Itazura Na Kiss Vol. 12

Itazura Na Kiss Vol. 12

High school senior Kotoko Aihara has had a crush on Naoki Irie since freshman year. Unfortunately, there a few things are discouraging her from to him: he’s a member of ‘Class A, ‘ the top ranking class in school, whereas she’s in ‘Class F’; he gets the top score on every exam; and he’s so smart, popular and handsome that he’s been class president every year.

When Kotoki finally musters up the courage to present him with a love letter, though, Naoki outright refuses it, telling her point blank–with a look of disgust and boredom– that he doesn’t like ‘stupid girls.’ Poor Kotoko’s worst nightmare! Her heart is broken, but then a change in circumstance forces Naoki and Kotoko to be together every day!?

Seeing Naoki try to be a doctor inspires Kotoko to try being a student teacher! She is invited to work at the same school Naoki’s little brother Yuki goes to, Tonan Junior high. Kotoko also went to the same school. “Don’t you tell anyone that we live together”, says Yuki. However Kotoko has become the teacher of YukI’s class. Class A! She is embarrassed by the students.

Biographical Notes:

Tada made her debut in 1977, when still a high-school student, on Shueisha’s “Deluxe Margaret” magazine. Tada’s stories belong to the shoujo genre of manga and feature love stories centered around young female characters and their love interests. The storylines include comedic moments and are characterised by essential and sharp drawings. Some of Tada’s most popular works are Aishite Knight, Itazura na Kiss and Kimi no Na wa Deborah.

Itazura na Kiss (Mischievous Kiss) – begun in 1991 and never completed – was by far Tada’s most successful work in Japan. It tells the love story between Kotoko and Naoki from high school until after their marriage. The series inspired also an illustrated art book “Itazura na Kiss Illustration Shuu” and two novels written by Nori Harata and published in Shueisha’s “Cobalt” series.

In 1996 a live action Japanese TV series based on Itazura na Kiss was also produced, starring Aiko Satoo as Kotoko and Takashi Kashiwabara as Naoki. In 2005, the series was adapted into a Taiwanese drama under the name of It Started With a Kiss. Kaoru Tada died on 11 March, 1999, aged only 38, following a domestic accident which occurred while she was moving to a new house with her husband and son.

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