Japan's Yearly Light Novel Rankings for Fiscal 2012

by dtshyk
Dec 2, 2012 6:28 PM | 67 Comments

Here are the yearly light novel sales rankings for fiscal 2012. (Nov 21 2011 - Nov 18 2012)

Series by series
*1, 2,764,454 Sword Art Online
*2, 2,067,369 Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou
*3, 1,033,906 Accel World
*4, *,767,236 Kotenbu Series
*5, *,696,322 Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
*6, *,686,467 Toaru Majutsu no Index: New Testament
*7, *,674,520 Kuroko no Basket -Replace-
*8, *,654,224 Highschool DxD
*9, *,620,972 Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
10, *,544,507 Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
11, *,450,794 Oda Nobuna no Yabou
12, *,447,053 Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai!
13, *,425,343 Hidan no Aria
14, *,411,380 Kokoro Connect
15, *,409,949 Kyoukaisenjou no Horizon
16, *,404,065 Kagerou Days
17, *,389,516 Another
18, *,372,821 Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki
19, *,369,703 Haiyore! Nyaruko-san
20, *,349,496 Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
21, *,300,996 Date A Live
22, *,278,103 Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
23, *,277,048 Campione!
24, *,265,512 Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne

Volume by volume
*1, 846,883 Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou vol.1
*2, 633,127 Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou vol.2
*3, 587,359 Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou vol.3
*4, 372,821 Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki
*5, 368,089 Sword Art Online vol.1
*6, 317,124 Sword Art Online vol.2
*7, 304,731 Sword Art Online vol.9
*8, 299,319 Sword Art Online vol.3
*9, 286,781 Sword Art Online vol.10
10, 286,031 Sword Art Online vol.4

11, 265,953 Monogatari Series: Second Season Koimonogatari
12, 257,905 Kuroko no Basket -Replace- vol.2
13, 256,812 Toaru Majutsu no Index: New Testament vol.3
14, 256,003 Kotenbu Series vol.1 Hyouka
15, 249,531 Sword Art Online vol.5
16, 248,944 Sword Art Online Progressive vol.1
17, 246,765 Bokura ga Ita
18, 238,096 Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai vol.8
19, 234,235 Sword Art Online vol.6
20, 225,343 Kagerou Days vol.1

21, 224,504 Kuroko no Basket -Replace- vol.3
22, 221,681 Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai vol.10
23, 213,382 Toaru Majutsu no Index: New Testament vol.4
24, 211,803 Sword Art Online vol.7
25, 208,078 Monogatari Series: Second Season Tsukimonogatari
26, 207,208 Another vol.1
27, 207,060 Toshokan Sensou vol.1 Small Size Edition
28, 206,810 Sword Art Online vol.8
29, 203,672 Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu vol.10
30, 196,364 Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai vol.11

31, 192,111 Kuroko no Basket -Replace- vol.1
32, 187,129 Kotenbu Series vol.2
33, 182,308 Another vol.2
34, 178,722 Kagerou Days vol.2
35, 173,589 Toaru Majutsu no Index: New Testament vol.5
36, 169,291 Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu vol.10.5
37, 165,492 Kotenbu Series vol.3
38, 163,632 Kotenbu Series vol.5
39, 158,612 Kotenbu Series vol.4
40, 133,564 Durarara!! vol.11

41, 129,807 Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei vol.4
42, 128,955 Accel World vol.11
43, 126,704 Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei vol.5
44, 123,542 Accel World vol.10
45, 115,154 Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki Kids Edition
46, *93,319 Bleach: Spirits Are Forever With You vol.1
47, *74,044 Gintama Kaettekita 3nen Zgumi Ginpachi-sensei Phoenix: Funky Monkey Teachers
48, *65,609 Shousetsu Ban Medaka Box vol.1
49, *56,093 Kuro Majo-san ga Tooru!! vol.14
50, *55,505 Bleach: The Death Save The Strawberry

Source: Oricon Youtaiju

20 of 67 Comments Recent Comments

It is possible that if you buy a novel a few months before the anime starts but after the announcement there will be "anime coming" bands on it, so even though I saw those "anime coming" bands round those LNs in the pic I was not sure you bought the novels before you saw the anime or the other way round.

What I read from fans comment is that the anime changed a lot from the anime particularly for the ending and many do not like that. That's why I was curious about what you think in case you had read the LN when you watched the anime.

Dec 4, 2012 11:26 AM by symbv

^ You are also a fan of Boku H ! Many fans of the LN don't like the anime though. Wonder if it is the same case for you?

Dec 4, 2012 10:40 AM by symbv

dtshyk said:

14, *,411,380 Kokoro Connect

It's nice to see Kokoro Connect doing well.

I'm loving the anime so far.

Dec 4, 2012 8:29 AM by Logiciel

Kawahara sure is pleased with his 2 novels selling so well :'D

I am so interested in Biblia.There is a manga adaption of the novel,since I read the first chapter almost 2 months ago,but I can't find chapter 2 :'(
I would prefer to read the novel more of course.

Dec 4, 2012 12:51 AM by Makise11

I am not surprised by number 1.

Dec 3, 2012 10:25 PM by MillaMaxwell

The second top selling novel actually sounds really cool.

Dec 3, 2012 7:36 PM by Josh

Yea SAO baby. FTW Love the novels and I am currently up to the point after where the anime will end.

Dec 3, 2012 3:54 PM by darkmar7

RyanSaotome said:

Higashi_no_Kaze said:

Shih said:

Higashi_no_Kaze said:
Are there chances that Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou is gonna get an adaption anytime soon?

I think there is a live action TV show announced.

I was afraid of that, thanks. The best stuff doesn't get anime :(

The thing is that mainstream audiences aren't really interested in anime... its viewed as a kids/nerd thing. So when more mainstream manga/novels get adaptions, its often times in the live action format.

If only more people over here realized that anime is aimed at the otaku market, and not the mainstream...

Are you serious? I thought anime was very common in Japan, much more than in the west. :/

Don't tell me it's the same about manga...

Dec 3, 2012 3:16 PM by Logiciel

Higashi_no_Kaze said:
Uchuu Kyoudai for example could have as well just been Live-action, but gladly it didn't turn out like that.

Well, Uchuu Kyoudai indeed got a live-action adaptation - as a movie that was released in June this year. As a matter of fact, there were questions raised when the anime was announced whether it should be a live-action series instead.

Dec 3, 2012 3:11 PM by symbv

wut...

*1, 2,764,454 Sword Art Online

O_O

Dec 3, 2012 3:06 PM by GodlyKyon

RyanSaotome said:

Higashi_no_Kaze said:

Shih said:

Higashi_no_Kaze said:
Are there chances that Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou is gonna get an adaption anytime soon?

I think there is a live action TV show announced.

I was afraid of that, thanks. The best stuff doesn't get anime :(

I realize it, that's why I'm not surprised. I'm just saying it's a shame. And it's not like there aren't still mainstream-aimed anime outside the midnight slots. Uchuu Kyoudai for example could have as well just been Live-action, but gladly it didn't turn out like that. So it's not 100% sure that stuff like Biblia Koshodou and similar titles wouldn't get an anime. Chances are slim, but there's always hope and I just expressed my regret when it was finally crushed.

Dec 3, 2012 2:55 PM by Alcoholicide

Higashi_no_Kaze said:

Shih said:

Higashi_no_Kaze said:
Are there chances that Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou is gonna get an adaption anytime soon?

I think there is a live action TV show announced.

I was afraid of that, thanks. The best stuff doesn't get anime :(

Dec 3, 2012 2:32 PM by RyanSaotome

Shih said:

Higashi_no_Kaze said:
Are there chances that Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou is gonna get an adaption anytime soon?

I think there is a live action TV show announced.

I was afraid of that, thanks. The best stuff doesn't get anime :(

Dec 3, 2012 2:17 PM by Alcoholicide

dtshyk said:

*3, 1,033,906 Accel World

fabulous

Dec 3, 2012 12:28 PM by Z-flame

Higashi_no_Kaze said:
Are there chances that Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou is gonna get an adaption anytime soon?

I think there is a live action TV show announced.

Dec 3, 2012 11:16 AM by Shih

Looking at a lot of these, it seems that the anime version of even the best selling light novels were butchered.

Dec 3, 2012 10:09 AM by Raikenzera

Are there chances that Biblia Koshodou no Jiken Techou is gonna get an adaption anytime soon?

Dec 3, 2012 10:00 AM by Alcoholicide

*6, *,686,467 Toaru Majutsu no Index: New Testament

not too bad

Dec 3, 2012 9:54 AM by Mr_Gutts

SAO just topping all the charts this year thanks to anime adaptation. Kawahara must be really happy for SAO & Accel sales.

Index consistently stays in the chart. I hope upcoming Railgun S2 & Index movie also hopefully S3 will boost the sales in the future.

Yay for Horizon too.

Dec 3, 2012 9:51 AM by arena149

Woot!

Very nice... hopefully the businessmen in Japan think the same...

underoath777 said:
Kawahara must be glad.

Definetely :)

Dec 3, 2012 7:43 AM by Logiciel

See All Comments