Oricon has released its weekly ranking of light novels best-sellingfor the week of January 12, 2026, featuring prominent titles and some significant surprises for the publishing market. Therefore, the list directly reflects the impact of anime adaptations and audience engagement.
- Top-selling manga in Japan (January 1st to 12th, 2026)
- Wistoria surpasses 3 million subscribers and returns in 2026
In first placeis Frieren: Beyond Journey's End – Prelude Novel Vol. 2, which is boosting its sales with the premiere of the anime's second season in January 2026. Furthermore, the volume explores new stories involving characters like Ubel and Serie, deepening the universe of the work.
In second place, Kirby: Great Underground Adventure! bets on an accessible and nostalgic adventure narrative. Meanwhile, Kirby's charisma continues to attract new readers outside the traditional light novel audience.
Third place goes to Knights & Magic Vol. 12, which returns after four years. Therefore, the release reignites the interest of mecha fantasy fans, even more so with recent references to games and figures.
Top 10 – Bestselling Light Novels (Oricon)
| Position | Title | Weekly copies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frieren: Prelude Vol. 2 | 15.877 |
| 2 | Kirby: Great Underground Adventure! | 5.616 |
| 3 | Knights & Magic Vol. 12 | 4.534 |
| 4 | That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Vol. 23 | 4.029 |
| 5 | Re:ZERO Vol. 43 | 2.608 |
| 6 | Slime – Side Story | 2.594 |
| 7 | Frieren: Prelude Vol. 1 | 2.536 |
| 8 | I Ended Up in a Group… | 2.278 |
| 9 | Classroom of the Elite Y3 Vol. 3 | 2.111 |
| 10 | Zootopia 2 | 2.068 |
Finally, the ranking reinforces how anime adaptations, nostalgia, and highly anticipated returns continue to dictate trends in the Japanese light novel market.
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