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
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Fruits Matsuri Length (in words) 7225 Unique words 1352 Unique words (used once) 668 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 185 Unique kanji (used once) 44 Unique kanji readings 255 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 13.4 Characters 18362 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Aki to Fuyu Length (in words) 6799 Unique words 1418 Unique words (used once) 697 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 186 Unique kanji (used once) 34 Unique kanji readings 253 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 12.4 Characters 17610 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Mori no Restaurant Length (in words) 7677 Unique words 1412 Unique words (used once) 682 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 191 Unique kanji (used once) 37 Unique kanji readings 264 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 14.1 Characters 19264 Volumes 1
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Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Haru to Natsu Length (in words) 7055 Unique words 1377 Unique words (used once) 668 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 195 Unique kanji (used once) 48 Unique kanji readings 246 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 12.5 Characters 18231 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Birthday Party Length (in words) 6872 Unique words 1316 Unique words (used once) 671 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 207 Unique kanji (used once) 46 Unique kanji readings 292 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 12.3 Characters 16999 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Hajimete no Umi to Camp Length (in words) 6219 Unique words 1311 Unique words (used once) 667 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 239 Unique kanji (used once) 56 Unique kanji readings 317 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 12.1 Characters 15411 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Kasou Party Length (in words) 6061 Unique words 1347 Unique words (used once) 662 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 253 Unique kanji (used once) 62 Unique kanji readings 336 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 11.3 Characters 15573 Volumes 1
Novel
Kuuku no Mori no Gakkou: Tomodachi tte, Naani? Length (in words) 7953 Unique words 1396 Unique words (used once) 668 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 257 Unique kanji (used once) 77 Unique kanji readings 352 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 13.8 Characters 20638 Volumes 1
Novel
Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Christmas no Otomarikai Length (in words) 6758 Unique words 1361 Unique words (used once) 679 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 259 Unique kanji (used once) 66 Unique kanji readings 352 Difficulty 1/10 Average sentence length 12.7 Characters 16999 Volumes 1
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Koguma no Kuuku Monogatari: Sora no Picnic Length (in words) 6974 Unique words 1401 Unique words (used once) 708 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 261 Unique kanji (used once) 79 Unique kanji readings 372 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 12.4 Characters 17494 Volumes 1
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Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Koi no Yokanwa Kikenna Kaori! Length (in words) 5465 Unique words 1621 Unique words (used once) 1000 Unique words (used once %) 61% Unique kanji 588 Unique kanji (used once) 206 Unique kanji readings 815 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.0 Characters 13299 Volumes 1
Novel
Obake ga Shitsuji no Nanafushigi Length (in words) 20506 Unique words 2804 Unique words (used once) 1348 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 609 Unique kanji (used once) 176 Unique kanji readings 901 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 14.9 Characters 50891 Volumes 1
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Obake ga Shitsuji no Natsuyasumi Length (in words) 24257 Unique words 3113 Unique words (used once) 1476 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 609 Unique kanji (used once) 152 Unique kanji readings 891 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 16.7 Characters 60318 Volumes 1
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Hoshi no Kirby: Nazo to Jiken no Pupupu Train!? Length (in words) 16534 Unique words 2599 Unique words (used once) 1279 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 671 Unique kanji (used once) 178 Unique kanji readings 948 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 15.3 Characters 43429 Volumes 1
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Fushigi Koshoten Length (in words) 24126 Unique words 3186 Unique words (used once) 1570 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 707 Unique kanji (used once) 199 Unique kanji readings 1044 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.7 Characters 60825 Volumes 1
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Sakka ni Naritai Length (in words) 14316 Unique words 2637 Unique words (used once) 1454 Unique words (used once %) 55% Unique kanji 716 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 1034 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 15.5 Characters 36259 Volumes 1
Novel
Uchira Tokken☆ Tenkou Travelers!! Length (in words) 17825 Unique words 2579 Unique words (used once) 1260 Unique words (used once %) 48% Unique kanji 718 Unique kanji (used once) 175 Unique kanji readings 1034 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 14.0 Characters 43970 Volumes 1
Novel
Kindaichi-kun no Bouken Length (in words) 20231 Unique words 3000 Unique words (used once) 1429 Unique words (used once %) 47% Unique kanji 724 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 1063 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 19.7 Characters 49319 Volumes 1
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Hoshi no Kirby: Kurayami Mori de Dai Sawagi! Length (in words) 19416 Unique words 3008 Unique words (used once) 1489 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 756 Unique kanji (used once) 201 Unique kanji readings 1123 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 15.8 Characters 49724 Volumes 1
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Hoshi no Kirby: Abunai Gourmet Yashiki!? Length (in words) 18721 Unique words 3130 Unique words (used once) 1577 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 784 Unique kanji (used once) 193 Unique kanji readings 1161 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 15.4 Characters 49309 Volumes 1
Novel
Aoi Tori Length (in words) 30884 Unique words 3661 Unique words (used once) 1702 Unique words (used once %) 46% Unique kanji 788 Unique kanji (used once) 208 Unique kanji readings 1176 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 16.0 Characters 76706 Volumes 1
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Nansou Satomi Hakkenden Length (in words) 28168 Unique words 3740 Unique words (used once) 1696 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 799 Unique kanji (used once) 154 Unique kanji readings 1277 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.5 Characters 64601 Volumes 1
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Himitsu no Kaen Length (in words) 31235 Unique words 3459 Unique words (used once) 1529 Unique words (used once %) 44% Unique kanji 802 Unique kanji (used once) 192 Unique kanji readings 1190 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.9 Characters 74529 Volumes 1
Novel
Moshimo, Kono Machi de Length (in words) 22418 Unique words 3287 Unique words (used once) 1622 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 812 Unique kanji (used once) 186 Unique kanji readings 1223 Difficulty 2/10 Average sentence length 18.0 Characters 55588 Volumes 1
Novel
Anata Length (in words) 11025 Unique words 2153 Unique words (used once) 1184 Unique words (used once %) 54% Unique kanji 817 Unique kanji (used once) 250 Unique kanji readings 1182 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 14.3 Characters 25861 Volumes 1
Novel
Nichijou no Natsuyasumi Length (in words) 33623 Unique words 3703 Unique words (used once) 1517 Unique words (used once %) 40% Unique kanji 860 Unique kanji (used once) 219 Unique kanji readings 1172 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 21.1 Characters 72484 Volumes 1
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Aoi Natsu, Watashi wa Tsutanai Koi wo Shita Length (in words) 9488 Unique words 2162 Unique words (used once) 1258 Unique words (used once %) 58% Unique kanji 884 Unique kanji (used once) 313 Unique kanji readings 1191 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.3 Characters 22280 Volumes 2
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Koi wa Buryure, Kimi wa Doruche Length (in words) 11773 Unique words 2274 Unique words (used once) 1265 Unique words (used once %) 55% Unique kanji 898 Unique kanji (used once) 290 Unique kanji readings 1271 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 19.0 Characters 28355 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
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Oshare Kaitou Crystal: Miwaku no Muffler Length (in words) 29525 Unique words 4139 Unique words (used once) 2032 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 904 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 1372 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 22.2 Characters 76307 Volumes 1
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Haikyo ni Ikou! Length (in words) 8451 Unique words 2070 Unique words (used once) 1204 Unique words (used once %) 58% Unique kanji 918 Unique kanji (used once) 330 Unique kanji readings 1273 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 14.7 Characters 19515 Volumes 1
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Meitantei Holmes Akage Kumiai Length (in words) 33038 Unique words 4844 Unique words (used once) 2400 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 921 Unique kanji (used once) 214 Unique kanji readings 1422 Difficulty 5/10 Average sentence length 26.4 Characters 80330 Volumes 1
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Sekaiisshuu Tondemo Gourmet Harapeko Shoujo, Shishou ni Deau Length (in words) 18574 Unique words 3187 Unique words (used once) 1617 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 923 Unique kanji (used once) 270 Unique kanji readings 1336 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.4 Characters 47373 Volumes 1
Novel
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Length (in words) 20180 Unique words 3189 Unique words (used once) 1639 Unique words (used once %) 51% Unique kanji 925 Unique kanji (used once) 244 Unique kanji readings 1355 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 22.7 Characters 47652 Volumes 1
Novel
Elf to Raven no Fushigi na Bouken Length (in words) 87320 Unique words 5872 Unique words (used once) 2333 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 935 Unique kanji (used once) 148 Unique kanji readings 1546 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 16.2 Characters 217921 Volumes 6
Novel
Sono Hanashi wo Kikasete wa Ikenai Length (in words) 13642 Unique words 2487 Unique words (used once) 1226 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 937 Unique kanji (used once) 256 Unique kanji readings 1318 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 25.2 Characters 31169 Volumes 1
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Fushigi Dagashiya Zeni Tendou Length (in words) 33823 Unique words 4712 Unique words (used once) 2329 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 946 Unique kanji (used once) 250 Unique kanji readings 1407 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.9 Characters 85137 Volumes 2
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Kitan Room Length (in words) 29722 Unique words 3288 Unique words (used once) 1495 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 956 Unique kanji (used once) 216 Unique kanji readings 1414 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.8 Characters 70311 Volumes 1
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Shoukoujo Sera Length (in words) 46801 Unique words 4919 Unique words (used once) 2170 Unique words (used once %) 44% Unique kanji 991 Unique kanji (used once) 222 Unique kanji readings 1511 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 29.0 Characters 124260 Volumes 1
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Kyoufu no Mukashi Asobi Length (in words) 24279 Unique words 3730 Unique words (used once) 1836 Unique words (used once %) 49% Unique kanji 992 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 1501 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.9 Characters 59869 Volumes 1
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Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Nerawareta Minarai Reporter!? Length (in words) 24565 Unique words 3961 Unique words (used once) 2003 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1011 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 1515 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 18.3 Characters 59966 Volumes 1
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Sakiyomi! Length (in words) 53365 Unique words 4548 Unique words (used once) 1955 Unique words (used once %) 42% Unique kanji 1015 Unique kanji (used once) 175 Unique kanji readings 1581 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 16.8 Characters 126104 Volumes 2
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Kono Fune, Jigoku Yuki Length (in words) 20915 Unique words 3432 Unique words (used once) 1750 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1017 Unique kanji (used once) 257 Unique kanji readings 1495 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 21.0 Characters 51447 Volumes 1
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Yotsugo Gurashi Length (in words) 46448 Unique words 4886 Unique words (used once) 2202 Unique words (used once %) 45% Unique kanji 1038 Unique kanji (used once) 201 Unique kanji readings 1654 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 17.0 Characters 113491 Volumes 2
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Totsugeki!? Jigoku Channel: Scoop Itadaichaimasu! Length (in words) 27721 Unique words 4312 Unique words (used once) 2156 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1043 Unique kanji (used once) 222 Unique kanji readings 1582 Difficulty 3/10 Average sentence length 18.5 Characters 67013 Volumes 1
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Toiki ga Ai wo Oshiete Kuremashita Length (in words) 21477 Unique words 3125 Unique words (used once) 1582 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1043 Unique kanji (used once) 274 Unique kanji readings 1561 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 23.8 Characters 50890 Volumes 1
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Kono Koi, Eiga Yorimo Amame Desu! Length (in words) 19207 Unique words 3075 Unique words (used once) 1538 Unique words (used once %) 50% Unique kanji 1045 Unique kanji (used once) 254 Unique kanji readings 1548 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 22.2 Characters 46419 Volumes 1
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Orange Length (in words) 76532 Unique words 5941 Unique words (used once) 2359 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 1051 Unique kanji (used once) 174 Unique kanji readings 1765 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 16.1 Characters 192198 Volumes 3
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Koi wo Hiku Length (in words) 15669 Unique words 2819 Unique words (used once) 1575 Unique words (used once %) 55% Unique kanji 1058 Unique kanji (used once) 318 Unique kanji readings 1558 Difficulty 4/10 Average sentence length 19.9 Characters 36126 Volumes 1
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Essay Shuu Hogwarts Kenryoku to Seiji to Itazurazuki no Poltergeist Length (in words) 9735 Unique words 2700 Unique words (used once) 1706 Unique words (used once %) 63% Unique kanji 1060 Unique kanji (used once) 289 Unique kanji readings 1570 Difficulty 6/10 Average sentence length 40.6 Characters 24988 Volumes 1