Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! – Episode 1

What’s it about? In another world, the Demon King rules with an iron fist and the might of his Four Heavenly Kings. One member of that elite group just so happens to be everyday salaryman Uchimura Denosuke, a millennial who got taken from paper pusher to power player when he gets hand picked by the lord of darkness himself. Is it enough to have office know-how in this new world?

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I’m not gonna lie, I picked Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! (hereafter Headhunted to Another World) specifically because of the title and subsequently because of the premise. I think there’s something incredibly funny about millennials getting tossed into another world because they…have basic organizational skills. It’s like if I got taken to another world because I’m really good at making PowerPoints: silly, but satisfying when executed right.

It was my hope that Headhunted to Another World would get this right. Does it? Only one way to find out. Put on that blazer, get a fresh cup of coffee, and sit down to manager some office matters in a fantastical world!

Episode 1, “Tips on How to Pass the Entrance Exam in Another World,” starts with a bang as the Demon Lord, clad in black and gold armor, calls upon his infernal Heavenly Kings to assemble in his throne room. One is known as the Inferno Assailant; another as the Archmage of Storms; yet another is the Earthen Bastion. Finally is the most fierce of them all, the heart and soul, the glue that holds these elite generals together, wielding water: a Japanese guy who works in overseas management.

Enter Denosuke, a rolled-sleeves, tie-wearing millennial with a bit of scruff from that extreme overtime, and our would-be hero. A self-described insignificant individual, Denosuke has mostly managed to make it through life like a lot of people: working hard and not getting acknowledged because corporations are selfish organizations. Still, he finds his way until he gets shifted to oversea management, which is something of a dead-end thankless role to be shuffled into. Then, as he prepares to move to another country, Denosuke starts to ask what exactly he’s doing with his life: what has all his hard work been for? It’s a question that pulls at the soul.

And then he’s promptly hit by a motorbike and knocked into another world.

What ensues is Denosuke going from being bottom of the pyramid despite his work ethic to getting inducted into Demon General 101 as part of the Demon Lord’s army. Heck, the guy is even so nice as to offer Denosuke a trip back to his reality if he doesn’t want to stay? But after experiencing being piled upon with no thanks in return, Denosuke (smartly) decides to stay in another world, especially since he’s offered an office.

This one is for those who have had the thought, “I bet they’ll all feel pretty bad at work if I get isekai’d to another world when that big project is due. I was the only one doing it anyway!” It’s for everyone who knows what it is to be undervalued at work on a daily basis. It’s also quite an enjoyable premiere, playing off of unexpected markers of success just to get a solid job in the demonic ranks of society. It’s not unlike Denosuke’s life back in Japan, or his existence in a capitalistic society.

I suppose that’s why I actually enjoyed this quirky premiere: having an adult protagonist (who isn’t a total creep) makes for a much more robust premiere, and while I wish these type of stories would explore what it would be like for a woman in Denosuke’s position to experience this type of narrative, I will say that what is here is pretty good, outside of the totally odd and off-putting opening, which feels jarring against such a comedic story.

Still, I found that the meat of the show was enjoyable. It’s really not unlike working in an office: you have coworkers (member of the Demon Army) that you need to get to play nice, you have paperwork and collaborative projects, and you’re going to have to get creative to get it all done. Only in this case, the Demon Lord already has done his due diligence and knows Denosuke’s worth: it’s just up to Denosuke to establish who he is, find his business acumen again, and stand on business.

In the end, I actually really liked Headhunted to Another World. It’s just the right amount of silly and relatable without being too relatable. It’s just enough tongue in cheek about what would realistically happen in this fantastical situation that I found it an easy watch. Combined with the fact that Denosuke is just a normal human (a rarity when your protagonist thinks he’s the hottest guy to ever get sent to another world) who blends his human reality with the otherworldly actuality of his situation.

Altogether, this is one of the best premieres out right now, though it’s just the start of the Winter 2025 season. I really suggest watching it to whet your appetite for the rest of the newcomers and returning series this chilly season will have to offer. While not a must- see, I do think there’s something special here. So get cozy and take a thirty minute break to watch Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four!: you deserve it!