Oricon’s Yearly Light Novel Sales Ranking 2021

Please see here for the 2020 chart and here for the 2019 chart.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Yuku Natsu to Kaeru Aki tops the individual Light Novel volume ranking with 259,960 copies sold within the aggregated period. The volume made frequent appearances on the Oricon sales chart between November 23, 2020 to April 19, 2021, ranking every week except between November 30 to December 6, 2020. During the period, it accumulated 231,987 copies worth of sales. Its other related title, Yoake no Ibara Michi did quite well too, though its placing on the charts were not as often as the other. Total copies sold puts it at 158,774 copies sold between December 7, 2020 to April 11, 2021.

Despite being rather old at the time the chart was released, Kimetsu no Yaiba Kaze no Michishirube, Kimetsu no Yaiba Shiawase no Hana and Kimetsu no Yaiba Katahane no Chou were all still going strong within the aggregated period. All three volumes were ranked consistently from November 23, 2020 to February 21, 2021 with Kaze no Michishirube taking the lead at 163,981 copies at the time. Total copies sold within the aggregated period stands at a strong 208,693 copies. Shiawase no Hana and Katahane no Chou both saw yearly sales of 183,304 copies and 180,389 copies sold respectively.

It is thanks to the amazing folks over at Oricon that we get to see these charts, so be sure to head over to their site here and show them lots of love! Plus, all the data you find below can be accessed via Oricon right here (Light Novel), here (Bunko) and here (Series).

Please note that Kagami no Kojou is now considered as Light Novel since it fits some of the criteria that I have decided, that is being listed as a “Light Novel” on some stores, plus it having a Manga adaptation. Number 9’s Kakushigoto is listed as a Light Novel on some databases.

Light Novel Individual Volumes Sales Ranking Top 10

(From From November 23, 2020 to November 21, 2021)

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Kimetsu no Yaiba remains the best selling Light Novel series for the 2nd consecutive years with total sales expected to have passed 1 million copies if the Mugen Ressha-hen novels are added together (for some reason, they have been separated). This is however significantly lower than sales the series made the year before which was at a massive 2,752,593 copies sold, compared to the 776,320 it made for 2021. Copies sold were the strongest for its slightly older titles such as Kimetsu no Yaiba Kaze no Michishirube, Kimetsu no Yaiba Shiawase no Hana and Kimetsu no Yaiba Katahane no Chou, which all came out in 2019 and 2020.

At Number 2 is Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken by Fuse and Mitz Vah. The title is still popular in its local market to see 597,819 copies sold for the year. Although this may seem low to some you, but fret not as this is due to the series having only one new Light Novel volume that came out within the aggregated period. Note that Volume 16 and Volume 17 were out on March 27, 2020 and September 30, 2020 respectively. As for its 19th volume (picture), it is due to be released on November 30, hence narrowly missing the chart. Sales would have been much larger if it was taken into account. Nevertheless, the 18th volume presented a welcoming increase in sales as copies sold were up 18.26% debut-to-debut. Volume 16 saw 61,649 copies in its first 3 days, thus the lower number of copies sold.

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto which comes in 3rd has been having a blast with great sales accounted for its Light Novels and Manga. That said, Volume 11 had a much weaker turnout than Volume 10 despite having the same number of days of sales. In 31 days, Volume 10 accumulated 88,089 copies worth of sales, going so far as to see it ranked on the Oricon Top 10 chart on Week 5. Volume 11 failed to rank on Week 5 amid strong competition, and sales only reached 65,186 copies sold as of its 24th day (82,077 copies for Volume 10).

Though it is Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu that poses a concern. Within the aggregated period for the year 2021, it saw the same number of new releases as the year before. But, sales were down 42.08% year-on-year from 732,314 copies  to 424,173 copies. Debut sales were stronger for Volume 25 in its first 3 days, however copies sold dropped to only 16,165 copies for Volume 27 in its first 3 days. The same can be said for Volume 23 and Volume 26 where the latter recorded fewer copies sold in 4 days.

Coming in at Number 5 is Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru. At 367,984 copies sold. The series has been noting tremendous improvement throughout 2021 with copies sold picking up for Volumes 3 and 4, and then another decent bump for Volume 5 debut-to-debut. All happening right before the Anime commenced. Much to be said about its performance as we will have to wait for the release of its future volumes to see if there is any pronounced impact the Anime would have after the end of its broadcast.

Light Novel Sales Ranking According to Series Top 5

(From From November 23, 2020 to November 21, 2021)

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If you find any faults with the lists 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!

Sources:
Oricon 2021 Chart
Oricon 2021 Chart, Light Novel Individual
Oricon 2021 Chart, Light Novel Series
Oricon 2021 Chart, Light Novel Bunko (1 – 20)

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