Kono Oto Tomare! Sounds of Life

Takezo Kurata stands alone in the music room at Tokise High School, the last student willing to play the koto. Facing the inevitable dissolution of the club due to a lack of members, he actively recruits peers who initially have no interest in traditional instruments. The group includes Chika Shimizu, a former delinquent with a passion for physical strength; Satowa Maruyama, a piano prodigy hiding behind social anxiety; Kouta Jinguji, an energetic drummer; and Suzuzo Hatori, a track star. These students set out to master the 100-string instrument required for the national competition.

Amyu serialized this series in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump starting on August 1, 2012. The narrative focuses heavily on the technical discipline of playing the koto alongside the interpersonal growth of the cast. While romantic subplots emerge between characters like Kurata and Chika, the primary drive remains the collective effort to preserve the art form against modern apathy. The story has sold over 7.5 million copies as of January 2020 and received translations in multiple languages including Spanish, French, and Chinese. [edit]