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Taiga Aisaka

Taiga Aisaka  (逢坂 大河, Aisaka Taiga) is the main female protagonist of the Toradora! series. Often referred to by her nickname, “Palmtop Tiger,” she earns this title due to her fierce personality and diminutive stature. Taiga is known for her sharp tongue and tendency to snap at others, often responding with a brutal wit that leaves those around her taken aback. Despite her tough exterior, her character unfolds to reveal deeper layers, showcasing vulnerability and complexity throughout the story.

A dog’s happiness is measured by how useful he is to his master.
— Taiga Aisaka

Appearance

Despite being a teenager, Taiga’s notably short stature often gives her the appearance of a younger child, much to the amusement of her friend Ami, who frequently teases her about it. She has long, wavy light brown hair, a trait inherited from her mother, which cascades past her waist in soft waves. Her large, dark amber eyes, inherited from her father, add to her striking appearance. Though Taiga is often self-conscious about being “flat-chested,” she compensates for this with her fierce glare and sharp words. Many characters in the series describe her as exceptionally beautiful, highlighting the contrast between her tough demeanor and her physical allure.

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Taiga’s full appearance.

Taiga typically wears her school uniform, but when outside, she favors long dresses paired with stylish long coats. She often completes her outfits with a pair of stockings, reflecting her sophisticated taste. Coming from a wealthy family, Taiga is always well-dressed, and even her pajamas exhibit an air of elegance.


Personality

At the beginning of the series, Taiga’s fiery personality earns her the nickname “Palmtop Tiger.” She is quick to become upset over minor issues, particularly regarding her underdeveloped stature for her age, often responding aggressively to those around her—except for her close friend, Minori Kushieda , and her crush, Yusaku Kitamura . Taiga’s clumsiness is a notable trait that both others and she herself recognize; this klutziness leads her to inadvertently attack Ryuuji Takasu on two occasions, the second of which occurs in his home, located right next to hers. Initially, Yusaku exploits Taiga’s feelings for him, calming her down when her temper flares.

Coming from a privileged background, Taiga initially struggles with domestic chores and often relies on Ryuuji to handle these tasks for her. She begins visiting Ryuuji’s apartment for home-cooked meals, but as her character develops and she aims to help bring Ryuuji closer to Minori, she starts cleaning up after herself. Despite her progress, Taiga remains unable to cook anything beyond basic rice balls, depending on takeout when Ryuuji is unavailable.

In competitive situations, especially against her classmate Ami Kawashima, Taiga is not above using underhanded tactics to secure victory. Yet, despite her clumsiness, she possesses remarkable strength and athleticism for her small size. Taiga is a fan of mixed martial arts, suggesting a valetudo brawl to win Ryuuji’s favor, although this idea is overshadowed by Ami’s suggestion of a swimming race. She demonstrates her fighting skills during a professional wrestling show staged by her class at the cultural festival. While she is capable of physical combat, she sometimes carries a wooden sword for added effect. However, after using it in a fight against Sumire Kano, she receives a two-week suspension from school, prompting a positive change in her behavior.

By the end of the series, Taiga acknowledges her struggles and becomes committed to her relationship with Ryuuji, showcasing her growth as a character.

Background

Despite coming from a well-to-do family, Taiga’s home life is fraught with difficulties stemming from various issues. After her parents divorced, she initially lived with her father but struggled to get along with his new wife. This strained relationship ultimately drove her to express a desire to move out. Her father’s ready acceptance of her wish was a painful realization for Taiga; it became clear that he had chosen his new wife over her and did not want her in his life. This emotional turmoil led her to secure her own apartment, although her father continues to provide her with monthly living expenses.

Relationships

Ryuuji Takasu
The title of the series,Toradora!, is a nod to the dynamic between Taiga and Ryuuji, with Ryuuji being the “Dragon” to Taiga’s “Tiger.” Their interactions form the crux of the story, evolving from initial conflict to a deeper, more meaningful relationship. Both characters are well-known among their peers for their unique quirks—Ryuuji for his intimidating face and Taiga for her fiery behavior. Their first encounter occurs in a school corridor, where Taiga responds to an unexpected meeting by flooring Ryuuji with a punch before walking away. Later, a misunderstanding involving Taiga sneaking an empty love letter into the wrong bag reveals their mutual crushes.

Sultan Abdulmejid (left) with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Napoleon III of France

Ryuuji and Taiga.

In an effort to help Taiga return home, Ryuuji promises to “do anything” to help her get closer to her crush, leading to a one-sided dynamic in which Taiga treats Ryuuji like a servant and affectionately calls him her “dog.” As their relationship develops, their classmates begin to suspect they are dating, including their respective crushes, Minori Kushieda and Yusaku Kitamura . To dispel these rumors, Taiga attempts to confess her feelings to Yusaku but ultimately fails. Following this, Ryuuji begins to call Taiga by her first name as a means of supporting her.

Taiga’s feelings for Ryuuji become increasingly evident when she reacts jealously toAmimaking contact with him, even throwing a trash bin at Ami in a fit of rage. Her affections are further underscored during a swimming race when Ryuuji comes to her rescue after she suffers a leg cramp. After an accident where Ryuuji nearly drowns, Taiga saves him, scolds their classmates for their lack of attention, and exclaims that Ryuuji belongs to her, albeit later clarifying to Ami that he is her “dog.” During a stay at Ami’s beach house, Taiga confides in Ryuuji, revealing that a dream in which they are married isn’t as unpleasant as she once thought.

Eventually, Taiga becomes less concerned about the rumors surrounding her and Ryuuji, and their relationship becomes widely recognized at school. This is illustrated when she gets into a fight withSumire Kano, leading her classmates to look to Ryuuji to restrain her. After serving a suspension, Taiga actively works to change her behavior, hoping to get a visit from Santa Claus at Christmas. She takes the initiative to help Ryuuji confess to Minori, leading to a series of events where Taiga finds herself alone with her feelings for Ryuuji. When she sees the scarf he left behind, it triggers a realization of her love for him, prompting her to call for him in desperation, tears streaming down her face.

Despite facing setbacks and Minori’s ambiguous rejection of Ryuuji, Taiga persists in her feelings. She ceases visiting Ryuuji’s apartment, instead focusing on keeping him motivated to pursue Minori. However, after being rescued by Ryuuji at a ski resort, Taiga subconsciously confesses her feelings to Yusaku in a delirious state. Ryuuji reassures her that what she said was simply a dream. After further complications, Minori ultimately allows Taiga to pursue her relationship with Ryuuji.

As the story unfolds, both Taiga and Ryuuji confront their respective mothers about their choices, leading them to a bridge where they plan to confess their feelings. However, their moment is interrupted by Ryuuji’s phone ringing. They find temporary refuge at Ami’s home before deciding to elope. Ryuuji introduces Taiga as his wife to his grandparents, which makes her blush with happiness. Following this, Taiga attempts to mend her relationship with her own parents by informing them that Ryuuji had an accident, hoping to reconcile and gain their acceptance of her love for him.

Yusaku Kitamura
Early in the series, it is established that Taiga has a crush on Yusaku. Her initial attempt to sneak a love letter into his bag inadvertently results in the letter ending up in Ryuuji’s possession, kickstarting the main plot. Taiga decides to confess her feelings to Yusaku directly but botches her declaration by mentioning Ryuuji multiple times, leading Yusaku to believe she only wants to be friends.

Taiga’s awkwardness around Yusaku becomes apparent as she tries to take pictures of him, only to end up with blurry images due to her shaking hands. Ryuuji eventually encourages Taiga to spend time with Yusaku, leading to moments of genuine connection, such as when Yusaku treats her stomach ache. After a dance at the cultural festival, Yusaku’s decision to bleach his hair in a bid to escape student council duties leads Taiga to express her inability to cheer him up, which brings her to tears. Motivated by Ryuuji, Taiga decides to run for student council president to inspire Yusaku to return.

After her suspension for attacking Sumire, Taiga resolves to let go of her feelings for Yusaku and focus on getting Ryuuji with Minori. On her first day back, Yusaku approaches Taiga in a state of desperation, pleading with her not to get into any more fights over him.

Minori Kushieda
Taiga and Minori share a close friendship, characterized by mutual care and understanding. Minori has never been on the receiving end of Taiga’s violent outbursts, and they refer to each other by their first names. At one point, Minori even jokingly suggests she has feelings for Taiga.

When Minori begins to notice the time Taiga spends with Ryuuji, she takes them to the school rooftop and asks Ryuuji to take good care of Taiga. However, she remains unaware of Taiga’s attempts to bring her and Ryuuji closer until late in the series, leading to a confrontation between them. Ultimately, Minori resolves her feelings for Ryuuji, allowing Taiga to pursue her own happiness. After seeing off Taiga and Ryuuji when they elope, Minori struggles with her emotions, eventually breaking down in tears.

Following Taiga’s transfer from Ohashi High School, Minori is initially devastated, even blaming Ryuuji for Taiga’s departure. However, when Taiga reaches out with a picture of the night sky, Minori recognizes its significance and reaffirms her bond with Taiga.

Ami Kawashima
Taiga’s relationship with Ami is contentious from their first meeting, where Ami mocks Taiga’s height. Their rivalry intensifies when Ami enters Class 2-C and suggests that Yusaku no longer likes Taiga. They compete for Ryuuji’s affections in various ways, including a swimming race, which Ami wins due to Taiga’s distraction while saving Ryuuji from drowning.

Despite their initial hostilities, the animosity lessens after Taiga’s suspension and her subsequent behavioral changes. Taiga shows gratitude towards Ami when she brings a Christmas tree to school for them to decorate together. Throughout the series, Taiga affectionately nicknames Ami “baka-chi,” meaning “dumb chihuahua,” initially as an insult, but it gradually evolves into a term of endearment.

Trivia

    • Character Similarities: Taiga bears a strong resemblance to Louise Francoise le Blanc de la  Valliere fromZero no Tsukaima, both in appearance and attitude. Both characters nickname their male partners—Ryuuji and Saito Hiraga —as “dog.” They also share the same voice actress (seiyuu) and are both associated with Kadokawa . Additionally, Taiga resembles Shana fromShakugan no Shanaand shares a somewhat similar demeanor to Aria from Aria: The Scarlet Ammo.

    • Unique Expressions: When Taiga is angry, she often shouts a call that sounds like “ora,” rolling her “r” to resemble a tiger’s growl (with “ora” meaning “come on”).

    • Kendo Skills: Taiga is proficient with a katana, indicating advanced training in kendo. It is assumed she gained this expertise from private lessons or by paying attention during physical education classes, although this is never explained in the story.

    • Diet and Cooking: Initially, Taiga rarely eats anything healthy until Ryuuji begins cooking for her. Despite having access to a well-endowed trust fund, she cannot cook and has subsisted on convenience-store noodles and rice for about two years prior to Ryuuji’s influence.

    • Badminton Proficiency: Taiga is very skilled at badminton.

    • Christmas Spirit:Taiga has always loved Christmas and has a tradition of sending presents marked “From Santa Claus” to the orphans at her old Catholic school.

    • Body Image Concerns: Taiga dislikes how her figure appears in a swimsuit.

    • Swimming Skills: Despite her athletic abilities, Taiga does not know how to swim.

    • Video Game Appearances: Taiga appears as a boss in the Nippon Ichi game Zettai Hero Project . Defeating her rewards the player with a costume that allows them to dress like her. Additionally, in the PSP game ending, Taiga marries Ryuuji (making her Taiga Takasu ) and becomes pregnant with triplets, reflecting a potential storyline in the anime if it had continued.

    • Hidden Scars: Taiga hides numerous scars on her knees with her long socks, which are revealed in Chapter 6 when Ryuuji attempts to clean one of her wounds.

    • Fighting Game Character: Taiga is a playable character in the 2D arcade fighting game Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax , with Ryuuji appearing as her support character.