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 1156 entries
Novel
"Hello Work Guild" e Youkoso! Length (in words) 46237 Unique words 7115 Unique words (used once) 3584 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1680 Unique kanji (used once) 304 Unique kanji readings 2865 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 18.4 Characters 108367 Volumes 1
Novel
"Kanchigai Shinaide yo ne! Anta no Koto Nanka Daisuki Nandakara!" Noroi de Honne Shika Ienakunatta Tsundere Ojousama Length (in words) 37264 Unique words 3472 Unique words (used once) 1522 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 1154 Unique kanji (used once) 244 Unique kanji readings 1720 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 13.7 Characters 92288 Volumes 1
Novel
"Mizube no Gakkou" no Tokoro-kun Length (in words) 23961 Unique words 3693 Unique words (used once) 1713 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 902 Unique kanji (used once) 199 Unique kanji readings 1389 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 25.2 Characters 53961 Volumes 1
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) 70987 Unique words 7692 Unique words (used once) 3462 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 1696 Unique kanji (used once) 263 Unique kanji readings 2907 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 19.7 Characters 165854 Volumes 1
Novel
"Ou no Saien" no Kishi to, "Yasai" no Ojousama Length (in words) 49162 Unique words 6091 Unique words (used once) 2815 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 1677 Unique kanji (used once) 312 Unique kanji readings 2724 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 120221 Volumes 1
Novel
"Suki" Length (in words) 36844 Unique words 4470 Unique words (used once) 2237 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1275 Unique kanji (used once) 302 Unique kanji readings 2003 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 86199 Volumes 1
Novel
"Watashi to Issho ni Sumu tte Dou ka na?" 1 Mitame Gyaru na Bukiyou Bishoujo ga Ore to Futari de Kurashitagaru Length (in words) 47833 Unique words 6707 Unique words (used once) 3347 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 1648 Unique kanji (used once) 317 Unique kanji readings 2700 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 20.5 Characters 114409 Volumes 1
Novel
1 Percent no Kyoushitsu Length (in words) 39799 Unique words 5373 Unique words (used once) 2696 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1557 Unique kanji (used once) 339 Unique kanji readings 2469 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 20.2 Characters 92595 Volumes 1
Novel
1 Percent no Kyoushitsu 2 Length (in words) 45292 Unique words 5606 Unique words (used once) 2716 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1600 Unique kanji (used once) 298 Unique kanji readings 2582 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 103050 Volumes 1
Novel
10 Nengo, Yoake wo Matsu Boku-tachi e Length (in words) 52420 Unique words 4560 Unique words (used once) 1922 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 1319 Unique kanji (used once) 267 Unique kanji readings 2041 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 22.7 Characters 121241 Volumes 1
Novel
1101 Goushitsu no Shukuteki ~Ore-sama Designer wa, Tsuyoki na Rinjin wo Hitorijime Shite Aishitai~ Length (in words) 55429 Unique words 6653 Unique words (used once) 2981 Unique words (used once %) 44% Unique kanji 1594 Unique kanji (used once) 251 Unique kanji readings 2685 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 131205 Volumes 1
Novel
13-banme no Alice Length (in words) 198498 Unique words 14918 Unique words (used once) 5688 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2373 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 4460 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 19.0 Characters 470339 Volumes 4
Novel
14sai Gentei Shoukougun Length (in words) 57167 Unique words 8093 Unique words (used once) 3905 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1807 Unique kanji (used once) 311 Unique kanji readings 3033 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 25.8 Characters 132268 Volumes 1
Novel
1Q84 Length (in words) 404601 Unique words 18538 Unique words (used once) 7111 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2373 Unique kanji (used once) 258 Unique kanji readings 4461 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 24.5 Characters 954306 Volumes 3
Novel
24 Jikan no Dokusen Yoku ~Jiki Shachou ga Hanashitekuremasen~ Length (in words) 24860 Unique words 3971 Unique words (used once) 2054 Unique words (used once %) 51% Unique kanji 1292 Unique kanji (used once) 337 Unique kanji readings 1977 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 21.4 Characters 57076 Volumes 1
Novel
5 Fun Go ni Igai na Ketsumatsu Length (in words) 84543 Unique words 9038 Unique words (used once) 4143 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 1640 Unique kanji (used once) 243 Unique kanji readings 2813 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 22.5 Characters 194907 Volumes 3
Novel
52 Hertz no Kujiratachi Length (in words) 54624 Unique words 6131 Unique words (used once) 2957 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1678 Unique kanji (used once) 345 Unique kanji readings 2667 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 22.3 Characters 128369 Volumes 1
Novel
8 Banme no Maria Length (in words) 50688 Unique words 5371 Unique words (used once) 2586 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1463 Unique kanji (used once) 315 Unique kanji readings 2310 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 21.5 Characters 118136 Volumes 1
Novel
800 Length (in words) 44942 Unique words 5377 Unique words (used once) 2580 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 1301 Unique kanji (used once) 270 Unique kanji readings 2048 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 20.7 Characters 103960 Volumes 1
Novel
86 Length (in words) 507691 Unique words 21550 Unique words (used once) 6951 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2726 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 5324 Difficulty 10/10 Average sentence length 22.4 Characters 1142977 Volumes 9
Novel
9S (Nine S) Length (in words) 714432 Unique words 24341 Unique words (used once) 7662 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2482 Unique kanji (used once) 198 Unique kanji readings 4920 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 19.2 Characters 1655267 Volumes 13
Novel
<Kono Rabukome ga Sugoi!!> Doudou no Sanni Length (in words) 54298 Unique words 5746 Unique words (used once) 2734 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 1474 Unique kanji (used once) 298 Unique kanji readings 2308 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 21.4 Characters 127322 Volumes 1
Novel
A Certain Magical Index Length (in words) 1259358 Unique words 30906 Unique words (used once) 8993 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2713 Unique kanji (used once) 258 Unique kanji readings 5666 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 23.7 Characters 2885539 Volumes 23
Novel
A Certain Scientific Railgun SS Length (in words) 55539 Unique words 7106 Unique words (used once) 3330 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 1620 Unique kanji (used once) 271 Unique kanji readings 2696 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 24.3 Characters 130045 Volumes 8
Novel
A Christmas Carol Length (in words) 29608 Unique words 6672 Unique words (used once) 4013 Unique words (used once %) 60% Unique kanji 1777 Unique kanji (used once) 462 Unique kanji readings 2947 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 26.2 Characters 68363 Volumes 1
Novel
AGI - Agi - Virtual Shoujo wa Koi Shitai Length (in words) 54241 Unique words 7046 Unique words (used once) 3501 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 1656 Unique kanji (used once) 323 Unique kanji readings 2688 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 19.7 Characters 125372 Volumes 1
Novel
AI ni Maketa Natsu Length (in words) 38991 Unique words 4692 Unique words (used once) 2244 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 1352 Unique kanji (used once) 296 Unique kanji readings 2139 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 19.0 Characters 93247 Volumes 1
Novel
AURA ~Maryuuin Kouga Saigo no Tatakai~ Length (in words) 59055 Unique words 8500 Unique words (used once) 4200 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 1670 Unique kanji (used once) 296 Unique kanji readings 2747 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 14.3 Characters 132591 Volumes 1
Novel
Abyss Gate Length (in words) 106028 Unique words 9170 Unique words (used once) 3991 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 1853 Unique kanji (used once) 322 Unique kanji readings 3194 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 19.1 Characters 238207 Volumes 3
Novel
Accel World Length (in words) 700303 Unique words 24497 Unique words (used once) 8016 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2613 Unique kanji (used once) 228 Unique kanji readings 5227 Difficulty 9/10 Average sentence length 25.2 Characters 1656503 Volumes 12
Novel
Adachi and Shimamura Length (in words) 329019 Unique words 15044 Unique words (used once) 5667 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2152 Unique kanji (used once) 241 Unique kanji readings 4082 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 18.8 Characters 767485 Volumes 10
Novel
Ai ni Chikau Oukoku Length (in words) 20436 Unique words 3154 Unique words (used once) 1514 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 1258 Unique kanji (used once) 309 Unique kanji readings 1880 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.2 Characters 48357 Volumes 1
Novel
Ai suru Musume kara no Kyouiku-teki Shidou Length (in words) 61014 Unique words 8577 Unique words (used once) 4647 Unique words (used once %) 54% Unique kanji 1901 Unique kanji (used once) 380 Unique kanji readings 3318 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 24.5 Characters 141848 Volumes 1
Novel
Aijin no Okite Length (in words) 116772 Unique words 7854 Unique words (used once) 3382 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 1592 Unique kanji (used once) 271 Unique kanji readings 2686 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 34.9 Characters 269237 Volumes 3
Novel
Aisaka Suteki na Shoukougun Length (in words) 162640 Unique words 11136 Unique words (used once) 4655 Unique words (used once %) 41% Unique kanji 2015 Unique kanji (used once) 302 Unique kanji readings 3561 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 19.2 Characters 376097 Volumes 3
Novel
Akai Hitomi no Shesuta Length (in words) 129258 Unique words 10864 Unique words (used once) 4364 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2027 Unique kanji (used once) 267 Unique kanji readings 3640 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 18.8 Characters 294452 Volumes 3
Novel
Akaki Tsuki no Meguru Koro Length (in words) 427298 Unique words 14735 Unique words (used once) 4686 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2287 Unique kanji (used once) 210 Unique kanji readings 4350 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 991508 Volumes 10
Novel
Aki no Rougoku Length (in words) 34686 Unique words 5483 Unique words (used once) 2850 Unique words (used once %) 51% Unique kanji 1653 Unique kanji (used once) 378 Unique kanji readings 2634 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 20.6 Characters 76892 Volumes 1
Novel
Akkan no Grimoire Length (in words) 110617 Unique words 12136 Unique words (used once) 5245 Unique words (used once %) 43% Unique kanji 2107 Unique kanji (used once) 313 Unique kanji readings 3835 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 22.4 Characters 254907 Volumes 4
Novel
Akugyaku Kishidan: Sono Elf, Kyoubou ni Tsuki Length (in words) 113739 Unique words 10386 Unique words (used once) 4623 Unique words (used once %) 44% Unique kanji 2053 Unique kanji (used once) 299 Unique kanji readings 3642 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 19.5 Characters 256984 Volumes 2
Novel
Akuma no Mikata Length (in words) 566699 Unique words 20826 Unique words (used once) 7417 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2441 Unique kanji (used once) 246 Unique kanji readings 4787 Difficulty 8/10 Average sentence length 18.5 Characters 1322258 Volumes 13
Novel
Akuma no Mikata 666 Length (in words) 275404 Unique words 14198 Unique words (used once) 5794 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 2128 Unique kanji (used once) 310 Unique kanji readings 3904 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 20.9 Characters 669556 Volumes 6
Novel
Akuma no Monshou Length (in words) 61506 Unique words 7170 Unique words (used once) 3360 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 1662 Unique kanji (used once) 319 Unique kanji readings 2741 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 27.8 Characters 140578 Volumes 1
Novel
Akuyaku Reijou Desu ga, Kouryaku Taishou no Yousu ga Ijou Sugiru Length (in words) 375054 Unique words 16045 Unique words (used once) 5783 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2243 Unique kanji (used once) 192 Unique kanji readings 4315 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 21.9 Characters 858983 Volumes 6
Novel
Akuyaku Reijou wa, Shomin ni Totsugitai Length (in words) 128262 Unique words 9423 Unique words (used once) 3786 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 1869 Unique kanji (used once) 250 Unique kanji readings 3265 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 21.8 Characters 295336 Volumes 2
Novel
Alahabad no Mahoutsukai Length (in words) 116043 Unique words 10092 Unique words (used once) 4316 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 1906 Unique kanji (used once) 278 Unique kanji readings 3390 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 20.4 Characters 279476 Volumes 3
Novel
Alice Reloaded Length (in words) 170704 Unique words 12689 Unique words (used once) 5060 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2137 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 3898 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 15.6 Characters 388518 Volumes 3
Novel
Alice in Wonderland Length (in words) 34428 Unique words 5137 Unique words (used once) 2713 Unique words (used once %) 52% Unique kanji 1397 Unique kanji (used once) 369 Unique kanji readings 2143 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 27.0 Characters 81247 Volumes 1
Novel
Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking-Glass Length (in words) 35800 Unique words 4875 Unique words (used once) 2478 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1230 Unique kanji (used once) 328 Unique kanji readings 1880 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 24.8 Characters 85308 Volumes 1
Novel
All You Need Is Kill Length (in words) 48987 Unique words 7347 Unique words (used once) 3664 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 1677 Unique kanji (used once) 301 Unique kanji readings 2792 Difficulty 7/10 Average sentence length 21.4 Characters 114061 Volumes 1