Teasing Master Takagi-san is a popular manga written by Yamamoto Souichirou and currently serialized in Gessan, published by Shogakukan. It was originally serialized in Gessan mini, a supplement to Gessan, from 2013, and when Yamamoto's regular Kyouko-chan ended its run in 2016, it was transferred to the magazine and serialized there instead. It became a hot topic for its cute pranks and heart-warming youth stories that took viewers back to their school days, and in 2018 it was made into a long-awaited anime.
What is Teasing Master Takagi-san about?
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san © Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan / Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
Takagi-san and Nishikata-kun are classmates in junior high school and sit next to each other in the same class. Takagi-san teases Nishikata in various ways almost every day, and Nishikata tries to think of various countermeasures to counter it, but in the end, he always ends up being teased according to Takagi-san's calculations. A special feeling slowly grows in the midst of this teasing. This is a new type of "teasing love comedy" that depicts the daily lives of these two.
Nishikata (CV: Kaji Yuki)
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san © Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan / Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
The protagonist of this work, and one who could also be called the heroine (lol). Every day, Takagi-san teases him in various ways, and although he tries to get revenge somehow, everything backfires in front of Takagi-san, and he ends up being teased even more instead. He has a completely normal personality as a middle school student, and is basically a serious boy who behaves and speaks in a way appropriate to his age. He is a pure-hearted Nishikata-kun who devotees his life to reading a shoujo manga called 100% Unrequited Love. By the way, his first name is unknown.
Nishikata's charm number 1: Good at being teased
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san © Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan / Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
I think this is Nishikata's greatest charm, I admit that Takagi-san is good at teasing, but Nishikata is also quite good at being teased. Even if Takagi had this idea of what he wanted Nishikata to do next, Nishikata would follow the path that Takagi had laid out without deviating even a millimeter (lol). It's that kind of Nishikata that made Takagi fall in love with him!
Nishikata's charm number 2: his slutty nature
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san © Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan / Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
Originally, slutty characters are thought to apply to girls, but recently there have been more and more male characters with this nature, and among them, I would like to recommend Nishikata as the representative of the best male slutty characters! If Takagi-san flirts with him or treats him kindly, he falls head over heels in love with him, just like a middle school student.
Nishikata-kun's charm number 3: In the prime of adolescence
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san ©Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan/Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
Are you really a middle school student in the anime? Nowadays, there are a lot of characters who make me think that way, but in that respect, Nishikata is the perfect middle school boy, blushing bright red when he hears a little embarrassing story or Takagi's devilish teasing. I think he's a very good character in the sense of a boy in his impressionable years. Well, even if you're not Nishikata, I think even an older man would be uneasy about Takagi's devilish teasing... Takagi is a scary kid.
Nishikata-kun's charm #4: Positive Nishikata
Well, you know, he's like the germ-like villain in the anime starring Anpan. Oh, it's not that Nishikata is dirty or a villain, but no matter how many times he's beaten, no matter how many times he makes the same mistake, he's going to make her regret it next time! He has an indomitable, strong spirit that never gives up or runs away, no matter how many times he gets punched by Takagi-san. It's also similar to the Doronjo gang from Time Bokan (lol). Good luck, Nishikata!
Nishikata's charm point 5: He's kind after all
So, Nishikata is constantly being teased by Takagi-san, and from our perspective, we are envious and want to say "Hey Nishikata, take my place" more than anything, but actually, think about it, I think there are times when he really gets annoyed, don't you think? (lol) When he was tricked and the teacher got mad at him, Takagi-san burst out laughing, but if it wasn't Nishikata, I think it would be normal for him to get seriously angry or just sulk and ignore him, maybe it's just my narrow mind (lol) But even so, Nishikata doesn't get that angry, and in the end they end up messing around again afterwards. After all, a man that Takagi-san acknowledges is different.
Nishikata's charm point 6: He's a strategist without even realizing it
Well, it's Takagi-san's fault, but he's one of the few things that doesn't seem like a middle school student. He reads too much into things, thinks up various scenarios, and after taking everything into account... he's completely defeated by Takagi-san (lol). His thoughtfulness, like the commander of a certain humanoid decisive battle weapon, made me laugh a lot (lol). Well, unfortunately, no matter how much Nishikata thinks about it, Takagi-san knows everything, and so the two of them engage in a psychological battle like a peaceful world version of Death Note.
Nishikata's charm number 7: His reaction skills
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san © Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan / Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
I'm sure one of the reasons Takagi-san likes Nishikata is his good reactions. He probably reacts better than you would imagine, right? He showed a lot of expressive reactions in the anime too. This is a must-see.
Nishikata's charm number 8: He has a critical ability
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san ©Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan/Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
When Nishikata is enthusiastic about getting revenge, he usually ends up failing, but on the other hand, when he is not thinking about anything, there are some critical words that he suddenly utters that actually surprise Takagi-san or take her off guard. I think it's just Nishikata's kindness, and the fact that he thinks fondly of Takagi-san means that these words come from his heart. When we see a scene like that, all we can do is writhe in agony (lol)
A summary of Nishikata, the master of teasing!
Source: Teasing Master Takagi-san © Yamamoto Souichirou, Shogakukan / Teasing Master Takagi-san Production Committee
From Takagi-san's perspective, Nishikata is probably the ideal person in every way. He goes along with her teasing, reacts just as you'd expect, and is kind, just like a convenient guy (lol). But it's probably because of Nishikata that Takagi-san fell in love with him... I envy him. If you haven't seen the adventures of this charming Choroin, Nishikata, then be sure to check it out in the anime or the original manga. Thank you for reading to the end.
