Takata
Description
Takata is the original creator of the light novel series Class de 2-ban Me ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta, also known by its short form Kuranika. Takata began their career as a writer on the user-generated novel publishing website Kakuyomu, which is operated by Kadokawa Corporation, joining the platform in February 2016. The decision to start writing on Kakuyomu was a deliberate one, as it was a new service at the time with fewer users compared to other established platforms.
Prior to their most famous work, Takata wrote several other novels on Kakuyomu. One of these earlier works, Toshiue Elite Onna Kishi ga Boku no Mae de dake Kawaii, won the grand prize in the 4th Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest in the romantic comedy category. This success led to that series being published as a light novel by Kadokawa Shoten under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint, with two volumes released between 2019 and 2020.
Takata's most notable work, Class de 2-ban Me ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta, began serialization on Kakuyomu on November 30, 2020. The story won the special prize in the 6th Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest, also in the romantic comedy category. This series marked a shift for Takata, as it was set in a contemporary Japanese high school rather than the fantasy world of their previous published work.
The light novel series was subsequently acquired for print publication by Kadokawa Shoten under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. The first volume was released on December 24, 2021, with illustrations by Tom Osabe. Starting with the second volume, the illustrations were taken over by Azuri Hyūga, who has continued as the character designer for subsequent volumes and the related media adaptations. As of 2026, the light novel series has over seven volumes in publication, including a short story collection.
The success of the light novel led to a manga adaptation illustrated by Rin Ono, which began serialization on Media Factory's Comic Alive+ website on July 27, 2022. The manga has been collected into multiple tankōbon volumes. An anime adaptation was announced during Kadokawa's Sneaker Bunko 35th Anniversary Festa livestream on September 24, 2023. The television anime series is produced by the studio CONNECT, directed by Hideki Tachibana, with Keiichirō Ōchi handling series composition and scripts, and Shoko Takimoto designing the characters. The anime is scheduled to premiere in April 2026.
The Class de 2-ban Me ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta series has achieved significant commercial and critical success. The series has been recognized in Takarajimasha's annual Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook, ranking 21st in the bunkobon category in the 2024 edition. It also ranked seventh in the Next Light Novel Award in 2022 and won the Next Light Novel Award in the bunkobon category in 2023. The series has sold over one million copies, demonstrating its popularity within the light novel market.
Takata's creative identity is closely tied to the romantic comedy genre. Their early recognized work was a fantasy romantic comedy, while their breakout series is a school-based romantic comedy, indicating a consistent focus on character-driven comedic narratives with romantic elements. A recurring theme in Class de 2-ban Me ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta is the development of a friendship that becomes a closely guarded secret, exploring the connection between two individuals who share niche interests and the private world they build away from their public school personas.
Prior to their most famous work, Takata wrote several other novels on Kakuyomu. One of these earlier works, Toshiue Elite Onna Kishi ga Boku no Mae de dake Kawaii, won the grand prize in the 4th Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest in the romantic comedy category. This success led to that series being published as a light novel by Kadokawa Shoten under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint, with two volumes released between 2019 and 2020.
Takata's most notable work, Class de 2-ban Me ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta, began serialization on Kakuyomu on November 30, 2020. The story won the special prize in the 6th Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest, also in the romantic comedy category. This series marked a shift for Takata, as it was set in a contemporary Japanese high school rather than the fantasy world of their previous published work.
The light novel series was subsequently acquired for print publication by Kadokawa Shoten under the Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. The first volume was released on December 24, 2021, with illustrations by Tom Osabe. Starting with the second volume, the illustrations were taken over by Azuri Hyūga, who has continued as the character designer for subsequent volumes and the related media adaptations. As of 2026, the light novel series has over seven volumes in publication, including a short story collection.
The success of the light novel led to a manga adaptation illustrated by Rin Ono, which began serialization on Media Factory's Comic Alive+ website on July 27, 2022. The manga has been collected into multiple tankōbon volumes. An anime adaptation was announced during Kadokawa's Sneaker Bunko 35th Anniversary Festa livestream on September 24, 2023. The television anime series is produced by the studio CONNECT, directed by Hideki Tachibana, with Keiichirō Ōchi handling series composition and scripts, and Shoko Takimoto designing the characters. The anime is scheduled to premiere in April 2026.
The Class de 2-ban Me ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta series has achieved significant commercial and critical success. The series has been recognized in Takarajimasha's annual Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook, ranking 21st in the bunkobon category in the 2024 edition. It also ranked seventh in the Next Light Novel Award in 2022 and won the Next Light Novel Award in the bunkobon category in 2023. The series has sold over one million copies, demonstrating its popularity within the light novel market.
Takata's creative identity is closely tied to the romantic comedy genre. Their early recognized work was a fantasy romantic comedy, while their breakout series is a school-based romantic comedy, indicating a consistent focus on character-driven comedic narratives with romantic elements. A recurring theme in Class de 2-ban Me ni Kawaii Onna no Ko to Tomodachi ni Natta is the development of a friendship that becomes a closely guarded secret, exploring the connection between two individuals who share niche interests and the private world they build away from their public school personas.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview