinshi, or private publication category at the BookWalker Grand Prix Awards 2019 from digital publisher BookWalker.[5] The work was also BookWalker's sixth best-selling e-book of 2019.[6] In the 2019 edition of the annually published light novel guide Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World was listed at number seven in the tankobon category.[7]

Kim Morrissy wrote in her column "The Best (and worst) Isekai Light Novels" on Anime News Network that JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World is embracing the isekai genre in a much darker and more deranged manner as a commentary on the genre. In it, the female protagonist Haru is thrown into a misogynist fantasy world and has to work as a prostitute to survive, while her classmate, who has also been teleported into this world, is endowed with superhuman powers. Morrissy interprets this as a mirror for how these medieval-looking worlds of this genre are particularly restrictive towards women, while male characters are not confronted with such situations due to their privileges.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lynzee Loveridge, Rafael Antonio Pineda (2018-07-05). "J-Novel Club Licenses Amagi Brilliant Park, Kokoro Connect, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  2. ^ バンチ×まんが王国のレーベル・ウツツ始動、現役AV女優の自伝など新連載5本 (in Japanese). Natalie. May 21, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (January 13, 2023). "JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World Manga to End in 7th Volume This Summer". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  4. ^ "Seven Seas Adds JK Haru Is a Sex Worker in Another World Manga". Anime News Network. February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Mikikazu Komatsu (2020-03-13). "Aka Akasaka's Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Manga Wins Book Walker Grand Prix Award 2019". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  6. ^ Lynzee Loveridge (2019-12-17). "Yaoi Manga Under One Roof With the Beast, The Rising of the Shield Hero Top Bookwalker Global Sales Ranking". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  7. ^ Rafael Antonio Pineda (2018-11-23). "Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! Reveals 2019 Series Ranking". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  8. ^ Kim Morrissy (2018-04-13). "The Best (and worst) Isekai Light Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
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