La Corda d' Oro, Volume 1 Book

This manga was so cute! there's this fairy/elf thing named Lili that gives this general education girl, Kahoko Hino, a violin. Not just ANY violin, but a magical violin that anyone could play. The quality of the sound is based off of the players emotions. So Kahoko is forced by Lili to play in a musical concourse. The rest of the participants are 5 kids from the music department of her school (the departments generally don't interact and the music department is a bit stuck up). Her admittance is a shock to everyone and she's bullied about it by the music students that weren't accepted.




(this will now be a short synopsis of characters with a few not too important spoilers)

The other participants are Len Tsukimori, a 2nd year like Kahoko, an outstanding violin player who's parents are also musical and super famous and rich he's a bit stuck up and distant in the beginning but you grow to love him <3. He's pretty talented and he knows it, but that causes him to leave the school to study abroad and without Kahoko. Len is the reason Kahoko strives for perfection, wanting to please Len and become as skilled as him.

Azuma Yunoki, a 3rd year, an absolutely amazing flutist who has some family issues being the 3rd son and having things expected of him while he's also banned from out shining his brothers. He was forced to stop playing the piano (which his brothers played) and started the flute instead. His acts perfect and happy towards others and has a bunch of fan girls waiting on him hand and foot. He shows Kahoko i different side of him as the manga progresses and he loves Kahoko in his own way, though it doesn't really seem like it.

Kazuki Hihara, a 3rd year who's best friends with Azuma, a trumpet player (who does't think his skills are up to par with the others) is pretty happy and LOVES to eat. He'll eat anything and everything, and a lot of it! He falls for Kahoko a lot sooner than the other guys, but worries about the 1 year age difference since he's going to college next year to become a music teacher! He is so super lovable but is considered cute and brotherly by most girls.

Keiichi Shimizu is a 1st year who plays the cello. He is so cute I fell in love at first sight! he's the only one with normal colored hair... (blonde with blue eyes) and I absolutely LOVE the cello. He's a bit tired and tends to fall asleep, but pays attention at the right times. He's sweet and soft spoken and has an older sister who likes to makes and send him flashy clothes! (she also looks just like him!)

Fuyuumi Shouko is a 1st year and the only other girl in the concourse! She's really shy, and nervous on stage so she doesn't really come in until later in the manga when she starts to come out of her adorable shell. She plays the clarinet.

One last person to mention, Ryotaro Tsuchiura. He's a major hunk, hot athletic build, a student in the general ed department with Kahoko. He plays amazing well in soccer and knows Kahoko only a little bit at the beginning of the manga. He's a 2nd year like her, but in a different class. It turns out that he secretly plays piano and when Kahoko's accompanist ditches her, he steps in and plays the piano for her violin piece. the school's principal then has him become another participant in the concourse. Ryotaro quits soccer and thanks Kahoko for helping him see that music is really his true passion. He also falls in love with her.

Kahoko is blunt about things and deeply honest. She says what's on her mind and trys REALLY hard at the concourse. Since she has no musical experience whatsoever she needs to be the best she can be to even compare to everyone else, even Ryotaro who hasn't practiced the piano since he quit when he was young.


Overall I loved this manga! other characters come in later on (which i won't mention now) but I love all of their interactions! the only thing that sort of bugged me was that everyone basically fell for Kahoko. Not that she's not likable or anything, but she's oblivious to their feelings anyway! 1 (or 2 to have a little competition over her) would've been enough.