The 5 Most Read Light Novels in Japan This Week, Ranked

The Oricon weekly light novel ranking for this week is out! The entries are ranked by estimating the number of physical copies sold during this week. Oricon compiles this data by aggregating sales figures from physical bookstores, convenience stores, and online retailers nationwide. However, some of these light novels are not available for purchase overseas.

The light novels that made the top 5 include novelizations of pre-existing anime movies and new light novels that are gaining popularity rapidly. Let’s dive into the details of what these light novels are while ranking them according to sales.

5 My Childhood Friend Thought I Was Dead, and Now Her Love Is Way Too Heavy

Recording 3,438 physical copies sold, this entry is a newly published romantic comedy light novel authored by Hiro Osada, featuring illustrations by Parum. This light novel is unfortunately not available to buy outside of Japan yet. The plot of this novel focuses on a student named Sei, who simply wants to live a normal school life without attracting much attention to himself.

However, right at the start of high school, he is suddenly hugged by the prettiest girl in the entire school. He recognizes her as his childhood friend, and the reason she is being all emotional is that she thought Sei was dead. Now, because of that, her love for Sei is going to extremes.

4 The Gal Game Heroines Who Were Supposed to Die Somehow Learned My Secret Vol. 2

Selling 4,117 copies, this light novel by Addict, with artwork by Heiro, centers on a protagonist who reincarnates into a dating simulation game titled “Love or Dead.” The game’s logic is cruel. It’s a typical dating simulator, other than the fact that those heroines who lose end up dying. The protagonist decides that he will save every single one of the heroines and reach a happy end.

3 Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Light Novel Adaptation

Ranking third with 8,894 copies sold, this entry serves as the official light novel adaptation of the recent Cosmic Princess Kaguya! anime movie that broke through the 2 billion Yen ceiling at the box office. The light novel is written by Naruto Kiriyama, and the plot follows Iroha Sakayori, who is a hard-working student living alone in Tokyo.

However, her everyday life is interrupted when she finds a baby popping out of a utility pole. The baby grows up really fast, turning into a girl around her age. Together, they form a band in a virtual world of Tsukiyomi, while dark forces lurk in the background who want to take the girl back to the moon.

2 Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 29

Reki Kawahara’s long-running light novel series called Sword Art Online secures the second position with 11,629 copies sold. Volume 29, illustrated by Abec, continues the Unital Ring arc. In the virtual realm known as the Underworld, a young man named Eolyne Herlentz – who shares a physical resemblance to the character Eugeo, who was deceased in the Alicization storyline – is held captive by rebel forces.

He finds out that in the rebellion, an intruder from the real world is involved. Eolyne attempts to make an escape from a massive mecha-dragon called Principia. While at the same time, the primary protagonist of the franchise, Kirito, works to conquer the second layer of the Unital Ring survival game.

1 Detective Conan Fallen Angel of the Highway Light Novel Adaptation

The top-selling light novel this week is the direct novelization of the 2026 Detective Conan anime movie, which recorded 16,113 physical copies sold. The plot of the light novel is set in Yokohama during a major motorcycle festival. Conan and his associates find themselves in the perimeter of a traffic incident caused by a mysterious black motorcycle.

Kanagawa Prefectural Police officer Chihaya Hagiwara initiates a pursuit of the suspect but fails to arrest the rider. Soon, a white police motorcycle prototype named “Angel” is publicly announced. At the same time, the fugitive rider, who is using a similar-looking but black bike called “Lucifer,” is actively evading law enforcement across Tokyo.

RANK	TITLE	COPIES SOLD
5	My Childhood Friend Thought I Was Dead, and Now Her Love Is Way Too Heavy	3,438
4	The Gal Game Heroines Who Were Supposed to Die Somehow Learned My Secret Vol. 2	4,117
3	Cosmic Princess Kaguya! Light Novel Adaptation	8,894
2	Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 29	11,629
1	Detective Conan Fallen Angel of the Highway Light Novel Adaptation	16,113

These top 5 rankings indicate that there is still a preference for renowned titles. Cosmic Princess Kaguya already proved its success through the movie, while Sword Art Online and Case Closed are among the giants in the light novel industry. Meanwhile, there is still a preference for rom-com light novels.

Which of these light novels are you going to read next? Let us know in the comments.