Takane and Hana Review: A High Schooler Goes to an Omiai in Her Sister's Place and Immediately Argues With the Arrogant Heir

Quick Take

• A shojo comedy romance where the female lead is a clever, arguing high schooler and the male lead is an arrogant, wealthy adult who has never met anyone who would simply tell him no
• The age gap is present and acknowledged; the series handles it by keeping the relationship developing rather than consummating until appropriate
• Complete at 18 volumes; one of VIZ's more popular shojo completions of recent years

Who Is This Manga For?

• Readers who want shojo romantic comedy with a quick-witted, assertive female lead
• Fans of the "impossible couple who argue constantly" romance structure
• Anyone who wants completed shojo romance with light comedy throughout
• Readers who enjoy class-difference romance where the power dynamic is complicated by personality

Content Warnings & Age Rating

Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Age gap between high school protagonist and adult love interest; the series keeps the romance appropriate to their ages throughout

Readers sensitive to age-gap romance should be aware of the premise.

Yu's Rating

Category	Score
Story Depth	★★★☆☆
Art Style	★★★★☆
Character Development	★★★★☆
Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers	★★★★★
Reread Value	★★★★☆

Story Overview

Hana Nonomura is sixteen, clever, and attends a formal matchmaking meeting (omiai) in place of her older sister as a practical joke. The man waiting — Takane Saibara, 26, heir to a massive corporation — has rejected every woman presented to him for years.

He does not reject Hana. She argues with him, mocks his pretension, and refuses to be impressed. He has never experienced this. He finds it completely fascinating.

Takane's request: meet me again. Hana's reaction: why would I do that.

The 18 volumes follow their increasingly complicated relationship as Takane slowly realizes he is genuinely in love and Hana slowly realizes she is not as indifferent as she would like.

Characters

Hana Nonomura — Her specific quality — she is sharp, funny, and refuses to be awed by Takane's wealth and status — makes her one of shojo's more engaging recent heroines. She has goals beyond the romance and a family whose financial situation adds stakes.

Takane Saibara — His specific problem — he has never been challenged, never been told no, never had to earn anything from another person — is played for comedy in early volumes and developed into genuine character growth across 18 volumes. His social obtuseness is consistently funny.

Okamon — Hana's best friend and the series' most reliable secondary comedy source.

Art Style

Shiwasu's art is polished shojo work — character designs are distinct and attractive, expressions carry the comedy well, and Takane's occasional emotional confusion is drawn with specificity that makes the character sympathetic even when he is being ridiculous.

Cultural Context

The omiai — a formal matchmaking meeting arranged by families — is a Japanese institution that functions differently from Western dating. The premise requires this cultural context: Hana's attendance (in place of her sister) is a transgression in this formal system that produces the meet-cute.

What I Love About It

Takane being completely humiliated by a sixteen-year-old who is not even trying. His specific brand of arrogance — genuine, not performed — makes every moment when Hana sees through it immediately both funny and, eventually, the basis for why he falls for her. She sees him clearly, including his flaws, and responds honestly.

What English-Speaking Fans Say

Western readers praise the female lead's assertiveness — Hana is cited as an unusual shojo heroine who drives the comedy rather than reacting to it. The age gap generates discussion; the series' handling of it (keeping the relationship in appropriate territory while both characters develop) is generally credited as careful. The ending is warmly received.

Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning

The moment Takane realizes his feelings are serious — specific, undeniable, and requiring him to do something he has never had to do before: genuinely try for someone's attention — is the series' funniest and most affecting turning point.

Similar Manga

• Skip Beat! — Female lead with strong will, different genre mix
• Ouran High School Host Club — Class-gap romance comedy, similar warmth
• Maid-sama — Strong female lead, relationship built through conflict
• Dengeki Daisy — Age gap shojo romance, same VIZ catalog

Reading Order / Where to Start

Volume 1 — the omiai scene and the first argument establish both characters immediately.

Official English Translation Status

VIZ Media published the complete 18-volume series. All volumes available.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 18 volumes, complete
• Hana is an unusually active shojo heroine
• The comedy is consistent across the whole series
• Takane's character development is genuine

Cons

• Age gap requires reader acceptance of the premise
• 18 volumes is a medium-length commitment
• The romance develops slowly, as expected from the genre

Format Comparison

Format	Notes
Individual Volumes	VIZ Media; standard
Digital	Available

Where to Buy

Get Takane & Hana Vol. 1 on Amazon →

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