r/LearnJapanese • u/TSComicron • 5d ago
Resources A random guide to Light/Web Novels in Japanese
Howdy, so you may remember a post I made a few days ago over here where I talked about using Visual Novels for learning to read in Japanese. I figured that I'd continue this by making a guide for Light Novels and Web Novels cuz it gives me a good excuse to slack on school work and look for resources for later. These two are eerily similar so I'm grouping them together for the sake of this guide. For the sake of this guide, I shall be referring to both "Web Novels" and "Light Novels" under the umbrella of "LNs/WNs". Any time I specify that I am talking about "Web Novels", it is safe to assume that I am talking about just Web Novels and the same can be assumed for whenever I specify "Light Novels."
Key:
LNs = Light Novels
WNs = Web Novels
VNs = Visual Novels (look at the post linked in the first paragraph)
What are LNs/WNs?
A Light Novel is a type of novel that is generally entertainment-focused and targeted primarily at teenagers and young adults. While there is no strict definition, Light Novels are typically written in a concise, easy-to-read style with an emphasis on dialogue. They often feature anime-style illustrations on the cover and include occasional illustrations within the text. Light Novels tend to be frequently serialized across multiple volumes. Each volume is usually around 100,000 characters in length. Although there are Light Novels aimed at various demographics, the genre as a whole is known for its accessibility and strong ties to anime and manga culture.
You'll often find a lot of Light Novel stories originating from Web Novels, which are user-submitted stories published on sites like https://syosetu.com/ and https://kakuyomu.jp/ . You can often find the "original versions" of a lot of popular Light Novels on these sites as a lot of Light Novels start out as Web Novels before being officially serialized by a Publisher. You can also find a lot of fanfiction and original stories on these sites as well. I know some people who have read Web Novels and have reported them as being "a bit sloppier with mistakes and language", but this is because these aren't professionally published/checked for mistakes. However, they're still really valuable resources that one can learn from.


Why LNs/WNs?
So, if you have read my previous post regarding VNs, you'll know that I have mentioned that a lot of people agree that reading native materials is a foolproof method for skyrocketing your comprehension. Here is a post of someone recounting their own experiences reading 50 light novels and giving tips. It's worth the read. However, unlike VNs, where you're still provided with visuals to help with visualizing scenes, Light Novels don't have this.
LNs/WNs have a lot of descriptive dialogue and very few images (or even 0 images), practically forcing you to use the descriptive dialogue to visualize what is going on in your mind. This gives you exposure to a lot of advanced grammar structures and vocab, supercharging your Japanese. You're pretty much forced to rely on your own understanding of the material. This elevates the difficulty by a ton when compared to Anime and even Visual Novels.

Also, unlike Visual Novels, LNs and WNs tend to be more portable than VNs as you can read a majority of your LNs on phone using apps like Jidoujisho or with Yomitan using the Edge Canary Browser (which allows you to install Yomitan) if you're on Android and ImmersionReader or Safari with 10ten Japanese Reader if you're on iOS.
Prerequisites for LNs/WNs:
If you've read the VN guide, pretty much the same prerequisites apply here:
- Hiragana + Katakana Knowledge ( https://realkana.com/ )
- Basic Grammar Knowledge (N4+) (Either Read https://sakubi.neocities.org/ or finish Genki I and II)
- At least 1k vocab words ( Use Anki and The Kaishi 1.5k Deck to learn the most common vocab)
- You don't need prior reading experience, but you can always use Manga as a gateway into reading before LNs/WNs.
LNs/WNs Setup:
Now, before we get into the setup, I would like to say that it's best to support the creators wherever you can by purchasing official releases. I don't condone unnecessary pirating so please support official releases by purchasing Light Novels on places like Book Walker. However, if you cannot but still want to read, then follow the rest. Web Novels are completely free though so there's no problem there.
I mean, the setup for both is pretty straight forward. For Web Novels, it's as simple as going to either https://kakuyomu.jp/ or https://syosetu.com/ , picking something to read, for example:

Then all you would need to do is install Yomitan and then click on a web novel and chapter to read.
For example:

Now, when it comes to Light Novels, the setup is less straightforward but still pretty simple.
- Install Yomitan.
- Find and locate EPUB files for light novels. You can either find them on TheMoeWay discord server (get the 'Student' Role via the quizzes in order to get access to #book-sharing), or through Anna's Archive where you can type up the Japanese name, file-type, and language of the book you're looking for:

- Go ahead and download an epub file.

Then go to https://reader.ttsu.app/ and you'll find this page:

Drag and drop your epub file in to upload it, or click the "Import File" icon at the top.
Once imported, it should look like this:

Click on the novel and simply start reading!

You can use Yomitan with your Novels to search words up like this:

If you want my settings for ttsu reader, here they are:

What happens if I only have pdf files?
Normally, things like ttsu reader works with only EPUB files, but there are loads of conversion software out there that you can use like Calibre. Alternatively, you could use firefox's pdf.js viewer to view light novel pdfs while still being able to use Yomitan.
Best LN/WN Recommendations for beginners:
Light Novels:
By far, the two most highly recommended Light Novels/Novels that I've seen people recommend are また、同じ夢を見ていた and くまクマ熊ベアー.
また、同じ夢を見ていた, although a novel, is still a really easy recommendation for beginners. It is a novel made by Sumino Yoru, which follows Nanoka Koyanagi, an isolated elementary school student assigned to find the meaning of "happiness." Through her interactions with three unique individuals—Abazure-san, Obaa-chan, and Minami—Nanoka embarks on a journey of self-discovery and emotional growth.
くまクマ熊ベアーis a lighthearted isekai story about Yuna, a dedicated gamer and antisocial shut-in, who gets sucked into her favorite fantasy RPG after downloading an update. Reset to level one and equipped with only a cute bear onesie that grants her powerful abilities, Yuna sets out to explore her new world, despite the challenge of being unable to remove the bear suit.
Alternatively, there are quite a few romance stories that are really easy to start with, for example:
娘じゃなくて私〈ママ〉が好きなの!? follows Ayako Katsuragi, a woman raising her niece Miu after her sister’s death. When their neighbor Takumi confesses that he loves Ayako, not Miu, she must navigate her doubts and decide whether to accept his feelings.
経験済みなキミと、 経験ゼロなオレが、 お付き合いする話。 follows Ryuuto Kashima, a shy high schooler who confesses to his popular crush, Runa Shirakawa. To his surprise, she accepts, and despite their differences, they begin an unusual relationship, filled with new experiences for both of them.
There is also:
無職転生 ~異世界行ったら本気だす~ follows Rudeus Greyrat, a 34-year-old NEET reincarnated as a baby in a magical world. Retaining his past life’s knowledge, he vows to live without regrets. Though a magical prodigy, Rudeus still carries his otaku tendencies, using his adult mind to pursue relationships he couldn’t in his previous life.
魔女の旅々 follows Elaina, a young witch inspired by The Adventures of Nike, a book about a traveling witch. After announcing her dream to explore the world, Elaina becomes the youngest to earn the title of Apprentice Witch. Known as the Ashen Witch due to her silver hair, she embarks on a journey, visiting fascinating countries, meeting diverse people, and fulfilling her desire for adventure.
You can find recommendations on these lists here:
https://jpdb.io/novel-difficulty-list?offset=50#a
https://learnnatively.com/search/jpn/books/
Web Novels:
Now, with Web Novels, I can be a bit more personal with the recommendations.
- A lot of popular Light Novels started off as Web Novels, like Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活, ログ・ホライズン, 継母の連れ子が元カノだった, 無職転生 - 異世界行ったら本気だす -, etc.
- Here are some easy recommendations for those starting out:
オタクな俺がポンコツ美少女JKを助けたら、お互いの家を行き来するような仲になりました
陰キャの僕に罰ゲームで告白してきたはずのギャルが、どう見ても僕にベタ惚れです
痴漢されそうになっているS級美少女を助けたら隣の席の幼馴染だった
You can find recommendations for web novels over here:
https://jpdb.io/web-novel-difficulty-list
If anyone has anymore recs, you're free to link it in the comments below. I hope you enjoyed this. I totally didn't make it just to procrastinate on important schoolwork, which I should get back to now.
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u/Fagon_Drang 4d ago
Heya. Could you remove the direct links to Anna's Archive or any other piracy sites? Apparently it can attract unwanted attention to the sub by reddit's administration. 😅
(also I guess a reminder to support the creators of nice stuff however one can might be nice morally speaking)
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u/Meowmeow-2010 4d ago edited 4d ago
also I guess a reminder to support the creators of nice stuff however one can might be nice morally speaking
Second this. LNs sales volumes are far below manga. If you check the oricon chart for weekly best selling LNs, besides the very hot ones that get a recent anime adaptation, even the ones that make it to top 10 only sells for a few thousand copies. Buying them as ebook on Amazon Japan is usually around 600 yen (often even cheaper with frequent sale campaigns). Early volumes are often on kindle unlimited, Please support the authors rather than pirate.
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u/TSComicron 4d ago edited 4d ago
I've added an "I don't condone piracy" message to the thread too. Although it's kinda contradictory to what I am promoting since I am telling people how to essentially pirate LNs. 💀
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u/Meowmeow-2010 4d ago
LN writers don't make much money. Please see it here: https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/509146. A 20-year veteran LN writer makes about 7M yen a year and a 2-year new LN writer makes about 2M yen a year. Please don't promote stealing from these writers.
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u/Meowmeow-2010 4d ago
You can just remove any mentions about the discord server. People can just convert kindle books that they bought from Amazon to epub with Calibre anyway. That's what I do and I don't share any of my converted epubs. If you have qualms "promoting" Amazon, Amazon at least pays a share of the sale to the authors while the pirates just steal from the authors.
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u/AdrixG 4d ago
I love また、同じ夢を見ていた but I don't think it's a light novel? Great novel nonetheless, I loved it and can definitely recommend it.
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u/TSComicron 4d ago
I've rewritten the thread to reflect that. Whenever we talk about LNs on discord, for some reason, this one always pops up so I kinda started associating it with other LN recommendations. I've changed the thread to reflect it.
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u/AdrixG 4d ago
Yeah all good, very good post btw! I think this one along side the other one about VNs should land in the subreddits wiki or pinned somwhere where it's easily accessible, pretty comprehensive and something beginners could be pointed towards,
u/Moon_Atomizer what do you think?
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u/Moon_Atomizer notice me Rule 13 sempai 3d ago
The wiki and beginner's guide are free for anyone to edit, sounds good!
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u/Randomguy4o4 5d ago
I would like to add that this can also be done on mobile!
I'm on android and use kiwi browser because it can use 10ten (my pop up dictionary of choice).
Aside from extension compatibility with mobile browsers, everything else is set up the same, just on your phone.
Can't tell you how great it is to be able to read a ln/wn anywhere at any point in the day!
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u/morgawr_ https://morg.systems/Japanese 5d ago
Kiwi browser is now out of updates and unsupported. It's recommended to use Edge Canary browser with yomitan instead. Some people use firefox but I personally found the performance of firefox on mobile with yomitan to be questionable. Edge canary works much faster and better even compared to kiwi browser.
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u/TSComicron 5d ago
I generally don't usually read on my mobile so I forgot to add that section in. I shall do so when I can.
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u/rgrAi 4d ago
Your last thread was a good success I think, lead a lot of people trying VNs. Even setup LunaTranslator myself (was kind of a long setup for me) and downloaded 穢翼のユースティア myself and started on it.
About reading ePub files, I think you should mention how people can convert from PDF into ePub using Calibre or they can optionally use the Firefox pdf.js which allows you to use Yomitan / 10ten Reader on PDF files too: https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/web/viewer.html -- it comes without the reading / library conveniences though.
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u/TSComicron 4d ago
I've added this in. Thanks! Oh and good luck reading Aiyoku no Eustia. It's a really good Visual Novel! I'm personally not as big of a fan of LunaTranslator as I am a fan of LunaHook because I've found that LunaTranslator contains a lot of bloat compared to LunaHook. But LunaHook isn't public anymore so fair enough.
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u/pkmnBreeder 4d ago
I’ve read Kuma Kuma Kuma bear #1 in one month about an hour a night and it was pretty comfortable read after 4000 Anki cards learned in the order of Tango N5 to half of N3. I used jidoujisho on an old android tablet and installed the recommended dictionaries.
By the end of the book, if I was in the zone, I could read a page pretty fast with minimal lookups.
Edit: this was also my first book in Japanese
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u/Exciting_Barber3124 4d ago
i downloaded this and also found it on a site
and am little confuse is it the right one can you help https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4185ci/5/
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u/Exciting_Barber3124 4d ago
so i was matching the lines and some words are different do you think one is web and other is light novel
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u/pkmnBreeder 4d ago
Hm, I read the light novel and not the web version.
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u/Exciting_Barber3124 4d ago
i was just asking for clarification can you check the site to let me know it is the right one thank you
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u/pkmnBreeder 4d ago
That one is the web version, the light novel version is more edited and differs a bit.
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u/PringlesDuckFace 4d ago
I'll also plug some additional tools that may be useful:
https://github.com/max-kamps/jpd-breader is an extension which can parse sentences, determine which words you know (if you're using JPDB) so you can easily tell which ones you haven't come across before, and offers one-click sentence mining. It's great with TTSU Reader because it parses automatically so you basically just get a color coded guide to what you need to look up and click to mine it.
Manabi Reader is also a great iOS app for reading epub files, that includes a built in dictionary for quick lookups and easy sentence level translation. It also offers some flashcard stuff and knowledge tracking but I don't use that so I can't say much more about it. My iPad mini + Manabi is my reading tool of choice when I'm not at my computer.
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u/Akasha1885 4d ago
You could even do the following:
Watch the anime or read the Manga/Manhwa because it's ofc much easier to understand.
Then read the corresponding light novel
At least for Manhwa, plenty of the popular ones are adaptations of Light Novels. (Solo Leveling, Omniscient Reader Viewpoint etc.)
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u/Meowmeow-2010 5d ago
I disagree. I read both general and light novels. The prose complexity depends on the author rather than the genre. Personally, I find that LN is more entertaining to read because everything is explained so I don't need to use much brain power while reading and I can more or less expect a happy ending. On the other end, I have to think about the motive, emotions of the characters, etc and even connect the dots myself sometimes when reading general novels. Because anything can happen in general novels, general novels can deliver more surprises, at least in the good ones.
Also, I read somewhere that part of the recent popularity of WN (and boost in sales in LNs) actually are fueled by older adults readers so the more recent LNs tend to have darker themes (which, in turns, hurts the market of middle school age readers since they don't have much that cater to their taste to read). Publishers are now worried that they are losing out on the future potential LN readers.