We previously ran down the top 20 best-selling manga titles in Japan last month and we'll now do the same for light novels. You might be surprised to learn that there's actually some overlap between the two lists.
There are also a few titles that recently announced plans for anime adaptations that are eagerly anticipated in both Japan and North America. Goblin Slayer, in particular, ranked pretty high last month and is definitely among the group of recently announced anime titles that are generating buzz.
Continue through the list to find out just where the series placed and what came in at #1.
Top-Selling Light Novels In Japan March 2018 (20-16)
20. 19,297 The Asterisk War Vol.13
19. 19,857 Hoshi no Kirby: Kessen! Battle Deluxe!!
18. 19,897 Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Vol.13
17. 21,808 Log Horizon Vol.11
16. 22,103 Goblin Slayer Gaiden: Year One
Starting off the Top 20 list of best-selling light novels in Japan last month are a bunch of titles anime fans should be familiar with. The Asterisk War received a 24-episode anime adaptation from A-1 Pictures in Fall 2015, while Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? received a 13-episode anime adaptation in the Spring 2015 season and also had its spinoff series adapted into an anime last Spring.
Log Horizon received two anime adaptations from Studio Satelight, totaling 50 episodes. Goblin Slayer Gaiden is a prequel to the main title, which is receiving an anime adaptation this fall.
Top-Selling Light Novels In Japan March 2018 (15-11)
15. 23,024 Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Memorial
14. 23,726 Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash Vol.12
13. 27,270 One Piece Novel A Vol.1
12. 28,142 Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple
11. 28,381 Sword Art Online: Progressive Vol.5
As we progress through the list, you'll notice that all of these titles have received anime adaptations or are confirmed to release adaptations in the coming months. In this next grouping, all of these series have received anime adaptations, with One Piece the obvious juggernaut soaring high above every other title on this list. However, SAO is certainly no slouch and Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash and Saekano both have their fair share of fans.
Bungou Stray Dogs arguably had the least successful/popular adaptation but that didn't stop it from releasing an anime film this past March. Unlike the other titles in this group, it also started out as a manga, before receiving a light novel adaptation and then an anime.
Top-Selling Light Novels In Japan March 2018 (10-06)
10. 32,597 Goblin Slayer Vol.7
09. 34,539 High School DxD Vol.25
08. 37,033 Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor Vol.11
07. 37,656 Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Vol.13
06.44,631 No Game No Life Vol.10
Given High School DxD's popularity in Japan, it's a little shocking that the latest volume didn't rank a little higher on the list. Then again, the franchise is said to make the bulk of its profit from figurines and other merchandise so perhaps its placement is par for the course?
The main Goblin Slayer title appears in #10 and if sales from the prequel Gaiden volume were added, Goblin Slayer as a franchise, would rank #5. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody just wrapped up a 12-episode anime adaptation from Studio Silver Link on March 29, 2018. It was simulcast on Crunchyroll.
Top-Selling Light Novels In Japan March 2018 (05-01)
05. 46,713 Date A Live Vol.18
04. 55,419 The Ryuo's Work is Never Done! Vol.8
03. 57,414 Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Vol.16
02. 63,253 That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Vol.12
01. 141,820 The Irregular at Magic High School Vol.24
Coming in at #1 is The Irregular at Magic High School, a placement that might shock fans that only know the series from the anime adaptation from Studio Madhouse. However, most accounts peg it as an abysmal adaptation that failed to capture the nuances of the magic system and relied too much on exposition instead of allowing viewers to piece together the intricate details of the setting.
Despite the lackluster anime, the series still routinely ranks one or two each month in Japan. The anime wrapped in 2014 at 26 episodes and an anime film was released last Summer but the end credits (quite tellingly) didn't contain any sort of teaser for a new anime season as some fans anticipated/hoped. If the series retains its popularity, studio 8-bit (who took over from Madhouse on the anime film) just might get the call to provide a reboot or even continue on from where Madhouse left off.