Your Lie in April, known in Japan as Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (四月は君の嘘, lit. April is Your Lie), or just simply Kimiuso is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa. The series was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine from April 2011 to May 2015. An anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired from October 2014 to March 2015 on Fuji TV's Noitamina block.[2] A live-action film adaptation of the same name has been scheduled to be released in September 2016.[3]
Plot
Piano prodigy Kōsei Arima dominated the competition and has become famous among child musicians but also controversial. After his mother, who was also his coldhearted, abusive instructor that forced him to play the piano emotionlessly, died, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a piano recital at the age of twelve. As a result, he is no longer able to hear the sound of his piano even though his hearing is perfectly fine. Two years later, Kōsei hasn't touched the piano and views the world in monochrome, without any flair or color. He has resigned himself to living out his life with his good friends, Tsubaki and Watari, until, one day, a girl changes everything. Kaori Miyazono, a fourteen-year old audacious, free-spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her manic personality, helps Kōsei return to the music world and shows that it should be free and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kōsei was used to, and as she continues to uplift him, he quickly realizes that he loves her.
Kōsei is a former child prodigy in playing piano, dubbed the "Human Metronome" for his near-inhuman mechanical accuracy, a product of his mother's overly strict methods of teaching. His ability to play the piano with unparalleled precision led him to win many competitions across Japan and even be invited to play abroad. When his mother died, the resulting psychological trauma caused him to be unable to hear the sound of his piano playing, and gave up on it. Two years later, he takes up the piano again after being convinced by Kaori Miyazono to become her accompanist. Influenced by her emotional and unrestrained playing style, Kōsei eventually finds himself falling in love with her. He, however, does not confess his feelings due to her liking his best friend, Ryota Watari.
It is later revealed in Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: Coda, a side story from Kousei and Tsubaki's childhood, that his inspiration for playing so beautifully in his first competition was to cheer up Tsubaki after the passing of her grandmother.
Kaori is Tsubaki's classmate; she is a free-spirited violinist who has drawn much criticism from judging panels due to her unwillingness to adhere strictly to the score, but is highly favored by audiences that hear her playing. Kaori first met Kōsei when she asked Tsubaki to set her up with Watari. As their friendship grew, she eventually convinced Kōsei to play the piano again, first as her accompanist and later in a piano competition.
Kōsei's childhood friend and next-door neighbor, who treats him like a little brother. She is athletic and is part of the softball club at school. Often dismayed at Kōsei's inability to move on from his mother's death, she attempts to get him to play the piano again in order to make a clear decision about his future. She first denies her feelings for him but after undergoing several stages of denial, she falls in love with him, which she confesses to him later on.
Ryōta is Kōsei's and Tsubaki's childhood friend, and is the captain of the school's soccer team. He is extremely popular with girls, and usually adopts a frivolous attitude. However, he does come up with good insights every so often. Kaori was his love interest and when they are together, they are shown to be acting lovey-dovey, which makes Kōsei jealous. Kōsei later tells him about his feelings for Kaori, and he soon accepts this and gives him advice.
Takeshi is a pianist of the same age as Kōsei. His aim was always to catch up and surpass Kōsei on the piano since watching him play at a young age. His resolve is so strong to the point that Takeshi would even abandon an invitation for a piano competition in Europe in order to compete with Kōsei. To Takeshi, Kōsei was like his 'hero'.
Emi is a pianist of the same age as Kōsei, who decided to become a pianist after listening to Kōsei play at the age of 5. She aims to reach Kōsei through her emotional playing style. It is hinted that she has feelings for Kōsei.
Nagi is Takeshi's little sister who pretended to ask for tuition from Hiroko in order to scout his brother's rival, Kōsei. She ended up becoming Kōsei's student. She often says "Cliche" (陳腐, Chinpu) to things that Kōsei tells her. After months of tutelage, she develops a crush on her teacher.
Saki was Kōsei's strict mother who demanded that Kōsei practice the piano until absolute perfection, and often beat him up for small mistakes. While she did not plan to make Kōsei a pianist at first, her realization of Kōsei's talents and the discovery of her terminal illness made her decide to give Kōsei a strict foundation in piano in order to be able to find his own style and a living as a pianist after she dies. She died before Kōsei's qualification to what supposedly was his first competition in Europe. She appears in front of Kōsei many times throughout the show.
Hiroko is a nationally renowned pianist and Saki's close friend from college. She was the one who discovered Kōsei's talents in piano and suggested Saki to make him into a pianist despite Saki's initial disagreement. Blaming herself for Saki's brutal treatment to Kōsei and his psychological trauma from Saki's death, she distances herself from Kōsei following Saki's death. When Kōsei returns to play the piano, she becomes his guardian and mentor.
A very small child who smiles very often and is the daughter of Seto Hiroko. She enjoys Kōsei's piano playing and always wants him to play more and is very attached to him. She usually clings by her mother's side and is adored by both Kōsei and her mother.
Saitō is Tsubaki's baseball-playing senior and her target of admiration. He confessed to Tsubaki and dated her, but suggested they break up after realizing Tsubaki's actual feelings for Kōsei, covering it up through saying that he found someone else he loves.
Kashiwagi is a good friend of Tsubaki's who often gives her advice. Kashiwagi succeeded in breaking Tsubaki's stubbornness to realize and admit her feelings for Kōsei. Near the end it is established that most of the advice she gives Tsubaki comes from her being a fan of BL (Boys' love) manga, not from personal dating experience.
Media
Manga
The Your Lie in April manga series is written and illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa, and began serialization on April 6, 2011 in Kodansha's Monthly Shōnen Magazine. The first tankōbon was published by Kodansha on September 16, 2011,[4] and the final volume was released in two editions, a regular edition and a limited edition, with the limited edition bundled with an OVA, and was released on May 15, 2015.[5][6] The series is licensed in English in North America by Kodansha Comics USA, and the first volume was published on April 21, 2015.[7]
A spin-off manga titled Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: Coda was bundled with the release of the Blu-ray release of the anime series. It will be released in tankōbon format on August 17, 2016.[8]
A-1 Pictures has aired the anime production of Your Lie in April. It premiered on October 10, 2014 in Japan and ended on March 20, 2015. Crunchyroll is currently airing the series with English subtitles.[29] The first opening theme song is "Hikaru Nara" (光るなら, lit. If You Will Shine) by Goose house and the first ending theme song is "Kirameki" (キラメキ, lit. Sparkle) by wacci.[30] The second opening song is "Nanairo Symphony" (七色シンフォニー, Nanairo Shinfonī, lit. "Seven Colored Symphony") by Coalamode and the second ending theme is "Orange" (オレンジ, Orenji) by 7!! (Seven Oops).[30]
The show has been added to Netflix with both English subtitles and the English dub.
On August 24, 2015, the domain 'kimiuso-movie.jp' was registered under Toho, a Japanese film production and distribution company, which made fans believe that a movie adaptation was in the works.[31] Speculations were confirmed in September 2015 when the main cast was announced for the live-action adaptation of the series: Kento Yamazaki as Kōsei Arima, Suzu Hirose as Kaori Miyazono, E-girls' Anna Ishii as Tsubaki Sawabe, and Taishi Nakagawa as Ryōta Watari. While the original story depicts the characters in their junior high year, it is announced that they will be in their second-year of high school in the film. The adaptation, slated to be released in Japan in September 2016, will be written by Strawberry Night's live-action scriptwriter Yukari Tatsui, and directed by Paradise Kiss's live-action director Takehiko Shinjō.[3][32]