Kono Oto Tomare!

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Firstly I want to thank user inzaratha for recommending "Kono Oto Tomare!" to those who are reading "Chihayafuru!". If not her, I might have missed this gem.

The story in this manga is great. Its premise is unoriginal, but the way it's being told and the pacing makes it highly enjoyable to read. It has some funny moments, some touching moments, and some sad and romantic moments. I've read 17 chapters at the moment and there wasn't a single one that didn't serve purpose or was boring in any way.
I give the story a 9.

One of the main strengths of "Kono Oto Tomare!" is the ... art. If not for the art, many moments wouldn't have the same emotional impact. It's really hard to describe it with words, it's better to see it for yourselves.
I give art a 10.

I really love characters in "Kono Oto Tomare!". They are very likable and interesting.
There are three main characters:

Kudou Chika - a bully and an outcast with a tragic past. Everyone fears him, but he is strong, honest, determined and really cares for his friends.

Kurata Takezou aka Four Eyes - Koto club president and the only member of the club at the beginning of the story. He is good and diligent person, but he lacks confidence.

Hozuki Satowa - One of the most beautiful girls I have seen in manga or anime. The young prodigy of the koto world. Because of her talent she is very lonely and don't have any friends.

The whole cast has a great chemistry but the chemistry between Chika and Satowa is something else. First time since "Dengeki Daisy" that I've enjoyed the interactions between two leads this much.
Characters 9.

I'm having a great time with this manga, I've read all 17 chapters in a single breath.
Enjoyment 10.

Overall I highly recommend this manga to people who like interesting personal stories with great characters and art. The only flaw "Kono Oto Tomare!" has that it's only 17 chapters long at the moment, and you'll be craving for more.
And as of final score - manga that had me on the verge of tears several times can't get anything less than 10 from me.

Kono Oto Tomare! The strawberry cheesecake for my soul, the pudding of dreams for my ears...this Sound That Makes You Stop is hands down one of my manga favorites of all time. It's relaxing, hopeful and encouraging - and a total feast to read.

*This is a spoiler free preview*

The synopsis of the story doesn't give away much and the reason I first got interested was the fact that the series seemed to revolve around koto playing. I'm a big fan of Wagakki Band and especially their koto player Kiyoshi so I was curious to see what kind of story could be made out of playing ... an old traditional instrument. Is this solely a story about music? It definitely is the main feature, the driving force to act and the means to do so, but it's also much more. This is a character-driven and character-centered story with the music on display all the time flavoring everything like a good icing on the cake.

The story itself is rather mediocre slice-of-life school club case but what sets it apart is the way it's executed. The story is crafted brilliantly to show everything just at the right time and just for the right amount, leaving the reader satisfied but still craving for more. If you're weak against underdog stories about the outsiders, the misunderstood and the mistreated and redeeming oneself...well, here you go.

The characters are the one thing that may make it or break it. Can you connect with them and care about them? There's a bunch of multi-dimensional characters you get to know, hate and love and their strength lies in that they all get room to breathe, grow and improve. It's been a delight to see different kind of relationships building up and the character interactions are always well-made and on spot. The drama is never over-prolonged but rather calm and balanced and never leaves you with negative feelings, even when it makes you cry.

The. Art. Is. To. Die. For. The style is rather realistic with clear and beautiful lines which complete the story perfectly. The characters are unique and someone might even say they're all too pretty! I want to especially mention the koto performance parts which are made skillfully to represent the feelings conveyed via playing.

Can you enjoy this even if you don't know koto music? I believe so. Deep down the story is about winning hardships and believing in yourself and the others around you. There's friendships, rivalries, slow burning romances and from time to time a feeling you get from reading a sports manga that makes you wanna scream: "Go Tokise High!"

TL;DR
Kono Oto Tomare! is a brilliantly crafted story about how the music affects peoples' lives and how it can help them to grow. Recommended for people who become easily attached to characters and want to see character development above everything else.

On the side note, if you wanna hear the music played in the series, there's an official CD release which has real-life koto players performing the pieces!

I'm surprised to see that there's not a single review for this manga, yet. Well, this will probably more of an opinion than a review, so I'm going to make it plain and simple.

The plot/story is very simple (8). A delinquent guy who actually has a soft heart especially for his friends and family, who joined a club in honour of the grandfather whom he adores so much.

This is more of a music genre. I was reluctant to read this at first because I don't exactly know what a Koto is, how it sounds like (it probably sound like a guitar or something), etc. But ... the Art (which I rated 8) is kind of enticing so I gave it a try.

The characters (8) are those you always see in a manga. But they do have good individual points that make the manga really interesting.

Enjoyment (9). There is so much this manga could offer. Too many feels. And not to mention that it's really hard to make a manga that requires music. Like I said, this is more of a music genre. I never read these kinds of manga. I watched Nodame Cantabile for the same reason. I'd rather really hear the music than just read it. Because, imagine reading a song lyrics that you don't know how it sounds like. of course, that won't give too much impact on a reader, right? But, this manga seem to have pulled it off. it might be the art. Or the sfx thingy, or the characters' expressions whenever they play the damn Koto. It could be anything. But the manga still pulled it off. I didn't know what a Koto sounds like. but I did get goosebumps during that performance in front of all the students. it was totally amazing. You get dragged in inside the manga and be one of the audience. It's a different experience for a reader like me.

A highly recommended manga :)

I started reading Kono oto Tomare! about 4 years ago and it was easily one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

At first glance, one would easily pass this over as "dull" or "predictable". However, that is not the case. Along with its amazing characterization, the plot is engaging, patient, and bountiful. Within the story, you will find many literary devices. Motifs, symbols, imagery, etc... are neatly placed to create a well-paced story that is meaningful. This can only be done if the mangaka treats their characters and story with great care and patience.

STORY: 10
The story starts off very ... cliché, with the main characters embodying examples of typical stereotypes and character tropes. These characters all want one thing: to play koto music. Thus, they manage to create a chaotic koto club. The first few chapters are funny, chaotic, and enticing. But it takes quite a turn in the later chapters and we start to see the love, pain, desperation, and hope embedded within the story. The explanation of koto and how it works isn't boring at all. It fits seamlessly within the story, allowing the audience to grow with the characters on their journey to Nationals. The story is also well-paced, but slow. However, it's certainly worth the wait.

CHARACTERS: 10
The characterization is what makes this story amazing. Each character embodies common character tropes in manga. These unique, but very different characters clash with one another, making it hard for them to get along and work together. As time progresses, they soon grow out of the character tropes and become more complex and relatable. All of the characters are given a proper backstory, and we can't help but root for them. The relationships that develop between the characters are authentic, genuine and honest. The bare bones we get from the beginning evolve into a strong foundation that sets such a strong tone for the story and characters. What do we get from these relationships? We see the importance of respect, trust, honesty, empathy, and dependability. We also see love. These characters love and respect each other (whether it be through friendship or romance). They treasure the finite time they have, which is expressed gracefully within the dialogue and art.

ART: 10
Amyuu sensei has a beautiful and clean style of art. The art evolves over the years and becomes even more gentle and careful. The characters are gorgeous and their expressions are drawn so detailed and delicate. Since we can't hear the koto music, we instead see the depiction of what it would sound like through visual imagery. Hidden within the visual imagery are metaphors, parallels, and motifs that are depicted with excellent visuals. It's incredibly hard to draw music, but Amyuu sensei does it flawlessly. To sum it up, her art style is clean, detailed, and delicate. Most importantly, we visually see everything expressed through koto music.

ENJOYMENT: 10
I personally enjoyed this manga. The characters are hilarious and have unique quirks that make them charming. The story is engaging and has its nuances that are distinguishable. I could go on and on, but I've already written so much! I've laughed, cried, and smiled numerous times. Long story short, Kono oto Tomare! brings in so many feelings.

OVERALL,
If you want to invest in an emotional story with compelling characters, this is your best bet. You learn so much about life and what it means to treasure the finite time we have. I truly respect and admire this body of work. Kono oto Tomare! will forever be included in my collection of literary masterpieces.

Like many people stumbling upon Kono Oto Tomare!, I found this from the Chihayafuru page. And I've got to say I'm not disappointed.

What I notice first about manga is the art. And I am absolutely in love with Amyuu Sakura's art. It's cute, clean, and extremely detailed. I like how it isn't too flashy like Arina Tanemura's works (she's the mangaka of Full Moon Wo Sagashite). The characters look realistic yet still have that manga vibe to them. And--brownie points!--the guys look like guys and girls look like girls. So the art is really a ten out of ten for me.

But art is just ... one component. I really like the story and characters as well. The story is pretty simple, and I can pretty much predict what would happen from this point. But what can I say, I'm a sucker for work-hard-for-common-goal-with-team-usually-in-competition stories. What really has me hooked are the characters. Specifically, the character dynamics. I especially love how their interactions are pretty normal (as in real people act like that), yet there are some typical shoujo moments. It's great, because while realistic character interactions are great and all, I still like those sa-wooon moments you get from reading shoujo. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a shounen manga. Yet I can see some itty bitty romance down the road, and it would be interesting to see how this plays out. Something I never got to see in other mangas *cough* princeoftennis.

I'm really excited for this manga and am constantly checking for updates. I see so much potential for Kono Oto Tomare! and definitely recommend it to anyone who even remotely likes work-hard-for-goal mangas.

This review only contains a few minor spoilers. Should be okay for those who haven't started yet.

I started this manga simply because I wanted an interesting change to all the romcoms I was reading. Heck, I knew romance wasn't the main genre, yet reading the premise and the other reviews, I had to give it a try.

Starting Amyuu's Kono Oto Tomare was one of the greatest decisions of my life as a general manga reader. I binged and caught up within 3 days.

I've read a large number of works. The perfectly articulated yet deeply fleshed out plot, as well as the rollercoaster of a ... journey we get taken with each individual character both in the main and supporting casts; the way Amyuu tied various hints, important lines, character backstories all back to the main plot consistently time and time again just kept pulling me in and had me glued to this manga like a parasite.

Story - 9

An interesting premise with our main MCs, coupled with the challenging journey of making it to nationals thus far. We get taken from arc to arc like jumping from one block to a higher one, slowly making our way up as if we're part of the adventure. The story, as simple yet sophisticated as it's told, is one hell of an emotional yet rewarding journey. It not only pairs with the development of our main cast beautifully, but each arc has its own tropes which make it unique. Not a 10 since some arcs were better than others, but no one can deny each one carried the plot well.

Art - 9

Very detailed and completely enhances our perception of each character in the cast wonderfully. Amyuu's simple use of full character face panels and clear distinctive effects to showcase a flashback, is really underrated. The times when we need to see the clear emotions within a koto performance, an audience's reaction, or the emotional faces of our main characters going through a hardship is well balanced and drawn. Just look at the blushing Satowa panels near the end of chp 109 - how could you not feel emotionally drawn in?

Characters - 10

This is where I feel, while everything else is also superb, the manga really shines. Sophisticated character development is hard to showcase conspicuously, yet because of the gentle pace of the story, we get an inside look at almost everyone within the main cast, their emotions, their backstories, and how that all ties back together to the main plot. Not to mention the amazing personalities of each member of the koto club, the dynamics of these personalities conflicting or supporting each other just like how it works in real life, and well written internal conflicts each character struggles to conquer. It's just simply stunning writing.

Enjoyment/Overall - 10

I think I've said all I could say from the top of my head within this review. As someone who didn't even know what a koto was and isn't a huge fan of the music genre (though I should really read more), this manga completely changed the game for me, making me realize just how powerful the plot, characters, art and technical yet simple explanations of the koto was for me to get drawn in so easily despite no initial interest in it. Not only did I start looking into more koto performances and listening to its sound, but I can't stop listening to Tenkyuu, either.

Amyuu, please keep it up. It's a beautiful tale that's criminally under-appreciated, both manga and anime.

Kono Oto Tomare is one of the most enjoyable manga's I have ever read. A combination of characters, art and storytelling has created a series that drew mean into the world of traditional Japanese music and made me feel connected to fictional characters.

The main highlight of this series is the character interactions, from the enemies to lovers of Kudo and Hozuki, to the endearing relationship of Kurata and Kurusu and finally the friendships of the koto club as a whole. Each relationship have multiple instances where development occurs and feel realistic.

The only weakness is that certain parts are a bit cliche, like the basis ... of Hozuki and Kudo's relationship as well as the beginning being a bit slow, but overall these are minor problems that are fixed and become strengths later on. As the slow burn romance pays off towards the end.

Overall, one of my favourite series and one that I will remember for a long time.

I ignored Kono Oto Tomare! for a couple of times in Manga Zone since the synopsis wasn't that interesting to me at first. But one "fateful" day, I got really bored, so I decided to give this manga a shot. And boy, was I wrong with my first perception about it. Now I know that the saying "don't judge a manga by its synopsis" is true. Because this slice-of-life manga is absolutely a solid gem!

STORY is definitely a 10.
I wanna be honest, the idea about high school clubs is a little bit cliche in my opinion. I've read mangas and have seen a lot ... of animes about clubs on the verge of being "dissolved". But Kono Oto Tomare! has a different approach to it. It has the perfect balance of friendship, humor, romance, and drama in it which makes it an engaging read. It's one of those slice-of-life mangas that make me want for more.

ART is also a 10.
I love Kono Oto Tomare not just because of the story, but also because of how it was beautifully drawn by the mangaka. The art is superb! I myself find it almost too perfect. They almost seem real to me (3D, or am I just exagerating it? lol). Those scenes where the members played the koto (especially Satowa's scene) is exceptionally breathtaking, and Sakura Amyuu really did a great job in letting us feel the magic the koto brings through her art. It seems as though I could really hear them playing the koto, and it's a good thing since not all mangakas can do that kind of "magic".

CHARACTERS=9
Rated it a 9, since I personally think that no one is perfect in this manga series. All characters in Kono Oto Tomare! each have their own flaws, which makes them more relatable. I love all of the characters since they really give me a realistic vibe and the strong bond that they created throughout the manga is really great. Their passion for playing the koto inspires me to practice playing the piano. (: Characters' development throughout the series is good too.

ENJOYMENT = 10!
Overall, it's a 10 for me. Kono Oto Tomare is all about never giving up in pursuing your goals, accepting each other's imperfections, facing your fears and developing friendship along the way. So I definitely recommend this precious manga to everyone. And hopefully, there will be an anime adaptation for this one soon.
Btw, I definitely ship Chika and Satowa. :D

There are lots of music anime and manga out there. However, this one blends drama and music well. The events of each characters life shapes their music.

All the characters are so different from one another which makes the story much more interesting. The author utilizes the characters past mistakes and experiences that shapes them and allows them to blend in through their music.

Each character is interesting and the romance is soooooo good! The development of the romance is steady and at a good pace.

You will love all the characters. Even if you hate one in the beginning, you will understand why they are that ... way and eventually come to love them.

Also, the music is soooo good but you will have to watch the anime for that!

Overall: 10/10

After I completed a manga or reading many chapters of an ongoing series I evaluate it's goodness depending on how much emotions it left on me or how much I badly want to see what's going to happen next. And so Kono Oto Tomare, after reading up to 49 chapters it really gave me that strong feeling it both left strong emotions and I really want to see what will happen to them.

The art is outstanding, specially during the performances there so much details that Amyuu sensei gave unto it. I have my fair share of moments that I don't like, like sometimes there ... are cringy moments but the good parts totally outshine them.

The characters on the other hand, no matter how much I despise them before I totally loved them now especially Suzuka sensei. Amyuu sensei truly did an amazing job for making this and so I'm happy that I bumped into this manga.

This manga is underrated just like its anime maybe because the synopsis is not interesting or it's just another typical musical high school life.

The series gives a perfect blend of life and music. It effectively portrays the significance of music in our life no matter what instruments or medium it is as they say. "sound is just another language." I really like how the author shows that each character has their own struggles and flaws just like everyone in real life. Each of them has their own development and most of them if not all are likable. The art is so good that ... the characters are so cute especially the main couple.

Overall, it's one of the best ongoing manga right now that has romance, drama, music, school life, and comedy that is perfectly executed by the author IMO.

Standing at a 9 simply because it's still ongoing, I figured I'd write a review after I'd cleared my head a little as I binged up to chapter 107 at an impressively fast rate (for me). AND to encourage those who've heard about this manga and are unsure, or those who watched the anime first (like me) and are... well, unsure.

Let me just say that I'm not an avid manga reader. I've watched Kono Oto Tomare twice and it'll probably be a recurring thing. The mangas I do read and enjoy are romance/shoujo and either start really good and then slow down, or are ... just outright unfinished.

Even after hearing there was a manga on Kono Oto Tomare, I wasn't convinced (though I wasn't into manga after both times I had watched it). BUT after seeing snippets of pages and hearing of events that happen, I eventually caved. And it was, without a doubt, the best idea I've ever had.

I picked up from where I left off in the anime (somewhere around chapter 55?) and was so happy to see my favourite characters again. Having gotten used to reading manga, I went through it like that.

The development of the characters was still ongoing, and new ones were put into focus. Ships are sailing guys, there's no way you can watch the anime and NOT go further, and there's no way you can read all the reviews and NOT read it.

Kono Oto Tomare is up there in top anime AND manga. I wish it had continued airing. But for those who don't know what it's about, go in blind. Or as blind as you can. Just know that the story is about a Koto Club who practise a lot, develop friendships/relationships and become better together and as individuals. It's perfect as a Slice of Life and the romance in it is warm and fuzzy. It's ALL green flags. The characters are unique and lovable, and I've watched enough anime now to know which character tropes typically come up in music anime.

This one has nicely fleshed out characters, and is consistently up there in quality. 107 chapters and I still can't get enough, that should say a lot.

I hope the rest of the series gets animated. After catching up, I got even more excited at the thought of seeing everything that played out in the manga play out in an anime. But the manga has my heart and I'm happy either way.

In other words, Kono Oto Tomare is an easy HIT, if you like romance, slice of life, music or just high school animes. Or, if you appreciate a quality story, I can confidently say you'll enjoy this. Also, it is worth mentioning that just because it's a music manga, it doesn't mean that it takes away the enjoyment of reading it. Watch the anime, or listen to the music when or before you read it (it'll be online somewhere) to get an idea of what exactly it sounds like, and you'll be good from there.

TLDR: Pending 10/10, just waiting for the series to end but the quality hasn't dropped since the beginning. 107 chapters has never felt shorter, and that's coming from someone who doesn't even read manga that much.

Kono Oto Tomare! is a must-read for anyone who likes music, classical instruments... Or for anyone who has taste.

A group of high school kids wants to get to nationals even though they know next to nothing when it comes to playing the koto. How are they going to do that? Through a lot of training, little to no fights, and through the power of communication!

You'll find yourself hooked, wanting to know what happens next, reading chapter after chapter, laughing with the kids, crying with them. And most importantly, you'll find out that you can hear music even if you're just reading about it.

What are you ... waiting for? Go read this masterpiece and thank me later.

I was looking for a good looking highschool shounen romance. When I found Kono Oto Tomare and saw the rating I though it would be worth reading.

Well... For me that not was the case. I've read up to chapter 17-18 and I don't enjoy the manga. Main reason is that I don't sympathize with the MC (Chika Kudou), I dislike him more than I like him. A secondary reason may be that it doesn't feel like a shounen, it feels like a shoujo with "doki doki" moments. I particularly don't enjoy shoujo, and I've seen reviews of people who liked Chihayafuru (shoujo) and loved this ... manga.

I only keep reading because of the art and hoping Chika would become a secondary character.

In conclusion, if you read till chapter 5-6 and don't like the MC (Chika) you won't like neither the romantic pairings and I advise you to better drop this manga.