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 1475 entries
Novel
Guin Saga
| Length (in words) | 6741167 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 47668 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9845 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 20% |
| Unique kanji | 3158 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 186 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6767 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 30.6 |
| Characters | 16345778 |
| Volumes | 130 |
Novel
Ryouma ga Yuku
| Length (in words) | 577864 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28341 |
| Unique words (used once) | 10289 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 3157 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 399 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6710 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.1 |
| Characters | 1249940 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Monogatari Series
| Length (in words) | 1905440 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 38809 |
| Unique words (used once) | 10977 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 28% |
| Unique kanji | 3102 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 287 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6637 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 29.4 |
| Characters | 4571464 |
| Volumes | 28 |
Novel
Teito Monogatari
| Length (in words) | 537823 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28181 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9971 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2995 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 303 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6455 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.4 |
| Characters | 1206333 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Shakugan no Shana
| Length (in words) | 941371 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28912 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8677 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2954 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 239 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6225 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.8 |
| Characters | 2128265 |
| Volumes | 22 |
Novel
Chuushingura
| Length (in words) | 282888 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20381 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7758 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2930 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 383 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6182 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.9 |
| Characters | 615473 |
| Volumes | 5 |
Novel
Sword Art Online
| Length (in words) | 1503804 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 34669 |
| Unique words (used once) | 10056 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2928 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 218 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6175 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.0 |
| Characters | 3462907 |
| Volumes | 25 |
Novel
Goblin Slayer
| Length (in words) | 840663 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24381 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7076 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2892 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 212 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6052 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.0 |
| Characters | 1851561 |
| Volumes | 16 |
Novel
Kyo Kara Maoh!
| Length (in words) | 553802 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28186 |
| Unique words (used once) | 10221 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2886 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 301 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6011 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.7 |
| Characters | 1282345 |
| Volumes | 16 |
Novel
Tokyo Ravens
| Length (in words) | 937698 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 27008 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7876 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2861 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 218 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5955 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.1 |
| Characters | 2170993 |
| Volumes | 16 |
Novel
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
| Length (in words) | 2023115 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 32456 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7519 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 23% |
| Unique kanji | 2859 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 148 |
| Unique kanji readings | 6048 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.2 |
| Characters | 4617247 |
| Volumes | 33 |
Novel
Youjo Senki
| Length (in words) | 986415 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28955 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8714 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2841 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 231 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5718 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.1 |
| Characters | 2287641 |
| Volumes | 12 |
Novel
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
| Length (in words) | 1079134 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 26403 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6663 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 25% |
| Unique kanji | 2839 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 166 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5895 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.7 |
| Characters | 2445326 |
| Volumes | 17 |
Novel
Swallowtail Jinkou Shoujo Hanbaisho
| Length (in words) | 448917 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 25239 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9221 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2834 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 287 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5726 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 33.2 |
| Characters | 997038 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Kokou no Mesu
| Length (in words) | 766254 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28094 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8865 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2819 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 227 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5946 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.2 |
| Characters | 1768719 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Ore, Twintail ni Narimasu.
| Length (in words) | 1084676 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 30665 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8847 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 28% |
| Unique kanji | 2801 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 188 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5882 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.8 |
| Characters | 2705049 |
| Volumes | 22 |
Novel
Strike the Blood
| Length (in words) | 1182989 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28390 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8372 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2794 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 204 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5715 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 2705471 |
| Volumes | 21 |
Novel
Sasameyuki
| Length (in words) | 240962 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14848 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6146 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2790 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 437 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5402 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 60.6 |
| Characters | 530901 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin
| Length (in words) | 878898 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28055 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8028 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 28% |
| Unique kanji | 2786 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 205 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5756 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.5 |
| Characters | 1992300 |
| Volumes | 14 |
Novel
Mokushiroku
| Length (in words) | 186194 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15802 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6532 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 2786 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 338 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5541 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.7 |
| Characters | 402482 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
Fate/Zero (TYPE-MOON BOOKS ver.)
| Length (in words) | 272860 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19310 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7082 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2780 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 296 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5582 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 31.1 |
| Characters | 620439 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru
| Length (in words) | 951526 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 29586 |
| Unique words (used once) | 10111 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2765 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 303 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5633 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.0 |
| Characters | 2220826 |
| Volumes | 17 |
Novel
Overlord
| Length (in words) | 1145357 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 25886 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8010 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2763 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 216 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5648 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.3 |
| Characters | 2660953 |
| Volumes | 14 |
Novel
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
| Length (in words) | 1321555 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 29463 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8563 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2758 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 213 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5712 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.9 |
| Characters | 3097769 |
| Volumes | 26 |
Novel
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
| Length (in words) | 638960 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21445 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6700 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2751 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 230 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5504 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.9 |
| Characters | 1427910 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Miss Fabre no Mushi no Kouen
| Length (in words) | 282446 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19559 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7181 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2740 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 318 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5426 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.2 |
| Characters | 641871 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Shinsekai Yori
| Length (in words) | 235928 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 17086 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6892 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 40% |
| Unique kanji | 2734 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 365 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5109 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.3 |
| Characters | 548985 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Majutsu Yaburi no Revenge Magia
| Length (in words) | 397027 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 19151 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6293 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2733 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 256 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5563 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.1 |
| Characters | 922274 |
| Volumes | 7 |
Novel
The Irregular at Magic High School
| Length (in words) | 762097 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 28486 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9139 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2733 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 234 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5758 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.2 |
| Characters | 1771066 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Zaregoto Series
| Length (in words) | 723229 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24863 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8812 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2727 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 282 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5477 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 1695822 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
86
| Length (in words) | 507881 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21583 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6969 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2726 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 239 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5331 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.2 |
| Characters | 1153089 |
| Volumes | 9 |
Novel
Dogura Magura
| Length (in words) | 175898 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 15501 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6693 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 2720 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 442 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5325 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 35.7 |
| Characters | 389973 |
| Volumes | 2 |
Novel
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 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.4 |
| Characters | 889518 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
A Certain Magical Index
| Length (in words) | 1262230 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 30935 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9010 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2713 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 259 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5673 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.7 |
| Characters | 2907379 |
| Volumes | 23 |
Novel
Paracelsus no Musume
| Length (in words) | 468052 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 23212 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8352 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 2711 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 297 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5292 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.4 |
| Characters | 1112519 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru: Dances with the Dragons
| Length (in words) | 1169151 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 26617 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8012 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2697 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 215 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5352 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.1 |
| Characters | 2537966 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Hyakka Ryouran
| Length (in words) | 665378 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 23648 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8114 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2693 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 269 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5448 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 16.7 |
| Characters | 1604761 |
| Volumes | 17 |
Novel
The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II
| Length (in words) | 466321 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21309 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7746 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 36% |
| Unique kanji | 2687 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 249 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5206 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.4 |
| Characters | 1102521 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Bakumatsu Mahoushi
| Length (in words) | 204244 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 16391 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6438 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 2686 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 316 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5313 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.8 |
| Characters | 441202 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Mouryou no Hako
| Length (in words) | 194139 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 14927 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6427 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 2685 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 372 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5178 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.3 |
| Characters | 425585 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Spice and Wolf
| Length (in words) | 993062 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24144 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6748 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 27% |
| Unique kanji | 2685 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 200 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5424 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.6 |
| Characters | 2263439 |
| Volumes | 19 |
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
| Length (in words) | 703664 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 25460 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8084 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 31% |
| Unique kanji | 2679 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 251 |
| Unique kanji readings | 4997 |
| Difficulty | 10/10 |
| Average sentence length | 33.8 |
| Characters | 1674141 |
| Volumes | 10 |
Novel
Circlet Girl
| Length (in words) | 895478 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 27977 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9021 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2673 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 226 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5429 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.4 |
| Characters | 2020442 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Campione
| Length (in words) | 335104 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 20674 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7777 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 37% |
| Unique kanji | 2667 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 309 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5251 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.9 |
| Characters | 777554 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Goshujinsama wa Yamaneko-hime
| Length (in words) | 711950 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 23598 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7740 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 32% |
| Unique kanji | 2665 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 254 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5442 |
| Difficulty | 7/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.5 |
| Characters | 1578285 |
| Volumes | 13 |
Novel
Usotsuki Mii-kun to Kowareta Maa-chan
| Length (in words) | 548672 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 26244 |
| Unique words (used once) | 9079 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 34% |
| Unique kanji | 2661 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 221 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5524 |
| Difficulty | 9/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 1241950 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Black Bullet
| Length (in words) | 315233 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 21938 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8450 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 38% |
| Unique kanji | 2657 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 301 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5212 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.9 |
| Characters | 742627 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken
| Length (in words) | 933227 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 24380 |
| Unique words (used once) | 7127 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 29% |
| Unique kanji | 2652 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 188 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5468 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.8 |
| Characters | 2134830 |
| Volumes | 11 |
Novel
Ascendance of a Bookworm
| Length (in words) | 2567571 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 27107 |
| Unique words (used once) | 6591 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 24% |
| Unique kanji | 2650 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 204 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5525 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 28.9 |
| Characters | 6288162 |
| Volumes | 32 |
Novel
Densetsu Series
| Length (in words) | 1151726 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 27461 |
| Unique words (used once) | 8316 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 30% |
| Unique kanji | 2648 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 249 |
| Unique kanji readings | 5351 |
| Difficulty | 8/10 |
| Average sentence length | 36.5 |
| Characters | 2772509 |
| Volumes | 10 |