Japan Top 20 Weekly Light Novel Ranking: March 7, 2022 to March 13, 2022

The collection of stories’ 2^nd volume for Honzuki no Gekokujou (also known as Ascendance of a Bookworm in English) sees a strong outcome of 18,837 copies sold in its first 4 days as it places 1^st on the list for the week between March 7 and March 13. A rather popular title in its local market, the series main storyline was last seen back in December 2021 selling 30,287 copies for its Megami no Keshin arc Part 5 7^th volume in the first 10 days (first 3 days; next 7 days). In 2019 and 2020, the title received a 2-cour Anime TV series adaptation produced by studio Ajio-do, and an OVA prior to the 2^nd cour. A third season was announced in July 2020, nearly three weeks after the end of the 2^nd cour, set to commence soon in April. You can check out the teaser promotional video down below.

Coming in closely at Number 2 at 18,708 copies in its first 5 days is Yotsugogurashi’s 11^th volume which was last seen back in July 2021 with its 9^th volume at 10,860 copies sold at the time. Much about the title can be accessed through its official web page here including a music video published by Kadokawa in March 2020. You can also check out the first episode of an introduction video released in March 2021 that features the characters themselves, plus the voiceovers.

Right below is a title that you might be familiar with. Accel World Volume 26 makes its debut at 18,078 copies sold in 4 days, not as good as Volume 25’s 26,144 copies (within the same number of days of sales) back in September 2020. Copies sold were also much, much stronger for its past volumes that had 4 days of sales. For instance: Volume 5 at 40,485 copies, Volume 6 at 34,608 copies, Volume 7 at 41,481 copies, and it peaked for Volume 15 at 56,842 copies sold in October 2013 (some months after its OVA). It is quite clear that its performance is nowhere near its prime days, and its absence from Kadokawa’s Top 10 publication (as of third quarter of fiscal year 2022) is testament to its decline. So far, there has been no news of a sequel TV Anime series which it may need to make a comeback. In 2012, the title received an adaptation by Sunrise with up to 24 episodes aired between April to September that year. One year after, it welcomed 2 OVA episodes titled “Accel World EX”.

It is thanks to the amazing folks over at Oricon that we get to see these charts on a weekly basis, so be sure to head over to their site here and show them lots of love! In addition, all the data you find below is accessible via Oricon right here (Light Novel), here (Book), here (Bunko) and here (Bungei-sho).

Fate/Strange Fake, a title that began publication back in 2015 sees its 7^th volume at a good 14,121 copies sold in 4 days. The work is authored by Ryohgo Narita whom you may have heard of if you have read the Durarara!! series. In December 2019, it received a short 31 second TV commercial to commemorate its 6^th volume. You can check it out down below. And of course, Number 5 is a title that is no stranger to many as of late, Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu makes an appearance with the entrance of its 8^th volume at 18,138 copies sold (do not forget its Special Edition at Number 12) in 4 days. The title was also ranked 5^th on Kadokawa’s Top 10 publishing titles and 6^th for Kadakawa’s video titles (for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022). Its Manga adaptation is also doing great with the 7^th volume pushing out 52,177 copies in just 3 days back in December 2021 which it then sold another 28,567 in the next 7 days. This positive performance is most likely driven by its Anime adaptation that was broadcasted between April and June 2021 to which it is set to receive a follow up season on an unannounced date.

At Number 6 is Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes’s origin story at 11,485 copies. The title has also shown great performance and retention for its 17^th volume which made its debut back between August 2 and August 8, 2021, at 14,924 copies sold in the first 4 days. The volume went on to sell 10,860 copies the following week, and an additional 5,225 copies the week after to put its 18 days of sales at 31,009 copies. The title also has a Manga adaptation of the same name, viewable here (in Japanese) and a TV Anime adaptation back in 2018 by studio Seven. You can also check out its official English releases right here via J-Novel Club.

Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes’s Chapter 0 colour spread page

Hoshi no Kirby is 8^th with its new volume titled “Starlight Theatre e Youkoso!”, worked on by the same team, authored by Mie Takase at 9,356 copies in its first 5 days. Its previous appearance was for Nazo to Jiken no Pupupu Train?! no Maki which sold 9,843 copies in 5 days in December 2021. Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai suru is next at 7,368 copies sold in 4 days for its 9^th volume which is an improvement over Volumes 4 by 24.57%, but down from Volume 7’s 9,830 copies by 25.05%. In May 2019, the title received a Manga adaptation by artist Sakae Esuno published in Shounen Ace magazine with several of its chapters are available here in Japanese. In December 2021, it was announced that the series is set to receive an Anime adaptation on an unannounced date. You can check out its announcement video down below.

Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha is 11^th at 6,716 copies sold in 4 days, not its best performance considering Volumes 7 and 8 which were at 3 days and 2 days respectively, sold better than the volume at 7,749 copies and 7,140 copies each. Like Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai suru, it too has a Manga adaptation of the same name, however, was discontinued after four volumes. Things are looking much positive for its Anime as it was announced to receive a 2-cour sequel season, so far on an unannounced date. You can check out its promotional video of the sequel announcement down below.

Head over to the 13^th place and you will find Guild no Uketsukejou desu ga, Zangyou wa Iya nanode Boss wo Solo Toubatsu Shiyou to Omoimasu’s 4^th volume at 4,863 copies sold in its first 4 days. The title was last seen for Volume 2 at 4,863 copies in its first 3 days, then Volume 3 managed to sell 5,446 copies sold in its first 5 days. The series also has a Manga adaptation of the same name published in Dengeki Daioh. You can get more information about the title here (via its official page) and some of its Manga chapters are available for free in Japanese right here.

Guild no Uketsukejou desu ga, Zangyou wa Iya nanode Boss wo Solo Toubatsu Shiyou to Omoimasu’s 1st chapter spread page

Saikyou no Kanteishi tte Dare no Koto last made an appearance for its 14^th volume back in November 2021 where it sold 5,291 copies in 5 days. This time around it sees the 15^th volume at 4,821 copies in 4 days. The first part of the 4^th volume of Mizu Zokusei no Mahoutsukai: Chuuou Shokoku settles in at 4,780 copies sold whereas Mezametara Saikyou Soubi to Uchuusenmochi Datta node, Ikkodate Mezashite Youhei toshite Jiyuu ni Ikitai’s 7^th volume is 16^th at 4,260 copies sold, both in their first 4 days. Akuyaku Reijou wa Dekiai Route ni Hairimashita?! which comes after with its 3^rd volume sees 4,127 copies sold in its first week. The remaining two are Starts Publishing titles: Wakare wo Erabimashita ga, Akachan wo Yadoshita Watashi wo Ichizuna Kyuukyuui wa Miai de Karametoru at 3,932 copies and Dekiai Kata: Tenteki Onzoushi wa Okute na Hisho wo Nogasanai at 3,885 copies sold in their first 4 days. Without further ado, the full list is as follows:

Light Novel Weekly Top 20

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As always, if you find any issues with the list above, please do not hesitate to let me know! Also, don’t shy away from dropping a comment or two down below and share your thoughts with us!

Source: Oricon

Google Charts:
Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai suru
Maou Gakuin no Futekigousha

Visualisations:
Part 1
Part 2

Updated (April 8, 2022) – Added Coffee-ten Talleyrand no Jikenbo Vol. 7

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