Best Selling Light Novels in Japan Right Now (September 2022)

I think you’ll agree with me when I say:

“I want to start reading an intriguing light novel but having thousands of options, I don’t know which one to read.”

What you might do is ask a friend, or possibly just head to Google and search “best-selling light novel in Japan” or “any good light novels recommendation”

I noticed that the second method isn’t all that efficient. The results you get from search engines are not entirely accurate.

Well, in this post, I will show three rankings that Japanese people use to discover:

• Trending light novels by title in Japan
• Best-selling light novels by volume in Japan
• Best-selling light novels in 2020 and 2021
• and more!

This post is based on quantitative data!

If you are looking for light novel recommendations, you will love this post!

Let’s get started!

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EBook Japan

It’s one of the most popular services where you can read and buy light novels and manga.

They have a variety of titles and they have a ranking where you can check out their best-selling light novels.

Top-selling light novels in Japan by volume in September are:

1. Ascendance of a Bookworm (Part 5 Volume 9)
2. Overlord (Vol.16)
3. A Tale of the Secret Saint (Vol.7)
4. Oni no Hanayome (Vol.1)
5. Overlord (Vol.15)
6. My Fiance Told Me He Had Found His True Love and Broke off Our Engagement. It’s Too Late To Ask Me To Get Back Together Now! (Vol.3)
7. Tensei Shitara Akuyaku Reijodattanode Hiki Neat Ni Narimasu Chi to Nao Tosama No Dekiai Ga Sugosugiru (Vol.3)
8. The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? (Vol.26)
9. Shoudoubutsu-kei Reijou wa Koori no Ouji ni Dekiai Sareru (Vol.5)
10. Zutaboro Reijou wa Ane no Moto Konyakusha ni Dekiai Sareru (Vol.4)

Source.

Kimirano

Kimirano is a website created by KADOKAWA where you can discover new light novels and read some of them for free.

They have a ranking where you can see what are the Japanese people reading right now.

Trending light novels by title in Japan right now:

1. Suna no Ue no 1DK (Vol.1)
2. Akuyaku Reijou wa Oshi ga Touto Sugite Kyou mo Shiawase (Vol.1)
3. Koi wa Ankoku. (Vol.1)
4. Yarinaoshi Reijou wa Ryuutei Heika wo Kouryaku-chuu (Vol.1)
5. Classroom of the Elite (Vol.1) 🔥
6. Tsumetai Kokou no Tenkousei wa Houkago, Aikagi Mawashite Ama Dereru.(Vol.1)
7. Yarinaoshi Reijou wa Ryuutei Heika wo Kouryaku-chuu (Vol.2)
8. Itsumo Baka ni Shitekuru Bishoujotachi to Zetsuen Shitara, Jitsuwa Ore no Koto ga Daisukidatta Youda (Vol.1)
9. Akuyaku Reijou Route ga Nai Nante, Dare ga Itta no? (Vol.1)
10. S-Kyuu Gakuen no Jishou [Futsuu], Kawaisugiru Kanojotachi ni Guigui Kitararete Barebare desu. (Vol.1)

Source.

Oricon

The last ranking that I would like to show is Oricon. You can find there the best-selling light novels, manga & books in general.

2021

The lists above cover sales of physical copies surveyed from November 23, 2020, to November 21, 2021.

Best selling light novel in Japan by Volume:

1. Jujutsu Kaisen: Iku Natsu to Kaeru Aki (259,960)
2. Jujutsu Kaisen: Yoake no Ibara Michi (227,474)
3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Kaze no Michishirube (208,693)
4. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Shiawase no Hana (183,304)
5. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Kataha no Chō (180,389)

Buy it on Amazon

Source

Best-selling light novel in Japan by Series:

1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Novelization (776,320)
2. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (597,819)
3. The Apothecary Diaries (496,626)
4. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (424,173)
5. The Detective Is Already Dead (367,984)

Buy it on Amazon

Source

2020

The following covers from November 18, 2019, to November 22, 2020.

Best-selling light novel in Japan by Volume (2020):

1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Shiawase no Hana (923,139)
2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Kataha no Cho (913,388)
3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaKaze no Michishirube (607,347)
4. Overlord 14 (228,628)
5. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Train (light novel version) (197,397)

Buy it on Amazon
Source

Best-selling light novel in Japan by Series (2020):

1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
2. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World
3. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
4. Sword Art Online
5. Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

Source

Our recommendations

As I mentioned before, this ranking was based on quantitative data from different rankings. It’s not my opinion.

But if you’re interested to know what I’m reading now or Mipon’s recommendations here are our recommendations:

Classroom of the Elite Year 2 (Volume 4.5)

Buy it on Amazon

Sword Art Online: Progressive (Vol.8)

Buy it on Amazon

What is the difference between manga and light novels?

A light novel is basically a book with illustrations.

While you’re reading a light novel you may find some illustrations like the one below.

If you’re a fan of Wandering Witch, don’t miss the interview with the author of Wandering Witch.

Does the story change between the web novel and the light novel?

It depends on the novel. Most of the light novels are a bit different from the original source (web novel). 

For example, in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Yuuki Kagurazaka has a different role in the web novel and anime.

What is considered more canon, a web novel or a light novel?

There isn’t an official answer on which one is considered canon.

In my opinion, the light novel is considered canon, while the web novel was used as the inspiration. 

The light novel has been edited, polished, and improved by the original author. That’s why I have a slight preference for considering the light novel the canon of the story.

Also, I would always recommend reading the light novel version of the story instead of web novels

Are light novels meant to be anime?

In the past years, popular anime like Sword Art Online, KonoSuba, Overlord, etc are all based on light novels.

So, you can expect more light novels to become anime.

We have a video explaining what’s Shousetsuka Ni Narou,d where most of the light novels come from.

If you’re into light novels, you need to watch this video:

Which light novel are you reading right now?

Do you have any recommendations?

Let me know in the comments!

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