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 1..50 from 1156 entries
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Haru to Natsu Length (in words) 7055 Unique words 1377 Unique words (used once) 668 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 195 Unique kanji (used once) 48 Unique kanji readings 246 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 12.5 Characters 18231 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Christmas no Otomarikai Length (in words) 6758 Unique words 1361 Unique words (used once) 679 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 259 Unique kanji (used once) 66 Unique kanji readings 352 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 12.7 Characters 16999 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Fruits Matsuri Length (in words) 7225 Unique words 1352 Unique words (used once) 668 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 185 Unique kanji (used once) 44 Unique kanji readings 255 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 13.4 Characters 18362 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Aki to Fuyu Length (in words) 6799 Unique words 1418 Unique words (used once) 697 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 186 Unique kanji (used once) 34 Unique kanji readings 253 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 12.4 Characters 17610 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Kasou Party Length (in words) 6061 Unique words 1347 Unique words (used once) 662 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 253 Unique kanji (used once) 62 Unique kanji readings 336 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 11.3 Characters 15573 Volumes 1
Novel
Kuuku no Mori no Gakkou: Tomodachi tte, Naani? Length (in words) 7953 Unique words 1396 Unique words (used once) 668 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 257 Unique kanji (used once) 77 Unique kanji readings 352 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 13.8 Characters 20638 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Mori no Restaurant Length (in words) 7677 Unique words 1412 Unique words (used once) 682 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 191 Unique kanji (used once) 37 Unique kanji readings 264 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 14.1 Characters 19264 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Sora no Picnic Length (in words) 6974 Unique words 1401 Unique words (used once) 708 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 261 Unique kanji (used once) 79 Unique kanji readings 372 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 12.4 Characters 17494 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Birthday Party Length (in words) 6872 Unique words 1316 Unique words (used once) 671 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 207 Unique kanji (used once) 46 Unique kanji readings 292 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 12.3 Characters 16999 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Hajimete no Umi to Camp Length (in words) 6219 Unique words 1311 Unique words (used once) 667 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 239 Unique kanji (used once) 56 Unique kanji readings 317 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 12.1 Characters 15411 Volumes 1
Novel
Sakka ni Naritai Length (in words) 14316 Unique words 2637 Unique words (used once) 1454 Unique words (used once %) 55% Unique kanji 716 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 1034 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 15.5 Characters 36259 Volumes 1
Novel
Obake ga Shitsuji no Nanafushigi Length (in words) 20506 Unique words 2804 Unique words (used once) 1348 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 609 Unique kanji (used once) 176 Unique kanji readings 901 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 14.9 Characters 50891 Volumes 1
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Nazo to Jiken no Pupupu Train!? Length (in words) 16534 Unique words 2599 Unique words (used once) 1279 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 671 Unique kanji (used once) 178 Unique kanji readings 948 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 15.3 Characters 43429 Volumes 1
Novel
Moshimo, Kono Machi de Length (in words) 22418 Unique words 3287 Unique words (used once) 1622 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 812 Unique kanji (used once) 186 Unique kanji readings 1223 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 18.0 Characters 55588 Volumes 1
Novel
Uchira Tokken☆ Tenkou Travelers!! Length (in words) 17825 Unique words 2579 Unique words (used once) 1260 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 718 Unique kanji (used once) 175 Unique kanji readings 1034 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 14.0 Characters 43970 Volumes 1
Novel
Fushigi Koshoten Length (in words) 24126 Unique words 3186 Unique words (used once) 1570 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 707 Unique kanji (used once) 199 Unique kanji readings 1044 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.7 Characters 60825 Volumes 1
Novel
Obake ga Shitsuji no Natsuyasumi Length (in words) 24257 Unique words 3113 Unique words (used once) 1476 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 609 Unique kanji (used once) 152 Unique kanji readings 891 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 16.7 Characters 60318 Volumes 1
Novel
Aoi Natsu, Watashi wa Tsutanai Koi wo Shita Length (in words) 9488 Unique words 2162 Unique words (used once) 1258 Unique words (used once %) 58% Unique kanji 884 Unique kanji (used once) 313 Unique kanji readings 1191 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.3 Characters 22280 Volumes 2
Novel
Haikyo ni Ikou! Length (in words) 8451 Unique words 2070 Unique words (used once) 1204 Unique words (used once %) 58% Unique kanji 918 Unique kanji (used once) 330 Unique kanji readings 1273 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 14.7 Characters 19515 Volumes 1
Novel
Koi wa Buryure, Kimi wa Doruche Length (in words) 11773 Unique words 2274 Unique words (used once) 1265 Unique words (used once %) 55% Unique kanji 898 Unique kanji (used once) 290 Unique kanji readings 1271 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 19.0 Characters 28355 Volumes 1
Novel
Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Koi no Yokanwa Kikenna Kaori! Length (in words) 5465 Unique words 1621 Unique words (used once) 1000 Unique words (used once %) 61% Unique kanji 588 Unique kanji (used once) 206 Unique kanji readings 815 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.0 Characters 13299 Volumes 1
Novel
Yukisaki Hikari wa Ore ni Rabukome wo Oshietai Length (in words) 34097 Unique words 4262 Unique words (used once) 2132 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1263 Unique kanji (used once) 310 Unique kanji readings 1953 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 14.9 Characters 78252 Volumes 1
Novel
LAST KISS Length (in words) 41690 Unique words 4116 Unique words (used once) 1894 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 1222 Unique kanji (used once) 276 Unique kanji readings 1891 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 15.7 Characters 98664 Volumes 1
Novel
Aru Hi Totsuzen, Gyaru no Iinazuke ga Dekita Length (in words) 28890 Unique words 3781 Unique words (used once) 1780 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 1169 Unique kanji (used once) 261 Unique kanji readings 1782 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.2 Characters 69654 Volumes 1
Novel
Kindaichi-kun no Bouken Length (in words) 20231 Unique words 3000 Unique words (used once) 1429 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 724 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 1063 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 19.7 Characters 49319 Volumes 1
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Kurayami Mori de Dai Sawagi! Length (in words) 19416 Unique words 3008 Unique words (used once) 1489 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 756 Unique kanji (used once) 201 Unique kanji readings 1123 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 15.8 Characters 49724 Volumes 1
Novel
Futoukou no Osananajimi ga Gakkou ni Iku Jouken wa, Mainichi Ore to Kiss Suru Koto Datta Length (in words) 41313 Unique words 4086 Unique words (used once) 1898 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 1167 Unique kanji (used once) 258 Unique kanji readings 1798 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.5 Characters 96381 Volumes 1
Novel
Hoshi no Ko Length (in words) 31668 Unique words 4490 Unique words (used once) 2188 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1168 Unique kanji (used once) 244 Unique kanji readings 1796 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 73774 Volumes 1
Novel
Rabukome Manga ni Haitte Shitamatta no de, Oshi no Make Heroine wo Zenryoku de Shiawase ni Suru Length (in words) 46212 Unique words 3567 Unique words (used once) 1506 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 1129 Unique kanji (used once) 259 Unique kanji readings 1716 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.7 Characters 106960 Volumes 1
Novel
Rika no Okashi na Jikkenshitsu Length (in words) 48083 Unique words 4281 Unique words (used once) 1833 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 1072 Unique kanji (used once) 220 Unique kanji readings 1610 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.2 Characters 117107 Volumes 2
Novel
Anata Length (in words) 11025 Unique words 2153 Unique words (used once) 1184 Unique words (used once %) 54% Unique kanji 817 Unique kanji (used once) 250 Unique kanji readings 1182 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 14.3 Characters 25861 Volumes 1
Novel
Aoi Tori Length (in words) 30884 Unique words 3661 Unique words (used once) 1702 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 788 Unique kanji (used once) 208 Unique kanji readings 1176 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 16.0 Characters 76706 Volumes 1
Novel
Futago Ouji no Miwakekata Length (in words) 28358 Unique words 3434 Unique words (used once) 1665 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1167 Unique kanji (used once) 270 Unique kanji readings 1751 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.5 Characters 65366 Volumes 4
Novel
Rabukome no Kamisama Nanoni Ore no Rabukome wo Jama Suru no? Datte Suki Nanda Mon Length (in words) 113422 Unique words 6289 Unique words (used once) 2422 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 1479 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 2419 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.0 Characters 256144 Volumes 3
Novel
Yotsugo Gurashi Length (in words) 46448 Unique words 4886 Unique words (used once) 2202 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 1038 Unique kanji (used once) 201 Unique kanji readings 1654 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.0 Characters 113491 Volumes 2
Novel
Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Scoop Itadaichaimasu! Length (in words) 27721 Unique words 4312 Unique words (used once) 2156 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1043 Unique kanji (used once) 222 Unique kanji readings 1582 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.5 Characters 67013 Volumes 1
Novel
Uso ga Mieru Ore wa, Sunao na Kimi ni Koi wo Shita Length (in words) 38819 Unique words 4771 Unique words (used once) 2399 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1304 Unique kanji (used once) 280 Unique kanji readings 2055 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.0 Characters 88463 Volumes 1
Novel
Jitsu wa Gimai Deshita. ~Saikin Dekita Giri no Otouto no Kyorikan ga Yatara Chikai Wake~ Length (in words) 35525 Unique words 4529 Unique words (used once) 2192 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1294 Unique kanji (used once) 276 Unique kanji readings 2036 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.4 Characters 83424 Volumes 1
Novel
Himitsu no Kaen Length (in words) 31235 Unique words 3459 Unique words (used once) 1529 Unique words (used once %) 44% Unique kanji 802 Unique kanji (used once) 192 Unique kanji readings 1190 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.9 Characters 74529 Volumes 1
Novel
Imouto no Shinyuu? Mou Ore no Onna Tomodachi? Nara, Sono Tsuji wa? Length (in words) 37367 Unique words 4237 Unique words (used once) 1904 Unique words (used once %) 44% Unique kanji 1198 Unique kanji (used once) 264 Unique kanji readings 1838 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 19.9 Characters 87451 Volumes 1
Novel
Osananajimi Kara no Renai Soudan Length (in words) 97345 Unique words 8004 Unique words (used once) 3416 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 1592 Unique kanji (used once) 241 Unique kanji readings 2692 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 16.6 Characters 228504 Volumes 3
Novel
Hakoniwa no Yakujutsushi Length (in words) 167662 Unique words 9019 Unique words (used once) 3466 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 1763 Unique kanji (used once) 220 Unique kanji readings 2999 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.2 Characters 386900 Volumes 3
Novel
Kyoufu no Mukashi Asobi Length (in words) 24279 Unique words 3730 Unique words (used once) 1836 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 992 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 1501 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.9 Characters 59869 Volumes 1
Novel
Boku no Kurasu Niwa Kounai Ichi Yuumei na Bijin Dakedo Komyushou na Rinjin ga Imasu Length (in words) 68706 Unique words 7152 Unique words (used once) 3318 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 1627 Unique kanji (used once) 284 Unique kanji readings 2733 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 16.2 Characters 169261 Volumes 2
Novel
Orange Length (in words) 76532 Unique words 5941 Unique words (used once) 2359 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 1051 Unique kanji (used once) 174 Unique kanji readings 1765 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 16.1 Characters 192198 Volumes 3
Novel
Sekaiisshuu Tondemo Gourmet Harapeko Shoujo, Shishou ni Deau Length (in words) 18574 Unique words 3187 Unique words (used once) 1617 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 923 Unique kanji (used once) 270 Unique kanji readings 1336 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.4 Characters 47373 Volumes 1
Novel
Ninki Seiyuu to Ichaicha Shite Kekkon Suru Rabukome Length (in words) 43654 Unique words 4843 Unique words (used once) 2354 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1366 Unique kanji (used once) 303 Unique kanji readings 2138 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 15.7 Characters 101958 Volumes 1
Novel
Toiki ga Ai wo Oshiete Kuremashita Length (in words) 21477 Unique words 3125 Unique words (used once) 1582 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1043 Unique kanji (used once) 274 Unique kanji readings 1561 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 23.8 Characters 50890 Volumes 1
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Abunai Gourmet Yashiki!? Length (in words) 18721 Unique words 3130 Unique words (used once) 1577 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 784 Unique kanji (used once) 193 Unique kanji readings 1161 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 15.4 Characters 49309 Volumes 1
Novel
Renai Keiken Zero Desu Kedo, Watashi wo Erande Kuremasu ka? Length (in words) 32471 Unique words 4387 Unique words (used once) 2044 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 1277 Unique kanji (used once) 284 Unique kanji readings 1968 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 17.1 Characters 77002 Volumes 1