▪	RELEASED BY:		DEL REY
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		TOMOKO NINOMIYA
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		215
		▪	RATING:		OT
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		07/31/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		07/29/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN

Winner of the Kondansha Manga of the Year Award in 2004, Tomoko Ninomiya’s NODAME CANTABILE is a wonderful manga for readers seeking love in their stories that is grounded in the real world, free from magical transformations, curses, giant robots, nasty beasties and ample fan service.  What also makes this story attractive is the focus on music, which has helped make live action and anime versions of this tale a great success in Japan.  Through the skillful writing of the creator, Tomoko Ninimiya, we can practically hear the music we read so lovingly about in this story through the clever use of images and narrative descriptions by the characters.  NODAME CANTABILE is a real find in manga, and the latest volume is a most welcome diversion. 

To recap the story so far, Shinichi Chiaki, son of a famous musician, and a gifted conductor in his own right, finds his dreams of studying abroad coming true, and leaves for Paris to study conducting.  Accompanying him is fellow student Megumi Noda, also known as Nodame.  She is also a musician, who plays the piano in an incomparable Cantabile style that mesmerizes all who hear her.  She is Shinichi’s biggest fan, despite driving him mad with her oddball manner.  One might think that the story would end with these two going to Paris.  But nooo…this symphony has another movement still to play, and the fun isn’t over yet.

Volume Ten puts Shinichi into a lucrative competition along with some very capable maestros- one of whom has already won the contest before, and the other, who’s love of music causes this seemingly meek man to literally leap into the air while conducting.  Shinichi’s victory is far from certain, and if he does not watch himself, he could make a fatal mistake in front of his orchestra and the judges observing him.  If that wasn’t bad enough, Nodame is being more of herself than usual.  Not having prepped any French before leaving, she is embarrassingly out of touch when she reaches Paris.  This makes for some funny moments, of course, but all that pales when compared to how she actually learns the language.  As it turns out, PURI GOROTA, her favorite anime, is playing on television, dubbed in French.  Knowing each episode by heart, she uses the series to complete a crash course in her new language, much to the amazement of one of her neighbors, a French otaku who also loves the show. 

Is love in the air?  Does Shinichi have to be worried about this?  No…but that doesn’t stop him.  And this is not the time for such a distraction, as the finale of the contest approaches.  Sooner or later, however, he will have to confront his feelings for Nodame and decide once and for all if she is the one for him.  Nothing is certain as the story goes on, making this long installment in the manga one of the most engaging yet. 

The art is still peculiarly out of step compared to some other shojo manga, with sparing use of line and texture in the drawings, except in the musical sequences.  Yet, the artist/author has again observed her subjects and the music in the story with care and respect, giving this work a grounding that often lacks in more floridly rendered stories. 

A question: what is it about this manga that keeps us coming back?  It’s fresh.  It’s more realistic than much of the material out there.  It is engaging, but not emotionally taxing, like a good light romantic comedy should be.  It would be very interesting to see how this story has translated into live action and anime television series.  As it has been reincarnated in both forms, one would suspect audiences have heartily approved of what they’ve seen so far.  And that, dear reader, is good news for fans on this side of the Pacific.

EXTRAS:
As in many of its manga publications, Del Rey has included a translation guide at the end of the story, helping us gaijin understand some of the cultural references in the story.  Also, a preview, (in Japanese) of the next volume is included to whet our appetites. 

IN SUMMARY:
Romance.  Music.  Paris.  Manga.  When Shinichi met Nodame, who could ask for anything more?  In NODAME CANTABILE, you get it.  The music, romance, and comedy blend beautifully to make a engaging, solidly entertaining read from beginning to end.