The story is set at Hakujō Academy, a private high school in Japan, and centers around Yūto Ayase and his classmate Haruka Nogizaka. While Yūto is rather ordinary, Haruka is very attractive, intelligent, and wealthy, making her the school's most unattainable girl who is idolized by her peers. One day, Yūto's good friend Nobunaga Asakura asks him to return a book to the school library, and when he goes to return it, Yūto stumbles across Haruka. It's then that he learns she's been keeping a secret for years—she is a diehard fan of anime, manga, and the otaku culture. Yūto promises to keep his lips sealed, since Haruka's hobby is considered unworthy of her status, and the two become close friends and start spending much of their time together. Yūto does his best to help hide Haruka's hobby while further developing his relationship with her.
The Nogizaka family maid team follows a ranking system. For some unspecified reason, the second highest ranking maid is missing. ;Hazuki Sakurazaka ;Nanami Nanashiro ;Minamo Kusumoto ;Maria Yukinohara ;Koayu Nagikawa ;Ayame Rokujō, Sara Rokujō, Juri Rokujō ;Alistia Rein ;Rio Munakata ;Iwai Hinasaki
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu began as a series of light novels written by Yūsaku Igarashi, and drawn by Shaa. The series originally started serialization in MediaWorks' now-defunct light novel magazine Dengeki hp with the release of volume 30 on June 18, 2004. A second chapter was published in volume 31 of the same magazine on August 21, 2004. Less than two months later on October 10, 2004, the first bound volume of the series was published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko publishing imprint, and as of January 10, 2012, 15 volumes have been published. The final volume will be released on July 10, 2012. Additional chapters have also been published in Dengeki hp volumes: 34, 35, 41, and 47. The Mainichi Shimbun reported that as of January 2008, over 700,000 copies of the first seven volumes have been sold.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Yasuhiro Miyama was serialized in ASCII Media Works' seinen manga magazine Dengeki Moeoh between the October 2006 and August 2010 issues. Four tankōbon volumes were sold under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comics imprint from November 15, 2007 to November 27, 2010.
Audio dramas
A four-episode radio drama, which first aired on October 27, 2007 aired on ASCII Media Works' radio program Dengeki Taishō. An hour long drama CD which adds to the story from the second episode of the radio broadcast was released on January 10, 2008. The voices provided for both dramas were the same, and the same cast was used for the anime adaptation.
Anime
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu was adapted into a 12-episode anime adaptation, and was broadcast in Japan between July 3 and September 25, 2008 on the Chiba TV broadcasting network. The anime is produced by Studio Barcelona and directed by Munenori Nawa. Six DVD compilation volumes were released by Geneon Entertainment between September 26, 2008 and February 27, 2009. A Blu-ray disc box set of the series was released in Japan on September 26, 2009. The opening theme, "Tomadoi Bitter Tune", is performed by Miran Himemiya and Chocolate Rockers. The ending theme, "Hitosashiyubi Quiet!", is performed by Kana Ueda, Mai Goto, Rina Satō, Kaori Shimizu and Mamiko Noto, the various voice actresses for the main characters of the anime collectively known as The N's. A second anime series entitled Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza was announced for production in a pamphlet included with the tenth Spice and Wolf light novel volume. This series is again directed by Munenori Nawa and produced by Studio Barcelona under the name Diomedéa. The second season aired 12 episodes between October 6 and December 22, 2009 in Japan. The opening theme is "Chōhatsu Cherry Heart" by Milan Himemiya and Chocolate Rockers. The ending theme is "Himitsu Suishō! Uru to Love" by The N's. A four-episode original video animation series titled Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Finale was released between August 29 and November 28, 2012.
Visual novels
A visual novel based on the series for the PlayStation 2 developed by Vridge is published by ASCII Media Works and was released on September 25, 2008 in Japan entitled Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Cosplay Hajimemashita. A second video novel, also developed by Vridge and published by ASCII Media Works, is titled Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Dōjinshi Hajimemashita and was originally released as a five-part digital download online playable on the PlayStation Portable. A Universal Media Disc version of the game was sold on October 28, 2010.
