Karakai Jozu no Takagi-san (2024)

The Sweetest Drama Ever!

Teasing Master Tagaki-san is an absolute delight to watch. This live action adaptation is reminiscent of a time when Jdoramas delivered well written and beautifully told stories, not unlike (similar to) last year’s Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san.

I found myself transported back in time to when I was a youth living in a much more simple world faced with similar experiences. Teasing one another was something that happened. Sometimes, it had the desired effect, a reaction that actually meant something, other times it was not so great.

What we have is a young couple, in all but name, sharing the common bond of enjoying each other’s company even if Nishikata was forever on the losing end of the teasing exchange.

I thought the young actors did a marvellous job. Takagi with her smiling face and Nishikata always looking dazed or confused when he had lost another exchange.

There are some beautiful moments: being with each other at the beach, reaching the shrine at the top of the hill or simply walking to and from school.

This show is worth three and a half hours of your time. I’m looking forward to the movie which is set ten years later. It has its release in Japan within the next two weeks.

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I strongly recommend Teasing Master Takagi-san (aka Karakai Jozu no Takagi-san), if you’re looking for a lovely, slice of life, Japanese drama. The story explores a boy’s conflicting emotions as he interacts with a girl who constantly but gently teases him and usually gets the better of him. The two students’ interactions are treated with sensitivity and sympathy. I thought that both young actors were outstanding, particularly the boy. The whole thing takes place in a beautiful town on an island off the coast of Japan and the setting adds to the dreamy, idyllic tone of the drama.

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