*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!
