Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile
のだめカンタービレ (Nodame Cantabile)
Demographic	Josei
Genre	Comedy, Slice of life, Romance
Manga
Author	Tomoko Ninomiya
Publisher	Kodansha
Other publishers: Del Rey NED Comics Elex Media Komputindo Tong Li Comics
Serialized in	Kiss
Original run	July 10, 2001 – Ongoing
Volumes	19
TV drama
Director	Takeuchi Hideki, Kawamura Yasuhiro
Network	Fuji TV
Original run	October 16 2006 – December 25 2006
Episodes	11
TV anime
Director	Kenichi Kasai
Studio	J.C.Staff
Network	Fuji TV (Noitamina)
Original run	January 11 2007 – June 28 2007
Episodes	23

Nodame Cantabile (のだめカンタービレ, Nodame Kantābire^?) is an ongoing manga by Tomoko Ninomiya. It has published in Japan by Kodansha in the magazine Kiss since 2001 and collected in 19 tanokobon volumes to date (as of December 2007). It is licensed in North America by Del Rey Manga. The series received the 2004 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo.^[1] When volume 19 was released in November 2007, the Japanese Comic Ranking at #1 at its debut. The series has been adapted twice on television, as a live-action drama that aired in 2006 and as an anime series that aired in 2007; in addition, a game based on the manga was announced for the Nintendo DS, for release in Spring 2007.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Characters 3 Music 3.1 Live action 3.2 Anime 3.3 List of anime episodes 4 References 5 External links

Plot

Shinichi Chiaki is the top piano student at the Momogaoka College of Music and an excellent violinist, but Chiaki doesn't care about playing these instruments as much as he dreams of someday being a conductor. Chiaki, however, has several deeply rooted fears about traveling, and so finds himself "trapped" in Japan. Because he's trapped, Chiaki starts to question exactly how far he can possibly go in music, especially when he's passed over again and again for others he believes less worthy of musical scholarship and fame. Recently dumped by his girlfriend for a "ham" looking fellow, passed over for a chance to go overseas, and removed from his star spot in the piano competition because he walked out on his piano instructor, Chiaki is at his limit. This is when he meets Nodame, or Megumi Noda. Nodame is a free — and filthy — spirit who reminds Chiaki that music can be fun and what drew him to be a conductor in the first place. In learning how to deal with Nodame, Chiaki learns how to deal with others. Chiaki begins to realize what is possible for him, even within the country of Japan. For Nodame, Chiaki is everything she isn't. Clean, neat, dedicated, studious and inherently arrogant about his accomplishments and capabilities, Chiaki constantly bullies her into being more serious about life. He sees potential in her and her abilities as a pianist that she doesn't care about. She loves Chiaki and wants to be with him. But, because she's serious about neither her piano studies nor her personal hygiene, Chiaki always denies her affections. Drawn together in a turbulent relationship, Chiaki's perfectionism and Nodame's untamed nature end up complementing each other. As the story progresses, they mature as individuals, as musicians and as a couple. Manga progresses the story further than anime.

Characters

Megumi Noda (野田 恵, Noda Megumi^?)

• Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi
• Japanese Live action actor: Juri Ueno

Also known as Nodame (のだめ, Nodame^?), which is a portmanteau of her family name and the first mora of her given name. Twenty-one year old Noda is a free-spirited 3rd-year music student and a complete slob. Her cooking and and cleaning skills are atrocious to the point of having mushrooms growing on her clothes, however she is an incredibly talented pianist who primarily plays by ear, in a Cantabile style. In love with Chiaki, she follows him around constantly and leans on him to help her get through sticky situations. She sometimes compulsively needs to play the piano and has been known to neglect everything in order to do it. She also seems to enjoy childish manga and movies. She is constantly hungry, and is always fed by Chiaki. She also steals many lunches from her fellow friend, Maki.

Nodame's character is based on a real-life counterpart with same name.^[2]

Shinichi Chiaki (千秋 真一, Chiaki Shinichi^?)

• Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki
• Japanese Live action actor: Hiroshi Tamaki

Chiaki is twenty-two years old and a 4th-year piano student at Momogaoka Music Academy. He is an accomplished pianist and violinist, but is also known to be a perfectionist and highly critical of himself and others. He seems to be rich, and is a fairly good cook. He seems to think that most "poor" people, (a.k.a Sakura Saku) are like the little match girl. While he dreams of studying abroad and becoming a famous conductor like his mentor, Sebastino Viera, he must overcome his fear of flying and the sea to do so. He quickly develops a sort of empathy with Nodame when he discovers her hidden potential to be a great pianist.

Ryutaro Mine (峰 龍太郎, Mine Ryūtarō^?)

• Voiced by: Shinji Kawada
• Japanese Live action actor: Eita

4th-year Violin student. His father owns a Chinese restaurant "Uraken" right next to the university. He is something of a prima donna whose violin technique is seen by himself to be deeply personal but by others to be simply sloppy. He sees Chiaki as a rival for attention and tries hard to compete with his "Princely" image of him. He likes Nodame for her free-spirited ways. He is the concertmaster of the S Orchestra conducted by Chiaki, and a violinist in the R-S Orchestra. He is also the one who thought that performing like Jimi Hendrix, and adding a touch of 'rock' would give quality despite that it looks dumb in an original orchestra (as stated by Chiaki).

Masumi Okuyama (奥山 真澄, Okuyama Masumi^?)

• Voiced by: Yoshinori Fujita
• Japanese Live action actor: Keisuke Koide

A claustrophobic 4th-year timpanist (percussion), who is an okama. He has the body of a male, but a mind of a female. He developed a crush on Chiaki. Since Nodame starts to hang out with Chiaki, he considers her as a rival and often bullies her (and anyone else who dares to get close to Chiaki-sama). Despite his idiosyncrasies, he excels on his percussion skills, earning him the title of "Queen of Percussion" and a place in the S and R-S orchestras conducted by Chiaki.

Maestro Franz von Stresemann (フランツ・フォン・シュトレーゼマン, Furantsu Fon Shutorēzeman^?)

• Voiced by: Shinji Ogawa
• Japanese Live action actor: Naoto Takenaka

Stresemann is a highly-respected internationally famous conductor who comes to Momogaoka Music Academy as a guest instructor. In love with the Academy's Director, he comes as a favor and immediately is pegged as an oddball lech. Perverted, demanding, and not at all dignified, Stresemann seems to be opposite of what his reputation makes him. Stresemann, however, immediately takes to Nodame and Chiaki, and even accepts Chiaki as his (one and only) apprentice. His wild behavior constantly gets Chiaki in trouble, but he also teaches him how to feel and express music in a way that only he can.

Saiko Tagaya (多賀谷 彩子, Tagaya Saiko^?)

• Voiced by: Hitomi Nabatame
• Japanese Live action actor: Misa Uehara

Chiaki's former girlfriend. A rich songstress student who suffers heartbreak throughout the story. Despite pretending that she no longer cares for Chiaki, Saiko's been in love with him all along. Later on, she realizes that Chiaki never truly cared for her- he loved her voice, and her voice alone.

Sakura Saku (佐久 桜, Saku Sakura^?)

• Voiced by: Mamiko Noto
• Japanese Live action actor: Saeko

A double bass player whose family was in trouble because despite her father's business is about to bankrupt, however: he did not want to part with his collection of rare violins, until he got some "persuasion" from Chiaki. A student of very short height, Sakura was mistaken as an elementary student, when she first came into the orchestra, and as her instrument is too much larger than herself, people usually do not see her when she is carrying it on her back, thinking it is moving by itself.

Kouzou Etoh (江藤 耕造, Etō Kōzō^?)

• Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai
• Japanese Live action actor: Kosuke Toyohara

A piano teacher also known as the "Harisen teacher", because he always carries one during his class which uses to punish his students for their mistakes. He was Chiaki's teacher at the start of the story, until he was abandoned by him. One day he listened one of Nodame's performances and decided to become her teacher, even if refused by her. He eventually gives up his harisen in order to convince Nodame to take lessons from him.

Kiyora Miki (三木 清良, Miki Kiyora^?)

• Voiced by: Sanae Kobayashi
• Japanese Live action actor: Asami Mizukawa

A prodigious violinist Chiaki met at the Nina Lutz's seminar, she joins him to form the R-S Orchestra as his concertmaster. She also becomes Mine's girlfriend.

In the live-action version, she was a student of Momogaoka and concertmaster of A Orchestra, where she became friends with Masumi.

Yasunori Kuroki (黒木 泰則, Kuroki Yasunori^?)

• Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze
• Japanese Live action actor:Seiji Fukushi

An oboe player who falls for Nodame at first sight (oblivious to her true nature) and performs the inaugural solo of the R-S orchestra. Because he tends to be phlegmic and quiet, many members of the R-S orchestra think of him as "samurai-like".

Toru Kikuchi (菊池 亨, Kikuchi Tōru^?)

• Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe

A womanizing Cello player and one of the founders of the R-S Orchestra along Chiaki, Miki, and Kuroki.

Li Yunlong (李 雲龍, Li Yunlong^?)

One of Nodame's friends that she meets in Paris. He is Chinese and tends to become very sentimental - especially when homesickness is mentioned.

Music

Live action

Opening theme

1st movement from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, played by the Nodame Orchestra, conducted by Toshiaki Umeda

Ending theme

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, played by the Nodame Orchestra, conducted by Toshiaki Umeda

* The Nodame Orchestra consists of members specially selected for the live action drama, and receives professional support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.

Anime

Opening theme

"Allegro Cantabile Sound" by Suemitsu & The Suemith

Ending themes

1. "Konna ni Chikaku de..." by Crystal Kay (episodes 1–12)
2. "Sagittarius" by Suemitsu & the Nodame Orchestra (episodes 13–22)
3. "Allegro Cantabile Sound" by Suemitsu & The Suemith (episode 23)

List of anime episodes

#	Title	Original air date
01	"Lesson 1"	January 11 2007
Shinichi Chiaki was almost giving up his dream of becoming a conductor, until he met Megumi Noda, also known as "Nodame". The pieces performed in the episode are Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns (brief), Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major "Emperor" by Ludwig Van Beethoven (brief), Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 13 "Adagio Cantabile" by Ludwig Van Beethoven (brief) and 2-Piano Sonata in D Major, K.448/375a by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
02	"Lesson 2"	January 18 2007
Ryutaro Mine is a violinist who needed a piano player for his violin jury. But when he chooses Nodame as his partner, little did he know his troubles were just beginning. The piece performed in the episode is Sonata No. 5 "Spring" for Violin and Piano, Op. 24 by Ludwig Van Beethoven.
03	"Lesson 3"	January 25 2007
An admirer of Chiaki, timpanist Masumi Okuyama becomes jealous of Nodame's relationship with him, and torments her with pranks. To sort out their rivalry, they compete to see who can snag a date with Chiaki on Christmas Eve. The piece performed in the episode is a jazz arrangement of Chiaki's composition arranged by Nodame, Mine, and Masumi.
04	"Lesson 4"	February 1 2007
A foreigner visits Chiaki's school and becomes friends with Nodame. Chiaki refuses to let him into his house because of his perverted behavior. It turns out the foreigner is Maestro Franz von Stresemann and is attending the school as head of the conducting department. Chiaki, interested in changing his major to conducting, gets rejected by the new professor who is apparently at odds with Chiaki's former "teacher", Vieira. The piece performed in the episode is Fantaisie Impromptu, Op. 66 by Frédéric Chopin (brief).
05	"Lesson 5"	February 8 2007
With Stresemann knocked out cold, Nodame "convinces" Chiaki to be substitute conductor for the special orchestra. Chiaki agrees and finds out that the group he's conducting is out of synch. As the rehearsal falls apart, Stresemann takes over and demonstrates everything that Chiaki failed to do. Stresemann finally accepts Chiaki as his student but tells him to remain a piano major. The piece performed in the episode is Symphony No. 7, Op. 92 by Ludwig Van Beethoven.
06	"Lesson 6"	February 15 2007
The S orchestra is to perform before the A orchestra at the upcoming concert. However, Stresemann takes "business" leave and Chiaki is forced to take his place conducting the S orchestra. In a twist of events, Stresemann quits the S orchestra and in revenge against Chiaki, plans to lead the A orchestra in humiliating the S orchestra at the concert. With the concert just a week away, Chiaki becomes the S orchestra's new conductor. The piece performed in the episode is Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 "Eroica" by Ludwig Van Beethoven.
07	"Lesson 7"	February 22 2007
Chiaki is still having trouble getting the orchestra into shape, and everyone's confidence shatters under his harsh criticisms. With help from Nodame, Chiaki finally realizes Stresemann's reasoning behind the S Orchestra just in time for the concert subscription series, and the S Orchestra manages to impress their audience with an unorthodox display. The piece performed in the episode is Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 "Eroica" by Ludwig Van Beethoven.
08	"Lesson 8"	March 1 2007
Chiaki is asked to leave the S orchestra to play the piano solo of Piano Concerto No.2 by Sergei Rachmaninov as requested by Stresseman for the A orchestra. It is revealed that Stresseman was asked by his ex-lover, a member of the academy's board of directors to instruct Chiaki in conducting. The piece performed by Nodame towards the end of the episode is Etude N° 4 in C Sharp Minor by Frédéric Chopin. The short piece that was played by Stresseman's ex is an excerpt from Nocturne Op 55 No. 1 in F minor, also by Frédéric Chopin.
09	"Lesson 9"	March 8 2007
Stresseman sends Chiaki, Nodame, Mine, and Masumi to a musical festival where each takes lessons from famous musicians in order to better their playing. An unprepared Mine is quickly overwhelmed by the many talented musicians there. Meanwhile, Chiaki is ordered to look out for Stresemann and thanks to Stresemann's hangover, is also made to conduct an orchestra (the piece performed is the Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76, B. 54, by Antonín Dvořák). Nodame is yelled at by the festival director, Nina Lutz, for not having motivation. At the end, however, after much practice, Nodame plays Bartok's Allegro Barbaro magnificently, but disappears from the practice room just as Lutz comes to see who was just playing.
10	"Lesson 10"	March 15 2007
The school festival is here and the S Orchestra is to perform without the aid of Chiaki, who is busy practicing with the A Orchestra with their performance. Chiaki discovers what was missing from his playing courtesy of the S Orchestra, but Stresemann tells him to disregard it for their upcoming performance after insisting on it throughout all his practices. The pieces performed in this episode are Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff (brief) and Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin (pianica version).
11	"Lesson 11"	March 22 2007
It is finally Stresemann, Chiaki, and the A Orchestra's turn to perform for the school's fall festival. They manage to captivate the audience with their Rachmaninoff performance. Chiaki and Stresemann go their separate ways as Stresemann returned to Europe the next day. Nodame becomes desperate to perform in an orchestra like Chiaki and is left with a message and present from Stresemann. Saiko, still thinking about Chiaki, comes by for a visit. Nodame also comes by after practicing Rachmaninoff for days without bathing and hardly any food. The piece performed in this episode is Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
12	"Lesson 12"	April 12 2007
Chiaki and Nodame perform Rachmaninoff on two pianos and cause quite a stir attracting an audience including Saiko and Etou-sensei. Later Chiaki meets with the writers from Classic Life magazine and they try to investigate why Chiaki is still in Japan when he could be going abroad. Nodame goes around bringing candy to various 4th year students in the S Orchestra as they reflect on their experience playing under Chiaki and on their future as graduation looms around the corner. The piece performed in the episode is Piano Concerto No. 2 (for 2 pianos 4 hands) by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
13	"Lesson 13"	April 19 2007
It's graduation time at the Momogaoka College of Music and its graduating students (including Chiaki and Masumi) put on a performance of various classical pieces for their graduation recital. Kiyora, the former concert mistress of the Nina Lutz Seminar Youth Orchestra, proposes to Chiaki her idea of assembling an orchestra. She invites Chiaki in as their conductor. Needless to say, she also requests that Chiaki and his "superstar" status to invite some of the elite musicians (cellist, violinist, and oboist) into the orchestra. The S Orchestra has their final get together as they disband and move on. The pieces performed in the episode are Concerto for Flute and Percussion by André Jolivet and Mephisto Waltz No. 1 (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke) by Franz Liszt.
14	"Lesson 14"	April 26 2007
Under rather bizarre circumstances, Nodame makes a visit to the home in which Chiaki grew up, meets his family, and even makes dinner for them (onigiri and nabe). Since the passing of Chiaki's grandfather, tensions seem to have risen within the family, nearly to a breaking point. The pair end up staying over night, and when a nightmare wakes Chiaki, he retreats to his grandfather's audio room. Upon waking to the sound of the opera, Nodame finds Chiaki in the study, listening to records. Eager to play, she convinces him to accompany her on the violin while she plays the piano. There are no pieces performed in this episode; however, Chiaki listens to Matthäuspassion by Johann Sebastian Bach in his Grandfather's audio room.
15	"Lesson 15"	May 3 2007
Chiaki's relatives are awaken by Chiaki and Nodame's playing. Both uncle and cousin agree that Chiaki should continue his music studies. Just before leaving Chiaki and his relatives all agree that Nodame should become a concert pianist and not a kindergarten teacher (seeing as she will be bullied). Nodame is perturbed and decides to go home by herself (as opposed to riding a taxi with Chiaki). Later, back in school, Chiaki meets up with Kiyora (violin), Kuroki (oboe), and Kikuchi (cello) to discuss the new orchestra they were about to "build". Meanwhile, Nodame has been officially transferred to Etou-sensei (famous for his white fan for hitting people with). Later that night, Chiaki goes to a drinking party of the new orchestra deciding the piece of their first performance. Mine's father called and said that Nodame dropped by to look for Chiaki but did not eat anything. The piece performed in this episode is Violin Sonata (Sonata for Violin and Piano) op.82 by Edward Elgar.
16	"Lesson 16"	May 10 2007
The R-S Orchestra starts rehearsing for their first concert, while Nodame and her new teacher finally come to an agreement.
17	"Lesson 17"	May 17 2007
Nodame finishes her last "Moja Moja" song and now must do her part in her deal with Etou sensei. Meanwhile, some members of the R-S Orchestra take a break on rehearsals to dedicate to their solo competitions. The piece performed in this episode is Symphonie Espagnole, op. 21 - 1. Allegro non troppo by Édouard Lalo.
18	"Lesson 18"	May 24 2007
Finally the time comes for the R-S Orchestra's first concert.
19	"Lesson 19"	May 31 2007
After the concert, Nodame uses hypnotism to cure Chiaki's fear of flying. The pieces performed in this episode are Symphony no.1 in c minor by Johannes Brahms, Piano Sonata D845 by Franz Schubert, and Transcendental Etude No. 5 "Feux Follets" by Franz Liszt.
20	"Lesson 20"	June 7 2007
Nodame advances through the preliminaries of the Maradona piano competition, while the R-S Orcherstra's fame increases, drawing more and more attention. The pieces performed in this episode are Piano Sonata D845 by Schubert, Prelude and fugue no.16 (only the fugue) WTK book 2 by Bach, Etude Op. 10, No. 4 by Chopin, Transcendental Etude No. 5 "Feux Follets" by Liszt and L'Isle Joyeuse by Debussy.
21	"Lesson 21"	June 14 2007
Nodame makes it to the final round, but an untimely fever from practicing too much sets her back as it now becomes a race against time to finish memorizing the pieces for the final round. Just when the pressure couldn't have been anymore heavier, she runs into a colleague from her childhood, Segawa Yuuto, which in turn brings back her bad memories she had repressed. Chiaki, on the other hand, has his hands full with the new violinist, but attends the Maradona finals to observe Nodame and the other contestants. The pieces performed in this episode are Variations on a Theme of Paganini by Johannes Brahms, Gaspard de la nuit by Joseph-Maurice Ravel, Piano Sonata No. 23 Op. 57 by Ludwig Van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 K.310 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 2 in G minor by Robert Schumann and Petrushka by Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky.
22	"Lesson 22"	June 21 2007
Nodame is in deep trouble as her train of thought is robbed at an unfortunate moment. She leaves the competition hall disappointed as well as Chiaki who had hoped she would goto Europe with him. The New Year's concert is around the corner and Chiaki has yet to inform the Rising-Star Orchestra of his pending departure from Japan as well as his replacement conductor, Matsuda. Sakuma also shares his reasons as to why he had helped Chiaki throughout his past 2 years starting from his Rachmaninoff performance. The pieces performed in this episode are Petrushka by Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune by Claude Debussy, Carmen Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate, and Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche Op.28 by Richard Strauss.
23	"Lesson 23"	June 28 2007
Chiaki conducts his last piece with the Rising Star Orchestra and contemplates how he even got there in the first place. With Nodame still away in Okawa, Chiaki is urged to persuade her to return to piano by visiting her home town after the concert. Chiaki and Nodame share an intimate moment at the riverbed as her father catches sight of them from his boat. Chiaki and Nodame will be looking forward to seeing each other in Europe. The pieces performed in the episode are Symphony No. 7, Op. 92 by Ludwig Van Beethoven and Piano Sonata D845 by Franz Schubert.

References

External links

• Nodame Cantabile live-action Official site (Fuji TV, Japanese)
• Nodame Cantabile anime official site (Japanese)
• Nodame Cantabile Official NDS Game Site (Japanese)
• Tomoko Ninomiya's Web: official site of the mangaka of Nodame (Japanese)
• Nodame Cantabile live-action @ Drama Wiki