"Sound is a language." Have you ever heard this saying? It might sound unbelievable, but there is indeed a certain magic in sound. What's even more fascinating is that it applies to both the player and the listener.
A good musician is someone who can convey their message through sound. It doesn't matter whether the sound includes lyrics or is purely instrumental.
Take Depapepe, for example, this duo conveys emotions through their music. Simply by building up the right vibes within it.
Kono Oto Tomare portrays this through its story, art, drama, and a touch of romance. Are you curious to know how? Let's delve deeper together.
A Brief Review of the Manga's Premise
Chika Kudo, a young student from a broken home, finally finds his purpose in life. Having survived the most severe problem in Junior High, Chika enrolls at Tokise High School.
He wants to join the Koto Club because his grandpa is one of the founding members. For him, this is a way to express his love and honor his grandpa's legacy.
Unfortunately, the club is on the verge of disbanding as it only has one member—the president, Takezo Kurata.
Then, he meets Satowa Hozuki, a prodigy from prestigious Koto schools, who wishes to join the club. Chika—who is a former delinquent—knows nothing about Koto. In contrast, Satowa has a wealth of expertise and deep understanding of the instrument.
Those three will embark on a new journey in their high school life with Tokise's Koto Club. A journey of growth and discovering the profound connection between music and life.
What Makes It Stand Out
The Lovely and Beautifully Narrative Art
The art is beautiful, realistic, and detailed. You can feel the characters' emotions, dramatic tension, and romantic elements in it.
As a result, the art captures the "white and black aspects" of the story very well. When the narratives delve into the deep and dark experiences of the characters, the art becomes literally "dark."
Conversely, light and open white spaces dominate during romantic or joyful tear-jerking scenes.
The art shines during Koto performances, where every stroke and panel layout reflects the rhythm and emotion of the music. You can almost hear the sound through the characters' expressions, making the experience immersive even without actual audio.
This shows how much thought has been put into capturing the essence of the Koto.
Character Development Through Storyline
If there's one thing that truly makes Kono Oto Tomare stand out, it's the character development. As the story progresses, each member of Tokise's club grows individually.
Sometimes they evolve by confronting inner struggles, and other times by tackling the club's crises.
For me, this aspect is the core of the manga, and the art serves to elevate it further. Imagine reading a well-planned story while admiring stunning artwork. What could possibly go wrong with such a combination?
Despite this, the timeline is a little bit messy as it rarely indicates a timeframe. Fortunately, you can get a sense of time for school midterms and final exams.
In my previous post about Kaoru Hana, I highlighted its shortcomings in balancing drama and romance. However, I find myself more forgiving towards Amyu's approach in Kono Oto Tomare.
Because it emphasizes on the dramatic and romantic elements, which serve as the backbone of the story.
To provide context, Kaoru Hana leans heavily into slice-of-life romance. Even so, its pacing in developing dramatic arcs feels rushed.
In contrast, Kono Oto Tomare balances its elements. Hence, it gives dramatic and romantic moments enough room to resonate with readers.
The deliberate pacing ensures that readers are emotionally invested in each character's journey. From learning to embrace vulnerabilities to reconciling with strained family ties.
Every arc, for me, feels purposeful, making the eventual musical performances even more impactful.
Crucially, this deliberate focus elevates the storytelling in the manga. I think it's what makes Kono Oto Tomare different from other romance-centred manga.
Because by doing this, readers may become immersed in the characters' and story's development. It's no surprise if you want to read this manga as quickly as you can since the story is enjoyable and well-detailed.
Final Thought on Kono Oto Tomare
As I caught up with its latest chapter, I realized one thing: the sole purpose of Kono Oto Tomare is to show how sound can manifest life itself. This message is often conveyed through Chika's grandpa, who taught him about it.
When Chika reminisces about his time living with his grandpa, you can see this message woven throughout the story. By centering on this key theme, several aspects of the narrative work together to support its delivery.
The Challenges of Learning New Music
Tokise's Koto club has Suzuka Takinami as its advisor. Coming from a well-known musical family, he chose to become a teacher instead of pursuing a career as a musician.
Despite his lack of interest in performing, he has been able to compose musical masterpieces since a young age.
Strangely, Takinami-sensei starts being the club's advisor after Chika and Satowa joined. Even though he appeared indifferent toward student activities, at the same time he allowed the members to grow.
Another thing I notice is Takinami’s original music plays an important role in the club members’ personal growth.
Speaking of learning original music, it's often difficult to envision how the piece will come together in its final form—especially for someone that is used to "imitating" ready-made music.
Takinami-sensei's compositions serve as more than just musical pieces—they act as mirrors reflecting the emotional journeys of each member. The struggle to play their assigned parts often parallels the challenges they face in their personal lives.
By navigating through these challenges—whether familial, emotional, or interpersonal—they not only improve their musical skills but also grow as individuals.
Each performance becomes a heartfelt expression of the members' growth. You can feel their emotions—their joy, pain, and triumph—in the music, making it more than just an auditory experience.
It’s a moment where their personal struggles and collective unity resonate.
Amyu recognizes this challenge and elevates it further. Through Takinami-sensei's original compositions, Amyu allows the characters to evolve, both as musicians and individuals.
There are moments when each member struggles not only with mastering their assigned parts—which is expected—but also with deeper personal issues.
This includes facing inner conflicts, dealing with family problems that interrupt their training, understanding their own feelings, or even resolving lingering issues with old friends.
Once these problems are resolved, their experiences are reflected in their Koto performances.
The culmination of their efforts is beautifully expressed in their sound, which resonates deeply with both the characters within the story and the readers experiencing it.
Although I only read the manga and could only imagine the sound through the narratives of side characters.
The thoughtful storytelling enables me to deeply immerse myself in their thoughts and emotions as they listen to Tokise's Koto club performances.
A Touch of Romance That Completes The Story
High school life without romance is hard to imagine. However, relying too heavily on this aspect can sometimes overshadow the essence of the story.
For me, an author who can balance the complexities of teenage life is truly remarkable. Amyu is undoubtedly one such author.
High school life is often filled with a whirlwind of emotions and inner struggles, as teenagers naturally grapple with finding their own identities. Moreover, this is the phase when someone tries so many things, either good or bad.
To create a story that portrays this nature of teenage characters, authors must carefully choose which problems will be central to the narrative. Teenage years are filled with explorations, mistakes, and growth, and it's crucial for authors to balance these elements in a way that feels authentic to the characters and their journey.
Humans, especially teenagers, can experience a wide range of emotions when dealing with inner struggles. However, bringing these emotions to life in a manga is a different story altogether.
It requires a delicate approach, not just in portraying the feelings, but in making sure these emotions are not only felt by the characters but also understood by the readers.
Crafting these emotional moments in a way that resonates with the audience, while also advancing the plot, is a challenging but essential task for the author.
Amyu manages to weave just the right amount of romance into the story. It's neither overwhelming nor insufficient—just perfectly balanced.
This is because Chika and Satowa have polar opposite behaviors when it comes to romance. Satowa understands her feeling well, while Chika often comes across as pure and confused about his feelings.
In the end, Satowa's shyness and Chika's boldness provide the emotional spark that readers crave.
While they focus on learning new songs and honing their Koto skills, they also manage to display just the right amount of affection.
For me, this subtle touch of romance feels like the final piece that completes the puzzle.
A Realistic Approach to Problem-Solving
High school students—or teenagers in general—often believe they can solve all their problems independently. The desire to be self-reliant and act like adults is a natural part of growing up.
Kono Oto Tomare explores this theme through several story arcs. Surprisingly, the approach never feels repetitive. Instead, you'll find each character putting their best effort into solving their own problems.
Whether it's a broken home, past trauma, lack of self-confidence, or family issues, these challenges are almost inevitable when portraying teenage life—especially for a former delinquent.
One moment truly highlights the author's realistic approach to problem-solving: when Tetsuki turns to the adults for help in resolving Chika's past struggles.
Tetsuki sought help from the teachers to handle issues that only adults could resolve, recognizing the limitations of a high schooler like himself. From an adult's perspective, especially a teacher's, early involvement in students' problems is crucial.
Early involvement allows adults to provide more effective help. For instance, they can file reports to the police or take actions that are beyond a student's capability.
On the other hand, from a student's perspective, asking for help from adults often feels like a last resort. I once believed I was mature enough to handle my high school problems on my own—and perhaps you did too.
Tetsuki's actions serve as an excellent example for readers navigating their own high school lives. It's a reminder that there are limits to what high schoolers can accomplish alone.
Asking for help from adults is about recognizing your own boundaries, not about exposing weakness.
This realistic approach resonates deeply with readers who may find themselves in similar situations.
By showing that seeking help is not only valid but essential at times, Kono Oto Tomare reinforces the importance of community and mentorship, making the story both relatable and impactful.
The Relationship of Humans, in Koto Sound
Unlike most romance manga, Kono Oto Tomare doesn't center solely on the main couple. Instead, Amyu invests effort in developing every member of Tokise's Koto club—from the president Takezo Kurata, to members like Chika, Satowa, Adachi, Kurusu, Mizuhara, and the newest additions.
This approach naturally makes each arc slightly longer compared to typical romance manga. However, it also deepens and strengthens character development.
By delving into the individual struggles and aspirations of every member, the manga creates a rich tapestry of perspectives. This inclusive storytelling ensures that readers connect with multiple characters, rather than just the leads, adding layers of emotional weight to the narrative.
The best part? Each member's growth culminates in the "climax" scenes when they play the Koto. The sound becomes a manifestation of their long journey and personal struggles.
In summary, Kono Oto Tomare masterfully "delivers" its message through compelling storytelling, nuanced character development, stunning artwork, and—of course—its portrayal of complex challenges. Ultimately, it captures the essence of human connection within the sound of the Koto.