Top Classical Music Manga Recommendations

Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan

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

"I have something I don't want to lose"

"So much so that these terrible feelings have grown."

A pianist who attempted suicide 3 times, Juri, is taken to help her aunt at a prison where murderers who killed indiscriminately are sentenced to death. There, she meets a man named Yuu who took the lives of 3 people. A mother's antagonism--a brother's death... Together they embrace the violent rebellion in their hearts caused by the large, deep scars they carry. However, before long, they both embrace an earnest hope in their hearts. "I want to live"...

An adaptation of novel by South Korea's most popular female novelist, Gong Ji-Young.

Tags: Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Seinen , Rehabilitation , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Prison , Suicide , Nun , Religion , Classical Music

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

Ojisama to Neko

Also known as A Man and His Cat.

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

In this wholesome, heartwarming tale, a lonely older man takes home a pet-shop kitten that no one else wants. It doesn't take long for the pair to warm up to each other, and soon, they're inseparable. Told through the eyes of both the man and his cat, this sweet and hilarious story is a balm for the soul!



Tags: Animals , Iyashikei , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , School , Male Protagonist , Chibi , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Elderly Protagonist , Shounen , Work , Classical Music

Hanninmae no Koibito

Also known as Blooming Love.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Comedy , Romance

One day, when I was making school supplies in the art room, a very scary-looking girl was staring at me...!? Crafts girl vs. art boy romantic comedy!!

Tags: Heterosexual , Iyashikei , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , College , Drawing , Family Life , School , Shounen , Time Skip , Chibi , Classical Music , School Club , Slapstick

Amayo no Tsuki

Also known as The Moon on a Rainy Night.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

One day, while rushing to a piano lesson, a girl named Saki collides with someone on the street. As Saki collects herself, the stranger picks up the sheet music Saki dropped, hands it to Saki together with a band-aid, and continues on her way—all without saying a word. Saki is left wondering about the identity of the tall, lovely stranger, only to discover the next day that she is one of her classmates at her new high school. The girl’s name is Kanon, and though she is hearing impaired, she refuses any kind of support or “special treatment” from her teachers or classmates. Over the course of the year, Saki slowly grows closer to Kanon and begins to chip away at her cold exterior.



Tags: Yuri , Disability , Female Protagonist , LGBTQ+ Themes , School , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Seinen , Classical Music , Coming of Age , Bullying

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

PPPPPP

Also known as PPPPPP.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Gakuon Otogami was a genius pianist whose name is among the greatest in the annals of the music world. He had seven children who also all became genius pianists. All seven except for the one named Lucky that is. This is the miraculous story of a regular kid taking on godly talent!



Tags: Twins , Musical Theater , Tragedy , Revenge , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Dissociative Identities , Classical Music , School , Estranged Family , Primarily Teen Cast , Adoption , Bullying

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

Ao no Orchestra

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Music

Hajime Aono was a prodigy violinist until he grew jaded with playing the violin due to personal reasons. Now in his third year of middle school, he struggles to decide his academic path. One day in school, he meets Ritsuko Akine, a hotheaded novice violinist who wants to enroll in a high school with a distinguished orchestra club. When he finds himself getting closer to Ritsuko and being brought back to the world of violinists, time starts moving again for him.

This is the beginning of a youthful drama where sounds and hearts alike resound in harmony.

Tags: School , Seinen , Musical Theater , Rehabilitation , School Club , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Classical Music

Shounen Note

Also known as Shonen Note: Boy Soprano.

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

Yutaka Aoi has a talent few boys have: He can sing soprano. But when Yutaka's voice begins to change as he enters puberty, the journey ahead will be one of self-discovery and reflection for not only himself, but also for those around him.



Tags: Coming of Age , Musical Theater , LGBTQ+ Themes , Seinen , Disability , Transgender , Male Protagonist , Classical Music

Éclair: Anata ni Hibiku Yuri Anthology

Also known as Éclair: A Girls' Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart.

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Full of beating hearts and fluttering feelings, this anthology of girls' love stories will leave you breathless. With contributors like Canno (Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl), Sakuya Amano (Gosick), and Nio Nakatani (Bloom into You), this collection is sure to satisfy the desire for a sweet love story (or sixteen!).



A collection of yuri one-shots by various authors.

Cover illustration: Nakatani Nio
#Illustration: Non
#Illustration: Hiiragi Yutaka
#Illustration: Minakata Sunao
1. Shiawase wa Kizu no Katachi (幸せは傷のかたち), Nakatani Nio
2. Clean Room no Namida (クリーンルームの涙), Nishio Shiori
3. Ningen teki na Emotion (人間的なエモーション), Amano Shuninta
4. intro. (intro.), Harumi Chihiro
5. Mushoku to JK (無職とJK), Canno
6. Kamiyui (かみゆい), Isaki Uta
7. Hakoniwa no Alice (箱庭のアリス), Amano Sakuya
8. 1/365 no Goshujin-sama (1/365のご主人様), Mekimeki
9. 2 Nen to 11 Kagetsu (2年と11か月), Kabocha
10. GAME OVER (GAME OVER), Tadano Kagekichi
11. Watashi no Kawaii Kuso Onna (私のかわいいクソ女), Kawanami Izumi
12. Zassou Hanashi (雑草譚), Yuikawa Kazuno
13. Futari de Ringo wo (二人で林檎を), Kitao Taki
14. Usagi no Bell to Ookami-san (うさぎのベルとオオカミさん), Itou Hachi
15. Kimi no Jinx (キミのジンクス), Takada Fumiko
16. Watashi no Idol (私のアイドル), Hirao Auri


Tags: Yuri , Anthology , Primarily Female Cast , School , Age Gap , LGBTQ+ Themes , Female Protagonist , Classical Music , Restaurant , Teacher , Unrequited Love , Maids , Ojou-sama , Kemonomimi , Idol

Kiniro no Corda

Also known as La Corda d'Oro.

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Romance

Every few years, the prestigious Seiso Academy holds a prominent musical competition, and only the very best students at the Academy are allowed to participate. Though all are eligible to apply, only students from the music department actually make it to the competition...until now.



Note: The chapter count contains 23 extra chapters and 4 one-shots.

Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Male Harem , Advertisement , Heterosexual , Love Triangle , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Tsundere , Classical Music

Sekai de Ichiban Tooi Koi

Also known as The Farthest Love in the World.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Ayumu Isuzu lives in a world without sound. He may not hear the world around him, but he knows many things: that "thank you" and "sorry" look just the same in sign language and that he can't just leave this musician where he found him, all beat up like that. What can Touka and his violin bring into Ayumu's life? And what can Ayumu bring to Touka's music?



Tags: Boys' Love , Disability , Age Gap , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , College , Bisexual , Classical Music , Work , Unrequited Love , LGBTQ+ Themes

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

Huhoejocha Sachiin Dangsindeurege

Also known as To Whom It No Longer Concerns.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Exploited by her brother, betrayed by her sister, and killed by her husband. So ended the tragic story of Ariana Lopez--until, at the moment of her death, she suddenly finds herself back in the past. Now that she has a chance to do it all over again, she enlists the help of Duke Dante Heigenberg, the most feared and desired man in the entire empire, to take revenge against her family and reclaim what’s rightfully hers. But strangely, the duke seems to want Ariana more than just for her extraordinary musical talent...



Tags: Heterosexual , Reincarnation , Age Regression , Female Protagonist , Full Color , Time Manipulation , Revenge , Classical Music , Royal Affairs

Haru no Minuet

Status: Finished
Genres: Music

Nao wants to get closer to her deaf classmate, Tobe-san.

Tags: Disability , School , Language Barrier , Classical Music , Yuri , Primarily Teen Cast , Iyashikei , Shoujo

7 Jikanme no Onpu

Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Romance

Yohei is in the Woodwinds Orchestra at his high school where he plays the clarinet as one of the few boys in the group. The president of the group is Azumi who also happens to be Yohei's first girlfriend. Azumi has never had a boyfriend before, and the couple has many awkward moments as their relationship is still fresh. With both Yohei and Azumi acting a little shy with each other, being intimate is difficult but their love for each other makes them braver.

Tags: School , Seinen , Band , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Crossdressing , Classical Music

Guignol Kyuutei Gakudan

Also known as Grand Guignol Orchestra.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Supernatural

Lucille and the orchestra encounter a town overrun with the worst kind of audience: the living dead! Well, not really. They're people who have been turned into doll-like zombies. And they are definitely not a crowd to take lightly. Can a group of roving musicians use their skills to calm the beasts? Or is this curtains for the Grand Orchestra?!



Included one-shot:
Volume 5: Camelot Garden

Tags: Shoujo , Zombie , Pandemic , Foreign , Tragedy , Gender Bending , Classical Music , Estranged Family , Post-Apocalyptic , Agender , Guns

Eumakcheonjaereul Wihayeo

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Kang Hyeon, who was ashamed of his poor family, cut off ties with those around him and studied desperately to achieve success, but eventually he realized that his ideals were wrong. To make matters worse, Hyeon, who has cancer, gets run over while trying to save someone who fell on the subway tracks, and returns to the past while listening to the melody of a symphony. Hyeon, who was determined not to live the same life as before, realizes that he has tremendous musical talent...



Tags: Full Color , Male Protagonist , Age Regression , Classical Music , Time Manipulation

Hameln no Violin Hiki

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy

Pandora's Box led a cursed existence. Through the curiosity of a woman, evil was unleashed and very nearly covered the world in darkness. Miraculously, humanity managed to seal Maou Kestra back into the box, but only with immense sacrifices. Even without their lord, the demons are still a formidable force that has only grown stronger with time, locked in the abandoned capital of the North, Hameln. Fifteen years have passed since that fateful battle...

Enter Hamel, a travelling minstrel who is so self-centered that he'd sooner cook his guardian crow (and family friend), Oboe, than go hungry for even a minute. Welcome to the world of music and hilarious insanity that is the Violinist of Hameln. Watch as Hamel takes cheap shots at his opponents and bashes pigeons with his giant violin and turns them into dinner.

How WILL the world be saved from Maou Kestra (it's a pun for orchestra, if you haven't noticed) with a hero such as this?

Tags: Shounen , Demons , Parody , Magic , Slapstick , Classical Music , Dragons , Male Protagonist , War , Angels