Taiga Aisaka

Articles About Taiga Aisaka
Series	Toradora - Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax - Dengenki Gakuen RPG: Cross of Venus

“	Chairty work. That's how I think of it. A lot of those packages were for the places I went for that. The sisters there would take us around to churches and orphanages to do charity work. I went to a catholic school before I came here. "Somebody out there, watching over you." I... I just want to let them know that. Christmas is just an excuse for it, really. I want to let them all know that... Even if they don't have any aprents, even if they don't believe in God... There is still someone, somewhere watching over them. Someone out there cares, and is thinking of them. I want them to believe that. But... In the end, it's really just all for myself. I know that. I really do. I don't need you to lecture me on it. I said this is charity for children but it's not. I'm doing it for me. I'm putting on a performance, a "good girl act" not for Santa Claus, but for myself. All so that I can believe that someone out there is watching over me, too. That nebulous someone I'm calling "Santa Claus". Hee hee! I do really love christmas, that's not an act. Stores. Streets. It's all lit up with glittery lights and decorations. Everywhere you go, you can feel the "joy". I want to be part of that. But more than that... I've actually met Santa Claus! I was still really little. I can't say that I didn't just dream the whole thing up. But it was back when mama and papa and I all lived together. It was Christmas eve and I'd gone to sleep underneath the Christmas tree. I'm sure I must've been waiting to meet Santa Claus. But it was back when mama and papa and I all lived together. It was Christmas eve and I'd gone to sleep undernearth the Christmas tree. I'm sure I must've been waiting to meet Santa Claus. In the middle of the night, I got cold and woke up. And he was there, by the window. Santa Claus. He gave me a present. And then he said... "If you're a good girl, I'll come visit you again." It's just the dream you'd expect a little kid to have, isn't it? I remember being all excited as I opened my present... loving every minute of it. And that's it. It isn't much but it's still a precious memory to me. So I'm going to be a good girl. It's dumb. Isn't it? Hee! Yeah. It's just a dream, so what does it matter, huh? So I act like a good girl, because I wish someone was watching over me. What's wrong with that? It's not like it makes me weak or anything!	„
	~ Taiga to Ryuuji for her reason on being so nice during Christmas

Background

Taiga Aisaka is the main female protagonist of the Toradora! series. Due to her often snapping at others in brutal ways and her short stature, she is given the nickname "Palmtop Tiger."

ExpandThis dropdown contains the synopsis of Taiga Aisaka’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!

Despite coming from a well-to-do family, her life with her family is very difficult because of various problems. Following her parent's divorce, she lived with her father for a time, but could not get along with his new wife. Eventually, she told her father that she wanted to move out, and her father's ready acceptance of this led Taiga to realize that he had chosen his new wife over Taiga and didn't want her there either. This led to her getting her own apartment, though her father still gives living expenses monthly. Love Letter Arc After Taiga accidentally gives Ryuuji Takasu an envelop that contained a love letter that was meant to be for Yusaku Kitamura, she breaks into his home in an attempt to reclaim the letter and to wipe out Ryuuji's memory of ever reading the letter. However, when Ryuuji tells her that the envelop was empty, she stops and collapses from exhaustion and hunger. After feeding Taiga, Ryuuji shows Taiga his collection of love letters, music, and other ideas of how his first date is going to be like but since he can't manage to let his feelings out he can only simulate what he's going to do. Upon reading one of his love letters in one of his notebooks, Taiga realizes that Ryuuji has a crush on Minori Kushieda (Taiga's best friend). After noticing how late it was, Ryuuji made a promise to Taiga that he would help her win Yusaku's heart if she left right at that moment so they could both have enough sleep for school in the morning. Ryuuji and Taiga's Plan Arc During basketball shooting practice, Taiga and Ryuuji Takasu plan to knock out Yusaku Kitamura's partner with a basketball so that Taiga can be Yusaku's partner. However, Taiga ends up being knocked out instead. She tries to make cookies, planning to give them to Yusaku; unfortunately, she falls off the stairs, throwing them out of the window in the process. Ryuuji breaks her fall, and Taiga calls herself clumsy and feels depressed. Ryuuji eats her cookies and says they are great (despite tasting horrible) and encourages her to try making cookies again. Since Ryuuji and Taiga are often together, a misunderstanding begins among their classmates that Ryuuji and Taiga are going out. This causes Taiga to rage and wreak havoc in the classroom. Taiga sets the record straight the next day, and confesses her love to Yusaku. However, he wants only to continue being friends. Meeting Ami Arc After accidentally spilling Ryuuji Takasu's drink on herself, Ryuuji offers to clean her dress if they go to the restaurant where Minori Kushieda works. However, when they get there they find out that today was Minori's day off. As they are looking at fashion magazines, Taiga notices that a girl coming into the restaurant is pictured in the magazine, a model named Ami Kawashima. To their surprise, Yusaku Kitamura is also there with her and tells them that they are childhood friends and she has come to visit for a while. Ami seems innocent, kind, polite, and a self-proclaimed airhead; but Taiga learns she only acts that way to get what she wants. Ami begins taunting Taiga to the point that Taiga slaps her. Seeing Yusaku and Ryuuji coming she starts crying. Yusaku apologizes for what happens and takes Ami home. The next day they find out that Ami will be in their school, even in their very class. With Taiga's habit of referring to different people disparagingly as dogs, Ami soon earns the nickname "Stupid Chihuahua" ('baka-chi'). Christmas Party Arc After Ryuuji Takasu tells Taiga that his relationship with Minori Kushieda has not progressed, Taiga declares the need to play Cupid for him, since she wants to be good for Santa. The next morning at school, Yusaku Kitamura announces that the student council will organize a Christmas Eve party to boost romantic feelings among students. Taiga and Ryuuji ask Minori to go to the party with them, but she vehemently declines. This causes Taiga and Ryuuji to worry about Minori. As Christmas approaches, the whole class helps in preparing for the Christmas party, including setting up a large artificial Christmas tree. Taiga contributes a heavy glass star for the top, which she says is her most valuable Christmas ornament. Everyone is pleased with their efforts and awed by the sight of the tree lit up. However, a stray softball crashes through the gym window and knocks over the tree, smashing the star. The baseball club apologizes and Minori blames herself for losing control of the ball. She leaves, still declining Ryuuji's offer of going to the party as she feels she would not be welcome after the accident. Despite hearing that, Ryuuji promises her that he will wait for her. On the night of the party, Taiga brings over a suit for Ryuuji to wear while he still attempts to convince Minori to come. The party begins with a special Christmas song performed by Ami and Taiga. Following the song, Taiga leaves the party to go home in order to wait for Santa Claus, stopping by Minori's house on the way to convince her to attend the party. Ryuuji goes to Taiga's apartment dressed up as a 'Bear Santa Claus', cheering her up so that she realizes she is not alone. Afterward, she tells Ryuuji to go back and wait for Minori and after some resistance-- for apparently he would rather spend the evening with Taiga-- he leaves. Taiga begins crying uncontrollably, thinking that with Ryuuji together with Minori, Ryuuji and herself can no longer be such close friends. Taiga rushes after Ryuuji, calling for him, but he is already gone. Minori, who was heading to the party, witnesses this. Ski Trip Arc The school is supposed to have a field trip in Okinawa, but the hotel where they were going to stay burned down. As a result, the trip is reorganized at a ski resort. Ryuuji Takasu blames himself for this because earlier he had wished everything would burn just to make his worries disappear. One night, Ryuuji, Yusaku Kitamura, Kōji Haruta and Hisamitsu Noto go to the girls' room to check on them but find the girls are not there. When they hear the door opening, they all dive into the closet to hide. After finding out that it was Taiga who came in, they snatch her into the closet before the other girls come in. From the closet, all four boys and Taiga overhear an argument between Minori Kushieda and Ami Kawashima about Minori rejecting Ryuuji. The next day, Ami tries to apologize to Ryuuji about what happened last night (unaware that Ryuuji heard everything). Then, Minori and Taiga, in a sled, accidentally hit Ami; as Minori and Ami fight over the blame for it, Minori's hair clip goes flying. Taiga leaves to search for it and when the fight has been broken up the others realize she is missing. Ryuuji, Yusaku and Minori decide to find her themselves. A snowstorm has begun but near the place where the fight took place Minori discovers an opening in the fence. Ryuuji descends the hill to look for her, spying the hair clip sparkling in one of the trees. Not far below he discovers Taiga lying inert in the snow with a head wound. As he carries her back uphill, Taiga mumbles that she wants Ryuuji and Minori to be together but admits she cannot stop loving Ryuuji. Ryuuji realizes she believes Yusaku is carrying her; and once Taiga recovers he makes Yusaku promise to deny the truth and, to spare Taiga the embarrassment, to allow her to believe Yusaku had indeed been the one to save her. Yasuko Takasu (Ryuuji's mother) collapses from exhaustion while working a second job at a bakery. To help Yasuko, Taiga agrees to take her shift at the bakery, with Ryuuji agreeing to work there as well. Taiga and Ryuuji were selling chocolates for the bakery for Valentine's Day. Taiga gets the idea to call Ami to the bakery and have her help sales by providing testimonials how much she loves the chocolates there. Ami argues with her about it but eventually takes the box of chocolates and advertises how much she and her model friends love the chocolates. Taiga and Ryuuji meet their quota and Taiga buys the rest of the chocolates. Valentine's Day Arc As Valentine's Day approaches, Taiga decides to make everyone some chocolate as thanks for the things they have done for her. However, when Minori Kushieda notices that she believes Yusaku Kitamura rescued her from the ski trip instead of Ryuuji Takasu, she becomes angry. Minori confronts her, with Ami Kawashima and Yusaku blocking the exits, trying to get her to show her true feelings. After violently denying the likelihood that Minori is telling her the truth, Taiga admits she only wanted Minori to be happy, in which Minori tells her that happiness is something only she can decide for herself. Taiga runs off and Minori decides to go after her, asking Ryuuji if he will go after her too. On her way out of the building, Taiga hears Minori shouting that she has always liked Ryuuji but she held back because she felt Taiga's friendship with him was based on a stronger emotional need. She also says that she has to obtain her own happiness as well. Later, at work, she finds Ryuuji is waiting for her and agrees to talk to him after the shift. However, after work, Yasuko Takasu (Ryuuji's mother) and Yuu Aisaka (Taiga's mother) confront their children and Ryuuji and Taiga, each seeing that their mothers are acting out of immature selfishness, decide to run away together. At a bridge, they stop to talk. After Taiga told Ryuuji that he has to live on, she accidentally pushes him into the river. Standing in the freezing water Ryuuji yells up to Taiga to admit his plan of running away and marrying her in two months. She also jumps into the river; but just as they agree to say 'I love you' to each other, Yusaku calls and asks them to meet at Ami's house. Minori, Ami and Yusaku do not agree with their plans but decide to support them. Minori and Yusaku lend them some cash and Ami lends them the key to her family's chalet. Ryuuji and Taiga pack for a long trip; but when Ryuuji spies Yasuko's note he realizes she had run away, like a child, and he convinces Taiga that they should visit his grandparents. Taiga leaves a dramatic message on Yasuko's phone, tricking her into believing Ryuuji is in danger, and Yasuko shows up at her parents' door for the first time in ten years. Taiga is impressed to see Ryuuji's family so swiftly healed. When she arrives back at her apartment and hears her mother's emotional voicemail messages, Taiga decides to break the promise to Ryuuji and to change her ways, preferring to mend the breach with her own mother rather than to go on fleeing and avoiding all her problems. She leaves Ryuuji a note on the table, sends him two text messages reminding him that he never did state 'I love you' to her while following it up with 'stupid', and disappears from school, but she sends everyone a mail with a picture of the night sky and a single star, representing Minori's belief that one's future belongs entirely to one's self. Minori feels that this is supposed to encourage them to do their best. Everyone gets together to send a group picture to her with the artificial star that she left for the Christmas Eve party. Graduation Day Arc A year later on Ryuuji Takasu's graduation day, he spies Taiga in the windows of the homeroom classroom they shared and runs upstairs to discover her hiding in a cupboard, dressed in her new school's uniform. She claims she had wanted to surprise him. He admits she appears taller-- probably because he had not seen her in more than a year. She replies she has not grown even a single millimeter. Finally, he says the three words 'I love you' to her, without the slightest hesitation. But, true to character, she claims that he has terrible timing and should've picked a better place to say "such embarrassing things", giving him a headbutt that sends him flying to the floor. Ryuuji is 18 by this time so one can assume he will endeavor to fulfill his promise to marry and support her. This section appears in the anime during the last half of the credit sequence; it's easily missed if one tunes out at the start of the end title.

General Information

Name: Taiga Aisaka

Origin: Toradora!

Sex: Female

Age: 17 at the beginning of the series (Noted that she was 17 years old), 18 at the end of the series

Classification: Student, Palm-Top Tiger, The #1 Most Dangerous Person in the entire school, Ryuuji's lover, Ryuuji's wife

Species: Human

Occupation: None

Status: Alive

Alignment: Chaotic Good (Despite how mean-spirited and evil Taiga may act, she is actually overall a nice girl, when working with Ryuuji to get cookies to Kitumaru she fell down the stairs and Ryuuji jumped in the way to soften the blow for her, with her caring about if Ryuuji was okay or not, this being far before they became lovers or had feelings for each other. Along with this, after everyone thought her and Ryuuji were dating, making Ryuuji's crush think the same, she apologized to Ryuuji noting she was selfish and proceeded to rampage in class and force the crush to apologize to Ryuuji for the misunderstanding, making sure Ryuuji still had a chance. Ryuuji even notes she's secretly the nicest person he's ever met. During Christmas time Taiga gets especially nicer, going as far as to send presents to her dad and his lover who both abandoned her repeatedly, playing with her feelings and tossed her away. Along with this she likes to give presents to orphangaes to give even kids without parents a feeling that no matter what, someone is watching over them)

Codex Statistics

Grade: S

Tier: 10-A physically, 9-C with Bokuto

Cardinality: Finite

Dimensionality: 3-D

Attack Potency: Peak Human level physically (Kicked and bent a school door. Repeatedly kicked a telephone pole with the help of Ryuuji, eventually causing it to tilt. Thrashed an entire classroom. Kicked a garbage can with a full garbage bag in it very high up in the air, having it reach all the way over to the stalker who she initially didn't see), Bone level with Bokuto (Left a hole in a screen door)

Durability: Peak Human level (Had her head hit on a sign, which Ryuuji noted any other person would've had a massive bruise from yet she was fine)

Striking Strength: Peak Human Class

Lifting Strength: Peak Human Class (Kicked a garbage can with a full garbage bag in it very high up in the air, having it reach all the way over to the stalker who she initially didn't see)

Travel Speed: Athletic Human

Attack Speed: Athletic Human

Reaction Speed: Athletic Human

Stamina: Average

Range: Standard Melee, Extended Melee with Bokuto

Intelligence: Average Intelligence (Taiga is constantly referred to as an airhead, making mistakes constantly and not being able to fully take care of herself, constantly needing Ryuuji's help though has been shown she's passing school without any real trouble)

Knowledge: Journeyman level

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Powers and Techniques

Peak Human Characteristics, Small Size (Dwarf; Taiga is four feet and eight inches tall), Stealth Mastery (Snuck into her classmates house without him noticing), Weapon Mastery (Taiga's weapon of choice is the bokuto, a weapon she uses skillfully), Overwhelming Aura & Intimidation (When one sees Taiga she instills an aura of fear into them where they see an entire warped background around her with a "fwoosh" sound all because she looked at them, with her glare having people see a beast ten times her size ready to pounce and the message being "I could kill you if I wanted to", causing one.'s heart to pound and believe they're seeing a tiger. Ryuuji even notes her having an aura).

Resistance to Diseases (Lived in an apartment building filled with rotting food, water, mold, and sludge, breathing it in for six months and having no health problems from it)

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Equipment

• Bokuto: Taiga's wooden sword that she uses to attack with.

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Other

Standard Tactics: Taiga will attack her opponent with her bokuto.

Weaknesses: Taiga cannot swim. Taiga is extremely clutzy making mistakes and constantly tripping over herself. Has a serious attitude problem making her jump to rash decisions.

Trivia

• Taiga bears a strong resemblance to Louise Francoise le Blanc de la Valliere (of 'Zero no Tsukaima') in both appearance and attitude. Both also nickname their male partners (Ryuuji Takasu and Saito Hiraga) 'dog'. They also have the same seiyuu. She also resembles Shana (from Shakugan No Shana) and she has a somewhat similar attitude to Aria in Aria: The Scarlet Ammo.
• When Taiga is in angry, she often shouts a call that sounds like 'ora' but she rolls her 'r' so it resembles a tiger's growl (ora means "come on").
• Taiga appears to be very proficient with a katana and exhibits evidence of having had advanced training in kendou. One must assume this has been from private lessons in the past or else from paying attention in PE class, but it is never explained in the story.
• Taiga rarely eats anything healthy until Ryuuji begins to cook for her. Despite her well-endowed trust fund, she cannot cook and has subsisted on convenience-store noodles and rice for about two years beforehand.
• Taiga admits that she has always loved Christmas and has been helping the sisters at her old Catholic school by sending presents to the orphans marked 'From Santa Claus'.
• Taiga hates her figure as it appears in a swimsuit due to her being flat.
• Taiga does not know how to swim.
• Taiga appears as a boss in the Nippon Ichi game 'zettai hero project'. After defeating her, one gets a costume to dress exactly like her.
• During Taiga's ending on the PSP, she marries Ryuuji (which now makes her Taiga Takasu) and becomes pregnant with triplets, in which this ending is also how presumably it would've gone in the anime.
• Taiga hides a lot of scars on her knees with her long socks (revealed at chapter 6 when Ryuuji tried to clean Taiga's wound).
• Taiga is a playable character in the 2D arcade fighting game, Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax. Along with Ryuuji Takasu as a support character.

Battle Records

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