Novel difficulty list This is a list of novels, both light novels and traditional novels, ranked by their difficulty, on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is very easy and 10 is very hard. You can use it to find the most appropriate novel to read based on how good your Japanese is.
If you already have a novel in mind which is around your level you can also search for it, and then click on "Show details ..." to see other novels of similar difficulty.
The difficulty ratings were generated automatically by a machine learning model. If you're interested in how we calculated them take a look here . We do not distribute any copyrighted materials from any of these works; we only provide aggregate statistics.
We also have other difficulty lists if you're interested:
Sort by Advanced search... Showing 51..100 from 1475 entries
Novel
Iconoclast! Length (in words) 425741 Unique words 18559 Unique words (used once) 6415 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2542 Unique kanji (used once) 207 Unique kanji readings 5027 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.5 Characters 969123 Volumes 10
Novel
Boukyaku Tantei Series Length (in words) 595400 Unique words 23374 Unique words (used once) 7801 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2503 Unique kanji (used once) 248 Unique kanji readings 4893 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 38.8 Characters 1470390 Volumes 13
Novel
1984 Nen Length (in words) 113084 Unique words 11860 Unique words (used once) 5173 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 2126 Unique kanji (used once) 336 Unique kanji readings 3741 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 34.7 Characters 265729 Volumes 1
Novel
Paracelsus no Musume Length (in words) 468052 Unique words 23212 Unique words (used once) 8352 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2711 Unique kanji (used once) 297 Unique kanji readings 5292 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 28.4 Characters 1112519 Volumes 10
Novel
Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Ex Length (in words) 290437 Unique words 17000 Unique words (used once) 5913 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2403 Unique kanji (used once) 231 Unique kanji readings 4759 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.9 Characters 653098 Volumes 5
Novel
Ten to Chi to Length (in words) 299500 Unique words 18660 Unique words (used once) 7000 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2614 Unique kanji (used once) 376 Unique kanji readings 5184 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 26.5 Characters 663371 Volumes 5
Novel
No Game No Life Length (in words) 350555 Unique words 18360 Unique words (used once) 6698 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2461 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 4850 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 18.9 Characters 771480 Volumes 8
Novel
Bakumatsu Mahoushi Length (in words) 204244 Unique words 16391 Unique words (used once) 6438 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2686 Unique kanji (used once) 316 Unique kanji readings 5313 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.8 Characters 441202 Volumes 3
Novel
Chuushingura Length (in words) 282888 Unique words 20381 Unique words (used once) 7758 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2930 Unique kanji (used once) 383 Unique kanji readings 6182 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 26.9 Characters 615473 Volumes 5
Novel
Isekai Goumon Hime Length (in words) 485890 Unique words 17443 Unique words (used once) 5404 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2549 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 5006 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 1029454 Volumes 10
Novel
Double Breed Length (in words) 486932 Unique words 17914 Unique words (used once) 6314 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2432 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 4740 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.0 Characters 1113507 Volumes 10
Novel
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Length (in words) 2023115 Unique words 32456 Unique words (used once) 7519 Unique words (used once %) 23% Unique kanji 2859 Unique kanji (used once) 148 Unique kanji readings 6048 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 23.2 Characters 4617247 Volumes 33
Novel
Goju Kishidan Monogatari Younen Gakkou Hen Length (in words) 263721 Unique words 12623 Unique words (used once) 4124 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2032 Unique kanji (used once) 230 Unique kanji readings 3708 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 19.2 Characters 585955 Volumes 5
Novel
Rakuin no Monshou Length (in words) 671768 Unique words 21738 Unique words (used once) 6085 Unique words (used once %) 27% Unique kanji 2580 Unique kanji (used once) 221 Unique kanji readings 5108 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 26.7 Characters 1578074 Volumes 12
Novel
Mokushiroku Length (in words) 186194 Unique words 15802 Unique words (used once) 6532 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2786 Unique kanji (used once) 338 Unique kanji readings 5541 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 19.7 Characters 402482 Volumes 2
Novel
Kyouiki no Ars Magna Length (in words) 214933 Unique words 16821 Unique words (used once) 6861 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2467 Unique kanji (used once) 289 Unique kanji readings 4770 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 25.7 Characters 474458 Volumes 3
Novel
Mad Bullet Underground Length (in words) 204319 Unique words 13487 Unique words (used once) 4971 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2287 Unique kanji (used once) 223 Unique kanji readings 4291 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 25.8 Characters 466600 Volumes 3
Novel
Lunatic Moon Length (in words) 284696 Unique words 13181 Unique words (used once) 4493 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2394 Unique kanji (used once) 245 Unique kanji readings 4383 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 646928 Volumes 5
Novel
Reimei no Sho Length (in words) 305279 Unique words 17329 Unique words (used once) 6623 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2592 Unique kanji (used once) 288 Unique kanji readings 5091 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 27.3 Characters 681407 Volumes 3
Novel
Goblin Slayer Length (in words) 840663 Unique words 24381 Unique words (used once) 7076 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2892 Unique kanji (used once) 212 Unique kanji readings 6052 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 1851561 Volumes 16
Novel
Devil Chronicle Length (in words) 131302 Unique words 12430 Unique words (used once) 5159 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2351 Unique kanji (used once) 261 Unique kanji readings 4404 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.4 Characters 294482 Volumes 7
Novel
Mardock Scramble Length (in words) 183060 Unique words 13237 Unique words (used once) 5234 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2116 Unique kanji (used once) 252 Unique kanji readings 3810 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.8 Characters 428401 Volumes 3
Novel
Ring Series Length (in words) 401030 Unique words 20937 Unique words (used once) 7355 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2536 Unique kanji (used once) 250 Unique kanji readings 5035 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 29.1 Characters 937684 Volumes 6
Novel
Baccano! 1934 Length (in words) 181098 Unique words 11970 Unique words (used once) 4882 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2104 Unique kanji (used once) 273 Unique kanji readings 3841 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 24.3 Characters 414261 Volumes 3
Novel
Han Osaka no Jin Length (in words) 198908 Unique words 13295 Unique words (used once) 5030 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2449 Unique kanji (used once) 267 Unique kanji readings 4781 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 19.9 Characters 426483 Volumes 4
Novel
Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai Suru Length (in words) 304955 Unique words 17214 Unique words (used once) 6083 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2454 Unique kanji (used once) 273 Unique kanji readings 4785 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.2 Characters 682920 Volumes 5
Novel
Sekai no Chuushin, Hariyama-san Length (in words) 171453 Unique words 12043 Unique words (used once) 5148 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2130 Unique kanji (used once) 295 Unique kanji readings 3847 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 23.9 Characters 380198 Volumes 3
Novel
Danshou no Grimm Length (in words) 669229 Unique words 20593 Unique words (used once) 6676 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2623 Unique kanji (used once) 236 Unique kanji readings 5167 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 27.4 Characters 1533376 Volumes 17
Novel
Sawayama Monogatari Length (in words) 263424 Unique words 14031 Unique words (used once) 5235 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2381 Unique kanji (used once) 293 Unique kanji readings 4663 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 21.8 Characters 583593 Volumes 6
Novel
Shakugan no Shana S Length (in words) 150885 Unique words 15093 Unique words (used once) 6458 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2480 Unique kanji (used once) 328 Unique kanji readings 4793 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 29.8 Characters 341662 Volumes 3
Novel
Chrome Shelled Regios Length (in words) 430817 Unique words 17587 Unique words (used once) 6333 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2312 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 4502 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 21.4 Characters 1022668 Volumes 11
Novel
Sword Art Online Length (in words) 1503804 Unique words 34669 Unique words (used once) 10056 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2928 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 6175 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 28.0 Characters 3462907 Volumes 25
Novel
Kamen no Kokuhaku Length (in words) 62343 Unique words 10042 Unique words (used once) 5224 Unique words (used once %) 52% Unique kanji 2336 Unique kanji (used once) 422 Unique kanji readings 4174 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 32.0 Characters 133337 Volumes 1
Novel
Ryuuban Nanachou: Dragon Buster Length (in words) 123957 Unique words 13794 Unique words (used once) 6240 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 2425 Unique kanji (used once) 362 Unique kanji readings 4685 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 30.1 Characters 265896 Volumes 2
Novel
Baccano! 1933 The Slash Length (in words) 101820 Unique words 8523 Unique words (used once) 3734 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 1828 Unique kanji (used once) 297 Unique kanji readings 3172 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 23.8 Characters 230184 Volumes 2
Novel
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta Length (in words) 239308 Unique words 12323 Unique words (used once) 4640 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2401 Unique kanji (used once) 351 Unique kanji readings 4535 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 33.8 Characters 509146 Volumes 1
Novel
Genesis Series: Kyoukaisenjou no Horizon Length (in words) 379458 Unique words 17225 Unique words (used once) 6525 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2390 Unique kanji (used once) 268 Unique kanji readings 4633 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.6 Characters 794133 Volumes 3
Novel
Banner of the Stars Length (in words) 198126 Unique words 13620 Unique words (used once) 5508 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2322 Unique kanji (used once) 328 Unique kanji readings 4183 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 23.9 Characters 480028 Volumes 4
Novel
Boogiepop and Others Length (in words) 286353 Unique words 15216 Unique words (used once) 6158 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2127 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 3951 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 21.1 Characters 677592 Volumes 8
Novel
Accel World Length (in words) 701347 Unique words 24504 Unique words (used once) 8021 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2614 Unique kanji (used once) 228 Unique kanji readings 5225 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 27.4 Characters 1684020 Volumes 12
Novel
Durarara!! SH Length (in words) 168720 Unique words 11664 Unique words (used once) 4908 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2098 Unique kanji (used once) 272 Unique kanji readings 3803 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 27.4 Characters 387341 Volumes 4
Novel
Scrapped Princess Length (in words) 547130 Unique words 21915 Unique words (used once) 7303 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2586 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 5211 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 21.5 Characters 1241100 Volumes 13
Novel
Tenchi Meisatsu Length (in words) 116685 Unique words 11147 Unique words (used once) 4702 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2244 Unique kanji (used once) 336 Unique kanji readings 4212 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 24.8 Characters 259511 Volumes 1
Novel
Akuma no Mikata Length (in words) 569065 Unique words 20874 Unique words (used once) 7439 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2441 Unique kanji (used once) 246 Unique kanji readings 4809 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 1328233 Volumes 13
Novel
OBSTACLE Series Length (in words) 221136 Unique words 11894 Unique words (used once) 4851 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2078 Unique kanji (used once) 289 Unique kanji readings 3815 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.1 Characters 470120 Volumes 4
Novel
Majuu Senshi Luna Varga Length (in words) 590663 Unique words 21262 Unique words (used once) 6925 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2546 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 5114 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 28.2 Characters 1347571 Volumes 13
Novel
Youhei to Shousetsuka Length (in words) 252227 Unique words 15369 Unique words (used once) 5760 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2404 Unique kanji (used once) 223 Unique kanji readings 4625 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.0 Characters 563635 Volumes 2
Novel
Tsuki to Anata ni Hanataba wo Length (in words) 260585 Unique words 12860 Unique words (used once) 4376 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2151 Unique kanji (used once) 209 Unique kanji readings 4019 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.3 Characters 580464 Volumes 6
Novel
Last Round Arthurs Length (in words) 243045 Unique words 15035 Unique words (used once) 5777 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2367 Unique kanji (used once) 253 Unique kanji readings 4562 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 18.0 Characters 573453 Volumes 5
Novel
Tenohira no Shousetsu Length (in words) 104139 Unique words 10188 Unique words (used once) 4765 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 2214 Unique kanji (used once) 395 Unique kanji readings 4081 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.7 Characters 216520 Volumes 1