Teasing Master Takagi-san

Today’s featured manga is Teasing Master Takagi-san. There’s probably no other manga that makes you smile and blush as much as this one. Set in a middle school, the story revolves around Takagi, a clever girl, and her classmate Nishikata, who sits next to her. Every day, Takagi finds a new way to teasingly toy with Nishikata, and in return, Nishikata tries hard to tease her back—but his plans always backfire. Reading Teasing Master Takagi-san brings back memories of elementary and middle school. It captures that all-too-familiar feeling of wanting to mess with someone you like. (In this case, it’s the girl teasing the boy, but the emotion is universal.) When you're a kid, confessing your feelings is embarrassing and awkward. So instead, you tease, joke, and play around—that becomes your way of getting closer. Haven’t we all experienced something like that? This manga brings that nostalgic sweetness rushing back. What’s more, Takagi occasionally lets her affection for Nishikata peek through, which keeps the story from being just a series of gags. It’s also a genuine romance manga, with just enough tension and heart to keep things interesting. Teasing Master Takagi-san isn’t about suspense or fast-paced action. Instead, it’s a slow, relaxing, and heartwarming series. Perfect for when you just want to unwind. There’s also an anime adaptation—so if you’re more into watching than reading, that’s a great way to fall in love with Takagi-san too.

July 31, 2025

“Hey, spoiler alert!” — don’t worry, it’s not. Even early in the manga, it’s revealed that the two of them will end up building a life together. There’s even a spin-off series called Teasing Master (Former) Takagi-san, which follows their lives after marriage. We’ll review that series separately later on. But knowing they eventually get married makes you even more invested in watching how their relationship evolves from teasing and awkward glances to genuine love. It adds a beautiful emotional layer to their youthful days.

July 31, 2025