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:

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Showing 1..50 from 1518 entries

Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Fruits Matsuri
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Fruits Matsuri
Length (in words)7399
Unique words1351
Unique words (used once)665
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji185
Unique kanji (used once)44
Unique kanji readings253
Average difficulty2/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)5/100
Average sentence length13.1
Characters18755
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Aki to Fuyu
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Aki to Fuyu
Length (in words)6799
Unique words1417
Unique words (used once)695
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji186
Unique kanji (used once)34
Unique kanji readings252
Average difficulty2/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)8/100
Average sentence length12.0
Characters18031
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Mori no Restaurant
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Mori no Restaurant
Length (in words)7848
Unique words1412
Unique words (used once)682
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji191
Unique kanji (used once)37
Unique kanji readings266
Average difficulty4/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)14/100
Average sentence length13.0
Characters19616
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Haru to Natsu
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Haru to Natsu
Length (in words)7055
Unique words1380
Unique words (used once)669
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji195
Unique kanji (used once)48
Unique kanji readings251
Average difficulty1/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)3/100
Average sentence length12.3
Characters18674
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Birthday Party
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Birthday Party
Length (in words)7072
Unique words1318
Unique words (used once)671
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji207
Unique kanji (used once)46
Unique kanji readings292
Average difficulty1/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)5/100
Average sentence length11.9
Characters17449
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Hajimete no Umi to Camp
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Hajimete no Umi to Camp
Length (in words)6400
Unique words1312
Unique words (used once)664
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji239
Unique kanji (used once)56
Unique kanji readings316
Average difficulty2/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)5/100
Average sentence length11.6
Characters15787
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Kasou Party
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Kasou Party
Length (in words)6205
Unique words1350
Unique words (used once)661
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji253
Unique kanji (used once)62
Unique kanji readings337
Average difficulty4/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)11/100
Average sentence length11.0
Characters15885
Volumes1
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Cover of Kuuku no Mori no Gakkou: Tomodachi tte, Naani?
Novel
Kuuku no Mori no Gakkou: Tomodachi tte, Naani?
Length (in words)8183
Unique words1397
Unique words (used once)666
Unique words (used once %)47%
Unique kanji257
Unique kanji (used once)77
Unique kanji readings354
Average difficulty4/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)12/100
Average sentence length13.3
Characters21071
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Christmas no Otomarikai
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Christmas no Otomarikai
Length (in words)6890
Unique words1365
Unique words (used once)681
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji259
Unique kanji (used once)66
Unique kanji readings358
Average difficulty4/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)18/100
Average sentence length12.4
Characters17454
Volumes1
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Cover of Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Sora no Picnic
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Sora no Picnic
Length (in words)7102
Unique words1402
Unique words (used once)708
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji261
Unique kanji (used once)79
Unique kanji readings371
Average difficulty3/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)7/100
Average sentence length11.9
Characters17793
Volumes1
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Cover of Sensei Kerai ni Nare
Novel
Sensei Kerai ni Nare
Length (in words)24543
Unique words3657
Unique words (used once)1875
Unique words (used once %)51%
Unique kanji527
Unique kanji (used once)170
Unique kanji readings832
Average difficulty15/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)30/100
Average sentence length18.6
Characters63038
Volumes1
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Cover of Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Koi no Yokanwa Kikenna Kaori!
Novel
Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Koi no Yokanwa Kikenna Kaori!
Length (in words)5499
Unique words1623
Unique words (used once)1001
Unique words (used once %)61%
Unique kanji594
Unique kanji (used once)205
Unique kanji readings825
Average difficulty18/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)33/100
Average sentence length17.6
Characters13479
Volumes1
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Cover of Obake ga Shitsuji no Natsuyasumi
Novel
Obake ga Shitsuji no Natsuyasumi
Length (in words)24263
Unique words3106
Unique words (used once)1475
Unique words (used once %)47%
Unique kanji610
Unique kanji (used once)154
Unique kanji readings890
Average difficulty7/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)19/100
Average sentence length17.5
Characters60625
Volumes1
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Cover of Obake ga Shitsuji no Nanafushigi
Novel
Obake ga Shitsuji no Nanafushigi
Length (in words)20535
Unique words2806
Unique words (used once)1344
Unique words (used once %)47%
Unique kanji612
Unique kanji (used once)175
Unique kanji readings913
Average difficulty6/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)20/100
Average sentence length15.1
Characters51369
Volumes1
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Cover of Hoshi no Kirby: Nazo to Jiken no Pupupu Train!?
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Nazo to Jiken no Pupupu Train!?
Length (in words)16566
Unique words2597
Unique words (used once)1277
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji671
Unique kanji (used once)178
Unique kanji readings947
Average difficulty6/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)25/100
Average sentence length15.7
Characters44202
Volumes1
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Cover of Uchira Tokken☆ Tenkou Travelers!!
Novel
Uchira Tokken☆ Tenkou Travelers!!
Length (in words)17831
Unique words2571
Unique words (used once)1253
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji718
Unique kanji (used once)175
Unique kanji readings1040
Average difficulty9/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)24/100
Average sentence length14.4
Characters44338
Volumes1
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Cover of Sakka ni Naritai
Novel
Sakka ni Naritai
Length (in words)14494
Unique words2645
Unique words (used once)1451
Unique words (used once %)54%
Unique kanji721
Unique kanji (used once)197
Unique kanji readings1041
Average difficulty7/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)21/100
Average sentence length16.2
Characters36530
Volumes1
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Cover of Kindaichi-kun no Bouken
Novel
Kindaichi-kun no Bouken
Length (in words)20469
Unique words3013
Unique words (used once)1426
Unique words (used once %)47%
Unique kanji731
Unique kanji (used once)195
Unique kanji readings1068
Average difficulty17/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)39/100
Average sentence length22.2
Characters49527
Volumes1
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Cover of Hoshi no Kirby: Kurayami Mori de Dai Sawagi!
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Kurayami Mori de Dai Sawagi!
Length (in words)19430
Unique words2997
Unique words (used once)1487
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji756
Unique kanji (used once)201
Unique kanji readings1121
Average difficulty4/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)15/100
Average sentence length16.3
Characters50736
Volumes1
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Cover of Saigo wa Usu ga Warau
Novel
Saigo wa Usu ga Warau
Length (in words)4172
Unique words1539
Unique words (used once)1111
Unique words (used once %)72%
Unique kanji778
Unique kanji (used once)357
Unique kanji readings1056
Average difficulty59/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)76/100
Average sentence length25.8
Characters9426
Volumes1
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Cover of Hoshi no Kirby: Abunai Gourmet Yashiki!?
Novel
Hoshi no Kirby: Abunai Gourmet Yashiki!?
Length (in words)18730
Unique words3126
Unique words (used once)1578
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji784
Unique kanji (used once)193
Unique kanji readings1160
Average difficulty3/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)12/100
Average sentence length16.2
Characters50599
Volumes1
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Cover of Aoi Tori
Novel
Aoi Tori
Length (in words)30925
Unique words3641
Unique words (used once)1689
Unique words (used once %)46%
Unique kanji788
Unique kanji (used once)208
Unique kanji readings1180
Average difficulty13/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)32/100
Average sentence length16.4
Characters77167
Volumes1
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Cover of Nansou Satomi Hakkenden
Novel
Nansou Satomi Hakkenden
Length (in words)28499
Unique words3735
Unique words (used once)1696
Unique words (used once %)45%
Unique kanji799
Unique kanji (used once)154
Unique kanji readings1280
Average difficulty24/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)53/100
Average sentence length19.1
Characters64627
Volumes1
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Cover of Himitsu no Kaen
Novel
Himitsu no Kaen
Length (in words)31283
Unique words3450
Unique words (used once)1523
Unique words (used once %)44%
Unique kanji802
Unique kanji (used once)192
Unique kanji readings1186
Average difficulty10/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)22/100
Average sentence length19.6
Characters74832
Volumes1
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Cover of Anata
Novel
Anata
Length (in words)11033
Unique words2147
Unique words (used once)1179
Unique words (used once %)54%
Unique kanji817
Unique kanji (used once)250
Unique kanji readings1187
Average difficulty32/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)49/100
Average sentence length19.7
Characters25914
Volumes1
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Cover of Moshimo, Kono Machi de
Novel
Moshimo, Kono Machi de
Length (in words)22709
Unique words3296
Unique words (used once)1625
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji818
Unique kanji (used once)187
Unique kanji readings1228
Average difficulty7/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)18/100
Average sentence length19.4
Characters56033
Volumes1
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Cover of Monster Hunter Rise Hyaku Ryuu Yakou wo Kuitomero!
Novel
Monster Hunter Rise Hyaku Ryuu Yakou wo Kuitomero!
Length (in words)16629
Unique words2567
Unique words (used once)1270
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji842
Unique kanji (used once)235
Unique kanji readings1220
Average difficulty5/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)23/100
Average sentence length16.0
Characters41945
Volumes1
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Cover of Nichijou no Natsuyasumi
Novel
Nichijou no Natsuyasumi
Length (in words)33637
Unique words3696
Unique words (used once)1506
Unique words (used once %)40%
Unique kanji860
Unique kanji (used once)219
Unique kanji readings1183
Average difficulty46/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)64/100
Average sentence length24.4
Characters72889
Volumes1
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Cover of Gift
Novel
Gift
Length (in words)9778
Unique words2360
Unique words (used once)1345
Unique words (used once %)56%
Unique kanji865
Unique kanji (used once)271
Unique kanji readings1212
Average difficulty27/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)41/100
Average sentence length18.8
Characters23307
Volumes1
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Cover of Umi ni Namida wa Iranai
Novel
Umi ni Namida wa Iranai
Length (in words)35919
Unique words4451
Unique words (used once)2244
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji883
Unique kanji (used once)230
Unique kanji readings1371
Average difficulty12/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)28/100
Average sentence length21.5
Characters88676
Volumes1
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Cover of Aoi Natsu, Watashi wa Tsutanai Koi wo Shita
Novel
Aoi Natsu, Watashi wa Tsutanai Koi wo Shita
Length (in words)9501
Unique words2163
Unique words (used once)1260
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji884
Unique kanji (used once)313
Unique kanji readings1193
Average difficulty34/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)52/100
Average sentence length18.2
Characters22471
Volumes2
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Cover of Koi wa Buryure, Kimi wa Doruche
Novel
Koi wa Buryure, Kimi wa Doruche
Length (in words)11795
Unique words2273
Unique words (used once)1263
Unique words (used once %)55%
Unique kanji898
Unique kanji (used once)290
Unique kanji readings1276
Average difficulty10/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)24/100
Average sentence length20.1
Characters28461
Volumes1
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Cover of "Mizube no Gakkou" no Tokoro-kun
Novel
"Mizube no Gakkou" no Tokoro-kun
Length (in words)23973
Unique words3682
Unique words (used once)1705
Unique words (used once %)46%
Unique kanji902
Unique kanji (used once)199
Unique kanji readings1397
Average difficulty16/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)39/100
Average sentence length25.4
Characters54269
Volumes1
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Cover of Oshare Kaitou Crystal: Miwaku no Muffler
Novel
Oshare Kaitou Crystal: Miwaku no Muffler
Length (in words)29592
Unique words4135
Unique words (used once)2027
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji904
Unique kanji (used once)225
Unique kanji readings1383
Average difficulty13/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)21/100
Average sentence length22.8
Characters76823
Volumes1
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Cover of Mugendai Girl
Novel
Mugendai Girl
Length (in words)7639
Unique words2317
Unique words (used once)1543
Unique words (used once %)66%
Unique kanji905
Unique kanji (used once)347
Unique kanji readings1267
Average difficulty44/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)61/100
Average sentence length24.6
Characters18195
Volumes1
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Cover of Soshite Beruna wa Hoshi ni Natta
Novel
Soshite Beruna wa Hoshi ni Natta
Length (in words)20106
Unique words2897
Unique words (used once)1397
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji916
Unique kanji (used once)236
Unique kanji readings1362
Average difficulty2/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)10/100
Average sentence length23.4
Characters49186
Volumes1
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Cover of Haikyo ni Ikou!
Novel
Haikyo ni Ikou!
Length (in words)8453
Unique words2066
Unique words (used once)1200
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji918
Unique kanji (used once)330
Unique kanji readings1277
Average difficulty24/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)40/100
Average sentence length15.0
Characters19620
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Meitantei Holmes Akage Kumiai
Novel
Meitantei Holmes Akage Kumiai
Length (in words)33083
Unique words4836
Unique words (used once)2392
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji921
Unique kanji (used once)215
Unique kanji readings1422
Average difficulty42/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)62/100
Average sentence length27.5
Characters81318
Volumes1
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Cover of Sekaiisshuu Tondemo Gourmet Harapeko Shoujo, Shishou ni Deau
Novel
Sekaiisshuu Tondemo Gourmet Harapeko Shoujo, Shishou ni Deau
Length (in words)18615
Unique words3175
Unique words (used once)1610
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji921
Unique kanji (used once)268
Unique kanji readings1329
Average difficulty13/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)34/100
Average sentence length19.0
Characters47633
Volumes1
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Cover of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Novel
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Length (in words)20200
Unique words3183
Unique words (used once)1637
Unique words (used once %)51%
Unique kanji925
Unique kanji (used once)244
Unique kanji readings1355
Average difficulty35/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)61/100
Average sentence length23.4
Characters47803
Volumes1
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Cover of Beruna no Shippo
Novel
Beruna no Shippo
Length (in words)28809
Unique words3474
Unique words (used once)1549
Unique words (used once %)44%
Unique kanji928
Unique kanji (used once)190
Unique kanji readings1388
Average difficulty2/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)7/100
Average sentence length22.6
Characters71040
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Elf to Raven no Fushigi na Bouken
Novel
Elf to Raven no Fushigi na Bouken
Length (in words)87526
Unique words5845
Unique words (used once)2308
Unique words (used once %)39%
Unique kanji935
Unique kanji (used once)148
Unique kanji readings1539
Average difficulty23/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)35/100
Average sentence length16.8
Characters221103
Volumes6
Amazon
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Cover of Sono Hanashi wo Kikasete wa Ikenai
Novel
Sono Hanashi wo Kikasete wa Ikenai
Length (in words)13648
Unique words2483
Unique words (used once)1224
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji937
Unique kanji (used once)256
Unique kanji readings1323
Average difficulty19/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)53/100
Average sentence length25.6
Characters31319
Volumes1
Amazon
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Cover of Umi no Monogatari
Novel
Umi no Monogatari
Length (in words)25745
Unique words3602
Unique words (used once)1832
Unique words (used once %)50%
Unique kanji944
Unique kanji (used once)251
Unique kanji readings1409
Average difficulty10/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)23/100
Average sentence length18.5
Characters62333
Volumes1
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Cover of Fushigi Dagashiya Zeni Tendou
Novel
Fushigi Dagashiya Zeni Tendou
Length (in words)33868
Unique words4716
Unique words (used once)2322
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji947
Unique kanji (used once)248
Unique kanji readings1424
Average difficulty26/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)46/100
Average sentence length19.4
Characters85628
Volumes2
Amazon
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Cover of Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendou
Novel
Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendou
Length (in words)33868
Unique words4716
Unique words (used once)2322
Unique words (used once %)49%
Unique kanji947
Unique kanji (used once)248
Unique kanji readings1424
Average difficulty26/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)46/100
Average sentence length19.4
Characters85628
Volumes2
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Cover of Gaarando no Namida
Novel
Gaarando no Namida
Length (in words)26980
Unique words3232
Unique words (used once)1500
Unique words (used once %)46%
Unique kanji948
Unique kanji (used once)226
Unique kanji readings1401
Average difficulty5/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)15/100
Average sentence length23.9
Characters68475
Volumes1
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Cover of Yume Juuya
Novel
Yume Juuya
Length (in words)7203
Unique words1779
Unique words (used once)1040
Unique words (used once %)58%
Unique kanji948
Unique kanji (used once)339
Unique kanji readings1304
Average difficulty71/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)79/100
Average sentence length21.6
Characters14642
Volumes1
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Cover of Kitan Room
Novel
Kitan Room
Length (in words)29746
Unique words3281
Unique words (used once)1489
Unique words (used once %)45%
Unique kanji956
Unique kanji (used once)216
Unique kanji readings1418
Average difficulty29/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)49/100
Average sentence length19.6
Characters71485
Volumes1
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Cover of Aoitori Bunko ga Dekiru Made
Novel
Aoitori Bunko ga Dekiru Made
Length (in words)28873
Unique words3768
Unique words (used once)1827
Unique words (used once %)48%
Unique kanji962
Unique kanji (used once)251
Unique kanji readings1441
Average difficulty26/100
Peak difficulty (90th percentile)34/100
Average sentence length23.0
Characters68720
Volumes1
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