Novel difficulty list This is a list of novels, both light novels and traditional novels, ranked by their difficulty, on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 is very easy and 100 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 1518 entries
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Length (in words) 703664 Unique words 25455 Unique words (used once) 8083 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2679 Unique kanji (used once) 251 Unique kanji readings 4999 Average difficulty 92/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 33.8 Characters 1674141 Volumes 10
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Side Stories Length (in words) 290152 Unique words 19028 Unique words (used once) 7416 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2414 Unique kanji (used once) 305 Unique kanji readings 4348 Average difficulty 91/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 32.0 Characters 691178 Volumes 5
Novel
Katanagatari Length (in words) 339363 Unique words 14730 Unique words (used once) 5258 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2300 Unique kanji (used once) 260 Unique kanji readings 4370 Average difficulty 91/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 25.4 Characters 755485 Volumes 12
Novel
Ryouma ga Yuku Length (in words) 577862 Unique words 28338 Unique words (used once) 10291 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 3157 Unique kanji (used once) 399 Unique kanji readings 6711 Average difficulty 90/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 1249940 Volumes 1
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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 Average difficulty 90/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 24.3 Characters 431847 Volumes 10
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Ningen Series Length (in words) 332228 Unique words 17791 Unique words (used once) 6830 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2477 Unique kanji (used once) 310 Unique kanji readings 4746 Average difficulty 89/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 788413 Volumes 7
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Fate/Zero (TYPE-MOON BOOKS ver.) Length (in words) 272859 Unique words 19311 Unique words (used once) 7084 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2780 Unique kanji (used once) 296 Unique kanji readings 5582 Average difficulty 89/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 96/100 Average sentence length 31.1 Characters 620439 Volumes 4
Novel
Moeyo Ken Length (in words) 157250 Unique words 15021 Unique words (used once) 6791 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 2552 Unique kanji (used once) 416 Unique kanji readings 4970 Average difficulty 89/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 96/100 Average sentence length 21.0 Characters 341444 Volumes 1
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Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru: Dances with the Dragons Length (in words) 1169151 Unique words 26619 Unique words (used once) 8012 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2697 Unique kanji (used once) 215 Unique kanji readings 5350 Average difficulty 88/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 18.1 Characters 2537966 Volumes 10
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Youjo Senki Length (in words) 986413 Unique words 28953 Unique words (used once) 8714 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2841 Unique kanji (used once) 231 Unique kanji readings 5718 Average difficulty 88/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 98/100 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 2287641 Volumes 12
Novel
Quantum Devil Saga Avatar Tuner Length (in words) 401860 Unique words 19044 Unique words (used once) 6701 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2444 Unique kanji (used once) 263 Unique kanji readings 4543 Average difficulty 88/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 27.3 Characters 946563 Volumes 5
Novel
Guin Saga Gaiden Length (in words) 72476 Unique words 7842 Unique words (used once) 3578 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 1640 Unique kanji (used once) 336 Unique kanji readings 2705 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 96/100 Average sentence length 32.0 Characters 169565 Volumes 1
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Clockwork Planet Length (in words) 256018 Unique words 17430 Unique words (used once) 6850 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2384 Unique kanji (used once) 248 Unique kanji readings 4578 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 96/100 Average sentence length 20.8 Characters 587125 Volumes 4
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Sabikui Bisco Length (in words) 299488 Unique words 16828 Unique words (used once) 6111 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2428 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 4754 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 95/100 Average sentence length 20.7 Characters 669404 Volumes 5
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Angel Howling Length (in words) 414096 Unique words 16252 Unique words (used once) 5720 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2338 Unique kanji (used once) 249 Unique kanji readings 4524 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 98/100 Average sentence length 19.8 Characters 960487 Volumes 10
Novel
86 Length (in words) 751601 Unique words 25050 Unique words (used once) 7472 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2826 Unique kanji (used once) 205 Unique kanji readings 5664 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 98/100 Average sentence length 24.7 Characters 1710255 Volumes 13
Novel
Nangoku Taiheiki Length (in words) 195427 Unique words 13247 Unique words (used once) 5526 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2540 Unique kanji (used once) 379 Unique kanji readings 5139 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 94/100 Average sentence length 19.8 Characters 414607 Volumes 2
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Durarara!! Length (in words) 655746 Unique words 22129 Unique words (used once) 7822 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2556 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 5084 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 26.5 Characters 1497646 Volumes 13
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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 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 96/100 Average sentence length 23.5 Characters 215941 Volumes 1
Novel
Shakugan no Shana Length (in words) 941367 Unique words 28911 Unique words (used once) 8677 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2954 Unique kanji (used once) 239 Unique kanji readings 6225 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 24.8 Characters 2128265 Volumes 22
Novel
Guin Saga Length (in words) 6741165 Unique words 47653 Unique words (used once) 9839 Unique words (used once %) 20% Unique kanji 3158 Unique kanji (used once) 186 Unique kanji readings 6767 Average difficulty 86/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 98/100 Average sentence length 30.6 Characters 16345778 Volumes 130
Novel
Dogura Magura Length (in words) 175898 Unique words 15499 Unique words (used once) 6692 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 2720 Unique kanji (used once) 442 Unique kanji readings 5323 Average difficulty 86/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 35.7 Characters 389973 Volumes 2
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Monogatari Series Length (in words) 1905440 Unique words 38811 Unique words (used once) 10979 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 3102 Unique kanji (used once) 287 Unique kanji readings 6637 Average difficulty 86/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 29.4 Characters 4571464 Volumes 28
Novel
Fate/strange Fake Length (in words) 219433 Unique words 14204 Unique words (used once) 5723 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2387 Unique kanji (used once) 289 Unique kanji readings 4456 Average difficulty 85/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 29.9 Characters 486150 Volumes 5
Novel
Crest of the Stars Length (in words) 150808 Unique words 13167 Unique words (used once) 5508 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2290 Unique kanji (used once) 359 Unique kanji readings 4046 Average difficulty 85/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 22.9 Characters 359040 Volumes 3
Novel
Hitsugi no Chaika Length (in words) 439568 Unique words 17729 Unique words (used once) 6061 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2538 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 5001 Average difficulty 85/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 94/100 Average sentence length 24.9 Characters 957520 Volumes 9
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Vamp! Length (in words) 302988 Unique words 15530 Unique words (used once) 6068 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2346 Unique kanji (used once) 268 Unique kanji readings 4442 Average difficulty 85/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 25.8 Characters 673488 Volumes 5
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Hako no Naka no Shitsuraku Length (in words) 157793 Unique words 12060 Unique words (used once) 5175 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2469 Unique kanji (used once) 403 Unique kanji readings 4390 Average difficulty 85/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 95/100 Average sentence length 29.1 Characters 359708 Volumes 1
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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 Average difficulty 85/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 94/100 Average sentence length 20.5 Characters 969123 Volumes 10
Novel
Anna Karenina Length (in words) 413621 Unique words 16556 Unique words (used once) 6167 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2170 Unique kanji (used once) 277 Unique kanji readings 3825 Average difficulty 85/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 94/100 Average sentence length 37.9 Characters 1004080 Volumes 3
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Teito Monogatari Length (in words) 537823 Unique words 28182 Unique words (used once) 9970 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2995 Unique kanji (used once) 303 Unique kanji readings 6456 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 1206333 Volumes 6
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Boukyaku Tantei Series Length (in words) 595399 Unique words 23372 Unique words (used once) 7800 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2503 Unique kanji (used once) 248 Unique kanji readings 4893 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 38.8 Characters 1470390 Volumes 13
Novel
Tokyo Ravens Length (in words) 937694 Unique words 27008 Unique words (used once) 7875 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2861 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 5955 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 92/100 Average sentence length 20.1 Characters 2170993 Volumes 16
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Circlet Girl Length (in words) 895478 Unique words 27976 Unique words (used once) 9023 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2673 Unique kanji (used once) 226 Unique kanji readings 5429 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 94/100 Average sentence length 26.4 Characters 2020442 Volumes 13
Novel
Shakugan no Shana S Length (in words) 150885 Unique words 15091 Unique words (used once) 6458 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2480 Unique kanji (used once) 328 Unique kanji readings 4794 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 29.8 Characters 341662 Volumes 3
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Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin Length (in words) 878896 Unique words 28054 Unique words (used once) 8029 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2786 Unique kanji (used once) 205 Unique kanji readings 5756 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 24.5 Characters 1992300 Volumes 14
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Swallowtail Jinkou Shoujo Hanbaisho Length (in words) 448917 Unique words 25237 Unique words (used once) 9221 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2834 Unique kanji (used once) 287 Unique kanji readings 5727 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 33.2 Characters 997038 Volumes 4
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Densetsu Series Length (in words) 1151726 Unique words 27462 Unique words (used once) 8320 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2648 Unique kanji (used once) 249 Unique kanji readings 5350 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 36.5 Characters 2772509 Volumes 10
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Orabatora Senki Length (in words) 511226 Unique words 20812 Unique words (used once) 7507 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2619 Unique kanji (used once) 297 Unique kanji readings 5112 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 1223092 Volumes 11
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Goju Kishidan Monogatari Younen Gakkou Hen Length (in words) 263721 Unique words 12622 Unique words (used once) 4124 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2032 Unique kanji (used once) 230 Unique kanji readings 3708 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 91/100 Average sentence length 19.2 Characters 585955 Volumes 5
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Bakumatsu Mahoushi Length (in words) 204244 Unique words 16391 Unique words (used once) 6439 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2686 Unique kanji (used once) 316 Unique kanji readings 5314 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 92/100 Average sentence length 22.8 Characters 441202 Volumes 3
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Mokushiroku Length (in words) 186194 Unique words 15801 Unique words (used once) 6532 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2786 Unique kanji (used once) 338 Unique kanji readings 5541 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 92/100 Average sentence length 19.7 Characters 402482 Volumes 2
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Isekai Goumon Hime Length (in words) 485890 Unique words 17441 Unique words (used once) 5404 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2549 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 5006 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 92/100 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 1029454 Volumes 10
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Double Breed Length (in words) 486932 Unique words 17913 Unique words (used once) 6315 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2432 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 4740 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 22.0 Characters 1113507 Volumes 10
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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 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 28.4 Characters 889518 Volumes 6
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Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Length (in words) 2398362 Unique words 33894 Unique words (used once) 7590 Unique words (used once %) 22% Unique kanji 2895 Unique kanji (used once) 152 Unique kanji readings 6157 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 91/100 Average sentence length 23.7 Characters 5479341 Volumes 39
Novel
Durarara!! SH Length (in words) 168719 Unique words 11662 Unique words (used once) 4906 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 2098 Unique kanji (used once) 272 Unique kanji readings 3803 Average difficulty 82/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 94/100 Average sentence length 27.4 Characters 387341 Volumes 4
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Durarara!! Gaiden!? Length (in words) 38726 Unique words 5686 Unique words (used once) 2950 Unique words (used once %) 51% Unique kanji 1549 Unique kanji (used once) 337 Unique kanji readings 2498 Average difficulty 82/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 95/100 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 88513 Volumes 1
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9S (Nine S) Length (in words) 715114 Unique words 24360 Unique words (used once) 7662 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2482 Unique kanji (used once) 199 Unique kanji readings 4936 Average difficulty 82/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 95/100 Average sentence length 19.9 Characters 1666136 Volumes 13
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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 Average difficulty 82/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 92/100 Average sentence length 24.8 Characters 259511 Volumes 1