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 101..150 from 1475 entries
Novel
Opera Series
| Length (in words) | 415628 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16607 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5557 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 33% |
| Unique kanji | 2237 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 201 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4251 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.8 |
| Characters | 936488 |
| Volumes | 8 |
Novel
Venezia Vampire Saga
| Length (in words) | 138289 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12021 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5473 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 2174 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 291 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3980 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.3 |
| Characters | 320383 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Goju Kishidan Monogatari
| Length (in words) | 574692 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19170 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5808 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2334 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 183 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4556 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 1265461 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Sanzensekai no Karasu wo Koroshi
| Length (in words) | 838061 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28666 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8771 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2553 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 224 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5052 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 29.1 |
| Characters | 1956820 |
| Volumes | 20 |
Novel
Hikari no Ou
| Length (in words) | 365302 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13976 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4452 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2152 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 252 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3858 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.6 |
| Characters | 812769 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Sora no Kane no Hibiku Hoshi de
| Length (in words) | 665650 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19628 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5869 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2457 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 183 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4877 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.5 |
| Characters | 1561275 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Joker Game
| Length (in words) | 150331 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13284 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5558 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2237 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 288 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4071 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.8 |
| Characters | 343849 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Youki no Otomurai
| Length (in words) | 59583 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8358 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4127 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1889 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 365 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3276 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 16.2 |
| Characters | 129000 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kokou no Mesu
| Length (in words) | 766254 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28094 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8865 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2819 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 227 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5946 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.2 |
| Characters | 1768719 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Hoshi Karyuudo
| Length (in words) | 154562 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14878 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6647 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 2235 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 305 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4105 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.1 |
| Characters | 361805 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Soukou Akki Muramasa: Uchuu-hen
| Length (in words) | 57375 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9199 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4720 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 2134 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 397 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3734 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 125694 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Orihara Izaya Series
| Length (in words) | 89790 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8982 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4081 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1931 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 307 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3349 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.8 |
| Characters | 200527 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Hyper Hybrid Organization
| Length (in words) | 260218 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15487 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6026 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2317 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 317 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4293 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.4 |
| Characters | 603930 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Ore, Twintail ni Narimasu.
| Length (in words) | 1084676 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 30665 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8847 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 28% |
| Unique kanji | 2801 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 188 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5882 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.8 |
| Characters | 2705049 |
| Volumes | 22 |
Novel
Parasite Moon
| Length (in words) | 342422 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17195 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6302 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2423 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 266 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4741 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.8 |
| Characters | 757032 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Baccano! 1931 The Grand Punk Railroad
| Length (in words) | 95299 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8194 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3525 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1825 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 282 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3131 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.6 |
| Characters | 211111 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
BEATLESS
| Length (in words) | 225631 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14780 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5998 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2173 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 265 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3924 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.1 |
| Characters | 529272 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
| Length (in words) | 1079134 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 26403 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6663 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 25% |
| Unique kanji | 2839 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 166 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5895 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.7 |
| Characters | 2445326 |
| Volumes | 17 |
Novel
Bara no Maria
| Length (in words) | 443643 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21918 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7816 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2616 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 283 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5145 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.2 |
| Characters | 1071328 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Leviathan no Koibito
| Length (in words) | 215882 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16470 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6153 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2621 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 306 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5017 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.7 |
| Characters | 478041 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Kashin Yuugiden
| Length (in words) | 484002 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17697 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5706 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2484 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 233 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4904 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.8 |
| Characters | 1085707 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Tokage no Ou
| Length (in words) | 246572 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14951 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5741 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2215 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 256 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4216 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.1 |
| Characters | 567484 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Miss Fabre no Mushi no Kouen
| Length (in words) | 282446 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19559 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7181 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2740 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 318 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5426 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.2 |
| Characters | 641871 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Baccano! 2002
| Length (in words) | 99765 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9293 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4176 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1911 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 303 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3318 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.2 |
| Characters | 227187 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Genesis Series: Kyoukaisenjou no Horizon NEXT BOX
| Length (in words) | 337139 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15026 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5644 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2258 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 236 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4285 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.7 |
| Characters | 734007 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Touhakuden ~Maou Reijou Kara Hajimaru Sangokushi~
| Length (in words) | 289614 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17870 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6826 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2523 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 295 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4935 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.2 |
| Characters | 647687 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Moribito
| Length (in words) | 634878 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 18588 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5716 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2210 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 239 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4236 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.3 |
| Characters | 1491819 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Campione
| Length (in words) | 335104 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20674 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7777 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2667 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 309 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5251 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.9 |
| Characters | 777554 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Tokyo Dead Line
| Length (in words) | 71128 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8419 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3892 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1688 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 249 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2875 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.6 |
| Characters | 164391 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Mukashi Yuusha de Ima wa Hone
| Length (in words) | 182868 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14800 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6141 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2318 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 290 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4447 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 16.3 |
| Characters | 407790 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Wakai Geijutsuka no Shouzou
| Length (in words) | 92362 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 10028 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4545 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 2076 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 349 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3577 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 31.0 |
| Characters | 208547 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Full Metal Panic!
| Length (in words) | 529430 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24650 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8607 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2491 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 240 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4887 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.8 |
| Characters | 1243538 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Black Bullet
| Length (in words) | 315233 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21938 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8450 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2657 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 301 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5212 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.9 |
| Characters | 742627 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Material Night
| Length (in words) | 198090 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12613 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4969 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2185 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 263 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4047 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.4 |
| Characters | 467454 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Reinousha Minato
| Length (in words) | 449303 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20596 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7501 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2420 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 244 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4782 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.2 |
| Characters | 1033385 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Noroware
| Length (in words) | 131608 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 10376 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4260 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2195 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 317 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3949 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.5 |
| Characters | 290032 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Yagate Maken no Alicebell
| Length (in words) | 291843 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20149 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8370 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2554 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 305 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4965 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.5 |
| Characters | 659143 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Mushiuta Bug
| Length (in words) | 336713 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15401 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5405 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2177 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 206 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4154 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.6 |
| Characters | 786598 |
| Volumes | 8 |
Novel
Gin no Ryuu Kishidan
| Length (in words) | 508084 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 18423 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6067 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2461 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 240 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4844 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.5 |
| Characters | 1165961 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Kairei
| Length (in words) | 224922 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14012 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5662 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2372 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 321 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4608 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 487458 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Mushi to Medama Series
| Length (in words) | 293687 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14897 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5610 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2150 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 204 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4061 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 15.9 |
| Characters | 673387 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Girly Air Force
| Length (in words) | 440254 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 23450 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8468 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2538 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 253 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5014 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.4 |
| Characters | 1056584 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Majutsu Yaburi no Revenge Magia
| Length (in words) | 397027 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19151 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6293 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2733 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 256 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5563 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.1 |
| Characters | 922274 |
| Volumes | 7 |
Novel
The Adventures of Lord El-Melloi II
| Length (in words) | 93670 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 10301 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4772 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 2182 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 358 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3765 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.3 |
| Characters | 215218 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Gyakusatsu Kikan
| Length (in words) | 79938 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9787 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4604 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1920 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 269 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3261 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 32.8 |
| Characters | 188191 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Souchi no Bohimei
| Length (in words) | 45147 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6754 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3360 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1748 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 343 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2963 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 15.0 |
| Characters | 98809 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Vivy Prototype
| Length (in words) | 71124 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8185 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3788 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1752 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 282 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3045 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.8 |
| Characters | 168221 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Marude Hito Da na, Lucy
| Length (in words) | 87566 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8248 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3643 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1863 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 296 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3207 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.1 |
| Characters | 206416 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Ulysses: Jeanne d'Arc and the Alchemist Knight
| Length (in words) | 263810 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14380 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5268 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2180 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 236 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4040 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.9 |
| Characters | 642265 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Strange Moon
| Length (in words) | 184597 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13471 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5542 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2187 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 267 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4091 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.5 |
| Characters | 424257 |
| Volumes | 3 |