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:
Sort by Advanced search... Showing 51..100 from 1518 entries
Novel
Humanity Has Declined Length (in words) 335466 Unique words 23802 Unique words (used once) 9416 Unique words (used once %) 39% Unique kanji 2499 Unique kanji (used once) 292 Unique kanji readings 4836 Average difficulty 58/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 76/100 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 827435 Volumes 9
Novel
Shiritsu! Sanjuusangen Dougakuin Length (in words) 723478 Unique words 24862 Unique words (used once) 8214 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2622 Unique kanji (used once) 255 Unique kanji readings 5384 Average difficulty 57/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 69/100 Average sentence length 24.7 Characters 1684465 Volumes 13
Novel
Swallowtail Jinkou Shoujo Hanbaisho Length (in words) 448917 Unique words 25237 Unique words (used once) 9221 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2834 Unique kanji (used once) 287 Unique kanji readings 5727 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 33.2 Characters 997038 Volumes 4
Novel
Zero no Tsukaima Length (in words) 828874 Unique words 23488 Unique words (used once) 7265 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2608 Unique kanji (used once) 242 Unique kanji readings 5140 Average difficulty 53/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 66/100 Average sentence length 18.1 Characters 1967401 Volumes 22
Novel
Shimoneta to Iu Gainen ga Sonzai Shinai Taikutsu na Sekai Length (in words) 605783 Unique words 24195 Unique words (used once) 7837 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2463 Unique kanji (used once) 200 Unique kanji readings 4935 Average difficulty 63/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 74/100 Average sentence length 25.8 Characters 1429969 Volumes 12
Novel
Hyakka Ryouran Length (in words) 665378 Unique words 23645 Unique words (used once) 8112 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2693 Unique kanji (used once) 269 Unique kanji readings 5447 Average difficulty 75/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 83/100 Average sentence length 16.7 Characters 1604761 Volumes 17
Novel
The Rising of the Shield Hero Length (in words) 1194254 Unique words 23923 Unique words (used once) 6920 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2566 Unique kanji (used once) 175 Unique kanji readings 5261 Average difficulty 49/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 64/100 Average sentence length 19.2 Characters 2767048 Volumes 22
Novel
Tearmoon Teikoku Monogatari ~Dantoudai Kara Hajimaru, Hime no Tenshou Gyakuten Story~ Length (in words) 1061442 Unique words 23882 Unique words (used once) 6672 Unique words (used once %) 27% Unique kanji 2508 Unique kanji (used once) 169 Unique kanji readings 5101 Average difficulty 39/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 52/100 Average sentence length 21.6 Characters 2551682 Volumes 17
Novel
Seirei Gensouki Length (in words) 1266073 Unique words 24213 Unique words (used once) 6328 Unique words (used once %) 26% Unique kanji 2570 Unique kanji (used once) 181 Unique kanji readings 5252 Average difficulty 43/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 55/100 Average sentence length 22.5 Characters 2974856 Volumes 25
Novel
Spice and Wolf Length (in words) 993062 Unique words 24141 Unique words (used once) 6745 Unique words (used once %) 27% Unique kanji 2685 Unique kanji (used once) 200 Unique kanji readings 5423 Average difficulty 47/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 56/100 Average sentence length 26.6 Characters 2263439 Volumes 19
Novel
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Length (in words) 835982 Unique words 23818 Unique words (used once) 6986 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2832 Unique kanji (used once) 207 Unique kanji readings 5765 Average difficulty 59/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 65/100 Average sentence length 19.6 Characters 1875577 Volumes 15
Novel
Goshujinsama wa Yamaneko-hime Length (in words) 711950 Unique words 23597 Unique words (used once) 7740 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2665 Unique kanji (used once) 254 Unique kanji readings 5442 Average difficulty 64/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 73/100 Average sentence length 24.5 Characters 1578285 Volumes 13
Novel
Paracelsus no Musume Length (in words) 468051 Unique words 23208 Unique words (used once) 8350 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2711 Unique kanji (used once) 297 Unique kanji readings 5292 Average difficulty 79/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 28.4 Characters 1112519 Volumes 10
Novel
Bungaku Shoujo Length (in words) 786294 Unique words 23389 Unique words (used once) 7833 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2603 Unique kanji (used once) 244 Unique kanji readings 5138 Average difficulty 61/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 77/100 Average sentence length 22.1 Characters 1877200 Volumes 16
Novel
Wizard's Brain Length (in words) 1006018 Unique words 23482 Unique words (used once) 6697 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2415 Unique kanji (used once) 202 Unique kanji readings 4784 Average difficulty 71/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 84/100 Average sentence length 27.0 Characters 2272095 Volumes 17
Novel
Chrome Shelled Regios Length (in words) 942069 Unique words 23444 Unique words (used once) 7344 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2534 Unique kanji (used once) 224 Unique kanji readings 5106 Average difficulty 76/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 90/100 Average sentence length 20.9 Characters 2241769 Volumes 25
Novel
Nageki no Bourei wa Intai Shitai Length (in words) 1011312 Unique words 23436 Unique words (used once) 6456 Unique words (used once %) 27% Unique kanji 2608 Unique kanji (used once) 177 Unique kanji readings 5319 Average difficulty 56/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 71/100 Average sentence length 22.5 Characters 2333029 Volumes 12
Novel
No Game No Life Length (in words) 573467 Unique words 22947 Unique words (used once) 7815 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2635 Unique kanji (used once) 188 Unique kanji readings 5383 Average difficulty 82/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 91/100 Average sentence length 19.1 Characters 1261852 Volumes 12
Novel
Asura Cryin' Length (in words) 703236 Unique words 23451 Unique words (used once) 8014 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2562 Unique kanji (used once) 243 Unique kanji readings 5149 Average difficulty 56/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 65/100 Average sentence length 21.2 Characters 1639707 Volumes 14
Novel
Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta? Length (in words) 934029 Unique words 22724 Unique words (used once) 7572 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2292 Unique kanji (used once) 187 Unique kanji readings 4584 Average difficulty 24/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 38/100 Average sentence length 22.8 Characters 2277105 Volumes 23
Novel
Risou no Himo Seikatsu Length (in words) 798844 Unique words 23633 Unique words (used once) 7159 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2469 Unique kanji (used once) 201 Unique kanji readings 4972 Average difficulty 49/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 64/100 Average sentence length 31.1 Characters 1845036 Volumes 14
Novel
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko Length (in words) 477238 Unique words 22860 Unique words (used once) 8108 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2506 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 5085 Average difficulty 77/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 21.9 Characters 1096612 Volumes 11
Novel
Tomodachi no Imouto ga Ore ni dake Uzai Length (in words) 487717 Unique words 22886 Unique words (used once) 8208 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2501 Unique kanji (used once) 244 Unique kanji readings 4967 Average difficulty 33/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 53/100 Average sentence length 20.5 Characters 1150698 Volumes 10
Novel
Mushiuta Length (in words) 897327 Unique words 22554 Unique words (used once) 6746 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2447 Unique kanji (used once) 177 Unique kanji readings 4865 Average difficulty 72/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 82/100 Average sentence length 20.5 Characters 2066445 Volumes 15
Novel
Girly Air Force Length (in words) 440244 Unique words 23451 Unique words (used once) 8471 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2538 Unique kanji (used once) 253 Unique kanji readings 5014 Average difficulty 72/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 84/100 Average sentence length 17.4 Characters 1056584 Volumes 12
Novel
Boukyaku Tantei Series Length (in words) 595399 Unique words 23372 Unique words (used once) 7800 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2503 Unique kanji (used once) 248 Unique kanji readings 4893 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 38.8 Characters 1470390 Volumes 13
Novel
My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute Length (in words) 657064 Unique words 22031 Unique words (used once) 7219 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2441 Unique kanji (used once) 243 Unique kanji readings 4819 Average difficulty 32/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 48/100 Average sentence length 17.9 Characters 1600363 Volumes 16
Novel
Durarara!! Length (in words) 655746 Unique words 22129 Unique words (used once) 7822 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2556 Unique kanji (used once) 247 Unique kanji readings 5084 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 26.5 Characters 1497646 Volumes 13
Novel
Date a Live Length (in words) 762696 Unique words 22538 Unique words (used once) 7535 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2592 Unique kanji (used once) 201 Unique kanji readings 5164 Average difficulty 65/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 75/100 Average sentence length 22.1 Characters 1783544 Volumes 17
Novel
Princess Hearts Length (in words) 543259 Unique words 21879 Unique words (used once) 7057 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2602 Unique kanji (used once) 257 Unique kanji readings 5121 Average difficulty 66/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 78/100 Average sentence length 25.0 Characters 1285843 Volumes 11
Novel
Toradora! Length (in words) 439055 Unique words 21486 Unique words (used once) 8190 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2489 Unique kanji (used once) 314 Unique kanji readings 4870 Average difficulty 60/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 67/100 Average sentence length 21.2 Characters 1051355 Volumes 10
Novel
Bara no Maria Length (in words) 443643 Unique words 21917 Unique words (used once) 7816 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2616 Unique kanji (used once) 283 Unique kanji readings 5146 Average difficulty 72/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 86/100 Average sentence length 22.2 Characters 1071328 Volumes 6
Novel
Majuu Senshi Luna Varga Length (in words) 590663 Unique words 21259 Unique words (used once) 6923 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2546 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 5114 Average difficulty 75/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 88/100 Average sentence length 28.2 Characters 1347571 Volumes 13
Novel
Kamisama no Memochou Length (in words) 532690 Unique words 22165 Unique words (used once) 8175 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2522 Unique kanji (used once) 299 Unique kanji readings 4994 Average difficulty 67/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 81/100 Average sentence length 20.9 Characters 1238858 Volumes 9
Novel
Scrapped Princess Length (in words) 547128 Unique words 21915 Unique words (used once) 7305 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2586 Unique kanji (used once) 197 Unique kanji readings 5211 Average difficulty 78/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 89/100 Average sentence length 21.5 Characters 1241100 Volumes 13
Novel
Ladies Versus Butlers! Length (in words) 555384 Unique words 22115 Unique words (used once) 7905 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2563 Unique kanji (used once) 283 Unique kanji readings 5171 Average difficulty 41/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 50/100 Average sentence length 26.8 Characters 1303860 Volumes 13
Novel
Sword Art Online Progressive Length (in words) 557878 Unique words 21781 Unique words (used once) 7433 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2501 Unique kanji (used once) 264 Unique kanji readings 4885 Average difficulty 62/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 77/100 Average sentence length 30.1 Characters 1294712 Volumes 8
Novel
Leadale no Daichi de Length (in words) 426439 Unique words 21427 Unique words (used once) 7530 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2557 Unique kanji (used once) 237 Unique kanji readings 5199 Average difficulty 43/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 59/100 Average sentence length 26.8 Characters 1004147 Volumes 8
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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Length (in words) 995196 Unique words 21972 Unique words (used once) 5846 Unique words (used once %) 26% Unique kanji 2529 Unique kanji (used once) 174 Unique kanji readings 5003 Average difficulty 47/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 70/100 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 2282230 Volumes 20
Novel
Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha Length (in words) 1257677 Unique words 21818 Unique words (used once) 5424 Unique words (used once %) 24% Unique kanji 2562 Unique kanji (used once) 153 Unique kanji readings 5158 Average difficulty 70/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 90/100 Average sentence length 19.8 Characters 2843356 Volumes 20
Novel
Orabatora Senki Length (in words) 511226 Unique words 20812 Unique words (used once) 7507 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2619 Unique kanji (used once) 297 Unique kanji readings 5112 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 1223092 Volumes 11
Novel
Tengoku ni Namida wa Iranai Length (in words) 474744 Unique words 21520 Unique words (used once) 8014 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2563 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 5210 Average difficulty 54/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 63/100 Average sentence length 21.4 Characters 1126029 Volumes 12
Novel
Black Bullet Length (in words) 315232 Unique words 21936 Unique words (used once) 8449 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2657 Unique kanji (used once) 301 Unique kanji readings 5212 Average difficulty 76/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 86/100 Average sentence length 24.9 Characters 742627 Volumes 6
Novel
Order wa Tantei ni Length (in words) 508074 Unique words 21561 Unique words (used once) 7358 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2455 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 4799 Average difficulty 53/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 61/100 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 1193683 Volumes 11
Novel
Rakuin no Monshou Length (in words) 671768 Unique words 21737 Unique words (used once) 6087 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2580 Unique kanji (used once) 221 Unique kanji readings 5108 Average difficulty 79/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 90/100 Average sentence length 26.7 Characters 1578074 Volumes 12
Novel
Koujo Denka no Kateikyoushi Length (in words) 853562 Unique words 21451 Unique words (used once) 6019 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2645 Unique kanji (used once) 165 Unique kanji readings 5402 Average difficulty 52/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 65/100 Average sentence length 17.2 Characters 1861933 Volumes 18
Novel
Akuma no Mikata Length (in words) 569060 Unique words 20873 Unique words (used once) 7439 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2441 Unique kanji (used once) 246 Unique kanji readings 4809 Average difficulty 74/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 85/100 Average sentence length 19.3 Characters 1328233 Volumes 13
Novel
Seitokai no Shuunen Length (in words) 503551 Unique words 20810 Unique words (used once) 7587 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2415 Unique kanji (used once) 259 Unique kanji readings 4728 Average difficulty 48/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 62/100 Average sentence length 18.7 Characters 1193724 Volumes 13
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 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 28.4 Characters 889518 Volumes 6
Novel
Majo no Tabitabi Length (in words) 826000 Unique words 20982 Unique words (used once) 5764 Unique words (used once %) 27% Unique kanji 2394 Unique kanji (used once) 140 Unique kanji readings 4804 Average difficulty 36/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 52/100 Average sentence length 23.3 Characters 1955674 Volumes 17