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Nisekoi

Nisekoi is a Japanese romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Naoshi Komi.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Nisekoi is a Japanese romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Naoshi Komi. It was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2011 to 2016 and later adapted into an anime television series. The story follows Raku Ichijo and Chitoge Kirisaki, who are forced into a fake relationship to prevent a gang conflict.

Premise

The story follows high school student Raku Ichijo and Chitoge Kirisaki, who are made to pretend to date to keep their yakuza families from fighting. The series mixes romantic-comedy misunderstandings with a larger mystery about Raku's childhood promise and key-shaped locket.

Publication

Nisekoi was written and illustrated by Naoshi Komi. It debuted as a one-shot before being serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2011 to 2016 and compiled into 25 collected volumes.

Anime adaptation

The manga was adapted into a television anime that aired in 2014, with a second season in 2015. Sources describe the anime as a romantic comedy adaptation of the manga.

Reception and distribution

Nisekoi was released in English by Viz Media in digital and print editions. It also received wider international exposure through its anime adaptation and online streaming distribution.

Key facts

  • Nisekoi began as a one-shot manga in Shueisha's Jump NEXT! before becoming a full series in Weekly Shōnen Jump.
  • The manga ran from November 2011 to August 2016 and was collected into 25 volumes.
  • An anime adaptation aired in 2014, followed by a second season in 2015.
  • The story centres on a fake dating arrangement between children of rival yakuza families.
  • The series was published in English by Viz Media in digital and print formats.
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Canadian context

The manga and anime were both distributed internationally, and English-language releases helped make the series accessible to Canadian readers and viewers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Nisekoi?
Nisekoi is a Japanese romantic comedy manga series by Naoshi Komi.
What does the title mean?
The Japanese title "Nisekoi" is commonly translated as "False Love" or "Fake Love".
Who created Nisekoi?
Nisekoi was written and illustrated by Naoshi Komi.
When was Nisekoi published?
It ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from November 2011 to August 2016.
Was Nisekoi adapted into an anime?
Yes. An anime television adaptation aired in 2014, with a second season in 2015.
What is the story about?
It follows a fake romance between Raku Ichijo and Chitoge Kirisaki, whose families are rival yakuza groups.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisekoi
    Supports: Manga title, author, serialization dates, volume count, English release
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nisekoi_episodes
    Supports: Anime adaptation, broadcast dates, episode count, premise
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nisekoi_chapters
    Supports: One-shot origin and manga serialization background
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3115338/
    Supports: Anime series premise and character setup
  5. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/nisekoi
    Supports: Anime series overview and premiere date