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 1113 entries
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
| Length (in words) | 702004 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 25378 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8037 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2679 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 252 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4982 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 30.9 |
| Characters | 1654659 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Side Stories
| Length (in words) | 288937 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 18976 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7393 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2409 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 302 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4317 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 30.5 |
| Characters | 684193 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Fate/strange Fake
| Length (in words) | 278318 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16006 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6252 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2617 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 305 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5014 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 597048 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
| Length (in words) | 476146 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 22776 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8060 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2505 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 218 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5051 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.1 |
| Characters | 1085607 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
86
| Length (in words) | 510008 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21525 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6941 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2726 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 241 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5319 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.4 |
| Characters | 1142977 |
| Volumes | 9 |
Novel
Vamp!
| Length (in words) | 302294 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15479 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6042 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2344 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 270 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4421 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.1 |
| Characters | 669936 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Monogatari Series
| Length (in words) | 1411335 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 32867 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9956 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2957 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 316 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6131 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.7 |
| Characters | 3336133 |
| Volumes | 19 |
Novel
Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin
| Length (in words) | 878143 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 27955 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7991 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 28% |
| Unique kanji | 2788 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 208 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5736 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.2 |
| Characters | 1982237 |
| Volumes | 14 |
Novel
Durarara!!
| Length (in words) | 653925 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 22022 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7777 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2543 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 244 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5030 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.4 |
| Characters | 1487125 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Shakugan no Shana
| Length (in words) | 934312 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28725 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8626 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2954 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 241 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6175 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.6 |
| Characters | 2114050 |
| Volumes | 22 |
Novel
Zero Machina Kakuu Sanagi wo Shiie wa Utenai
| Length (in words) | 189160 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15479 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6046 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2467 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 256 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4708 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.1 |
| Characters | 427866 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Fate/Zero (TYPE-MOON BOOKS ver.)
| Length (in words) | 270321 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19236 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7044 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2775 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 293 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5550 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.1 |
| Characters | 613197 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Guin Saga
| Length (in words) | 462677 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19847 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6736 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 33% |
| Unique kanji | 2405 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 288 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4606 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.9 |
| Characters | 1076491 |
| Volumes | 9 |
Novel
Kinkakuji
| Length (in words) | 83721 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 10998 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5295 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 2547 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 433 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4662 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 29.8 |
| Characters | 170636 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kamen no Kokuhaku
| Length (in words) | 62287 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9975 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5177 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 2329 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 425 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4109 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 31.8 |
| Characters | 133103 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Guin Saga Gaiden
| Length (in words) | 72262 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7842 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3576 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1634 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 336 |
| Unique kanji readings | 2690 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.5 |
| Characters | 168649 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Katanagatari
| Length (in words) | 338929 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14675 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5236 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2296 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 260 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4350 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.4 |
| Characters | 755145 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Chuushingura
| Length (in words) | 277338 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19856 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7586 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2908 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 382 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5998 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.7 |
| Characters | 615323 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Usotsuki Mii-kun to Kowareta Maa-chan
| Length (in words) | 547915 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 26148 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9015 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2658 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 221 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5506 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.6 |
| Characters | 1232739 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Youjo Senki
| Length (in words) | 284204 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17707 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6579 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2407 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 246 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4490 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.9 |
| Characters | 653470 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Ryuuban Nanachou: Dragon Buster
| Length (in words) | 123561 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13705 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6202 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 2419 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 358 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4635 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 29.2 |
| Characters | 265865 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Circlet Girl
| Length (in words) | 885708 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 27891 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8994 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2667 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 223 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5397 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.7 |
| Characters | 2012729 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Angel Howling
| Length (in words) | 413614 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16195 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5689 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2336 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 247 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4496 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.3 |
| Characters | 955815 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Trinity Blood Reborn on the Mars
| Length (in words) | 383330 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21303 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7661 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2717 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 265 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5295 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.4 |
| Characters | 884362 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Higashi no Kensei Houten
| Length (in words) | 103252 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8692 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3607 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2049 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 323 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3759 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.1 |
| Characters | 215945 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Tokyo Ravens
| Length (in words) | 934054 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 26886 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7822 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2855 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 216 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5896 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.7 |
| Characters | 2165729 |
| Volumes | 16 |
Novel
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II
| Length (in words) | 465672 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21268 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7724 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2686 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 250 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5180 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 1096281 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Crest of the Stars
| Length (in words) | 151019 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13180 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5504 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2284 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 357 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4037 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.4 |
| Characters | 355607 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Ten to Chi to
| Length (in words) | 292285 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 18234 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6826 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2595 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 381 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5054 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.3 |
| Characters | 663266 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Iconoclast!
| Length (in words) | 425526 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 18532 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6400 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2539 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 206 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5004 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.3 |
| Characters | 966580 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Paracelsus no Musume
| Length (in words) | 467379 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 23136 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8315 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2701 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 290 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5246 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.6 |
| Characters | 1105296 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Trinity Blood Rage Against the Moons
| Length (in words) | 291459 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19138 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7323 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2637 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 295 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5059 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.7 |
| Characters | 667903 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Baccano! 1935
| Length (in words) | 181525 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12196 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4994 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2189 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 275 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3985 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.2 |
| Characters | 414919 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Rengoku Hime
| Length (in words) | 297284 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16429 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5749 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2610 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 226 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4983 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.3 |
| Characters | 676015 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Hitsugi no Chaika
| Length (in words) | 438585 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17659 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6029 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2538 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 240 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4975 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.9 |
| Characters | 950502 |
| Volumes | 9 |
Novel
Sword Art Online
| Length (in words) | 1501030 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 34507 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9950 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 28% |
| Unique kanji | 2924 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 216 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6128 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.0 |
| Characters | 3421562 |
| Volumes | 25 |
Novel
Rakuin no Monshou
| Length (in words) | 670464 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21640 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6051 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 27% |
| Unique kanji | 2579 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 220 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5082 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.7 |
| Characters | 1563892 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Mad Bullet Underground
| Length (in words) | 204186 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13461 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4961 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2286 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 223 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4278 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.1 |
| Characters | 464052 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
D-Crackers
| Length (in words) | 387131 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20104 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7252 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2462 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 229 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4870 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.4 |
| Characters | 890548 |
| Volumes | 7 |
Novel
9S (Nine S)
| Length (in words) | 713250 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24298 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7634 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2472 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 192 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4895 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.2 |
| Characters | 1655267 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Accel World
| Length (in words) | 699611 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24440 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7999 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2608 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 230 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5216 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.2 |
| Characters | 1656503 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Sabikui Bisco
| Length (in words) | 297984 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16808 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6089 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2427 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 225 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4729 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.2 |
| Characters | 666643 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Momi no Ki wa Nokotta
| Length (in words) | 235301 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12092 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4532 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2389 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 356 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4442 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 29.5 |
| Characters | 509133 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kara no Kyoukai
| Length (in words) | 200882 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12623 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5021 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2182 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 281 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3980 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.2 |
| Characters | 446395 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Bakumatsu Mahoushi
| Length (in words) | 202456 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16236 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6376 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2668 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 307 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5237 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 440878 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Zaregoto Series
| Length (in words) | 665146 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 22980 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8178 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2641 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 266 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5216 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.0 |
| Characters | 1553055 |
| Volumes | 9 |
Novel
Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai Suru
| Length (in words) | 304310 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17175 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6069 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2454 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 273 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4769 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.9 |
| Characters | 676275 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Double Breed
| Length (in words) | 484126 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17817 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6265 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2429 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 232 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4682 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.6 |
| Characters | 1110201 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Kyokou Suiri
| Length (in words) | 138986 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 11297 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4785 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 42% |
| Unique kanji | 1992 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 267 |
| Unique kanji readings | 3594 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 29.0 |
| Characters | 322054 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Orabatora Senki
| Length (in words) | 509938 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20713 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7465 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2613 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 295 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5052 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.0 |
| Characters | 1207362 |
| Volumes | 11 |