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
Novel
"Hello Work Guild" e Youkoso!
| Length (in words) | 46253 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7108 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3587 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 50% |
| Unique kanji | 1680 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 304 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2866 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.7 |
| Characters | 109526 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
"Kanchigai Shinaide yo ne! Anta no Koto Nanka Daisuki Nandakara!" Noroi de Honne Shika Ienakunatta Tsundere Ojousama
| Length (in words) | 37329 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3464 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1516 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1154 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 244 |
| Unique kanji readings | 1721 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 14.0 |
| Characters | 92423 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
"Mizube no Gakkou" no Tokoro-kun
| Length (in words) | 23973 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3682 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1705 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 902 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 199 |
| Unique kanji readings | 1396 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.4 |
| Characters | 54269 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
"Omae Gotoki ga Maou ni Kateru to Omou na" to Yuusha Party wo Tsuihou Sareta no de, Outo de Kimama ni Kurashitai
| Length (in words) | 71483 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7729 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3473 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1696 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 263 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2910 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.9 |
| Characters | 167970 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
"Ou no Saien" no Kishi to, "Yasai" no Ojousama
| Length (in words) | 49190 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6085 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2815 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1677 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 312 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2723 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.7 |
| Characters | 121292 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
"Suki"
| Length (in words) | 36852 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4466 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2237 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 50% |
| Unique kanji | 1275 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 302 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2005 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.5 |
| Characters | 86550 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
"Watashi to Issho ni Sumu tte Dou ka na?" 1 Mitame Gyaru na Bukiyou Bishoujo ga Ore to Futari de Kurashitagaru
| Length (in words) | 47855 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6699 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3337 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1647 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 317 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2706 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.5 |
| Characters | 115195 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
1 Percent no Kyoushitsu
| Length (in words) | 40333 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5384 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2707 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 50% |
| Unique kanji | 1556 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 337 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2481 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.7 |
| Characters | 92968 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
1 Percent no Kyoushitsu 2
| Length (in words) | 45708 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5602 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2711 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1599 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 297 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2588 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.6 |
| Characters | 103305 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
10 Nengo, Yoake wo Matsu Boku-tachi e
| Length (in words) | 52453 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4560 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1924 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 42% |
| Unique kanji | 1319 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 267 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2043 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.7 |
| Characters | 122223 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
100-man Kai Ikita Kimi
| Length (in words) | 36802 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5746 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2901 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 50% |
| Unique kanji | 1660 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 385 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2668 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.0 |
| Characters | 83999 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
1101 Goushitsu no Shukuteki ~Ore-sama Designer wa, Tsuyoki na Rinjin wo Hitorijime Shite Aishitai~
| Length (in words) | 55429 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6651 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2982 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1594 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 251 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2687 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.5 |
| Characters | 132068 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
13-banme no Alice
| Length (in words) | 198553 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14942 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5708 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2372 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 246 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4485 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.7 |
| Characters | 472102 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
14sai Gentei Shoukougun
| Length (in words) | 57456 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8094 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3905 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1807 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 311 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3042 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.5 |
| Characters | 133189 |
| Volumes | 1 |
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
1Q84
| Length (in words) | 404799 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 18514 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7105 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2373 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 258 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4464 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.7 |
| Characters | 959493 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
24 Jikan no Dokusen Yoku ~Jiki Shachou ga Hanashitekuremasen~
| Length (in words) | 24879 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3970 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2055 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 1292 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 337 |
| Unique kanji readings | 1978 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.4 |
| Characters | 57360 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
5 Fun Go ni Igai na Ketsumatsu
| Length (in words) | 84632 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9024 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4131 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1640 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 243 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2818 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.1 |
| Characters | 196444 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
52 Hertz no Kujiratachi
| Length (in words) | 54662 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6130 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2957 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1678 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 345 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2677 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 128759 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
8 Banme no Maria
| Length (in words) | 50746 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5365 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2587 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1465 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 317 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2319 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.8 |
| Characters | 118821 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
800
| Length (in words) | 44980 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5367 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2574 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1301 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 270 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2053 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.8 |
| Characters | 104887 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
86
| Length (in words) | 507881 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21583 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6969 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2726 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 239 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5331 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.2 |
| Characters | 1153089 |
| Volumes | 9 |
Novel
9S (Nine S)
| Length (in words) | 715114 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24361 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7663 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2482 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 199 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4936 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.9 |
| Characters | 1666136 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
<Kono Rabukome ga Sugoi!!> Doudou no Sanni
| Length (in words) | 54390 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5741 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2735 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1472 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 297 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2309 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.2 |
| Characters | 127926 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
A Certain Magical Index
| Length (in words) | 1262230 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 30935 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9010 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2713 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 259 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5673 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.7 |
| Characters | 2907379 |
| Volumes | 23 |
Novel
A Certain Scientific Railgun SS
| Length (in words) | 55553 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7101 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3332 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1620 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 271 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2698 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.7 |
| Characters | 131311 |
| Volumes | 8 |
Novel
A Christmas Carol
| Length (in words) | 29644 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6673 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4020 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 60% |
| Unique kanji | 1777 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 462 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2959 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.1 |
| Characters | 69155 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
AGI - Agi - Virtual Shoujo wa Koi Shitai
| Length (in words) | 55270 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7047 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3496 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1658 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 323 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2693 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.2 |
| Characters | 126852 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
AI ni Maketa Natsu
| Length (in words) | 39010 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4691 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2245 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1352 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 296 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2138 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.3 |
| Characters | 94060 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
AURA ~Maryuuin Kouga Saigo no Tatakai~
| Length (in words) | 58845 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8541 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4229 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1650 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 290 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2733 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 14.7 |
| Characters | 133676 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Abyss Gate
| Length (in words) | 106038 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9182 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3993 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1852 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 321 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3204 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.2 |
| Characters | 239590 |
| Volumes | 3 |
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
Active Rest: Te wo Nobashite Me wo Tojinaide Gojitsudan
| Length (in words) | 15089 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 2714 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1452 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 53% |
| Unique kanji | 1033 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 315 |
| Unique kanji readings | 1469 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.6 |
| Characters | 33278 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Adachi and Shimamura
| Length (in words) | 329168 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15051 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5676 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2153 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 241 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4086 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.0 |
| Characters | 772598 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Ai ga Nan da
| Length (in words) | 38277 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5599 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2723 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1433 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 302 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2282 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.6 |
| Characters | 91102 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Ai ni Chikau Oukoku
| Length (in words) | 20439 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3153 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1515 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1258 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 309 |
| Unique kanji readings | 1883 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.5 |
| Characters | 48518 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Ai suru Musume kara no Kyouiku-teki Shidou
| Length (in words) | 61053 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8582 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4646 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 54% |
| Unique kanji | 1899 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 379 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3324 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.5 |
| Characters | 142602 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Aijin no Okite
| Length (in words) | 116822 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7840 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3378 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1592 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 271 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2689 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 35.4 |
| Characters | 269766 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Aika
| Length (in words) | 60842 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7089 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3333 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1892 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 351 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3112 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.7 |
| Characters | 130941 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Aisaka Suteki na Shoukougun
| Length (in words) | 163102 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 11137 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4655 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2017 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 300 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3570 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.5 |
| Characters | 378136 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Akai Hitomi no Shesuta
| Length (in words) | 129349 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 10875 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4371 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2027 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 268 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3659 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 295771 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Akai Mitachi no Love Song
| Length (in words) | 40166 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5790 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3036 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 52% |
| Unique kanji | 1515 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 327 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2447 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.0 |
| Characters | 96126 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Akaki Tsuki no Meguru Koro
| Length (in words) | 427523 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14769 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4697 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2287 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 211 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4371 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.7 |
| Characters | 997051 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Aki no Rougoku
| Length (in words) | 34696 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5480 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2846 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 1654 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 378 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2638 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.5 |
| Characters | 77204 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Akkan no Grimoire
| Length (in words) | 110717 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12158 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5271 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 2107 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 313 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3849 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.1 |
| Characters | 256819 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Akugyaku Kishidan: Sono Elf, Kyoubou ni Tsuki
| Length (in words) | 113787 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 10375 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4617 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 2053 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 299 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3647 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.9 |
| Characters | 258250 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Akuma ni Damasarete TS Tensei Shita Dakedo Megezu ni Harem Mezashimasu
| Length (in words) | 104579 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9967 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4346 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1993 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 298 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3528 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.0 |
| Characters | 239576 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Akuma no Kodoku to Suigintou no Shoujo
| Length (in words) | 75323 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6578 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2945 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1708 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 319 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2830 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.2 |
| Characters | 174659 |
| Volumes | 2 |
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
Akuma no Mikata 666
| Length (in words) | 277164 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14212 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5801 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2126 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 307 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3917 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 672059 |
| Volumes | 6 |