Nodame Cantabile (Live-Action Drama): Gyabo~~! Inspiring!
Let us cry.
I finished the Live-Action Drama version of Nodame Cantabile a while ago (a few hours, actually), and I didn’t realize that this series also fell under the “shoujo” catergory after stumbling across Wikipedia (midnightrose’s favourite site). So I might have said that I despised all shoujo series because of its typical storyline and its lack of being able to keep me interested until the very end, but Nodame Cantabile is one of the three dramas I’ve ever managed to complete so far, the other two being One Litre of Tears (I’m never watching that again; it made me cry so much), and Nobuta wo Produce (the only episode I can rewatch is episode five because it has Wakaba Ryuya in it). I’m not sure if the anime is entirely different to the drama, or if the drama version is only a slightly modified version of it, but I thoroughly enjoyed the drama.
Although I found Chiaki’s concern for Nodame sweet, in one of the Specials, he kissed her and randomly hugged her after his Beethoven No. 7 concert requested by Strezemann — I found this strange and somewhat “out of the blue.” But nevertheless, it was still nice to see that there was still some “decent” mushy stuff in Nodame Cantabile (did I just type that? I meant if this drama was just full-focus on music and “just friends,” it probably wouldn’t be as good). Being a “musical” student myself, I did recognize a few orchestral songs like Finlandia and Trill, which my sister played in her last school concert for the string ensemble. Despite getting extremely tired after playing a few notes on the piano, and even though I’ve been to several concerts like the ones in Nodame Cantabile and never came out excited, I was actually moved by the pieces performed in this drama, especially by the violin concerto that Chiaki has always wanted to play and used for the final round of the Conducter’s Competition.
I love all the characters, but my favourite is Franz, even though he only appeared in the Specials. If you don’t know him, he’s an Otaku and starts off having a crush on Nodame until she keeps re-watching Purigota and a video of one of Son Rui’s performance in his room, which is when he realizes that he likes her only as a friend. I like Sakura’s (the “poor” cellist whose father is obsessed with collecting rare violins) voice and her character as well, and I found Mine’s relationship with Kiyora more favourable than Nodame’s one with Chiaki. Nodame is definitely moe and she may look “old” in the picture above, but she looks quite young in the drama (damn photos!). I like Chiaki’s change in attitude (no, regarding looks it’s probably the reverse ;_; ), and Nodame kind of matured as well, although I preferred her at the start. I’ve never seen any of these actors/actresses before except the timpanist, Masumi-chan, who also stars as Mikoshiba in ROOKIES. So I don’t know if any of the cast can actually play the instrument they were given, but if they can’t, then they can sure fake it, and if they do, then they’re so darn good! My sister also became overly obsessed with Strezemann’s foreign accent and Nodame’s voice. Nodame Cantabile definitely contains the animeish vibes.
The verdict? This drama is a must-watch, even though it slightly bored me from time to time, overall it was a fun watch that helped me appreicate music more. You can also learn a few things from it, like about Mozart and Beethoven, and I think I might enjoy my school orchestra rehearsals from now on (except, none of us are aiming to go pro, none of us really are pro, and most of us don’t even like the conductor). Oh, and I still can’t believe I don’t know who Matsuda is in the end, the one who takes over Rising Star in Chiaki’s place. Help anyone?
blissmo! We finally have something in common after so long. I also enjoyed Nodame Cantabile Live Action. My favorite scene is them playing a duet on the piano. It’s hilarious and yet fascinating and also tests their “team work”. I read that the actors and actresses for this drama actually take up piano lessons so that they can star in this drama, another plus point to watch as they’ve put in effort. (:
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Are live action dramas really that good? Some acting in Japanese shows and films I’ve seen haven’t exactly been… up to par. Though never as bad as some of the crap that comes out of Hollywood ^_^
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the only Japanese drama I’ve ever seen is about 5-6 episodes of Litre of Tears. I have some Hong Kong VCDs that are hard to watch because it’s obviously someone Chinese doing the subtitling and I am not sure if they speak Japanese or English real well….
@Hynavian:
FINALLY! I also liked that part as well, and every one was watching them
@Omisyth:
No, I tend to get bored of them easily because, yes, I suppose their acting can be really bad sometimes and in Nodame Cantabile, they act like anime characters
@otou-san:
Why didn’t you finish One Litre of Tears?!
For a J Drama connoisseur such as myself, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this series.
j/k I’ve probably watched like 5 dramas at most, but my overwhelming love for Nodame Cantabile made watching this a great experience.
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I actually watched the Nodame live drama before the anime aired and I absolutely loved it. But when I watched the anime I found it very difficult as I was always comparing to the live drama, but I found that some elements work really well in the anime compared to the live drama. But it is a worthwhile watch especially if you love classical music.
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I love the live action as well! This is like, my 3rd J-dorama I’ve watched after GTO and Gokusen. When I first saw it, I already loved it. I like all the characters and their stories…
Sakura is soooo adorable and Nodame’s expressions are the best!
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@Shin:
And now you need to watch ROOKIES!
@Adun:
I went looking for the pictures of the anime and they didn’t look too well, so then I couldn’t be bothered watching it, and if I do ever watch the anime version, I might go on comparing the two as well.
@metatr0n:
I’ve seen GTO the movie! And I have Gokusen with me right now (sis borrowed from friend), and I’m hoping to watch that as well. I too think Sakura IS adorable, and Nodame’s expressions ARE the best!
The live drama and the anime of Nodame Cantabile were smartly weaved, and all the characters were likable. Yeah, it is so great that I am now moving onto the manga.
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@The Sojourner:
Hmm, if you say so, although the pictures in the anime and manga might take some time getting used to for me
I never bothered reading the Nodame Cantabile manga before because the art was really hideous lool. Even if people were praising it to bits I still couldn’t get myself into it. Until, this wonderful jdrama came and I just loved Nodame Cantabile after that. Been pimping it to most of my acquaintances and it never fails to amuse them :3
@usagijen:
I think I’m the same as you then. The manga artwork looks … crap and the anime version looks a bit better, but that’s it. I should tell my drama loving friends to watch this too!
The Sojourners last blog post..DILDO 6: Confessing the Right Way!!
this is definitely, the best j-drama i’ve watched so far (not that i’ve watched much). the only reason you say that the anime is better than the manga is because it’s colored and moving and talking. but i love all mediums of it… although i find it a mystery the manga became a hit because it focused mostly on musical pieces and of course, you couldn’t appreaciate the music without hearing it.
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This is a very good drama! Yep and it’s hard to watch the anime series after the drama. Ueno Juri and Eita who plays Nodame and the blond hair violinist in Japan are actually in a new drama together called Last Friends. Ueno Juri and Tamaki Hiroshi are actually in their 20’s and not at all the college age. They’re both quite versatile in acting.
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Nodame plays a little piano in real life and yup she had to learn to play some parts for the show. She also plays the tenor saxophone for real! She stars in a Japanese movie “Swing Girls”. A pretty cool show cuz most of the ppl in there play their instruments for real or so I heard
I watch this drama. It’s my first time to watch people acting like the manga.(So funny
) I like the story on the manga than the drama…before I watch Nodame Cantabile I was watching the drama Beethoven Virus from Korea, the story is about music too. Now I started to have have interest in classical music…but the sad part is I don’t know how to play any musical instrument 
Well…i gotta start learning now… 
I’ve watched the whole series and it was good. It was very funny, entertaining, and educational at the same time (educational in the sense that I’ve learned something in the world of music). Anyway, I have not seen the anime series but I am currently reading the manga. The manga is also good (not as good as the live-action series, well mainly because it has sounds and stuff–you can hear the music) since I get to see more of those two…KYAHHH!!!!!! I’m not gonna spoil anything for those who haven’t read the manga yet (but try to read it guys cuz you’re gonna see doubts and conflicts in CHIAKI and NODAME’s relationship) ….Oh and by the way, there is going to be a continuation of the live-action drama with the same cast and stuff. Although I’m not sure about the date though…I sure hope that it’s as awesome as the first two….
i also like nodame cantabile… so inspiring, i played piano when am was a child but i stopped it coz of the same trauma with megumi noda… hate those kind of yuitr and instructors…
by the way… who knows the name of the handsome gay acting actor… the one with feeling for chiaki?
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