... Last updated on October 8th, 2009, 10:29am

When I first looked at the covers of this manga at the bookstore, I totally thought it was ugly and not worth my money.

When I went to the library, I found volume 7, took it out, and read it on the subway home. I was so captivated by the art, characters, story, and musical aspect that I got out the remaining volumes the next day.

Of course, now I'm buying the manga volumes because the artist truly deserves support for creating a fantastic series. All the details of the series are listed below, so all I recommend you to do is try a volume for yourself from the library and see how you like it.

If you can, buy the volumes to let Del Rey Manga know that people want this manga and they'll hopefully change the cruddy release schedule.

I start reading Nodame in december of the past year. I was kind of boring of studiying so I said to myself that I was gonna read some manga. I saw in baka-updates that the manga had good reviews and rating so I give it a try, at first I thought "ugh ugly art" but it just took one chapter to captivate me completly. It was soooo good that I constantly interrupted my studies just to read it and I was in examn period. It is sooo good that makes me become interested in clasical music, and the art I totally love it now.
It's a manga with passion, with a point of view, we see ppl fighting for their lives and dreams, they evolve, they grow, they are completly adorable, you just burst in laugh, in a month It became one of my favorites mangas, and I totally suffer when the mangaka stoped because of the pregnancy.
If you are looking for a good manga you are in the right place, and in just a second you will fall in love with it.
And all the characters are great ALLLL of them. Ahhh just read it.

Nodame Cantabile follows the story of Noda Megumi and Chiaki Shinichi from their beginning as music students in Japan, to their continuing fight to succeed in Paris. The two meet as neighbours and fellow students. At first Chiaki is disgusted with Noda, or as she likes to be called, Nodame. She is filthy, has a very poor sense of hygiene and happens to be quite idiotic. Contrastingly, Chiaki is uptight, in all manners possible. He is arrogant and determined, but very talented. After hearing Nodame's 'Cantabile' style of playing the piano, Chiaki somehow gets roped into a relationship of sorts with this weird creature.

What can I really say about Nodame Cantabile? For a Josei manga, it is extremely popular among both sexes. I have to attribute that to the fact that Ninomiya has created two very likeable and human characters. The cast of supporting characters are also very enjoyable, and are often used to lighted the tension of certain scenes, or add depth to the current storyline.
The development of Nodame Cantabile's characters is, most likely, the whole point of the series. For Chiaki, his career as a conductor is of the utmost importance, even though it often causes conflict in his relationships. Chiaki easily has the drive to succeed, whereas Nodame is often torn between becoming a renowned pianist or spending more time having fun and following Chiaki.

Technically, Nodame Cantabile is still enjoyable. The artistic style of Ninomiya has improved the longer she has been creating this series. Though by no means fantastic, the art is enjoyable and does a good job of setting the scene. You can find examples of this during many of the musical pieces where the art is relied upon to portray the atmosphere created by the music. Ninomiya has done this well.

There is one weak point in Nodame Cantabile, and for this reason, I couldn't give it a perfect score. Like most popular manga out there, Ninomiya seems to have stretched this series further than it should go. It's always a little unfortunate to see the same plot lines being repeated further on in the story. You will see the same story lines used in the 'Japan' half being repeated in the 'Paris' half of the series.

In the end, all I can do is sincerely encourage you to read this manga. If you are one of the very few people who haven't tried it yet; What are you waiting for?

... Last updated on February 12th, 2009, 6:09pm

It's so sad this manga is probably never going to finish - I can't believe the mangaka has carpal tunnel syndrome. It really did stop at such a dramatic bit, though...how depressing. But I reading this while it lasted, and would definitely recommend it, providing you don't mind having to make up your own ending.

Well one year ago I started reading it but it got so boring after some time I stopped. After watching the anime though, which I think is a much better introduction into the series than the manga, I started reading again.

And it did have to end at such an interesting point, didn't it? <_<

I think I read that the mangaka's baby is due so we'll have to wait a long time for the next one ^_^

... Last updated on November 14th, 2008, 6:50am

At first sight, i dont like the art and ignore it. But now im hooked. One of the greatest manga ever.
Love it alot. MARRY ME NODAME!!!

i dont think i can fully express the brilliance of this manga in words, so while i sit here making sounds only imitable by a turkey accompanied by repetetive hand motions, i shall do my best to bestow a review...

for starters. its good. REAL good.
this manga has practically anything you could ask for. a solid plot, and a nice one at that, characters that grow and develop whilst you love them to death, and indescribable moments that can either warm your heart, make you laugh out loud, make you scream in anger, or possibly all of them at the same time [its possible, this manga proves it]

I was just zooming around on the internet one day, when i happened to come across the wierd name: "Nodame Cantabile", and, after being slightly intrigued by synopsis, promptly got the first volume.
a few days later, all 15 volumes [at that time] were obtained, read, and reread. i had absolutely no idea that i could love a manga that much.

this is one of the mangas, that you wish would never end, and constantly curse the author [whom we all love] and scanlating groups for not bringing out those chapters sooner [we all love you guys to]

so this manga is a must read. a contender for "greatest manga of all time", truly.

and to those who say that this manga sucks, or deserves anything less than an 8.5 [which would be pushing it - but i shall let that slide becuase i dont know where you live]:

"gyaboo" to you!
XD

and i would also like to use this opportunity to echo the words of the head of the scanlating group: if there are any girls out there like Nodame, FIND ME NOW!

mukyaa!

The setup isn't really that special. Two extremely talented and extremely... extreme people meet and clash on the battlefield of classical music. It's how Ninomiya draws an engaging world around them and where she takes them that makes all the difference. A huge ensemble cast that fills up a character book, a journey that spans two continents, and a slow maturation that becomes apparent over several years are the hallmarks of this manga, making it so much more than "that manga where they play music".

But the music! The music is awesome too. The characters' passionate performances and obvious love for their music is clear in the manga, but for a more complete effect one should watch the live-action, a mostly faithful adaptation with a stellar cast.

The art is decidedly josei and minimalistic in parts, not obviously "pretty" but well-done in a subtle way, with expressions conveyed well and details where they have the most impact.

Truly one of the best series I've had the pleasure to get into.

... Last updated on April 4th, 2008, 3:09pm

i like nodame cantabile a lot i accidentally started watching the anime and loved it and then continued the scans and loved it even more it's speaks about motivation determination and the good meetings we do in our life
really amazing one !