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:

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Showing 1..50 from 1475 entries

Cover of Saigo wa Usu ga Warau
Novel
Saigo wa Usu ga Warau
Length (in words)4172
Unique words1540
Unique words (used once)1112
Unique words (used once %)72%
Unique kanji778
Unique kanji (used once)357
Unique kanji readings1056
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length25.8
Characters9426
Volumes1
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Cover of Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Koi no Yokanwa Kikenna Kaori!
Novel
Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Koi no Yokanwa Kikenna Kaori!
Length (in words)5499
Unique words1623
Unique words (used once)1001
Unique words (used once %)61%
Unique kanji594
Unique kanji (used once)205
Unique kanji readings825
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length17.6
Characters13479
Volumes1
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Cover of Yume Juuya
Novel
Yume Juuya
Length (in words)7203
Unique words1779
Unique words (used once)1040
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji948
Unique kanji (used once)339
Unique kanji readings1303
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length21.6
Characters14642
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Hajimete no Umi to Camp
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Hajimete no Umi to Camp
Length (in words)6400
Unique words1313
Unique words (used once)666
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji239
Unique kanji (used once)56
Unique kanji readings316
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length11.6
Characters15787
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Kasou Party
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Kasou Party
Length (in words)6205
Unique words1350
Unique words (used once)661
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji253
Unique kanji (used once)62
Unique kanji readings337
Difficulty1/10
Average sentence length11.0
Characters15885
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Birthday Party
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Birthday Party
Length (in words)7072
Unique words1318
Unique words (used once)671
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji207
Unique kanji (used once)46
Unique kanji readings292
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length11.9
Characters17449
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Christmas no Otomarikai
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Christmas no Otomarikai
Length (in words)6890
Unique words1365
Unique words (used once)681
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji259
Unique kanji (used once)66
Unique kanji readings358
Difficulty1/10
Average sentence length12.4
Characters17454
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Sora no Picnic
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Sora no Picnic
Length (in words)7102
Unique words1402
Unique words (used once)708
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji261
Unique kanji (used once)79
Unique kanji readings371
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length11.9
Characters17793
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Aki to Fuyu
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Aki to Fuyu
Length (in words)6799
Unique words1417
Unique words (used once)695
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji186
Unique kanji (used once)34
Unique kanji readings252
Difficulty1/10
Average sentence length12.0
Characters18031
Volumes1
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Cover of Mugendai Girl
Novel
Mugendai Girl
Length (in words)7639
Unique words2317
Unique words (used once)1543
Unique words (used once %)66%
Unique kanji905
Unique kanji (used once)347
Unique kanji readings1267
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length24.6
Characters18195
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Haru to Natsu
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Haru to Natsu
Length (in words)7055
Unique words1380
Unique words (used once)669
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji195
Unique kanji (used once)48
Unique kanji readings251
Difficulty1/10
Average sentence length12.3
Characters18674
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Fruits Matsuri
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Fruits Matsuri
Length (in words)7399
Unique words1351
Unique words (used once)665
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji185
Unique kanji (used once)44
Unique kanji readings253
Difficulty1/10
Average sentence length13.1
Characters18755
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Mori no Restaurant
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Mori no Restaurant
Length (in words)7848
Unique words1412
Unique words (used once)682
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji191
Unique kanji (used once)37
Unique kanji readings266
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length13.0
Characters19616
Volumes1
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Cover of Haikyo ni Ikou!
Novel
Haikyo ni Ikou!
Length (in words)8453
Unique words2066
Unique words (used once)1201
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji918
Unique kanji (used once)330
Unique kanji readings1277
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length15.0
Characters19620
Volumes1
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Cover of Kuuku no Mori no Gakkou: Tomodachi tte, Naani?
Novel
Kuuku no Mori no Gakkou: Tomodachi tte, Naani?
Length (in words)8183
Unique words1397
Unique words (used once)666
Unique words (used once %)47%
Unique kanji257
Unique kanji (used once)77
Unique kanji readings354
Difficulty1/10
Average sentence length13.3
Characters21071
Volumes1
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Cover of Aoi Natsu, Watashi wa Tsutanai Koi wo Shita
Novel
Aoi Natsu, Watashi wa Tsutanai Koi wo Shita
Length (in words)9501
Unique words2163
Unique words (used once)1260
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji884
Unique kanji (used once)313
Unique kanji readings1193
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length18.2
Characters22471
Volumes2
Amazon
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Cover of Gift
Novel
Gift
Length (in words)9778
Unique words2360
Unique words (used once)1344
Unique words (used once %)56%
Unique kanji865
Unique kanji (used once)271
Unique kanji readings1212
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length18.8
Characters23307
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Imouto Biyori
Novel
Imouto Biyori
Length (in words)10155
Unique words2715
Unique words (used once)1582
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji1005
Unique kanji (used once)292
Unique kanji readings1470
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length21.4
Characters24198
Volumes1
MyAnimeListAmazon
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Cover of Essay Shuu Hogwarts Kenryoku to Seiji to Itazurazuki no Poltergeist
Novel
Essay Shuu Hogwarts Kenryoku to Seiji to Itazurazuki no Poltergeist
Length (in words)9785
Unique words2695
Unique words (used once)1703
Unique words (used once %)63%
Unique kanji1060
Unique kanji (used once)289
Unique kanji readings1573
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length49.8
Characters25230
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Hogwarts: Fukanzen & Hikakujitsu Kaisetsusho
Novel
Hogwarts: Fukanzen & Hikakujitsu Kaisetsusho
Length (in words)10466
Unique words2627
Unique words (used once)1588
Unique words (used once %)60%
Unique kanji1066
Unique kanji (used once)334
Unique kanji readings1531
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length50.9
Characters25910
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Anata
Novel
Anata
Length (in words)11033
Unique words2147
Unique words (used once)1179
Unique words (used once %)54%
Unique kanji817
Unique kanji (used once)250
Unique kanji readings1187
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length19.7
Characters25914
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Koi wa Buryure, Kimi wa Doruche
Novel
Koi wa Buryure, Kimi wa Doruche
Length (in words)11795
Unique words2273
Unique words (used once)1263
Unique words (used once %)55%
Unique kanji898
Unique kanji (used once)290
Unique kanji readings1276
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length20.1
Characters28461
Volumes1
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Cover of Essay Shuu Hogwarts Yuuki to Kunan to Kiken na Douraku
Novel
Essay Shuu Hogwarts Yuuki to Kunan to Kiken na Douraku
Length (in words)11799
Unique words2796
Unique words (used once)1686
Unique words (used once %)60%
Unique kanji1098
Unique kanji (used once)336
Unique kanji readings1598
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length48.5
Characters29925
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Sono Hanashi wo Kikasete wa Ikenai
Novel
Sono Hanashi wo Kikasete wa Ikenai
Length (in words)13648
Unique words2483
Unique words (used once)1224
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji937
Unique kanji (used once)256
Unique kanji readings1323
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length25.6
Characters31319
Volumes1
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Cover of Active Rest: Te wo Nobashite Me wo Tojinaide Gojitsudan
Novel
Active Rest: Te wo Nobashite Me wo Tojinaide Gojitsudan
Length (in words)15089
Unique words2714
Unique words (used once)1452
Unique words (used once %)53%
Unique kanji1033
Unique kanji (used once)315
Unique kanji readings1469
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length27.6
Characters33278
Volumes1
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Cover of Te to Me to Koe to
Novel
Te to Me to Koe to
Length (in words)13890
Unique words3048
Unique words (used once)1812
Unique words (used once %)59%
Unique kanji1016
Unique kanji (used once)354
Unique kanji readings1487
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length22.9
Characters33454
Volumes1
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Cover of Koi wo Hiku
Novel
Koi wo Hiku
Length (in words)15686
Unique words2815
Unique words (used once)1573
Unique words (used once %)55%
Unique kanji1059
Unique kanji (used once)318
Unique kanji readings1559
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length20.9
Characters36205
Volumes1
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Cover of Kuudere Ojousama wa Nanka Chigau: Tatanai Ore to Do S na Kanojo
Novel
Kuudere Ojousama wa Nanka Chigau: Tatanai Ore to Do S na Kanojo
Length (in words)14770
Unique words3488
Unique words (used once)2079
Unique words (used once %)59%
Unique kanji1208
Unique kanji (used once)359
Unique kanji readings1789
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length21.9
Characters36322
Volumes1
MyAnimeListAmazon
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Cover of Sakka ni Naritai
Novel
Sakka ni Naritai
Length (in words)14494
Unique words2646
Unique words (used once)1452
Unique words (used once %)54%
Unique kanji721
Unique kanji (used once)197
Unique kanji readings1040
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length16.2
Characters36530
Volumes1
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Cover of Futte Waita Omiai Aite wa Hatsukoi wo Kojiraseta Osananajimi no Onzoushi!
Novel
Futte Waita Omiai Aite wa Hatsukoi wo Kojiraseta Osananajimi no Onzoushi!
Length (in words)15906
Unique words3134
Unique words (used once)1756
Unique words (used once %)56%
Unique kanji1143
Unique kanji (used once)358
Unique kanji readings1664
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length20.0
Characters39166
Volumes1
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Cover of Detroit Bijutsukan no Kiseki
Novel
Detroit Bijutsukan no Kiseki
Length (in words)16492
Unique words3626
Unique words (used once)2060
Unique words (used once %)56%
Unique kanji1155
Unique kanji (used once)332
Unique kanji readings1761
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length30.4
Characters40832
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Monster Hunter Rise Hyaku Ryuu Yakou wo Kuitomero!
Novel
Monster Hunter Rise Hyaku Ryuu Yakou wo Kuitomero!
Length (in words)16629
Unique words2568
Unique words (used once)1271
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji842
Unique kanji (used once)235
Unique kanji readings1219
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length16.0
Characters41945
Volumes1
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Cover of Hebi ni Pierce
Novel
Hebi ni Pierce
Length (in words)19430
Unique words3261
Unique words (used once)1768
Unique words (used once %)54%
Unique kanji1109
Unique kanji (used once)299
Unique kanji readings1641
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length20.5
Characters42954
Volumes1
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Cover of Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden
Novel
Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden
Length (in words)18759
Unique words3145
Unique words (used once)1642
Unique words (used once %)52%
Unique kanji1148
Unique kanji (used once)307
Unique kanji readings1731
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length21.5
Characters43267
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Hoshi no Kirby: Nazo to Jiken no Pupupu Train!?
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Nazo to Jiken no Pupupu Train!?
Length (in words)16566
Unique words2598
Unique words (used once)1278
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji671
Unique kanji (used once)178
Unique kanji readings947
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length15.7
Characters44202
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Uchira Tokken☆ Tenkou Travelers!!
Novel
Uchira Tokken☆ Tenkou Travelers!!
Length (in words)17831
Unique words2571
Unique words (used once)1253
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji718
Unique kanji (used once)175
Unique kanji readings1040
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length14.4
Characters44338
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Atmosphere Burnout
Novel
Atmosphere Burnout
Length (in words)18392
Unique words3978
Unique words (used once)2326
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji1331
Unique kanji (used once)358
Unique kanji readings2075
Difficulty5/10
Average sentence length22.2
Characters44460
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Kono Koi, Eiga Yorimo Amame Desu!
Novel
Kono Koi, Eiga Yorimo Amame Desu!
Length (in words)19209
Unique words3073
Unique words (used once)1536
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji1045
Unique kanji (used once)254
Unique kanji readings1550
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length27.5
Characters46627
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Sekaiisshuu Tondemo Gourmet Harapeko Shoujo, Shishou ni Deau
Novel
Sekaiisshuu Tondemo Gourmet Harapeko Shoujo, Shishou ni Deau
Length (in words)18615
Unique words3176
Unique words (used once)1612
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji921
Unique kanji (used once)268
Unique kanji readings1329
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length19.0
Characters47633
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Novel
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Length (in words)20200
Unique words3184
Unique words (used once)1638
Unique words (used once %)51%
Unique kanji925
Unique kanji (used once)244
Unique kanji readings1355
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length23.4
Characters47803
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Oshi, Moyu
Novel
Oshi, Moyu
Length (in words)20657
Unique words4513
Unique words (used once)2595
Unique words (used once %)57%
Unique kanji1378
Unique kanji (used once)351
Unique kanji readings2113
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length32.0
Characters47907
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Ai ni Chikau Oukoku
Novel
Ai ni Chikau Oukoku
Length (in words)20439
Unique words3153
Unique words (used once)1515
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji1258
Unique kanji (used once)309
Unique kanji readings1883
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length18.5
Characters48518
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Kodomo ni Osowatta Koto
Novel
Kodomo ni Osowatta Koto
Length (in words)20301
Unique words3393
Unique words (used once)1870
Unique words (used once %)55%
Unique kanji1119
Unique kanji (used once)321
Unique kanji readings1674
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length26.5
Characters48530
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Tondemonai Otoko ni Koi Shite Shimatta You Desu!
Novel
Tondemonai Otoko ni Koi Shite Shimatta You Desu!
Length (in words)20645
Unique words3100
Unique words (used once)1636
Unique words (used once %)52%
Unique kanji1125
Unique kanji (used once)309
Unique kanji readings1662
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length20.8
Characters49120
Volumes1
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Cover of Soshite Beruna wa Hoshi ni Natta
Novel
Soshite Beruna wa Hoshi ni Natta
Length (in words)20106
Unique words2897
Unique words (used once)1397
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji916
Unique kanji (used once)236
Unique kanji readings1362
Difficulty2/10
Average sentence length23.4
Characters49186
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Kara no Kyoukai Mirai Fukuin
Novel
Kara no Kyoukai Mirai Fukuin
Length (in words)21983
Unique words4434
Unique words (used once)2478
Unique words (used once %)55%
Unique kanji1396
Unique kanji (used once)344
Unique kanji readings2226
Difficulty5/10
Average sentence length21.5
Characters49471
Volumes1
MyAnimeListAmazon
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Cover of Kindaichi-kun no Bouken
Novel
Kindaichi-kun no Bouken
Length (in words)20469
Unique words3014
Unique words (used once)1427
Unique words (used once %)47%
Unique kanji731
Unique kanji (used once)195
Unique kanji readings1067
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length22.2
Characters49527
Volumes1
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Cover of Kazoku ni Narou yo
Novel
Kazoku ni Narou yo
Length (in words)20713
Unique words3808
Unique words (used once)2084
Unique words (used once %)54%
Unique kanji1260
Unique kanji (used once)328
Unique kanji readings1911
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length24.8
Characters49863
Volumes1
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Cover of Kaze Tachinu
Novel
Kaze Tachinu
Length (in words)23071
Unique words3138
Unique words (used once)1526
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji1115
Unique kanji (used once)336
Unique kanji readings1670
Difficulty4/10
Average sentence length31.3
Characters50455
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Hoshi no Kirby: Abunai Gourmet Yashiki!?
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Abunai Gourmet Yashiki!?
Length (in words)18730
Unique words3127
Unique words (used once)1578
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji784
Unique kanji (used once)193
Unique kanji readings1160
Difficulty3/10
Average sentence length16.2
Characters50599
Volumes1
Amazon
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