Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life
26 episodes
New Club Members
It's Takezo Kurata's 3rd year at Tokise High and he's now the sole member of the Koto Club after his upperclassmen graduated. If no new students join, the club will be disbanded. He's in for a shock, however, when Chika Kudo, a delinquent, joins the club.
Having What It Takes
It's time to entice more first years into joining the koto club. Even though Takezo's solo performance doesn't seem to capture the crowd, the beautiful Satowa Hozuki suddenly shows up asking permission to join.
The Koto Club Reborn
Even though the instruments will soon be repaired, the club is still in need of more members or it'll be disbanded. Fortunately, Chika's old friends Saneyasu Adachi, Michitaka Sakai and Kota Mizuhara seem to be interested in joining.
The First Resounding Note
The club members are having trouble learning the piece for their upcoming performance and being so naturally talented is making it hard for Satowa to know how to teach everyone. Will the club really be able to learn this piece in time?
Let Our Sound Resound and Reach Them
It's almost time for the clubs big performance. They need to satisfy the whole school or the club will be disbanded! They're all nervous and the crowd seems displeased from the get-go. Can they do it?
An Invisible Boundary
A new member, Hiro Kurusu, has joined the koto club. She's a second year student from the same class as Takezo. He hasn't talked to her much but she seems nice. Will she get along with the members of the club?
Unknown Sounds
Both Chika and Hiro now know Satowa's secret. Now, Hiro plans to stir more trouble within the club with this new information. How will Hiro's meddling affect the club? Will their bonds prevail?
A Sign
Chika and the other club members are having trouble understanding Satowa's instruction. Later, 2 girls from the elite Himesaka Girls Academy randomly show up at the clubroom that seem to know Satowa!
A Piercing Sound
The koto club gets to hear Kanagawa's number 1, Himesaka, perform at Meiryo high school. Overwhelmed by the performance, Takezo seems shaken and it seems to have an effect on the whole group.
Near Yet Far
The club decide to do a training camp so they can really focus on practicing their next piece. However, while everyone else seems to be improving, Kota's still struggling and feels left behind.
The Sound We Were Searching For
The training camp has come to an end and the High School Students' Kanto Region Traditional Japanese Music Festival is finally around the corner. To the gang's surprise, the koto clubs from Meiryo and Himesaka are participating in the festival too.
Rivals
Meiryo's brilliant performance has rattled some of the koto club members from Tokise. More schools perform but none seem to compare. Takezo's Aunt Isaki, however, doesn't seem so impressed by everyone's performances.
Kuon
It’s nearing Takezo’s and the other’s time to perform but Chika’s hand injury is starting to really swell up. He’s determined to still perform with the others but is that a decision they will regret?
A Step Forward
Tokise High School's koto club finished their performance. Despite the mistakes in the first half, they made a remarkable comeback in the second half. Now, they nervously await the results of the competition.
Becoming Aware
After lunch, Satowa and her friends from her class start talking about boys. Since koto has been the center of her life, she cannot follow the conversation and later asks Hiro if she's weird compared to other girls.
Their Time
On Tokise's school festival day, Takezo gets a surprise visit from the previous koto club president. He tells her that there are now seven members in the club and suggests that she come listen to their performance at the gym.
Reunion
The piece for the qualifier has been decided. It's the piece that Satowa played at the National Koto Competition. Since Takinami's arrangement requires two 17-strings, Satowa goes to see her mother to borrow one.
Their Determination
Takinami decides to have Akira Dojima be the koto instructor for the club. Since she's from the Hozuki School, the club members have some reservations about her becoming their koto teacher at first.
Confrontation
Previously, Akira told Satowa that there was no need for Satowa to receive any lessons from her. Her attitude shows that she has resentment towards Satowa. What is it that she is carrying deep in her heart?
Another Chance
After telling Takinami that she'd quit as a koto teacher, Akira goes to the club room to find that something is different with the koto club members' sound. During the practice, Takinami stops by and asks Akira and Satowa to play together.
Meaning and Role
The members of the koto club have started thinking about what Takinami said: the meaning and role of their sound. In the meantime, Dojima arranges a meeting with the senior members of the Hozuki School.
Morning of the Showdown
The day of the qualifier for nationals has finally come. Seeing other students upon their arrival at the venue, the Tokise koto club members realize that they're all there seriously aiming to go to nationals.
Champions' Resolve
After losing to the Hakuto at the music festival, the members of the Himesaka realize they are no longer the undisputed number one in Kanagawa. They decide to make a shortlist to determine which of them will compete in the national championship prelim. However, this decision requires great sacrifices from certain members.
Beyond the Right Answer
Himesaka Girls' Academy gave a powerful performance. Now it's time for Hakuto High School to take the stage. Will they give a performance that's the "right answer"? Or will it be different this time?
"Tenkyu"
"Don't forget why you want to go to nationals"... With those words by Takinami in their hearts, each member of Tokise High School koto club takes the stage.
Starting Line
Satowa confronts her mother and everyone waits for the results of the competition.