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 344 entries
Novel
"Omae Gotoki ga Maou ni Kateru to Omou na" to Yuusha Party wo Tsuihou Sareta no de, Outo de Kimama ni Kurashitai
| Length (in words) | 70772 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7695 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3466 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1694 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 263 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.7 |
| Characters | 165854 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
1Q84
| Length (in words) | 404208 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 18444 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7011 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2359 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 252 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.5 |
| Characters | 954306 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
5 Fun Go ni Igai na Ketsumatsu
| Length (in words) | 83702 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9017 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4143 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1635 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 242 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 194907 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
52 Hertz no Kujiratachi
| Length (in words) | 54629 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6126 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2953 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1674 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 345 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 128369 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
86
| Length (in words) | 274509 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17273 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6286 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2560 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 308 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 615291 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
A Certain Magical Index
| Length (in words) | 1258452 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 30761 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8910 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 28% |
| Unique kanji | 2703 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 251 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.7 |
| Characters | 2885539 |
| Volumes | 23 |
Novel
A Certain Scientific Railgun SS
| Length (in words) | 55524 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 7115 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3338 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1618 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 270 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.3 |
| Characters | 130045 |
| Volumes | 8 |
Novel
AURA ~Maryuuin Kouga Saigo no Tatakai~
| Length (in words) | 58546 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8442 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4175 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1638 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 287 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 14.3 |
| Characters | 132591 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Accel World
| Length (in words) | 699509 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24453 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7995 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2608 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 230 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.2 |
| Characters | 1656503 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Adachi and Shimamura
| Length (in words) | 243994 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13357 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5213 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2071 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 239 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.2 |
| Characters | 570012 |
| Volumes | 7 |
Novel
Aki no Rougoku
| Length (in words) | 34571 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5479 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2844 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 1646 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 376 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 76892 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Akkan no Grimoire
| Length (in words) | 110635 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12173 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5257 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 2104 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 310 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.4 |
| Characters | 254907 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Akuyaku Reijou wa, Shomin ni Totsugitai
| Length (in words) | 127320 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9422 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3793 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 1868 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 250 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.8 |
| Characters | 295336 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Alahabad no Mahoutsukai
| Length (in words) | 115923 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 10106 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4319 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 42% |
| Unique kanji | 1904 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 277 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.4 |
| Characters | 279476 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Amanojakuna Himuro-san Koukandou 100% kara Hajimeru Dokuzetsu Joshi no Otoshikata
| Length (in words) | 220472 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12954 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5171 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 1988 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 250 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 511126 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Ameku Takao no Suiri Karute
| Length (in words) | 48712 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5723 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2574 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1523 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 264 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.9 |
| Characters | 112186 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Ano Natsu, Yume no Owari de Koi wo Shita
| Length (in words) | 40525 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4748 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2237 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1440 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 311 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.3 |
| Characters | 92608 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Another 2001
| Length (in words) | 138572 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9012 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3451 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 1738 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 264 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.2 |
| Characters | 320404 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Another: Episode S
| Length (in words) | 46134 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5174 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2330 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1392 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 285 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.9 |
| Characters | 103677 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Antimagic Academy "The 35th Test Platoon"
| Length (in words) | 505350 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19374 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6078 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2439 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 225 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.3 |
| Characters | 1151493 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Antimagic Academy "The 35th Test Platoon" Another Mission
| Length (in words) | 40765 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6013 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3061 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 50% |
| Unique kanji | 1572 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 291 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.8 |
| Characters | 94808 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou
| Length (in words) | 619771 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21140 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6373 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2545 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 192 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 1419526 |
| Volumes | 8 |
Novel
Ascendance of a Bookworm
| Length (in words) | 323707 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13620 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4879 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2102 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 241 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.6 |
| Characters | 750330 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Asura Cryin'
| Length (in words) | 700919 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 23418 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7972 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2553 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 244 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 1634039 |
| Volumes | 14 |
Novel
BEATLESS
| Length (in words) | 224592 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14787 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5972 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2171 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 266 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.5 |
| Characters | 524551 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Baccano! 1705 The Ironic Light Orchestra
| Length (in words) | 50341 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6100 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2926 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1674 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 309 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.3 |
| Characters | 111617 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 1710 Crack Flag
| Length (in words) | 49760 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5881 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2856 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1695 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 365 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 112162 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 1711 Whitesmile
| Length (in words) | 55227 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6294 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2981 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1712 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 339 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.9 |
| Characters | 126614 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 1931 (Winter) The Time of the Oasis
| Length (in words) | 35948 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5156 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2461 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1533 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 313 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.4 |
| Characters | 80581 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 1931 Another Junk Railroad
| Length (in words) | 40664 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5554 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2758 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1561 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 308 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.6 |
| Characters | 91516 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 1931 The Grand Punk Railroad
| Length (in words) | 94754 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8194 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3519 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 42% |
| Unique kanji | 1825 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 283 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.8 |
| Characters | 208949 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Baccano! 1932 (Summer) Man in the Killer
| Length (in words) | 45547 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5636 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2753 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1569 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 315 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.2 |
| Characters | 102814 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 1932 Drug & The Dominos
| Length (in words) | 48888 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6271 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3035 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1678 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 333 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.4 |
| Characters | 109647 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 1933 The Slash
| Length (in words) | 101138 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 8512 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3723 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1828 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 298 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.9 |
| Characters | 227350 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Baccano! 1934
| Length (in words) | 179659 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 11947 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4865 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2105 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 274 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.2 |
| Characters | 410225 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Baccano! 1935
| Length (in words) | 180140 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12174 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4972 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2189 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 275 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.2 |
| Characters | 414919 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Baccano! 2001 The Children of Bottle
| Length (in words) | 53309 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5953 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2833 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1644 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 332 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.0 |
| Characters | 118521 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baccano! 2002
| Length (in words) | 99330 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9299 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4177 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1911 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 303 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.8 |
| Characters | 224956 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Baccano! The Rolling Bootlegs
| Length (in words) | 48229 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6370 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3122 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1692 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 329 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.7 |
| Characters | 108600 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Baka to Tesuto to Shoukanjuu
| Length (in words) | 396423 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16917 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6246 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2286 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 270 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 16.8 |
| Characters | 932772 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Banner of the Stars
| Length (in words) | 198250 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 13699 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5525 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2320 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 327 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.6 |
| Characters | 475313 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Bara no Maria
| Length (in words) | 441071 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21850 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7728 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2612 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 280 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.5 |
| Characters | 1062549 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Ben-to
| Length (in words) | 936070 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 25669 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8113 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2626 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 200 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 2081786 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou
| Length (in words) | 230342 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 12584 |
| Unique words (used once) | 4767 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2067 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 264 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 545345 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Bijoutachi ni Semarareteiru Kishi Ore wa Jiyuu ga Hoshii!
| Length (in words) | 41163 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6935 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3566 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 1746 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 336 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.9 |
| Characters | 93412 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Biscuit Frankenstein
| Length (in words) | 44492 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6534 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3236 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1678 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 311 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.6 |
| Characters | 101504 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Bishounen Tanteidan
| Length (in words) | 368758 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20383 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7708 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2425 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 264 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.4 |
| Characters | 896861 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Bodacious Space Pirates
| Length (in words) | 703371 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21362 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7095 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 33% |
| Unique kanji | 2321 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 243 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.0 |
| Characters | 1706271 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
| Length (in words) | 251963 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15190 |
| Unique words (used once) | 5968 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2206 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 293 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.2 |
| Characters | 592732 |
| Volumes | 8 |
Novel
Boku wa Yellow de White de, Chotto Blue
| Length (in words) | 52451 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6908 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3452 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1539 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 294 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 33.2 |
| Characters | 122727 |
| Volumes | 1 |