Kotoko finds out that Naoki is going out on a date with her nemesis, Yuko! What is she up to!? And just as Kotoko thought she got Yuko under control, now she has to worry about Ayako, Yuko’s younger sister, who is also after Naoki!
Tada (多田かおる) made her debut in 1977, when still a high school student, on Shueisha's "Deluxe Margaret" magazine. Tada's stories belong to the shōjo genre of manga and feature love stories centred 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 Ai Shite Knight, Itazura na Kiss and Kimi no na wa Debora.
Ai Shite Knight portrays the Japanese rock music scene of the early 1980s. The anime series based on Ai Shite Knight was the first ever to feature original songs performed within the episodes. Another of Tada's works, Miihaa Paradise is also set in the rock 'n' roll world.
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 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 Satō 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 and in 2008 an anime was also released.
Kaoru Tada died in 1999 of a cerebral hemorrhage. While moving to a new residence, she hit her head on a marble table and fell into a coma. Three weeks later, she died. She was 38.
There is something about Itazura Na Kiss that always draws me back to the series with eager anticipation for the next volume. Perhaps it's the lovely clashes and moments between our heroine, the ditzy but strong-willed and determined Kotoko and the cooly aloof but secretly sweet Naoki - a true romance of contrasts. Or maybe it's the non-stop antics and crazy humor that Tada injects into every scene, humor that is overly abundant in this volume - see such scenes as Naoki and Yuko's failed date, the arrival of Kotoko's new romantic rival, and Kin-chan's attempts to 'rescue' Kotoko from Naoki while running through a terrible blizzard as just a few examples. No, it's all that and more - this is a shoujo series with heart. It draws you in with an unlikely pairing and slowly unfolds the two of them drawing closer to each other through their own efforts as well as the invisible hand that controls the circumstances of all shoujo manga. If you're not hooked at this point, volume three will be the volume to do it.
In this volume of Itazura Na Kiss, there's tons of things for Kotoko/Naoki fans to look forward to. Even as events seem to be gradually pulling them apart, they always seem to end up together in the end, whether it is at the school festival or during a blizzard that leaves the both of them snowed in at Naoki's new home. For the Kin-chan fans (there's gotta be some out there!) there are plenty of scenes of the strange Kin-chan doing his best to try and catch Kotoko's eye in any way possible. And then there is the university's anime club who have adopted Kotoko as their tennis superstar for their new animated project - a project that ends up being a wonderful homage to the sports and mahou shoujo genre anime from the seventies. It's a volume full of major events for everyone involved and contains stories both humorous and sweet. If you have been loving the slowly-advancing romance between Kotoko and Naoki like I have, you will certainly love this latest volume of INK - and be wondering when the next one is coming out! As Tada slowly advances the relationship between the two of them with both difficult scenarios and moments of good fortune, readers will be constantly looking forward to the day Naoki realizes his own feelings for Kotoko and tells her - although knowing Naoki, it probably won't be unless Kotoko can average above a 60 on her exams!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In this volume, Naoki is clearly getting used to Kotoko's overwhelming feelings and even notices when she isn't around. However while he isn't discouraging her, he's not really doing anything to encourage her. There are still some lovely classic/cliche shojo moments, though: - a spontaneous "date" - a trip to Atami (with their families, but still together!) - having to sleep in the same bed - Naoki comforting Kotoko after a scary situation
I think my favorite moment in this volume is when Kotoko is depressed and begins to avoid Naoki after thinking that he and Yuko are living together, and Naoki (in his sneaky way) tries to find out what's wrong. He's starting to expect Kotoko's presence in his life!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I feel like a cheap date. All Naoki Irie has to do is show some basic signs of actually treating Kotoko like he likes her and I'm back to being amused with his eternal quest to mess with her instead of irritated. It's basic exchange economics! One proper date traded for lulz when he teases her about her grades representing her love for him (“Only 38 points, huh? I see. I get it”)
One thing this series has in its favour is that it never leaves me bored. Sometimes I laugh! Sometimes I start talking to the characters! Sometimes I bang my head against the front cover repeatedly! Sure, it leaves me with the occasional bruise but I'll take that in lieu of emotional indifference.
Thoughts on this volume's developments: okay, but Kotoko and Matsumoto should totally team up to take down her little sister yes? I'm just saying, mismatched boke and tsukkomi antics, it could be great. And since Kotoko isn't in love with Matsumoto she'd probably get more of her own then she does when it comes to Naoki. (Obviously my eternal dream is for them to become honourable rival buddies and enjoy making Naoki's life that much harder but I'm realistic)
Also at one point I saw a sign indicating this volume is set in 1991. 0_o I was born that year. In the alternate universe where these characters exist Kotoko is nearly my mother's age.
I love this read. I love Kotoko. She is such a fighter. Naoki (I love to call him Irie-kun) is a smart, but cold guy. However, I love his character as well. In this volume, Irie-kun is slowly allowing himself to feel. Even though he is smart, he still acts like a jerk. However, in this volume, I saw his heart melt when Kotoko saved Yuuki's life by getting him to the hospital quickly. She did have to call Irie-kun for advice, but she was the one who acted on the advice given and didn't let her fear get in the way. It showed that she really does care for his family as if they were her own.
I've been in an Itazura na Kiss mood lately. I've seen the various live-action versions in Chinese, Korean and Japanese so I've been reading through the manga. I still don't understand why I like this drama. Irie-kun is mean and mostly insensitive and I could only take so much of his calling me dumb before I would have gotten over him. But alas, her energy and zeal are endearing.
The previous volumes were a little frustrating as can't imagine real people acting how Naoki was acting. This volume is the first where you see him act somewhat more realistically. Now I'm really getting interested.
Che dire? Odio sempre di più Matsumoto che sta facendo passare alla povera Kotoko le pene dell'inferno...ma si può mettere un po' da parte e lasciare Naoki in pace??? Mi sto innamorando sempre di più di Itazura na kiss e non vedo l'ora di leggere il 4° volume.
One of my favorite mangas of all time. I know. I know. Irie-kun can be such a jerk at times, but then he goes and redeems himself. Poor Kin-chan. These are the chapters where I feel so sorry for him.
4.5 stars* 5 stars because that scene in the karaoke bar was BEAUTIFUL. -.5 stars because I hate Yuko she's not even that hot and it's unfair. I wanna cry.
Absolutely one of my favorite shojo series. It never fails to entertain me. It's one of those rare series that gets away with being comedic/overly dramatic here and there without eventually straying into the annoying/'just too much' zone. And I don't usually embrace a ditsy heroine who follows her chosen man around no matter the circumstances, but Kotoko is really so very endearing I can't help but love her. Thank goodness this series is FINALLY getting published in English. Volume 3 opens with Kotoko and Sudo Sempai tailing Irie-kun and Matsumoto on their date, and concludes with Irie-kun's brother being taken to the hospital by Kotoko, with Irie-kun showing up to comfort a very frightened Kotoko.
I'm curious how they'll conclude this series in print since the author, if memory serves, actually died before taking the story to it's intended completion. Hmmm... Can't wait for volume 4 :)
Finally Irie-kun showed a bit of interest. I think for a smart guy he is pretty obtuse. He still acts like a jerk, but his heart is melted a bit when Kotoko saves Yuuki's life by getting him to the hospital quickly. Yes she had to call Yuuki for advice but she was the one that acted on it instead of letting herself freeze in fear. The ending on this one has me wanting to read the 4th. I only kept on with numbers 2 and 3 out of boredom ha ha.
I absolutely loved this series! I found the dynamics of having two people in such close proximity to one another but resisting each other all the while quite appealing. Even though I did not really like the character of Aihara I did really enjoy her love/hate relationship with Irie and their conflicting personalities.
I totally love this volume cuz there was a scene which not at all mentioned in the anime. It was totally cool! In mangas Kotoko and Naoki's college life is shown. Which in anime wasn't that much concentrated upon. That is why I loved this volume!