Manga like Ao no Orchestra

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Also known as Your Lie in April.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Kosei Arima was a piano prodigy until his cruel taskmaster of a mother died suddenly, changing his life forever. Driven by his pain to abandon piano, Kosei now lives in a monotonous, colorless world. Having resigned himself to a bland life, he is surprised when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with an unorthodox style. Can she bring Kosei back to music, and back to life?



Note: Nominated for the 2012 Manga Taisho Awards.

Tags: Tragedy , School , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , Rehabilitation , Love Triangle , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Classical Music , Shounen

BLUE GIANT

Also known as Blue Giant.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Dai lived a normal high school life in Sendai: a city of hot summer days and rainy nights. Between basketball, part time jobs, and an uncertain future, something was missing. And that thing was music. With his days in senior year running out, Dai swears a heartfelt vow: “I’m gonna be the best jazz player in the world.”

But what do you need to be the best? Talent? Effort? A lucky break? Or maybe just a deep, pure love for music, and too much stubbornness to know when to quit.



Note: Nominated for the 22nd Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

Tags: Seinen , Band , Jazz Music , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Bar , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast

Blue Period

Also known as Blue Period.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

The studious Yatora leaves a dry life of study and good manners behind for a new passion: painting. But untethering yourself from all your past expectations is dangerous as well as thrilling…



Note: Nominated for Manga Taisho Awards in 2019, Kodansha Manga Awards in 2019 and the 24th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2020. Winner of the 13th Manga Taisho Awards. Winner of the General Manga category of the 44th annual Kodansha Manga Awards.

Tags: Drawing , Coming of Age , College , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Educational , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , School , School Club , Tragedy , Transgender , Bisexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Crossdressing , Suicide , Gender Bending , Nudity , Tomboy

Nodame Cantabile

Also known as Nodame Cantabile.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

The son of a famous pianist, music student Shinichi Chiaki dreams of studying abroad and becoming a conductor like his mentor. Unfortunately, his fear of flying grounds his lofty plans! As he watches other classmates achieve what he has always wanted, Shinichi wonders if he should quit music altogether. Then one day he meets fellow student Megumi Noda, also known as Nodame. This oddball girl cannot cook, clean, or even read a music score, but she can play the piano in incomparable Cantabile style. And she teaches Chiaki something that he has forgotten: to enjoy his music, no matter where he is.



Note: Includes four bonus chapters and the side story "NodaCan BS".

Tags: College , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Josei , Musical Theater , Language Barrier , Tsundere , Work , Coming of Age , Otaku Culture , Ensemble Cast , Classical Music , LGBTQ+ Themes , Transgender

BECK

Also known as BECK.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

For the first 14 years of his life, Yukio Tanaka has been one heck of a boring guy. He has no hobbies, a weak taste in music, and only a small vestige of a personality. He yearns for an exciting life, but his shy, and somewhat neurotic personality make him his own worst enemy. Little does he know that his life will be forever changed when he meets Ryusuke Minami, a wild and unpredictable 16 year-old fresh from America, who happens to be in a rock-and-roll band named after his Frankenstein-like patched dog—Beck.



Tags: Band , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Rock Music , Primarily Male Cast , Shounen , Foreign , Heterosexual , Work , Female Protagonist , Crime , Love Triangle , Bullying , School , Mafia , Guns , Swimming , Martial Arts

Piano no Mori

Also known as Forest of Piano.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

This is a story about a piano, pitifully abandoned in the woods, and a young boy, Kai, who grew up playing it as his favorite toy. While Kai cannot even read sheet music, one day, he meets Shuhei Amamiya, an aspiring child pianist who transfers schools from Tokyo, and their music teacher, Sosuke Ajino. Ajino was also once a gifted pianist, until a tragic accident stole his promising future from him forever. Each from a different background, the trio’s personalities gravitate to one another and rebound. All the while, the piano sits patiently, awaiting a hand to play it.



Tags: Musical Theater , Foreign , Seinen , Teacher , Male Protagonist , Classical Music , Crossdressing , Family Life , Band , Gangs , Gender Bending , Classic Literature

Kono Oto Tomare!

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance

Since the graduation of the senior members of the club, Takezou ends up being the sole member of the "Koto" (traditional Japanese string instrument) club. Now that the new school year has begun, Takezou will have to seek out new members into the club, or the club will become terminated. Out of nowhere, a new member barges into the near-abandoned club room, demanding to join the club. How will Takezou be able to keep his club alive and deal with this rascal of a new member?

Tags: School Club , School , Band , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Shounen , Bullying , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Delinquents , Found Family , Tragedy , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Female Protagonist , Estranged Family , Teacher , Nudity , Maids

Hidarite no Tame no Nijuusou

Also known as Piano Duo for the Left Hand.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Shu's had a rough start to life, and doesn't think he has much of a future—until fate brings him together with talented young pianist and fellow student Akari Yuzuki, the girl with the "Angelic Left Hand" for one high-flying adventure. But when tragedy cuts their relationship short, Shu realizes he must find a way to live for them both...and realizes that something is no longer quite right with his own left hand...



Tags: Shounen , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Classical Music , Delinquents

Fukumenkei Noise

Also known as Anonymous Noise.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Both boys promised Nino that they would find her one day through her singing, so she holds on to that hope and continues to reach out with her voice. Now in high school, Nino serendipitously reunites with Yuzu, but she yearns to see Momo again…



Tags: Shoujo , Musical Theater , Love Triangle , Band , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Rock Music , School Club , Tsundere , Unrequited Love

BLUE GIANT SUPREME

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

The direct sequel to Blue Giant, a manga about the evolution of the young saxophonist Dai Miyamoto in the jazz world. Blue Giant Supreme sees the hero arrive in Europe! Freshly arrived in Munich without speaking a word of German and with an approximate English, he manages to find a roof over his head, a meal and a beer, but struggles to obtain the most important thing: a place where he can have his music heard!



Tags: Band , Ensemble Cast , Foreign , Primarily Adult Cast , Jazz Music , Seinen