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 1475 entries
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Length (in words) 703664 Unique words 25460 Unique words (used once) 8084 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2679 Unique kanji (used once) 251 Unique kanji readings 4997 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 33.8 Characters 1674141 Volumes 10
Novel
Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru: Dances with the Dragons Length (in words) 1169151 Unique words 26617 Unique words (used once) 8012 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2697 Unique kanji (used once) 215 Unique kanji readings 5352 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 18.1 Characters 2537966 Volumes 10
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Side Stories Length (in words) 290152 Unique words 19035 Unique words (used once) 7419 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2414 Unique kanji (used once) 305 Unique kanji readings 4348 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 32.0 Characters 691178 Volumes 5
Novel
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko Length (in words) 477238 Unique words 22861 Unique words (used once) 8109 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2506 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 5084 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 21.9 Characters 1096612 Volumes 11
Novel
Teito Monogatari Length (in words) 537823 Unique words 28181 Unique words (used once) 9971 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2995 Unique kanji (used once) 303 Unique kanji readings 6455 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 1206333 Volumes 6
Novel
Dogura Magura Length (in words) 175898 Unique words 15501 Unique words (used once) 6693 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 2720 Unique kanji (used once) 442 Unique kanji readings 5325 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 35.7 Characters 389973 Volumes 2
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
Ryouma ga Yuku Length (in words) 577864 Unique words 28341 Unique words (used once) 10289 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 3157 Unique kanji (used once) 399 Unique kanji readings 6710 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 1249940 Volumes 1
Novel
Vamp! Length (in words) 302995 Unique words 15530 Unique words (used once) 6067 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2346 Unique kanji (used once) 268 Unique kanji readings 4442 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.8 Characters 673488 Volumes 5
Novel
Fate/strange Fake Length (in words) 219433 Unique words 14206 Unique words (used once) 5724 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2387 Unique kanji (used once) 289 Unique kanji readings 4456 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 29.9 Characters 486150 Volumes 5
Novel
Youjo Senki Length (in words) 986415 Unique words 28955 Unique words (used once) 8714 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2841 Unique kanji (used once) 231 Unique kanji readings 5718 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 2287641 Volumes 12
Novel
Shakugan no Shana Length (in words) 941371 Unique words 28912 Unique words (used once) 8677 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2954 Unique kanji (used once) 239 Unique kanji readings 6225 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.8 Characters 2128265 Volumes 22
Novel
Monogatari Series Length (in words) 1905440 Unique words 38809 Unique words (used once) 10977 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 3102 Unique kanji (used once) 287 Unique kanji readings 6637 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 29.4 Characters 4571464 Volumes 28
Novel
Durarara!! Length (in words) 655753 Unique words 22130 Unique words (used once) 7822 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2556 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 5083 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 26.5 Characters 1497646 Volumes 13
Novel
Zero Machina Kakuu Sanagi wo Shiie wa Utenai Length (in words) 189384 Unique words 15540 Unique words (used once) 6078 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2469 Unique kanji (used once) 256 Unique kanji readings 4736 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.3 Characters 431847 Volumes 10
Novel
Quantum Devil Saga Avatar Tuner Length (in words) 401860 Unique words 19047 Unique words (used once) 6700 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2444 Unique kanji (used once) 263 Unique kanji readings 4543 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 27.3 Characters 946563 Volumes 5
Novel
Guin Saga Length (in words) 6741167 Unique words 47668 Unique words (used once) 9845 Unique words (used once %) 20% Unique kanji 3158 Unique kanji (used once) 186 Unique kanji readings 6767 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 30.6 Characters 16345778 Volumes 130
Novel
Ningen Series Length (in words) 332228 Unique words 17793 Unique words (used once) 6830 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2477 Unique kanji (used once) 310 Unique kanji readings 4746 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 788413 Volumes 7
Novel
Swallowtail Jinkou Shoujo Hanbaisho Length (in words) 448917 Unique words 25239 Unique words (used once) 9221 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2834 Unique kanji (used once) 287 Unique kanji readings 5726 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 33.2 Characters 997038 Volumes 4
Novel
Katanagatari Length (in words) 339364 Unique words 14731 Unique words (used once) 5258 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2300 Unique kanji (used once) 260 Unique kanji readings 4370 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.4 Characters 755485 Volumes 12
Novel
Angel Howling Length (in words) 414096 Unique words 16253 Unique words (used once) 5719 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2338 Unique kanji (used once) 249 Unique kanji readings 4524 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.8 Characters 960487 Volumes 10
Novel
Moeyo Ken Length (in words) 157250 Unique words 15027 Unique words (used once) 6794 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 2552 Unique kanji (used once) 416 Unique kanji readings 4969 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 21.0 Characters 341444 Volumes 1
Novel
Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin Length (in words) 878898 Unique words 28055 Unique words (used once) 8028 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2786 Unique kanji (used once) 205 Unique kanji readings 5756 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 24.5 Characters 1992300 Volumes 14
Novel
Clockwork Planet Length (in words) 256018 Unique words 17432 Unique words (used once) 6850 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2384 Unique kanji (used once) 248 Unique kanji readings 4578 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 20.8 Characters 587125 Volumes 4
Novel
Usotsuki Mii-kun to Kowareta Maa-chan Length (in words) 548672 Unique words 26244 Unique words (used once) 9079 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2661 Unique kanji (used once) 221 Unique kanji readings 5524 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 22.3 Characters 1241950 Volumes 11
Novel
Fate/Zero (TYPE-MOON BOOKS ver.) Length (in words) 272860 Unique words 19310 Unique words (used once) 7082 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2780 Unique kanji (used once) 296 Unique kanji readings 5582 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 31.1 Characters 620439 Volumes 4
Novel
Guin Saga Gaiden Length (in words) 72476 Unique words 7843 Unique words (used once) 3578 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 1640 Unique kanji (used once) 336 Unique kanji readings 2704 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 32.0 Characters 169565 Volumes 1
Novel
Tokyo Ravens Length (in words) 937698 Unique words 27008 Unique words (used once) 7876 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2861 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 5955 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 20.1 Characters 2170993 Volumes 16
Novel
Higashi no Kensei Houten Length (in words) 104531 Unique words 8720 Unique words (used once) 3613 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2058 Unique kanji (used once) 325 Unique kanji readings 3779 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 23.5 Characters 215941 Volumes 1
Novel
Sabikui Bisco Length (in words) 299488 Unique words 16829 Unique words (used once) 6111 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2428 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 4754 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 20.7 Characters 669404 Volumes 5
Novel
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II Length (in words) 466321 Unique words 21309 Unique words (used once) 7746 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2687 Unique kanji (used once) 249 Unique kanji readings 5206 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 27.4 Characters 1102521 Volumes 10
Novel
Baccano! 1935 Length (in words) 182033 Unique words 12217 Unique words (used once) 4996 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2191 Unique kanji (used once) 276 Unique kanji readings 3988 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 28.1 Characters 421287 Volumes 4
Novel
Anna Karenina Length (in words) 413621 Unique words 16560 Unique words (used once) 6168 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2170 Unique kanji (used once) 277 Unique kanji readings 3820 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 37.9 Characters 1004080 Volumes 3
Novel
D-Crackers Length (in words) 390158 Unique words 20167 Unique words (used once) 7293 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2465 Unique kanji (used once) 230 Unique kanji readings 4911 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 18.8 Characters 896200 Volumes 7
Novel
Hako no Naka no Shitsuraku Length (in words) 157793 Unique words 12061 Unique words (used once) 5175 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2469 Unique kanji (used once) 403 Unique kanji readings 4390 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 29.1 Characters 359708 Volumes 1
Novel
Zaregoto Series Length (in words) 723229 Unique words 24863 Unique words (used once) 8812 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2727 Unique kanji (used once) 282 Unique kanji readings 5477 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.6 Characters 1695822 Volumes 10
Novel
Kara no Kyoukai Length (in words) 201528 Unique words 12640 Unique words (used once) 5037 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2189 Unique kanji (used once) 283 Unique kanji readings 4004 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 20.8 Characters 447540 Volumes 3
Novel
Trinity Blood Reborn on the Mars Length (in words) 383716 Unique words 21379 Unique words (used once) 7686 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2718 Unique kanji (used once) 268 Unique kanji readings 5314 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 28.4 Characters 889518 Volumes 6
Novel
Crest of the Stars Length (in words) 150808 Unique words 13169 Unique words (used once) 5508 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2290 Unique kanji (used once) 359 Unique kanji readings 4046 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 22.9 Characters 359040 Volumes 3
Novel
Nangoku Taiheiki Length (in words) 195427 Unique words 13248 Unique words (used once) 5526 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2540 Unique kanji (used once) 379 Unique kanji readings 5138 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 19.8 Characters 414607 Volumes 2
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
Trinity Blood Rage Against the Moons Length (in words) 291867 Unique words 19205 Unique words (used once) 7344 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2639 Unique kanji (used once) 296 Unique kanji readings 5088 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 672898 Volumes 6
Novel
Hitsugi no Chaika Length (in words) 439568 Unique words 17731 Unique words (used once) 6060 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2538 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 5001 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 24.9 Characters 957520 Volumes 9
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Kyokou Suiri Length (in words) 375467 Unique words 17452 Unique words (used once) 6327 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2339 Unique kanji (used once) 241 Unique kanji readings 4506 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 30.5 Characters 862403 Volumes 6
Novel
Orabatora Senki Length (in words) 511226 Unique words 20814 Unique words (used once) 7507 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2619 Unique kanji (used once) 297 Unique kanji readings 5112 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 1223092 Volumes 11
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Kinkakuji Length (in words) 83915 Unique words 11148 Unique words (used once) 5420 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 2559 Unique kanji (used once) 435 Unique kanji readings 4760 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 30.2 Characters 170783 Volumes 1
Novel
Circlet Girl Length (in words) 895478 Unique words 27977 Unique words (used once) 9021 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2673 Unique kanji (used once) 226 Unique kanji readings 5429 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 26.4 Characters 2020442 Volumes 13
Novel
Magical City Night Length (in words) 342519 Unique words 17386 Unique words (used once) 6435 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2333 Unique kanji (used once) 268 Unique kanji readings 4431 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 18.6 Characters 787392 Volumes 10
Novel
Rengoku Hime Length (in words) 297711 Unique words 16484 Unique words (used once) 5776 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2612 Unique kanji (used once) 228 Unique kanji readings 5002 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 21.9 Characters 678642 Volumes 6
Novel
Densetsu Series Length (in words) 1151726 Unique words 27461 Unique words (used once) 8316 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2648 Unique kanji (used once) 249 Unique kanji readings 5351 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 36.5 Characters 2772509 Volumes 10