Tada Kaoru was a Japanese mangaka best known for creating "Itazura na Kiss" (Mischievous Kiss). The series popularity has reached outside of Japan thanks to international drama adaptations. Her other well known series are "Ai Shite Knight" and "Deborah ga Rival".

In 1999, Tada and her family were packing to move to a new residence when she hit her head on a marble table. She fell into a coma and passed away three weeks later of a cerebral hemorrhage. "Itazura na Kiss" was left unfinished at twenty-three volumes. According to her husband, the 2008 anime version was given the ending she had in mind. Edit Biography