Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!

Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! is an annual Japanese guidebook that ranks and surveys the light novel industry. First published on November 26, 2004, by Takarajimasha, the brand has released a new edition each November without interruption since its inception. The guide compiles a top-ten list of light novel series based on online reader polls combined with votes from an industry panel of critics, influencers, and professionals. Each edition also features detailed introductions to the ranked works, an interview with the author of the top-ranked series, and special features on trends and new releases.

The rankings have become a significant benchmark within the light novel market. Many series that have reached the top of the list, such as Sword Art Online and My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, later received anime adaptations and achieved wide commercial success. The brand's methodology, which balances grassroots fan input with expert opinion, gives it both popularity and authority. It is frequently cited by Japanese media and international anime news outlets as a reliable indicator of which series are gaining traction.

Beyond the annual guidebook, the brand has produced occasional spin-off publications, including the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! Bunko Edition, which focuses on paperback light novels. A sister brand, Kono Manga ga Sugoi!, covers manga rankings using a similar format. Both are published by Takarajimasha, which is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The guidebook is available in Japanese bookstores and on major e-book platforms such as Kindle and Bookwalker, but no official English edition has been released. Its influence nonetheless extends globally through fan translations and coverage on sites like Anime News Network.[edit]