Mashiro no Oto

Both shows share the same passion for music using Japanese string instruments. The character from each stories also both form a club. There is also a character who is considered a genius or a prodigy in both stories.  

The two shows deal with mental struggles while playing a instrument. The characters of the shows are trying to find their own identity while playing their very instruments and, along with it, their challenge themselves to create originality and while overcoming their inner selves towards their instruments, trying as hard as they can to not just be a shadow to, well, their very sound. Alas, the instruments in both shows are part of the traditional japanese culture and, this by itself, it can be an ally for how unique they can be as well. If you're searching for animes that are within concepts of "emotional bonds" those are what you're searching for. read more 

Both series' focus on traditional string instruments, and deal a lot with themes of "finding your own path" through friendship and strong bonds  

Both features a traditional japanese instrument Both features human drama and character relationships Both have the same vibes 

- Music, competition, friendship - A bit of drama and romance accompanying characters' growth - Both with simplistic art style, has their fair share of chibi comedic moments - Underrated 

Similarities: - Japanese traditional string instrument. -Club that was due to close , given a 2nd life. -Club members who wishes to make it to the top. Dissimilarities: Knoo Oto Tomare: - It was a yankee who wants to revive the club. - The Club president was a weakling. -Club needs outside help to make it to the top. Mashiro no Oto - The club only needs one guy to get them to the top. -The guy isn't a Yankee. but a teen with mood swings. -  

Their art styles are oddly similar and share similar storylines. - Club is almost nonexistent and only a few are left preserving it. - Most of the club members don't know how to play the instrument but some random prodigy comes in and everyone learns. - Actual good music and pretty melodramatic. - Prodigy goes through some personal crisis and struggles to accomplish it. - Similar characters. - Has a competition but doesn't take 24 episodes to complete it. - Fights against others that can play proper music too. 

Both of the anime is about playing an instrument. Both Mc had a harsh past which led them to start/stop playing the instrument. Follows same genre. Has school club involved. Both mc's are very good at playing and rest are new. Both anime's main goal is to go to the national competition and win. Kono Oto Tomare's story is a bit slow and Mashiro no Oto's story is a bit more dramatic.  

Japanese culture was embraced through traditional music styles which was shown on the respective instrument used on these animes. Through forming a club, practicing in unison and winning a competition, the characters were drawn to trust their comrades as well as exhibiting their talent and appreciation of music. 

Both animes involve the MC playing a traditional Japanese instrument at their school, and they are both also about the MC's trying to get over their personal problems that they're problematic families have placed onto them. Both series are very wholesome and enjoyable to watch. The music in both series is also amazing as well.  

Both leads were inspired by their deceased grandpa to play a off the beat Japanese Instrument. And are heavily influenced by the passing of said figure. Both join a club and rediscover themselves and in way their relationship with their grandpa through playing the instrument. I am not sure yet on Mashhiro no oto but I have a hunch that both will have a crowd of girls after them yet the mc will only go for one of them.  

Basically the same show but in different colors. Bunch of the same main characters, same situations, same progressions, same outcomes, just different musical instruments. 

traditional japanese instruments, high-school band in which one member is skilled player, music competition 

Having the same premise about depressed musicians mourning and grieving from the death of their relative, using it as a reason to cripple and incapacitate them from doing compositions/musical performances. While one might be more dramatic than the other, both are quite similar nonetheless. Furthermore, one has a romantic premise and is about classical music while the other does not (or to the very least, it's not evident nor given attention to) and is about traditional Japanese music. As for my opinion, I think both are alike, being able to provide the "feels" as they present some angsty vibes that some people might find relatable. One might find both equally entertaining if they don't mind the music and are only there for the premise. read more 

Both are about musccians trying to rediscover their sound but neither can hear the sound they want to play. They discover their sound through the people they play with.  

focuses on a male shamisen player. Nitaboh is a historic origin story 

Similarly to Nitaboh, Mashiro no Oto revolves around the traditional Japanese instrument "shamisen". Both of the anime follow the arduous lives of the protagonists as they put their heart and soul into playing shamisen. One of the prime differences between these two anime is that while Nitaboh is set in a pre-modern era, Mashiro no Oto is set in the present timeline. Furthermore, the latter is thematically more rich and varied than the former—mainly because it's a TV anime, whereas Nitaboh is only an hour and a half long movie. 

I highly recommend watching this other anime despite the fact that the protagonists are very different from each other: one is talented and the other surpasses himself, despite his difficulties. Also, the theme of each anime is different, one is about art and the other is about music. The reason why I recommend both animes is because I feel that they have a similar dramatic air that can be compared very well and may be to your liking. 

Mashiro no oto is a music anime with an traditional music instrument called shimisen, chihayafuru is a sport anime with karuta as a traditional game they play. In chihayafuru, we have a character called wataya arata, he is similar to mashiro no oto's protagonist, setsu. Their personality, accent and appearance all look similar. You can view Mashiro no oto as chihayafuru but with arata as the main characte.  

Both feature elements of traditional Japanese culture (rakugo and shamisen) in ways that make them appeal to outsiders. Both also have beautiful visuals and music, along with characters that are more complex than your typical tropes.  

Both animes start with the MC dealing with talent crisis. While Barakamon's protagonist is having hardships towards his technique in calligraphy, Mashiro no Oto main character is struggling with his mental capabilities of playing the shamisen. Going through an runaway pathway, the main characters went to a journey of challenging their talents which, by the begining, is being forcefully impact by their surrounds and their goal is aimed through their very talent identity. As seinen dramas, you can expect some real enclosures about relatable hardships of the respective series. 

The MC in both are hurt after losing someone, and struggle to convey their feelings through their music. They both have to move on, one by finding his own sound and the other by letting of past feelings. Both series have a melancholy feel, although I cried just for given. They're both great.