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 1..50 from 1518 entries
Novel
Guin Saga Length (in words) 6741165 Unique words 47653 Unique words (used once) 9839 Unique words (used once %) 20% Unique kanji 3158 Unique kanji (used once) 186 Unique kanji readings 6767 Average difficulty 86/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 98/100 Average sentence length 30.6 Characters 16345778 Volumes 130
Novel
Monogatari Series Length (in words) 1905440 Unique words 38811 Unique words (used once) 10979 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 3102 Unique kanji (used once) 287 Unique kanji readings 6637 Average difficulty 86/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 29.4 Characters 4571464 Volumes 28
Novel
The Irregular at Magic High School Length (in words) 1629048 Unique words 35898 Unique words (used once) 9997 Unique words (used once %) 27% Unique kanji 2933 Unique kanji (used once) 230 Unique kanji readings 6362 Average difficulty 71/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 84/100 Average sentence length 27.3 Characters 3791903 Volumes 32
Novel
Sword Art Online Length (in words) 1503800 Unique words 34670 Unique words (used once) 10058 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2928 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 6176 Average difficulty 73/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 90/100 Average sentence length 28.0 Characters 3462907 Volumes 25
Novel
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Length (in words) 2398362 Unique words 33894 Unique words (used once) 7590 Unique words (used once %) 22% Unique kanji 2895 Unique kanji (used once) 152 Unique kanji readings 6157 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 91/100 Average sentence length 23.7 Characters 5479341 Volumes 39
Novel
Accel World Length (in words) 1330288 Unique words 30555 Unique words (used once) 9207 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2796 Unique kanji (used once) 241 Unique kanji readings 5806 Average difficulty 81/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 90/100 Average sentence length 27.9 Characters 3183822 Volumes 25
Novel
A Certain Magical Index Length (in words) 1262230 Unique words 30934 Unique words (used once) 9009 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2713 Unique kanji (used once) 259 Unique kanji readings 5673 Average difficulty 73/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 83/100 Average sentence length 25.7 Characters 2907379 Volumes 23
Novel
Ore, Twintail ni Narimasu. Length (in words) 1084675 Unique words 30665 Unique words (used once) 8848 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2801 Unique kanji (used once) 188 Unique kanji readings 5883 Average difficulty 79/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 90/100 Average sentence length 22.8 Characters 2705049 Volumes 22
Novel
Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? Length (in words) 2035330 Unique words 29930 Unique words (used once) 7562 Unique words (used once %) 25% Unique kanji 2597 Unique kanji (used once) 169 Unique kanji readings 5362 Average difficulty 38/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 61/100 Average sentence length 24.9 Characters 4860837 Volumes 46
Novel
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru Length (in words) 986770 Unique words 30056 Unique words (used once) 10226 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2783 Unique kanji (used once) 306 Unique kanji readings 5680 Average difficulty 62/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 75/100 Average sentence length 22.1 Characters 2303464 Volumes 18
Novel
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Length (in words) 1321555 Unique words 29461 Unique words (used once) 8562 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2758 Unique kanji (used once) 213 Unique kanji readings 5712 Average difficulty 22/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 39/100 Average sentence length 21.9 Characters 3097769 Volumes 26
Novel
Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken Length (in words) 1722731 Unique words 29667 Unique words (used once) 7571 Unique words (used once %) 25% Unique kanji 2807 Unique kanji (used once) 168 Unique kanji readings 5943 Average difficulty 58/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 74/100 Average sentence length 22.6 Characters 3974469 Volumes 20
Novel
TRPG Player ga Isekai de Saikyou Build wo Mezasu Length (in words) 682345 Unique words 29491 Unique words (used once) 9301 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 3068 Unique kanji (used once) 219 Unique kanji readings 6418 Average difficulty 56/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 82/100 Average sentence length 31.4 Characters 1496625 Volumes 8
Novel
Youjo Senki Length (in words) 986413 Unique words 28953 Unique words (used once) 8714 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2841 Unique kanji (used once) 231 Unique kanji readings 5718 Average difficulty 88/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 98/100 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 2287641 Volumes 12
Novel
Shakugan no Shana Length (in words) 941367 Unique words 28911 Unique words (used once) 8677 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2954 Unique kanji (used once) 239 Unique kanji readings 6225 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 24.8 Characters 2128265 Volumes 22
Novel
Circlet Girl Length (in words) 895478 Unique words 27976 Unique words (used once) 9023 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2673 Unique kanji (used once) 226 Unique kanji readings 5429 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 94/100 Average sentence length 26.4 Characters 2020442 Volumes 13
Novel
Ryouma ga Yuku Length (in words) 577862 Unique words 28338 Unique words (used once) 10291 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 3157 Unique kanji (used once) 399 Unique kanji readings 6711 Average difficulty 90/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 24.1 Characters 1249940 Volumes 1
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Teito Monogatari Length (in words) 537823 Unique words 28182 Unique words (used once) 9970 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2995 Unique kanji (used once) 303 Unique kanji readings 6456 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 1206333 Volumes 6
Novel
Sanzensekai no Karasu wo Koroshi Length (in words) 838061 Unique words 28667 Unique words (used once) 8772 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2553 Unique kanji (used once) 224 Unique kanji readings 5053 Average difficulty 73/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 88/100 Average sentence length 29.1 Characters 1956820 Volumes 20
Novel
Kyo Kara Maoh! Length (in words) 553802 Unique words 28186 Unique words (used once) 10222 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2886 Unique kanji (used once) 301 Unique kanji readings 6011 Average difficulty 63/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 80/100 Average sentence length 21.7 Characters 1282345 Volumes 16
Novel
Densetsu Series Length (in words) 1151726 Unique words 27462 Unique words (used once) 8320 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2648 Unique kanji (used once) 249 Unique kanji readings 5350 Average difficulty 83/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 93/100 Average sentence length 36.5 Characters 2772509 Volumes 10
Novel
Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin Length (in words) 878896 Unique words 28054 Unique words (used once) 8029 Unique words (used once %) 28% Unique kanji 2786 Unique kanji (used once) 205 Unique kanji readings 5756 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 97/100 Average sentence length 24.5 Characters 1992300 Volumes 14
Novel
Maria-sama ga Miteru Length (in words) 1084721 Unique words 27765 Unique words (used once) 8499 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2524 Unique kanji (used once) 192 Unique kanji readings 5262 Average difficulty 52/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 64/100 Average sentence length 22.2 Characters 2630604 Volumes 36
Novel
Kokou no Mesu Length (in words) 766253 Unique words 28093 Unique words (used once) 8865 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2819 Unique kanji (used once) 227 Unique kanji readings 5947 Average difficulty 74/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 87/100 Average sentence length 27.2 Characters 1768719 Volumes 13
Novel
Strike the Blood Length (in words) 1182989 Unique words 28389 Unique words (used once) 8372 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2794 Unique kanji (used once) 204 Unique kanji readings 5715 Average difficulty 72/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 81/100 Average sentence length 22.5 Characters 2705471 Volumes 21
Novel
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Length (in words) 555813 Unique words 27699 Unique words (used once) 10574 Unique words (used once %) 38% Unique kanji 2638 Unique kanji (used once) 298 Unique kanji readings 5373 Average difficulty 38/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 52/100 Average sentence length 24.3 Characters 1297857 Volumes 11
Novel
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash Length (in words) 997989 Unique words 27266 Unique words (used once) 8038 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2749 Unique kanji (used once) 238 Unique kanji readings 5531 Average difficulty 49/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 61/100 Average sentence length 17.4 Characters 2521582 Volumes 21
Novel
Ascendance of a Bookworm Length (in words) 2567571 Unique words 27106 Unique words (used once) 6591 Unique words (used once %) 24% Unique kanji 2650 Unique kanji (used once) 204 Unique kanji readings 5525 Average difficulty 33/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 45/100 Average sentence length 28.9 Characters 6288162 Volumes 32
Novel
Tokyo Ravens Length (in words) 937694 Unique words 27008 Unique words (used once) 7875 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2861 Unique kanji (used once) 218 Unique kanji readings 5955 Average difficulty 84/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 92/100 Average sentence length 20.1 Characters 2170993 Volumes 16
Novel
Outbreak Company Length (in words) 820718 Unique words 26682 Unique words (used once) 9143 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2698 Unique kanji (used once) 214 Unique kanji readings 5513 Average difficulty 55/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 77/100 Average sentence length 25.0 Characters 1947729 Volumes 18
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 Average difficulty 62/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 76/100 Average sentence length 23.3 Characters 2660953 Volumes 14
Novel
Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryuu to Odoru: Dances with the Dragons Length (in words) 1169151 Unique words 26619 Unique words (used once) 8012 Unique words (used once %) 30% Unique kanji 2697 Unique kanji (used once) 215 Unique kanji readings 5350 Average difficulty 88/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 18.1 Characters 2537966 Volumes 10
Novel
Usotsuki Mii-kun to Kowareta Maa-chan Length (in words) 548670 Unique words 26244 Unique words (used once) 9081 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2661 Unique kanji (used once) 221 Unique kanji readings 5525 Average difficulty 72/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 96/100 Average sentence length 22.3 Characters 1241950 Volumes 11
Novel
Isekai Ryouridou Length (in words) 1798236 Unique words 26330 Unique words (used once) 6499 Unique words (used once %) 24% Unique kanji 2626 Unique kanji (used once) 182 Unique kanji readings 5318 Average difficulty 52/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 74/100 Average sentence length 27.7 Characters 4242935 Volumes 28
Novel
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Length (in words) 1079083 Unique words 26402 Unique words (used once) 6662 Unique words (used once %) 25% Unique kanji 2839 Unique kanji (used once) 166 Unique kanji readings 5896 Average difficulty 72/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 88/100 Average sentence length 22.7 Characters 2445326 Volumes 17
Novel
Slime Taoshite 300-nen, Shiranai Uchi ni Level Max ni Nattemashita Length (in words) 1057145 Unique words 26563 Unique words (used once) 8554 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2468 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 4912 Average difficulty 38/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 56/100 Average sentence length 21.2 Characters 2545826 Volumes 22
Novel
Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko. Length (in words) 508622 Unique words 25624 Unique words (used once) 9341 Unique words (used once %) 36% Unique kanji 2430 Unique kanji (used once) 255 Unique kanji readings 4829 Average difficulty 60/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 73/100 Average sentence length 16.9 Characters 1208298 Volumes 13
Novel
Nareru! SE Length (in words) 593353 Unique words 26201 Unique words (used once) 9199 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2570 Unique kanji (used once) 258 Unique kanji readings 5193 Average difficulty 66/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 78/100 Average sentence length 18.3 Characters 1451530 Volumes 16
Novel
Ben-to Length (in words) 937085 Unique words 25806 Unique words (used once) 8214 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2635 Unique kanji (used once) 201 Unique kanji readings 5363 Average difficulty 64/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 81/100 Average sentence length 23.4 Characters 2097392 Volumes 12
Novel
Kumo Desu ga, Nanika? Length (in words) 937664 Unique words 25102 Unique words (used once) 7326 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2626 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 5317 Average difficulty 45/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 62/100 Average sentence length 22.9 Characters 2171324 Volumes 16
Novel
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Length (in words) 662994 Unique words 24937 Unique words (used once) 9255 Unique words (used once %) 37% Unique kanji 2494 Unique kanji (used once) 267 Unique kanji readings 5103 Average difficulty 37/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 50/100 Average sentence length 23.5 Characters 1628304 Volumes 17
Novel
Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni. Length (in words) 746428 Unique words 25069 Unique words (used once) 8298 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2696 Unique kanji (used once) 235 Unique kanji readings 5456 Average difficulty 44/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 61/100 Average sentence length 20.6 Characters 1731870 Volumes 15
Novel
Goblin Slayer Length (in words) 840663 Unique words 24380 Unique words (used once) 7076 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2892 Unique kanji (used once) 212 Unique kanji readings 6052 Average difficulty 79/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 90/100 Average sentence length 20.0 Characters 1851561 Volumes 16
Novel
86 Length (in words) 751601 Unique words 25050 Unique words (used once) 7472 Unique words (used once %) 29% Unique kanji 2826 Unique kanji (used once) 205 Unique kanji readings 5664 Average difficulty 87/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 98/100 Average sentence length 24.7 Characters 1710255 Volumes 13
Novel
Ro-Kyu-Bu! Length (in words) 638979 Unique words 24237 Unique words (used once) 7761 Unique words (used once %) 32% Unique kanji 2531 Unique kanji (used once) 225 Unique kanji readings 5105 Average difficulty 48/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 61/100 Average sentence length 21.2 Characters 1558207 Volumes 15
Novel
Zaregoto Series Length (in words) 723229 Unique words 24861 Unique words (used once) 8811 Unique words (used once %) 35% Unique kanji 2727 Unique kanji (used once) 282 Unique kanji readings 5479 Average difficulty 82/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 96/100 Average sentence length 20.6 Characters 1695822 Volumes 10
Novel
Legend of the Galactic Heroes Length (in words) 703664 Unique words 25455 Unique words (used once) 8083 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2679 Unique kanji (used once) 251 Unique kanji readings 4999 Average difficulty 92/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 99/100 Average sentence length 33.8 Characters 1674141 Volumes 10
Novel
9S (Nine S) Length (in words) 715114 Unique words 24360 Unique words (used once) 7662 Unique words (used once %) 31% Unique kanji 2482 Unique kanji (used once) 199 Unique kanji readings 4936 Average difficulty 82/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 95/100 Average sentence length 19.9 Characters 1666136 Volumes 13
Novel
Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Length (in words) 800132 Unique words 24342 Unique words (used once) 8183 Unique words (used once %) 33% Unique kanji 2644 Unique kanji (used once) 271 Unique kanji readings 5391 Average difficulty 63/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 76/100 Average sentence length 19.0 Characters 1832678 Volumes 17
Novel
Full Metal Panic! Length (in words) 529427 Unique words 24648 Unique words (used once) 8607 Unique words (used once %) 34% Unique kanji 2491 Unique kanji (used once) 240 Unique kanji readings 4887 Average difficulty 75/100 Peak difficulty (90th percentile) 87/100 Average sentence length 18.8 Characters 1243538 Volumes 12