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 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 |