Your Lie in April

Your Lie in April

Company type	Manga series
Industry	Manga, Anime
Founded	April 2011 (2011-04)
Founder	Naoshi Arakawa
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Manga, anime television series, live-action film, stage plays

is a Japanese romantic drama manga series created by Naoshi Arakawa, who both wrote and illustrated it. The story was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine from April 2011 until February 2015. It centers on pianist Kōsei Arima, who loses his ability to hear the sound of the piano after his mother's passing, and follows his life-changing encounter with the violinist Kaori Miyazono.

The concept began as a one-shot manga Arakawa submitted for a contest, drawing inspiration from musical-themed series like Beck and Nodame Cantabile. The anime adaptation, produced by A-1 Pictures, was broadcast on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block between October 2014 and March 2015. An original video animation (OVA) was released in May 2015. Additionally, a live-action movie premiered in September 2016, alongside several stage play renditions.

In 2013, the manga earned the 37th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category. By June 2017, total circulation had surpassed five million copies. While the manga received mixed critiques—garnering praise for its narrative and character development but facing criticism for its artwork and emotional depth—the anime adaptation was highly praised for its storytelling, animation quality, and musical score.

Plot

Kōsei Arima is a fourteen-year-old piano prodigy renowned for winning numerous competitions. After the death of his mother Saki, he experiences a psychological collapse during a recital that causes him to lose the ability to hear the sound of his piano playing; although his hearing remains normal, he perceives only the mechanical thudding of the keys.

Two years later, Kōsei has abandoned piano playing and views life in dull shades of gray. He spends time with his friends Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryōta Watari. His world changes when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a spirited violinist known for her unconventional and emotive playing style that inspires Kōsei to resume piano. As Kaori uplifts him emotionally, Kōsei develops romantic feelings for her, despite her apparent interest in Ryōta.

During a performance, Kaori collapses due to anemia and is hospitalized. She invites Kōsei to attend a gala event but fails to appear herself. Her condition deteriorates, leading to a high-risk surgery prompted by motivation from Kōsei’s duet performance. At the finals of the Eastern Japan Piano Competition, Kōsei realizes that Kaori has passed away during surgery as her spirit seemingly accompanies him on stage.

At Kaori’s funeral, her parents present Kōsei with a letter revealing that she had accepted her fate and chose to live freely through music without regrets. She confesses her admiration for Kōsei’s piano playing since childhood, which inspired her own pursuit of violin. Furthermore, she admits fabricating feelings for Ryōta as a way to grow closer to Kōsei while sparing Tsubaki’s feelings—who secretly loves him. Tsubaki comforts Kōsei and promises ongoing support. Among Kaori’s belongings is a childhood photograph featuring Kōsei in the background, which he later frames.

Characters

Kōsei Arima (有馬 公生)

Once a child prodigy pianist dubbed the "Human Metronome" due to his precise technique shaped by his strict mother Saki. After her death, he loses his ability to hear his piano playing and stops performing until Kaori persuades him to accompany her. Inspired by her emotional approach, he eventually falls in love with her.

Kaori Miyazono (宮園 かをり)

A free-spirited violinist known for disregarding strict adherence to scores but beloved by audiences. She encourages Kōsei’s return to piano despite battling anemia and ultimately dies following risky surgery.

Tsubaki Sawabe (澤部 椿)

Kōsei’s childhood friend and next-door neighbor who treats him like family. She supports his comeback to piano and gradually realizes her own romantic feelings toward him.

Ryōta Watari (渡 亮太)

A longtime friend of both Kōsei and Tsubaki; initially Kaori’s boyfriend. He accepts Kōsei’s feelings for Kaori and offers guidance.

Takeshi Aiza (相座 武士)

A pianist who has competed against Kōsei since childhood and aims to surpass him upon Kōsei’s return to competitions.

Emi Igawa (井川 絵見)

A pianist inspired by Kōsei’s emotionally expressive performances since she was five years old and strives to reach his level.

Nagi Aiza (相座 凪)

Younger sister of Takeshi who becomes Kōsei's student and performs duets alongside him.

Saki Arima (有馬 早希)

The late mother of Kōsei and former pianist who imposed rigorous training on him after learning about her terminal illness.

Hiroko Seto (瀬戸 紘子)

Esteemed pianist and college friend of Saki who mentors Kōsei following his return to music.

Koharu Seto (瀬戸 小春)

Hiroko's young daughter adored by both Hiroko and Kōsei.

Saitō (斎藤)

Senior baseball player who briefly dates Tsubaki before they separate due to her feelings for Kōsei.

Nao Kashiwagi (柏木 奈緒)

Friend of Tsubaki who encourages her to confront and express her emotions toward Kōsei; also part of the baseball team with Tsubaki.

Manga

At the start of his career as a manga artist, Naoshi Arakawa submitted a one-shot story about male and female violinists to Monthly Shōnen Magazine's Grand Challenge. He then serialized Sayonara, Football, a series centered on association football, but eventually grew weary of sports-themed manga and sought to explore different subjects. Revisiting his earlier one-shot, Arakawa decided to develop a music-themed manga despite having previously had a similar concept rejected. To distinguish his work from well-known rock music titles like Beck, he opted to focus on classical music, setting it apart from Nodame Cantabile by concentrating on just one instrument.

To ensure an accurate portrayal of classical music, Arakawa interviewed composer Akinori Osawa and pianist Masanori Sugano, and took reference photos of pianist Kaori Yamazaki and violinist Rieko Ikeda. Drawing from his experience in Kendo, he effectively conveyed the intensity of competition within the story. Additionally, he consulted various books and received guidance from his editor, who had personal experience playing the violin.

Inspired by a female violinist he saw on television, Arakawa chose to center the story around the violin. Although he initially intended to feature both male and female violinists, he shifted focus to a violinist and pianist duo due to difficulties in drawing and limited knowledge about classical music. Following the Japanese release of the third volume, an anime adaptation was proposed. Despite uncertainties from Arakawa and the production team regarding the conclusion of the narrative, anime director Kyōhei Ishiguro approved the original ending, resulting in no alterations.

Anime

Shortly after the third volume of the manga was released, producer Shunsuke Saitō from Aniplex approached Kensuke Tateishi at Kodansha with an offer to create a television anime adaptation. The initial proposal was for eleven episodes, which Tateishi declined as insufficient to tell the full story. Subsequently, Saitō suggested expanding to 22 episodes, which Tateishi accepted. Saitō appointed Kyōhei Ishiguro as director based on their previous collaboration on Wandering Son, which had left a strong impression.

Ishiguro sought to appeal not only to traditional anime audiences but also to a broader viewership by selecting bands Goose House and Wacci for the opening and ending themes respectively. He also chose Coalamode to provide a "colorful melody" theme song that would complement the animation’s tone.

To increase realism, Ishiguro incorporated actual locations along the Seibu Line, such as Ōizumi-gakuen Station. Arakawa worked closely with Seibu Railway Company and officials from Nerima Ward to identify appropriate sites for setting scenes.

Manga

Naoshi Arakawa both wrote and illustrated Your Lie in April, which was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine from April 6, 2011, until February 6, 2015. Kodansha released the first compiled volume on September 16, 2011; the final volume became available on May 15, 2015, issued in both standard and limited editions. A spin-off manga titled Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: Coda, included with the anime Blu-ray release, was published as a one-shot on August 17, 2016, offering additional insight into the protagonist’s background.

In North America, Kodansha USA acquired licensing rights for the series and published the first volume on April 21, 2015.

The light novel spinoff Your Lie in April: A Six Person Etude, written by Yui Tokiumi, debuted in Japan on November 17, 2014, and was subsequently translated into English by Vertical. This novel retells events from the main storyline through the perspectives of Kōsei’s friends and rivals.

Volumes

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 11 
| RelDate = May 15, 2015 
| ISBN = 978-4-06-371467-8 
  
 (limited edition: ISBN:978-4-06-358752-4) 
| LicensedRelDate = December 27, 2016 
| LicensedISBN = 978-1-63236-312-1 
  | ChapterListCol1 =

Anime

The anime adaptation of Your Lie in April, created by A-1 Pictures, was broadcast from October 10, 2014, through March 20, 2015, on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block. The initial opening theme was performed by Goose House, while Wacci provided the ending theme for episodes 1 to 11. For episodes 12 to 22, Coalamode contributed the second opening song, and the ending theme was by 7!!. Kyōhei Ishiguro served as director, with Takao Yoshioka handling the scriptwriting, Yukiko Aikei designing the characters, and Masaru Yokoyama composing the soundtrack.

An original video animation titled Moments was included with the limited-edition release of the manga's eleventh volume. This OVA involved much of the original production team and voice cast, focusing on exploring significant backstories of key characters.

In North America, Aniplex of America secured licensing rights and made the series available across various streaming platforms. Rights for the UK and Ireland were obtained by Anime Limited, whereas Madman Entertainment licensed it for Australia and New Zealand, distributing it through AnimeLab.

Live-action film

Speculation about a live-action film adaptation of Your Lie in April arose on August 24, 2015, when Toho registered the domain 'kimiuso-movie.jp'. Confirmation followed in September 2015 with the casting announcement: Kento Yamazaki portrayed Kōsei Arima, Suzu Hirose took on Kaori Miyazono, Anna Ishii played Tsubaki Sawabe, and Taishi Nakagawa appeared as Ryōta Watari. Directed by Takehiko Shinjō and scripted by Yukari Tatsui, the film premiered in Japan in September 2016. Unlike the manga’s setting during junior high school years, this adaptation places the characters in their second year of high school.

Stage adaptations

A stage play version was unveiled in May 2017 and performed at AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo as well as Umeda Arts Theater Osaka. Directed by Naohiro Ise and written by Kaori Miura, this production featured live music performances with Yuta Matsumura on piano and Shuko Kobayashi on violin. The principal cast included Shintarō Anzai, Arisa Matsunaga, Misato Kawauchi, and Masanari Wada.

On October 10, 2019, Toho and Fuji TV revealed plans for a musical adaptation featuring compositions by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics penned by Tracy Miller and Carly Robyn Green, arrangements by Jason Howland, and direction by Ikko Ueda. The cast starred Yuta Koseki and Tatsunari Kimura as Kosei Arima; Erika Ikuta as Kaori Miyazono; Fuka Yuduki as Tsubaki Suwabe; with Koki Mizuta and Takuto Teranishi portraying Ryōta Watari. Although national tours were scheduled, they were indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; a concept album was released on December 25, 2020.

The musical’s debut was rescheduled to May 2022 at Nissay Theatre Tokyo before embarking on a nationwide tour. An English-language concert staging took place at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in April 2024. This version’s creative team included Wildhorn (music), Rinne Groff (book), Miller and Green (lyrics), Howland (arrangements), and Nick Winston (direction). A full-scale West End production is planned for a twelve-week engagement at Harold Pinter Theatre starting June 28, 2024.

In September 2024, a fresh Japanese production was announced for August through October 2025 at Showa Women's University's Hitomi Memorial Hall in Tokyo followed by performances in Aichi, Osaka, and Toyama. The double casting features Kurumu Okamiya alongside Misato Higashijima as Kōsei Arima; Ririka Kato paired with former Juice=Juice member Karin Miyamoto as Kaori Miyazono; Shio Kisui together with Saki Yamamoto as Tsubaki Sawabe; Masato Yoshihara alongside Taisei Shima as Ryōta Watari. The music remains composed by Frank Wildhorn with lyrics by Miller and Green and arrangements by Howland; Ikko Ueda is responsible for translation and direction.

Manga

By mid-2017, the manga had surpassed 5 million copies distributed.

Your Lie in April elicited a range of critical opinions. While some reviewers commended its authentic depiction of interpersonal dynamics, others—such as Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network—felt the storyline lacked the intended emotional depth. The characters received mixed feedback; Kōsei's connections and the portrayal of adult figures were recognized for their uncommon complexity within the genre, whereas Kaori’s motives were viewed as ambiguous by certain commentators. The artwork garnered praise from some for its successful visual representation of musical elements, although inconsistencies in facial expressions were noted by others.

The series earned the Best Manga award at the 37th Kodansha Manga Award and was also shortlisted for the fifth Manga Taishō. It was featured among the top manga selections at the Comic-Con International Best & Worst Manga of 2016. Furthermore, the inaugural volume appeared on the Young Adult Library Services Association’s 2016 list highlighting leading graphic novels for young adults.

Anime

The anime adaptation was met with broad critical acclaim, especially regarding its narrative and storytelling quality. Chris Beveridge of The Fandom Post described it as profoundly moving, while other critics praised it as a masterful example of narrative craft. Theron Martin from Anime News Network pointed out that viewers’ emotional responses might differ. The characters were lauded for their relatability and nuanced development.

Reviewers emphasized the animation’s visual brilliance and emotional expressiveness, with Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku calling it "utterly superb." The musical score received strong commendations, with Allen Moody from THEM Anime Reviews offering high praise. Both the original Japanese voice cast and English dub attracted positive reception. The series secured the 2016 Sugoi Japan Award in the anime category presented by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

External links

• at Kodansha USA