Author: Mochizuki Reiko
Copyright © 2000 Mochizuki Reiko

Houjou Takeko , age 27, is an ultra-competent secretarial manager at a large corporation. After work, she trades in her suit and horn-rimmed glasses for chic outfits and dances away at her favorite nightclub. Be it work or play, it seems Takeko is the perfect independent woman. But unbeknownst to her colleagues, Takeko has a mysterious lover, Shi-chan, and through her eyes, we see all the pain, joy, uncertainty, and rewards of a relationship.
First published from 1991 to 1995 and aimed at an older audience, TAKEKO-SAN NO KOIBITO may not seem to be prime shoujo manga material, but it did very well during its run and has just recently been rereleased in bunkobon or pocket-sized format. This reviewer would like to take this opportunity to recommend this light, well-written series to anyone looking for a more real-life take on romance without the incredible angst that tends to prevail in most stories.
One of the unique points about TAKEKO-SAN NO KOIBITO is that it is character-driven, as opposed to containing an overall plot. The focus is, of course, Takeko and her relationship with Shi-chan. Shi-chan is one of those "strong and silent" types, a graduate in mathematics who has chosen to be a road construction worker. Even though he lives in the building next door to Takeko, he will not move in with her and, with ever the wanderlust, disappears for days on end to travel the country. Takeko is very much in love with Shi-chan and cannot understand why he refuses to settle down with her. She cherishes her time with him, feels occasional pangs of jealousy and self-doubt, and tries her very best (sometimes too hard!) to foster their relationship—in short, what you might expect of any woman in her position.
TAKEKO-SAN NO KOIBITO might be described as a snapshot of Takeko's life as she goes through her ups and downs, ultimately painting a warm picture of two wonderful people.
The author, Mochizuki Reiko, states in her introductory comment that she began this work as an attempt to describe the mysterious philosophy behind being in love; to create in Takeko an ideal of a career woman and a romantic who lived life to its fullest in all respects. As the series progressed, however, the scope expanded to include Takeko's colleagues and their relationships, introducing all sorts of interesting characters and circumstances interacting and bringing forward other ideas. Of course, the manga is not without its hilarious moments and whacked-out humor. In fact, the author's knack of mixing real-life with exaggerations and caricatures into this story makes for another of its charms.
The originality of approach would already set TAKEKO-SAN NO KOIBITO apart from the crowd, but readers are further blessed in that Mochizuki is an excellent artist. Her style involves varying the thickness of lines which gives a sense of detail and accent to each face. The fine, almost ethereal look of many modern shoujo artists has been eschewed for a more solid atmosphere. Most of her panels focus on close-ups, and here she too excels in creating many faces for the same person. The care that Mochizuki has put in to represent, in one drawing, the personality and mood of that character shines through and makes this manga an easy, pleasant read.
In short, if you are interesting in real-life romantic stories, this series would be a shame to pass up. The premise is a little simplistic, and towards the end it becomes cliche and pat, but overall it should leave a warm, cozy feeling inside. The only real hurdle might be cultural—even though it is less than ten years old, TAKEKO-SAN NO KOIBITO may still feel old-fashioned and too Japanese for those without prior experience living in Japan.

Publisher: Kodansha
Vol. 1 ISBN4-06-260783-2
Vol. 2 ISBN4-06-260784-0
Vol. 3 ISBN4-06-260785-9
Vol. 4 ISBN4-06-260786-7
Vol. 5 ISBN4-06-260787-5
Vol. 6 ISBN4-06-260788-3
approximately 330 pages; Black and White
¥ 650 each
Where to buy