'Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!' 2014 Rankings Revealed

by tsubasalover
Nov 19, 2013 6:18 AM | 101 Comments

Here are the Top 10 Light Novel rankings collected by the "Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!" (This Light Novel is Amazing!) annual magazine.

Light Novels
*1. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. (Oregairu)
*2. Tenkyou no Alderamin - Nejimaki Seirei Senki
*3. Toaru Majutsu no Index (Index)
*4. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru no Darou ka
*5. Sword Art Online (SAO)
*6. Hataraku Maou-sama! (Maou-sama)
*7. Tokyo Ravens
*8. Rokka no Yuusha
*9. Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai (Oreimo)
10. No Game No Life

Female Characters
*1. Misaka Mikoto (Index)
*2. Yukinoshita Yukino (Oregairu)
*3. Yuuki Asuna (Asuna) (SAO)
*4. Yuigahama Yui (Oregairu)
*5. Index (Index)
*6. Kousaka Kirino (Oreimo)
*7. Aragaki Ayase (Oreimo)
*8. Shino Asada (Sinon) (SAO)
*9. Shiba Miyuki (Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (Mahouka))
10. Mikazuki Yozora (Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (Haganai))

Male Characters
*1. Hikigaya Hachiman (Oregairu)
*2. Kamijou Touma (Index)
*3. Kirigaya Kazuto (Kirito) (SAO)
*4. Accelerator (Index)
*5. Maou (Maou-sama)
*6. Kousaka Kyousuke (Oreimo)
*7. Sakamaki Izayoi (Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?)
*8. Shiba Tatsuya (Mahouka)
*9. Sugisaki Ken (Seitokai no Ichizon)
10. Akagi Koremitsu (Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Ita koro...... (Hikaru))

Combined Characters

Light Novel Artists
*1. Haimura Kiyotaka (Index)
*2. Ponkan 8 (Oregairu)
*3. abec (SAO)
*4. Buriki (Haganai, Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko)
*5. Kantoku (Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko.)
*6. Tsunako (Date A Live)
*7. Takeoka Miho (Bungaku Shoujo, Hikaru)
*8. Kanzaki Hiro (Oreimo)
*9. Ukai Saki (Black Bullet)
10. Yasuda Suzuhito (Durarara!!)

New Works
*1. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru no Darou ka
*2. Dokusou Tanpen Series: Nozaki Mado Gekijou
*3. Clockwork Planet
*4. Vampire Summer Time
*5. Haken no Kouki Altina
*6. Knights & Magic
*7. Koori no Kuni no Amaryllis
*8. Strange Moon Housekibako ni Utsuru Tsuki
*9. Grandcrest Senki
10. Ashita, Boku wa Shinu. Kimi wa Ikikaeru.

Best of 10 Years
*1. Toaru Majutsu no Index
*2. Bungaku Shoujo
*3. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu
*4. Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World
*5. Sword Art Online
*6. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu
*7. Ben-To
*8. Shakugan no Shana
*9. Full Metal Panic!
10. Ookami to Koushinryou

Source: Yaraon

Story by symbv

KonoSugoi

20 of 101 Comments Recent Comments

Takuan_Soho said:

I am pretty sure that they didn't qualify. They are never shelved with the other light novels in any Japanese bookstore I have been to, so I think it is safe to say that it is the exception and not the rule to consider them Light Novels.

This still begs the question why its characters are qualified and not the novels. Also, I don't know which bookstores you went to, but for the bookstores I have been to for all the many years I lived in Tokyo, Monogatari got shelved in the same area or nearby area as other LNs. The only reason why they are not stacked exactly WITH other LNs is because the size of the Monogatari novels is so much bigger than the bunko format most LNs are in. While some bookstores put Monogatari also in regular novel section, a lot more know that LNs buyers would seek Monogatari novels as well and so put them very close to the LN section.

Takuan_Soho said:

A little rant: why do Japanese bookstores shelve by publishers? Damn annoying.

Annoying only when you do not think of the book title together with the publishers. Japanese are used to that arrangement anyway, and I got used to it as well sooner than I thought when I started living in Japan.

Dec 9, 2013 6:54 AM by symbv

Pleasantly surprised to see Dungeon on top10. Getting hyped to read it.

And Izayoi too bad ass, must read LN x.x

Dec 8, 2013 1:58 PM by DGemu

because those publishers usually target a specific audience (not always true, but it's often the case) or a specific genre for most of their title, so grouping them by publishers means grouping the books directed toward the same customers together.

Well, I think that's the theory, they do exactly the same with manga.

Dec 8, 2013 1:50 PM by Zefyris

symbv said:

hpulley said:
And odd that Monogatari isn't listed but a couple of their characters made the top 30's. They are not bunko so not light novels technically so they don't qualify or they just didn't rank? But their characters did somehow? I know I shouldn't get caught up in magazine poll rankings but still, oddly inconsistent.

If Senjougahara is in the female character list, I would expect that the novel should also be eligible. Yes indeed I find it puzzling too...That said, I think Kono LN ga Sugoi is more than just a simple magazine poll rankings. Its methodology encompasses readers, industry people, and opinion leaders from outside the industry (like ordinary literary critics). In fact, the book is a survey onto itself and is not derived from any survey conducted by a magazine.

I am pretty sure that they didn't qualify. They are never shelved with the other light novels in any Japanese bookstore I have been to, so I think it is safe to say that it is the exception and not the rule to consider them Light Novels.

A little rant: why do Japanese bookstores shelve by publishers? Damn annoying.

Dec 8, 2013 11:56 AM by Takuan_Soho

Yes, but by removing the monogatari series from the LN ranking, they're closer this year of what it should be than last year when both the LN and characters were in. Now, we just need to have the characters removed as well for the next year.
I have nothing against monogatari as a series but such a rip off (talking about the label and not the series) shouldn't be allowed in there ImO.

Nov 27, 2013 12:48 PM by Zefyris

Zefyris said:

Please tell me what exactly makes you think Koudansha boxes are closer from LN than titles from media work bunko like Reinousha Minato or Biblia Koshodou which AREN'T allowed.
If you can't, then it doesn't deserve to be here, just like it didn't deserve to be here the past years; and just like the characters themselves has nothing to do in there as well. Koudansha has its own ln label IIRC, so no reasons to validate koudansha boxes as valid in this ranking.

Problem is the characters from the Monogatari made it into the best male character and female character ranking in the survey. I also don't necessarily consider Monogatari as LN but there seems to be definitely some inconsistency in how the survey treats this work for its various rankings.

Nov 27, 2013 2:43 AM by symbv

iLostReason said:
Good for OregaIru and Maou-sama.Hopefully we will get second seasons sometime in near future.

tsubasalover said:
*8. Rokka no Yuusha

This looks and sounds really interesting.Too bad noone is translating it.

It not simply looks interesting, it is :3.

---------

Also, people should bear in mind that beside the LN ranking, all the other rankings are merely popularity ranking. No one is saying that Misaka or hachiman are the best characters ever in LN, they're simply saying that they like that character.

Whereas on the contrary, some titles like rokka no yuusha are in the top 10 not because they are popular but because they are considered awesome/impressive (you can see which titles is in the top 10 for which reasons by looking at the detailed scoring system. Index is only here by popularity, for example, but oregairu or alderamin aren't only there for that).
So ranking for several years in the top 10 doesn't mean the LN is popular enough to get an anime adaptation.

-------------------

ok... but, where is monogatari series??

Please tell me what exactly makes you think Koudansha boxes are closer from LN than titles from media work bunko like Reinousha Minato or Biblia Koshodou which AREN'T allowed.
If you can't, then it doesn't deserve to be here, just like it didn't deserve to be here the past years; and just like the characters themselves has nothing to do in there as well. Koudansha has its own ln label IIRC, so no reasons to validate koudansha boxes as valid in this ranking.

Nov 27, 2013 2:35 AM by Zefyris

Love the Index franchise to death.

Nov 26, 2013 9:47 PM by Jenaimemepas

Glaaad to see Black Bullet's illustrator in there!!!
So happy to see Oregairu dominating the poll and now if only Yukino could be number 1, she's better than Mikoto.
Also No game No life in top ten yahoo! SAO and Tokyo Ravens also did a great job!

Nov 26, 2013 6:05 AM by YuzurihaAsuna

Oregairu and Hachiman? Hell yes.

Can't wait for the author to write more volumes.

Nov 20, 2013 8:47 PM by ChronosXIII

Faytz said:
Not trying to be a troll here, but seeing this list kinda makes me feel sad. Of the 10 first LNs listed, more than a half follow one exact same formula that has been used for years now and yet are a lot popular, which means that all the new authors trying to pull up different stories/formulas are struggling to get some attention.

I'm not saying that these novels are all bad, I just wished a little more variety in terms of content.

Really? And what magic formula would that be then? Because I don't even see two of those ten that are the same.

Nov 20, 2013 9:02 AM by kuuderes_shadow

Not trying to be a troll here, but seeing this list kinda makes me feel sad. Of the 10 first LNs listed, more than a half follow one exact same formula that has been used for years now and yet are a lot popular, which means that all the new authors trying to pull up different stories/formulas are struggling to get some attention.

I'm not saying that these novels are all bad, I just wished a little more variety in terms of content.

Nov 20, 2013 8:33 AM by Faytz

So happy that Yozora is on the top ten female charas with Mikoto and Yukino as the top two...great!

Oregairu deserves first spot.

Nov 20, 2013 7:50 AM by Joseito1875

Congratulations to all of them ^_^

Now it would be really awesome if they will ANIMATE all of them!!!!

Nov 20, 2013 7:33 AM by Tengai

Oregairu, yeah! :)
Congrats to those who made it on the list~

Nov 20, 2013 7:09 AM by snuffless

Nice LN ranking :D Well deserved.

Nov 20, 2013 7:04 AM by -MgZ_

Disappointing to see Horizon dropping 50 positions and end up at the end of the list. At least DAL and Mondaiji-tachi are a bit higher this year.

Also,

tsubasalover said:

Male Characters
*7. Sakamaki Izayoi (Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou Desu yo?)
*9. Sugisaki Ken (Seitokai no Ichizon)

Light Novel Artists
*2. Ponkan 8 (Oregairu)
*5. Kantoku (Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko.)
*6. Tsunako (Date A Live)
*8. Kanzaki Hiro (Oreimo)
*9. Ukai Saki (Black Bullet)

New Works
*3. Clockwork Planet

Nice!

Nov 20, 2013 5:45 AM by Zekamashi

scytheavatar said:

annov said:
ok... but, where is monogatari series??

It's a novel, not a light novel.

Thing is its characters Senjougahara and Araragi are in the best female/male character of this year's ranking. If your reason is the only reason, how can that be explained?

Nov 20, 2013 4:35 AM by symbv

Mecasonic said:

scytheavatar said:

annov said:
ok... but, where is monogatari series??

It's a novel, not a light novel.

Before this year, it has never failed to get in the top 60 since the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! 2008 rankings.

But did it get disqualified this year or did it just not rank?

Nov 20, 2013 4:28 AM by hpulley

annov said:
ok... but, where is monogatari series??

It's a novel, not a light novel.

Nov 20, 2013 4:18 AM by scytheavatar

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Related Database Entries

Manga:	Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru., Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin, Toaru Majutsu no Index, Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka, Sword Art Online, Hataraku Maou-sama!, Tokyo Ravens, Rokka no Yuusha, Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai, No Game No Life, Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai kara Kuru Sou desu yo?, Seitokai no Ichizon, Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Ita Koro......, Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko, Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko., Date A Live, "Bungaku Shoujo" Series, Black Bullet, Durarara!!, Clockwork Planet, Vampire Summer Time, Haken no Kouki Altina, Knight's & Magic, Koori no Kuni no Amaryllis, Strange Moon, Ashita, Boku wa Shinu. Kimi wa Ikikaeru., Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, Ben-To, Shakugan no Shana, Full Metal Panic!, Ookami to Koushinryou