Piano no Mori: The Perfect World of Kai (ピアノの森 -The perfect world of KAI-?, lit. "Piano Forest") 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 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 16 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.
Development[]
Makoto Isshiki was inspired to write Piano no Mori when he watched a documentary showing Stanislav Bunin winning the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in 1985.[1]
Media[]
The series is licensed by Sharp Point Press in Taiwan.[2]
Manga[]
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | August 6, 1999[3] | ISBN 978-4-06-346030-8 |
| 02 | August 6, 1999[4] | ISBN 978-4-06-346031-5 |
| 03 | October 8, 1999[5] | ISBN 978-4-06-346040-7 |
| 04 | April 7, 2000[6] | ISBN 978-4-06-346056-8 |
| 05 | August 7, 2000[7] | ISBN 978-4-06-346067-4 |
| 06 | March 7, 2001[8] | ISBN 978-4-06-346097-1 |
| 07 | September 7, 2001[9] | ISBN 978-4-06-346118-3 |
| 08 | May 17, 2002[10] | ISBN 978-4-06-346142-8 |
| 09 | November 8, 2002[11] | ISBN 978-4-06-346169-5 |
| 10 | July 22, 2005[12] | ISBN 978-4-06-372449-3 |
| 11 | December 22, 2005[13] | ISBN 978-4-06-372483-7 |
| 12 | April 21, 2006[14] | ISBN 978-4-06-372509-4 |
| 13 | December 22, 2006[15] | ISBN 978-4-06-372554-4 |
| 14 | June 22, 2007 | ISBN 978-4-06-372610-7 (normal ed.)[16] ISBN 978-4-06-364699-3 (limited ed.)[17] |
| 15 | May 23, 2008 | ISBN 978-4-06-372675-6 (normal ed.)[18] ISBN 978-4-06-362113-6 (limited ed.)[19] |
| 16 | August 21, 2009[20] | ISBN 978-4-06-372752-4 |
| 17 | March 23, 2010[21] | ISBN 978-4-06-372881-1 |
| 18 | TBA[22] | ISBN 978-4-06-372917-7 |
Reception[]
Piano no Mori received the Grand Prize for best manga at the 2008 Japan Media Arts Festival.[23]
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.[24] 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.[25] In South Korea, the film played for 50 weeks and grossed the equivalent of $182,884.[26] 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.
References[]
- ↑ "2008 Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Division Grand Prize PIANO NO MORI". Japan Media Arts Festival. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "琴之森(01)" (in Chinese). Sharp Point Press. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (1)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (2)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (3)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (4)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (5)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (6)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (7)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (8)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (9)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (10)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (11)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (12)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (13)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (14)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 限定版 (14)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (15)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 限定版 (15)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (16)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (17)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ↑ "ピアノの森 (18)" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ↑ "Tsumiki no Ie, Piano Forest, Kaiba Win Media Arts Awards". Anime News Network. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
- ↑ "Japanese Box Office, July 21–22: Piano no Mori at #9". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ↑ "2007 Japan Yearly Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ↑ "South Korea Box Office: October 9–11, 2009". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
External links[]
- Official manga website (Japanese)
- Official movie website (Japanese)
- Piano no Mori ({{{type}}}) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Piano no Mori at the Internet Movie Database
- WFAC 2008 film guide entry
- http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-218222-110-wonders-of-japan-in-istanbul-for-two-remarkable-exhibitions.html
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ko:피아노의 숲 id:Piano Hutan pt:Piano no Mori th:วัยกระเตาะ ตึ่ง ตึง ตึ๊ง zh:琴之森