Piano no Mori
Encyclopedia
is an ongoing manga
by Makoto Isshiki
, about Shuhei Amamiya, who transfers to Moriwaki Elementary filled with hope and ambition about his new life. But it doesn't take long before he gets picked on by the class bullies, and gets involved in a dare to play the mysterious piano in the forest, leading to his meeting an enigmatic child that goes by the name of Kai Ichinose, who seems to be the only one capable of getting sound out of the thought-to-be broken piano. His ability earns him the respect of Shuhei and his music teacher, former master pianist Sosuke Ajino. At first Kai is resistant to refining his art but after hearing Sosuke play a Chopin piece he just can't seem to play by himself, he relents.
It has been serialized by Kodansha
since 1998, initially in Young Magazine Uppers
before transferring to Weekly Morning
. Serialization is irregular, and went on hiatus in 2002 before resuming in 2006. The serial chapters have been collected in 20 bound volumes
to date.
The series was adapted as a 2007 Japanese animated
feature film by director Masayuki Kojima
and production company Madhouse
. The film featured performances by the renowned pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy
.
winning the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition
in 1985.
in 2008.
The movie adaptation debuted in 9th place at the Japanese box office the week it came out, unusually high for a non-franchise animated film. By the end of the year, it had grossed the equivalent of $1,555,297, ranking 119 on the overall yearly box office chart for Japan. In South Korea, the film played for 50 weeks and grossed the equivalent of $182,884. The film was nominated for the 2008 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
. It was also nominated in the Theatrical Film category at the 2008 Annecy International Animated Film Festival
. The film made its Canadian / North American premiere at the 2008 Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema
.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
by Makoto Isshiki
Makoto Isshiki
is a Japanese manga artist. He is best known for his series Piano no Mori, which has been adapted as an anime movie and received the Grand Prize for manga at the 2008 Japan Media Arts Festival...
, about Shuhei Amamiya, who transfers to Moriwaki Elementary filled with hope and ambition about his new life. But it doesn't take long before he gets picked on by the class bullies, and gets involved in a dare to play the mysterious piano in the forest, leading to his meeting an enigmatic child that goes by the name of Kai Ichinose, who seems to be the only one capable of getting sound out of the thought-to-be broken piano. His ability earns him the respect of Shuhei and his music teacher, former master pianist Sosuke Ajino. At first Kai is resistant to refining his art but after hearing Sosuke play a Chopin piece he just can't seem to play by himself, he relents.
It has been serialized by Kodansha
Kodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
since 1998, initially in Young Magazine Uppers
Young Magazine Uppers
was a semimonthly seinen manga magazine, published in Japan from April 1, 1998 until October 19, 2004 by Kodansha.-List of serialized manga:* Rose Hip Rose by Tooru Fujisawa* Garōden by Keisuke Itagaki and Baku Yumemakura...
before transferring to Weekly Morning
Weekly Morning
is a weekly Japanese seinen manga magazine published by Kodansha, aimed at adult men. It debuted in 1982 as and is also known as simply .- Series running every week :- Series running every other week :...
. Serialization is irregular, and went on hiatus in 2002 before resuming in 2006. The serial chapters have been collected in 20 bound volumes
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
to date.
The series was adapted as a 2007 Japanese animated
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
feature film by director Masayuki Kojima
Masayuki Kojima
is a Japanese animator, director, and member of the renowned animation studio Madhouse. He was born on March 11, 1961 in Yamanashi, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, and is a twenty year plus veteran of the anime industry.-Personal history:...
and production company Madhouse
Madhouse (company)
is a Japanese animation studio, founded in 1972 by ex–Mushi Pro animators including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. It has created and helped to produce many well known shows, starting with TV anime series Ace o Nerae! in 1973, and including western favourites Ninja...
. The film featured performances by the renowned pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy is a Russian-Icelandic conductor and pianist. Since 1972 he has been a citizen of Iceland, his wife Þórunn's country of birth. Since 1978, because of his many obligations in Europe, he and his family have resided in Meggen, near Lucerne in Switzerland...
.
Development
Makoto Isshiki was inspired to write Piano no Mori when he watched a documentary showing Stanislav BuninStanislav Bunin
Stanislav Stanislavovich Bunin is a Russian-born pianist.He was born in Moscow in 1966 into an established European musical family which included his grandfather Heinrich Neuhaus and his grandmother Zinaida ....
winning the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition
International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition
The International Chopin Piano Competition , often referred to as the Chopin Competition, is a piano competition held in Warsaw, Poland to honour the name of Frédéric Chopin. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious music competitions in the world...
in 1985.
Manga
Reception
Piano no Mori received the Grand Prize for best manga at the 12th Japan Media Arts FestivalJapan Media Arts Festival
The Japan Media Arts Festival is an annual festival held by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs since 1997. The festival for a nominal year was usually held during February or March next year, rather than at the end of the nominal year. For instance, the 2010 Japan Media Arts Festival, where...
in 2008.
The movie adaptation debuted in 9th place at the Japanese box office the week it came out, unusually high for a non-franchise animated film. By the end of the year, it had grossed the equivalent of $1,555,297, ranking 119 on the overall yearly box office chart for Japan. In South Korea, the film played for 50 weeks and grossed the equivalent of $182,884. The film was nominated for the 2008 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
The of the Japan Academy Prize is one of the annual Awards given by the Nippon Academy-sho association .-History:...
. It was also nominated in the Theatrical Film category at the 2008 Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Annecy International Animated Film Festival
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy, France. Initially occurring every two years, the festival became annual in 1998...
. The film made its Canadian / North American premiere at the 2008 Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema
Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema
The Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema is an annual international film festival for animated feature films, held in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
.
External links
- Official manga website
- Official movie website
- WFAC 2008 film guide entry
- http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-218222-110-wonders-of-japan-in-istanbul-for-two-remarkable-exhibitions.html