I adore this manga. I think it's one of the justifications of reading StudentXTeacher shoujo in general. There's something incredibly pure about their love, and it somehow seems less ridiculous than how other series make it. It's not just "falling in love at first sight," but beginning to appreciate the other's personality and who they are.

This manga is basically about the flip side to the student-teacher relationship. In other shoujo, it's all about the "forbidden" aspect to the thing, but in this manga, it really focuses in on the student's burden, or rather what the student has to give up to date the teacher. "Sensei!" has plenty of character growth, most of which circles around the fact that in order to date an adult, you really have to be an adult yourself, or it's not really a relationship. (This fact is one that most shoujo manga tend to completely ignore, which makes the entire thing feel like a) pedophilia b) a big mistake or c) a guardian and his/her charge). That fact is also what I think makes this a masterpiece despite the sub-standard art in the beginning.

Hibiki grows into someone actually mature (with a personality, mind you), that the reader is bound to like, and Itou grows into someone more affectionate and willing to trust the ones he cares about. The side characters are not there for decoration, but propel the plot forward in their own ways, with their development astounding as well. I'm still not sure I could have stomached Chigusa as a main character, but she grew into someone almost likable.

One of the points I can't praise enough is the main character. She's not exceptionally smart, but she actually studies and (OMG!) earns good grades. Therefore, she is not the stereotypical stupid shoujo heroine. Though I have to admit, I could have jumped for joy when I found out that the plot has nothing to do with her failing some subject and having to go to extra lessons in which she falls in love with a teacher. She becomes gradually more mature, and though there was never a lot of crying in this manga, becomes someone strong enough to actually look up to.

There is much more I could say (even without spoiling the plot), but if you're willing to look past the art in the beginning, I think anyone could enjoy this manga. It's sweet, but not saccharine.

Pretty standard shojo. The heroine is toted as being emotionally strong just because only cries every other second, while the guy's passiveness and shallowness is masqueraded as aloofness and maturity. For fuck's sake, if the teacher would've just taken two damn minutes to explain to her what was going on, they wouldn't have had that initial breakup. And of course, no apology or explanation from the teacher in the end either, just the heroine once again clinging onto him and apologizing, despite it being his fault.

If I were to pick the best Teacher-student manga out there, this might be it. It was also my first, so I might be a little biased...but still, it's a truly good manga.

Hibiki is calm and composed, not weak and doormat-ish, which is very refreshing- it's unlike a lot of mangas where the student is extremely weak-willed and overly-emotional. I think there's some good chemistry between her and Itoh (>>

It's not overly dramatic, it's got realism, and I personally loved the ending. This is a series that's worth reading. :3

I can actually stand (and enjoy) it, compared to other completely overdone, forced teacher/student manga. Sensei! definitely is held in high esteem by me. And the art isn't very good, but who cares? Everything else compensates for it a thousand times over.

If you enjoyed Sensei! You might like Umi no Teppen.

... Last updated on September 1st, 2013, 6:49am

I agree with ChibiShana, regarding the way their relationship is developing slowly.. though maybe too slowly.. 20 volumes too slowly!!! 10 could've been enough too ^^"
Too bad nobody translates it anymore.. coz I've just finished reading until the 19th vol. in Japanese and mannnnn it is harsh!!! since my Japanese is... blahhh so my babylon is quite useful here ^.^
can't wait to see how it'll end!!!
Thus far I've enjoyed this manga sooo much!! coz it's not like other teacherXstudent mangas, that are'nt real at times. This manga gives you the feeling that it may actually happen... even though it is "forbidden" etc. etc.

The way it is written draws you in. The writing is very realistic. That is why this story touches your heart. You enjoy it and want to keep on reading. The side characters compliment the story but for me the highlight was the dynamics between the two main characters, Hibiki and her sensei. I enjoyed the development of the story, their own characters and their romance.
I would love to read more romance stories written as delicately as this. There arent many of them and I believe there is a huge market for this kind of story. I love this as much as the manga Kiss (which also is about a girl infatuated with her teacher), and I can draw parallels between them as they are both very well written. The romance is steady, gradual and cultivated at a slow and gradual pace. Very nice, indeed!
Regarding the art, yes it is not that good. But because the story is beautiful I wasnt put off and still enjoyed the manga.

... Last updated on September 28th, 2009, 5:42am

I started reading this manga a few years ago when it wasn't totally scanlated, and only just completed a full read-through prior to writing this. I really love this series and already miss it. x

There's lots of things that make this manga special. The 'natural' feel of it is one - school kids acting their age, with all of the issues/insecurities that entails, Itou-sensei actually acting like an adult and a teacher (their are a number of teacher/student manga that make their sensei's totally unrealistic), the pace of the romance, and the fact that the protagonist is actually a very very regular girl rather then being popular and gorgeous.
Another is the ability to make you actually care about ALL of the characters, not just the main pairing (personally I really loved Itou - wish he'd been my sensei! - and Kousuke - telling it like it is!). Somehow the fact that none of these characters are perfect, or rather, the fact that they all have quite human flaws, makes you becomes that much more invested in them. By the end (graduation) I started to get a bit emotional along with the characters as they farewelled their years together, and a bit nostalgic about all of the things that had happened since Hibiki first confessed to Itou-sensei, 'I really like you!'.

Having said all that, I do have some small problems with it, too.
Firstly, the lack of growth in Hibiki, the main character. I mean, she did eventually show more maturity and less-overreacting, but it came across as her simply becoming dull as now she was showing very little of any reaction, and the lack of interaction between her and Itou in the last few chapters didn't help. What the mangaka tried to portray as her sense of comfort in the matured stage of their relationship instead came across as a lack of almost all emotions, even those that are natural and would have made sense given the situation (particularly that final scene - dunno about you but I would have showed a whole lot more joy if I were her!).

Honestly I think what was really missing was a short spin-off, which would have fixed the problem mentioned in the paragraph above. It would have been great to see how the 3 pairings were faring about a year or two after they've left school - how things had developed and how their interactions with each other had changed with their circumstances. I was left feeling like it was a bit lacking in closure because of this, or was almost 'open ended', particularly after such a long journey!

But all in all, the negatives are a speck in comparison to the positives, and I'd recommend this manga to anyone looking for a warm, easy-going romance featuring a teacher you'll love!

... Last updated on January 24th, 2016, 6:41am

This manga is somewhat quite realistic, to the point, and the last part kinda remind me of lord of study.
Some might say the heroine is a bit of a crybaby but I think it's her characteristic, or maybe she is just too emotional, dating someone is so different must be very difficult, hence the drama.
There is great development in each characters and I personally like this mangaka a lot since in her mangas there is this whole long walk with the couple throughout there relationship, you can see the bond, the seriousness and you can have this certainty that they will be happily ever after.
The friendship is so surreal, and it make me feel so jelly, love it a bunch.
The art is quite nice for a 1996 manga, don't put too much thought to it or you will miss a real game changer in this genre (student - teacher)
The romance isn't over the top, it's like you just have to keep reading n reading and every moe stuff is just precious and adorable. This manga really gives off a serious feeling
I seriously read this in one go

... Last updated on February 27th, 2015, 9:26am

After (Finally!) remembering my user name, I checked to see what my lists were, and I saw that this was still in my reading list even though I had finished it.
I was curious as to why, and found that there was an extra released only 9 days ago! So of course I had to read it ^-^ I'm really glad I did. It was a really nice background for the teacher. I'm defintely going to re-read this wonderful story.

This title I turned down because of its artwork. For some reason I can't come to like it. Can't even say exactly what I don't like about it. It's too sketchy, esp. the eyes are not appealing at all. So empty. ;_; Esp. for emotional themed mangas I want art that does display it in subtle ways (like a snicker or a glimpse or a sigh etc.) as well and not only words that decribe the feelings.
Didn't like the artwork from the start and didn't come to like it after 12 chapters.

I don't mind the slow development and high-school setting clichés. It's actually sweet and nice and usually I like such light themes (like Switch my student x teacher fave from the shoujo genre) but no use to continue when I'm not enjoyed. A pity.

The first manga I drop because I can't cope with its art oO But I tried till the end of volume 2.
But since it has like 20 volumes I think it'll be a dragging one too - so maybe I'm not that disappointed that I gave up on it.

If you don't mind it then you'll get to read a nice and heart warming story. Nothing new but always nice to read every now and then