I Got Married to the Girl I Hate Most in Class (known as KuraKon or Class no Daikirai na Joshi to Kekkon suru Koto ni Natta in Japanese) is a popular Japanese romantic comedy story. It began as a YouTube manga and grew into a light novel, manga, and anime. The story follows two high school students, Saito Houjou and Akane Sakuramori, who hate each other but are forced to marry because of their families. As they live together, they slowly learn to understand and love each other. The story is full of funny moments, sweet romance, and some emotional drama.
Overview
The story is set in a modern Japanese high school and focuses on Saito and Akane, two teenagers who argue all the time. Their grandparents arrange their marriage for family reasons, and they have to live together while keeping it a secret from their classmates. At first, they can’t stand each other, but they start to see each other’s good sides over time. The story mixes humor, romance, and lessons about growing up.
- ‣ Genre – Romantic Comedy, Slice of Life, Drama
- ‣ Original Author – Seiju Amano
- ‣ Illustrator – Nanami Narumi (light novel)
- ‣ First Released – March 2020 (YouTube manga)
- ‣ English Publisher – Seven Seas Entertainment
- ‣ Original Publisher – Media Factory (MF Bunko J)
- ‣ Target Audience – Teens and young adults
Plot Summary
Saito Houjou is a serious high school student who dreams of taking over his family’s big company. He hates his classmate Akane Sakuramori because she’s always picking fights with him. Akane is a beautiful and popular girl who acts quiet but is short-tempered with Saito. One day, Saito’s grandfather, Tenryu Houjou, and Akane’s grandmother announce that the two must get married to unite their families and secure their futures.
Saito and Akane don’t want to marry, but they agree for their own reasons. Saito wants to inherit his family’s company, and Akane wants to become a doctor to help her sick younger sister, Suzune. So, they get married on paper and move into a shared house and try to act like a married couple, but they argue over everything—cooking, cleaning, even playing horror games. They also have to hide their marriage from their friends at school, which leads to funny and awkward situations.
As they spend more time together, Saito and Akane start to understand each other. Saito sees that Akane is kind and hardworking, while Akane learns that Saito is caring and reliable. Other characters, like Akane’s best friend Himari and Saito’s cousin Shisei, add drama and humor. The story shows how Saito and Akane grow together and fall in love while balancing school, family, and their secret marriage.
Detailed Plot Setting
The story takes place in a fictional Japanese city, with most scenes in:
- ‣ Hoshikawa High School – Where Saito, Akane, and their friends study. It’s a typical high school with classrooms, a cafeteria, and clubs.
- ‣ Saito and Akane’s House – A modern house where they live after getting married. It has a kitchen, living room, and separate bedrooms, but they often fight over space.
- ‣ Houjou Family Estate – Saito’s wealthy family’s mansion, where his grandfather Tenryu lives. It’s grand and shows the family’s power.
- ‣ Sakuramori Family Home – Akane’s simpler home, where her sick sister Suzune stays. It’s cozy but shows the family’s struggles.
The story happens in modern times (around 2020–2025), with smartphones, video games, and school festivals adding a relatable vibe.
Main Characters :
Saito Houjou
Saito Houjou is the main male character, a serious and smart high school student who dreams of taking over his family’s wealthy company. He has dark hair, a tall build, and often looks serious, which hides his kind and caring side.
Saito starts the story hating his classmate Akane Sakuramori because they always argue, but his strict grandfather, Tenryu, forces him to marry her to unite their families. At first, Saito is stubborn and annoyed about living with Akane, but he agrees to the marriage to prove he’s responsible enough to inherit the company.
As he spends time with her, he sees her hardworking and gentle side, which makes him soften and fall in love. Saito is reliable and protective, often helping Akane with her problems, like supporting her dream to become a doctor.
Akane Sakuramori
Akane Sakuramori is the main female character, a beautiful and popular high school girl with long brown hair and green eyes.
She’s a “tsundere,” meaning she acts tough and mean (especially to Saito) but is secretly kind and caring. Akane hates Saito at first because their arguments make her lose her cool, but she’s forced to marry him due to their grandparents’ plan.
She agrees because she wants to become a doctor to save her sick younger sister, Suzune, and the marriage gives her family financial support. While living with Saito, Akane starts as short-tempered, fighting over chores or games, but she slowly sees his dependable and gentle side.
Her tough attitude hides her worries about her sister and her fear of failing. Over time, Akane becomes more open and falls for Saito that ultimately shows her sweet side.
Himari Ishikura
Himari Ishikura is Akane’s best friend, a cheerful and trendy “gyaru” girl with blonde hair and flashy clothes. She’s loud, loves gossip, and brings energy to every scene.
Himari has a crush on Saito, which makes her jealous when she notices he’s close to Akane. She doesn’t know about their secret marriage at first, but her suspicions lead to funny and dramatic moments, like when she flirts with Saito to test him.
Himari’s loyalty to Akane makes her feel guilty about her jealousy, and she sometimes causes trouble, like spreading rumors or arguing with Akane. Despite this, she’s a good friend who wants Akane to be happy.
Her background isn’t explored much, but she’s a typical high school girl who loves fashion and fun. Himari’s role is to add humor and tension, and her growth involves learning to support her friend’s happiness, even if it means letting go of her crush.
Shisei Houjou
Shisei Houjou is Saito’s younger cousin, a cute and sweet girl with short light hair and a playful personality.
She’s close to Saito, almost like a little sister, and looks up to him. Shisei is wise for her age and often gives Saito advice about dealing with Akane, like how to understand her feelings. When she meets Akane, she’s curious but quickly becomes her friend, helping her feel welcome in the Houjou family.
Shisei lives with the wealthy Houjou family and knows about the arranged marriage, which she supports because she believes Saito and Akane are good for each other. Her mischievous side shows when she teases Saito, but she’s always kind and caring. Shisei’s role is to bring warmth and humor to the story, and her friendship with Akane helps bridge the gap between Saito & Akane.\
Tenryu Houjou
Tenryu Houjou is Saito’s grandfather, a powerful and strict old man who runs the Houjou family’s big company. He has gray hair and a commanding presence, making him intimidating to everyone, especially Saito.
Tenryu is the one who arranges Saito and Akane’s marriage, believing it will strengthen the family and teach Saito responsibility. He’s traditional and values family legacy, which makes him push Saito hard to prove himself as the heir.
While Tenryu seems cold and controlling, he cares about Saito’s future and wants him to grow into a strong leader. He also respects Akane’s determination and sees her as a good match for Saito. Tenryu doesn’t appear often, but his decisions drive the story’s main conflict.
Suzune Sakuramori
Suzune Sakuramori is Akane’s younger sister, a kind and gentle girl who’s often sick because of a heart condition. She has short hair and a frail appearance, but her warm smile makes her lovable.
Suzune lives with Akane’s family and is the main reason Akane wants to become a doctor—she hopes to find a way to cure her sister. Despite her illness, Suzune is cheerful and supports Akane, encouraging her to follow her heart.
She meets Saito later in the story and likes him because he’s kind to Akane. Suzune’s role is small but important, as her condition gives Akane a strong motivation and adds emotional depth to the story.
Akane’s Grandmother
Akane’s grandmother is a kind but firm old woman who helps arrange Akane and Saito’s marriage alongside Tenryu. She has gray hair and a gentle smile but is serious about family duties.
She loves Akane and Suzune and wants to secure their future, especially since Suzune’s illness puts financial strain on the family. Akane’s grandmother believes the marriage will give Akane stability and support her dream to become a doctor.
She’s not in the story much, but her decision to push Akane into the marriage shapes the plot. Unlike Tenryu, she’s warmer and checks on Akane to make sure she’s okay. Her role is to add emotional weight to Akane’s choices, showing how family love and pressure influence her life.
Media Adaptations :
YouTube Manga
- ‣ Released – March 2020
- ‣ Platform – Manga Angel Neko Oka YouTube channel
- ‣ Details – The original version of the story, with simple art and voice acting. It gained a big following, leading to other adaptations.
- ‣ Status – Some chapters are still online, but the focus shifted to the light novel and manga.
Light Novel
- ‣ Written by – Seiju Amano
- ‣ Illustrated by – Nanami Narumi
- ‣ Published – December 2020 to January 2025 by Media Factory (MF Bunko J)
- ‣ Volumes – 10 total
- ‣ English Release – Licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment, with translations starting in 2022.
- ‣ Details – Expands the YouTube manga’s story with more details about Saito and Akane’s lives and side characters.
Manga
- ‣ Drawn by – Mosskonbu
- ‣ Published – May 2021 on Kadokawa Shoten’s Shōnen Ace Plus website
- ‣ Volumes – 7 as of March 2025
- ‣ English Release – Licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment
- ‣ Details – Follows the light novel closely but adds fun visuals. The art is colorful and expressive.
Anime
- ‣ Aired – January 3 to March 21, 2025 (12 episodes)
- ‣ Studios – Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ
- ‣ Director – Hiroyuki Oshima
- ‣ Streaming – Crunchyroll (titled I’m Getting Married to a Girl I Hate in My Class), Aniplus Asia (Southeast Asia)
