Your Lie in April

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Your Lie in April
Your Lie in April Manga cover.png
Cover of the first tankbon volume featuring Ksei Arima and Kaori Miyazono

(Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)

Genre Drama, Romance, Music
Manga
Written by

Naoshi Arakawa

Published by Kodansha
English publisher
NA
Kodansha Comics USA[1]
Demographic
Magazine

Shnen

Monthly Shnen Magazine

Original run April 6, 2011 February 6, 2015

Volumes

11

Anime television series

Directed by Kyhei Ishiguro
Written by

Takao Yoshioka

Music by

Masaru Yokoyama

StudioA-1 Pictures
Licensed by
AUS
Madman Entertainment

NA
Aniplex of America
Network

Fuji TV (noitamina)

Original run October 9, 2014 March 19, 2015

Episodes

22 + OVA (List of episodes)

Portal icon Anime and Manga portal

Your Lie in April, known in Japan as Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (?, lit. April
is Your Lie) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa.
An anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired from October 2014 to
March 2015 on Fuji TV's noitamina block.[2]

Contents [hide]
1

Plot

Characters

Media

3.1

Anime

3.1.1 Episode list

3.2

Live-action film

Reception

References

External links

Plot[edit]
Piano prodigy Kousei Arima dominated the competition and has become famous
among child musicians. After his mother, who was also his instructor, died, he had a
mental breakdown while performing at a piano recital at the age of eleven. 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, Kousei hasn't touched the piano and views the world
in monotone, 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 pretty, free-spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her

personality, helps Kousei return to the music world and shows that it should be free
and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kousei was used to.

Characters[edit]
Ksei Arima ( Arima Ksei?)
Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae & Piano performance by: Tomoki Sakata
Ksei 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. When his mother died, the resulting
psychological trauma caused him to be unable to hear the sound of the piano, and
he gave up playing. Now, two years later, he takes up the piano again after being
convinced by Kaori Miyazono, influenced by her emotional and unrestrained playing
style. Ksei eventually found himself falling in love with Kaori but held back due to
the fact that she was Watari's love interest.
Kaori Miyazono ( Miyazono Kawori?)
Voiced by: Risa Taneda & Violin performance by: Yna Shinohara
Kaori is Tsubaki's classmate, and 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 Ksei
when she asked Tsubaki to set her up with Watari, and eventually convinced Ksei
to play the piano again, first as her accompanist and later in a piano competition.
Although overly-optimistic, she hid the fact that she had an illness which was later
revealed due to her deteriorating health and several hospitalizations.
Tsubaki Sawabe ( Sawabe Tsubaki?)
Voiced by: Ayane Sakura
Ksei'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 Ksei'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 eventually
develops secret feelings for him, which she confesses to him later on.
Ryta Watari ( Watari Ryta?)
Voiced by: Ryta saka

Ryta is Ksei'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 Ksei jealous. Ksei later tells him about his feelings for Kaori, and he
soon accepts this and gives him advice. However, it is shown that he cares deeply
for Kaori, often visiting her in the hospital and giving her gifts, when she was
hospitalized.
Takeshi Aiza ( Aiza Takeshi?)
Voiced by: Yki Kaji
Takeshi is a pianist of the same age as Ksei. His aim was always to catch up and
surpass Ksei 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 Ksei.
Emi Igawa ( Igawa Emi?)
Voiced by: Saori Hayami
Emi is a pianist of the same age as Ksei, who decided to become a pianist after
listening to Ksei play at the age of 5. She aims to reach Ksei through her
emotional playing style.
Nagi Aiza ( Aiza Nagi?)
Voiced by: Ai Kayano
Nagi is Takeshi's little sister who pretended to ask for tuition from Hiroko in order to
scout his brother's rival, Ksei. She ended up being Ksei's student. She often says
"Cliche" ( Chinpu?) to things that she thought really cliche.
Saki Arima ( Arima Saki?)
Voiced by: Mamiko Noto
Saki was Ksei's strict mother who demanded that Ksei practice the piano until
absolute perfection, and often beat him up for small mistakes. While she did not
plan to make Ksei a pianist at first, her realization of Ksei's talents and the
discovery of her terminal illness made her decide to give Ksei 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 Ksei's qualification to what supposedly was his first competition in
Europe. She appears in front of Ksei many times throughout the show.
Hiroko Seto ( Seto Hiroko?)

Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki

Hiroko is a nationally renowned pianist and Saki's close friend from college. She was
the one who discovered Ksei'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 Ksei and his psychological trauma from Saki's death, she becomes
Ksei's guardian. After Ksei resumed his pianist career, she also becomes his
mentor.
Koharu Seto ( Seto Koharu?)
Voiced by: Inori Minase
A very small child who smiles very often and is the daughter of Seto Hiroko. She
enjoys Ksei'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 Ksei
and her mother.
Sait ( Sait?)
Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu
Sait 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 Ksei, covering it up through saying that he found someone else
he loves.
Nao Kashiwagi ( Kashiwagi Nao?)
Voiced by: Shizuka Ishigami
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
Ksei.
Media[edit]
Anime[edit]
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.[3] The first opening theme song is "Hikaru
Nara" ( lit. If You Will Shine?) by Goose house and the first ending theme
song is "Kirameki" ( lit. Sparkle?) by wacci.[4] The second opening song is
"Nanairo Symphony" ( Nanairo Shinfon?, lit. "Seven Colored
Symphony") by Coalamode and the second ending theme is "Orange" (
Orenji?) by 7!! (Seven Oops).[4]

Episode list[edit]
No.

Title

Original air date

"Monotone/Colorful"

"Monotn/Karafuru" ( / )

October 9, 2014

The autumn he was twelve, piano prodigy Kousei Arima suddenly found himself
unable to play the piano after his mother's death. Kousei quits the piano and
resumes a normal life with his childhood friends, Tsubaki Sawabe, and Ryota Watari.
One day in April two years later, Tsubaki invites Kousei on a double date as Ryota is
being introduced to a certain girl who has a crush on Watari. Kousei reluctantly
heads over to the rendezvous spot first. There, he sees a girl playing a melodica.
This girl, who allegedly has a crush on Watari, is Kaori Miyazono. And she turns out
to be a violinist!
2

"Friend A"

"Yjin A" ( A)

October 16, 2014

With Kousei Arima and the others in tow, Kaori Miyazono heads for the concert hall,
where a violin competition is being held. Kousei breathes in the nostalgic scent of
the hall. Many in the audience recognize Kousei as the boy once known as a piano
prodigy. The competition starts, and the auditorium is filled with tension. The fourth
contestant that came on the stage was Kaori. Her performance of the Kreutzer
Sonata is completely different than that of the other contestants. Ignoring what the
sheet music calls for, she makes the piece uniquely her own. She is beautiful in this
endeavor. Afterwards, she runs toward Ryota Watari. Its like a scene out of a movie.
Observing the hero and heroine from the sidelines, Kousei is struck by the feeling
that hes playing the role of Friend A.
3

"Inside Spring"

"Haru no Naka" ()

October 23, 2014

On his way home from school, Kousei Arima runs into Kaori Miyazono, and he goes
with her to a caf as Ryota Watari's substitute. Kaori is thrilled with her plate of
delicious waffles. There's an old upright piano in the caf, and some kids are
attempting to play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star on it. Kaori orders Kousei to perform,
and the sound of his playing soon resonates around the caf. But then suddenly, he
stops. Kousei begins to lose his ability to hear the sound of the piano once he starts
concentrating. It is then that Kaori appoints Kousei to be her accompanist. By
claiming the audiences nomination, Kaori is slated to compete in the second round
of the preliminaries.

"Departure"

"Tabidachi" ()

October 30, 2014

It's the day of the second round of the preliminaries. Kaori and Kousei await their
turn in the hallway of the venue. Noticing that Kousei is a bundle of nerves, Kaori
head-butts him. Looking Kousei in the eye, she encourages him by saying, "I know
you can do it." And their musical journey, with no clear destination, begins.
Although they start off quietly, just as the melody changes, Kaori unleashes her true
colors... She starts playing the violin with her whole body. In order to keep pace with
her, Kousei plays precisely, never hitting a false note. But the more Kousei focuses
on their music, the more the notes disappear, and the less he is able to hear the
sound of the piano... Eventually, his accompaniment spins out of control, and he
abruptly stops playing. Then Kaori stops playing as well. Smiling, the young girl
whispers to him, "Again..."
5

"Gray Skies"

"Donten Moy" () November 6, 2014

The trio of childhood friends, Tsubaki, Watari, and Kousei rush into a hospital room.
Kaori has been hospitalized, following her performance in the competition. Because
they stopped playing at one point, Kousei and Kaori have been disqualified from
advancing to the final round. Yet Kaori hasn't said a word of reproach to
Kousei...which makes Kousei feel even worse. "Have you been playing the piano?"
"Do you think you'll be able to forget?" Kaori's questions haunt him relentlessly.
Several days later, Kousei spots Kaori, who is back at school after being discharged
from the hospital. He wonders whether he should speak to her or not, but then sees
that Watari is by her side. Don't get the wrong idea, Kousei tells himself. But he runs
into her yet again on his way home from school that day. That's when Kaori implores
him to enter a piano competition.
6

"On the Way Home"

"Kaerimichi" ()

November 13, 2014

From the music room at school, the sound of a piano can be heard. It's a recording
of Kousei's playing, and his friends are giving it a second listen. Hearing his own
performance, Kousei is in shock. Without giving a thought to Kousei's feelings, Kaori
informs him that she's already chosen his piece out, Chopin's tude Op. 25, No. 5,
and sent in his submission form for a competition. "Why do you play the piano?"
asks Kaori. Kousei sits before the piano alone. And so begin the days of Kousei
practicing, just him and the piano. Watching Kaori suddenly get closer to Kousei,
Tsubaki begins to feel left out. She can see that they both inhabit a musician's
world, which she can never enter. During the final days of her summer in junior
high, Tsubaki injures her leg during a game, and the team takes a hard luck loss.

But, when Tsubaki is suffering from this devastating incident, its none other than
Kousei who comes to her side.
7

"The Shadow Whisper"

"Kage Sasayaku" () November 20, 2014

The day of the competition is approaching. Kousei is now able to play his selected
piece by heart. But he's not sure if he's made it his own or not. The troubled Kousei
collapses during class, and gets carted off to the infirmary. "You're you, no matter
what," says Kaori, who comes to see him. After struggling, losing his way, and
suffering, the answer he arrives at is laughably simple... And now it's the day of the
competition. Kousei fears that he'll end up not being able to play again. But in his
heart, Kaori encourages him. Meanwhile, at the venue, a boy and a girl await
Kousei's arrival. It's Takeshi Aiza and Emi Igawa. Several years ago, when Kousei
was winning every prize in sight, these were two pianists in the same age group
looked up to him, were jealous of him, and viewed him as a rival.
8

"Let it Ring"

"Hibike" ()

November 27, 2014

Takeshi, the favorite to win the competition, has been waiting for Kousei for two
years. Aspiring to play like Kousei, he has worked tenaciously to improve himself so
that he can reach even greater heights. His performance is met with thunderous
applause. After listening to Takeshis performance, Emi quietly approaches the
stage. She had been in awe of the young Kousei, vowing to become a pianist
herself. Ever since Kousei vanished from the scene, she has lost her motivation, and
has been an erratic performer for the past few years. But after being reunited with
Kousei at this competition, she gives the performance of her life. Her emotions
become one with the swelling of the music shes playing, appealing to the
audiences sentiments. Among them, Kaori feels something about Emis playing
resonate within her.
9

"Resonance"

"Kymei" ()

December 4, 2014

In order to convey her feelings to Kousei, the pianist she once looked up to, Emi
gives a passionate performance. She heads straight for Kousei right after leaving
the stage, only to find herself bereft of words. After all, she had just poured all of her
feelings into her playing. And at last, Kousei heads for the stage. As he sits before
the piano, the ghost of his dead mother speaks to him. And so begins Kouseis
musical journey as he confronts his past.
10

"The Scenery I Shared With You"

"Kimi to Ita Keshiki" ()

December 11, 2014

Kouseis performance begins. He starts off on a roll, but then midway through, his
playing begins to fall apart. Hearing this uneven performance, the audience starts
to buzz. Are the rumors that Kousei can no longer hear the sound of his own playing
true? In their hearts, Kaori, Tsubaki, and Watari cheer Kousei on from the audience,
while Emi and Takeshi, whove just finished performing, look on with concern.
Onstage and alone, Kousei confronts his own trauma regarding his mother.
11

"Light of Life"

"Inochi no Akari" () December 18, 2014

Kouseis performance ends. When he returns to the waiting room at the competition
venue, his late mothers friend, Hiroko Seto is there. Hiroko, Japans leading pianist,
has picked up on the emotion in Kouseis playing. The piano will drag everything
out of its performer. Kousei is perplexed by her words. Finally, the results of the
competition are posted, but Takeshi and Emi, seeing the strangely cheerful look on
Kouseis face, are struck by how hes changed and matured.
12

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

"To~uinkuru Ritorusut" ( ) January 8, 2015

Kousei and Kaori get themselves ready for the Towa musical gala they were invited
to. However, when it was their turn to go up and perform, Kaori still hasn't arrived at
the musical gala, leaving Kousei to go up by himself.
13

"Love's Sorrow"

"Ai no Kanashimi" ()

January 15, 2015

Kousei has taken the stage at the Gala Concert. Endeavoring to put on a
performance without Kaori. This is his chance to prove his abilities as a pianist and
try to come to terms with the memory of his mother.
14

"Footsteps"

"Ashiato" ()

January 22, 2015

Kousei, Tsubaki and Watari visit Kaori in the hospital, but she insists everything is
fine. Tsubaki reflects on her past with Kousei and considers if she has romantic
feelings for him. Meanwhile, Kousei makes an important decision about his future.
15

"Liar"

"Uso-tsuki" ()

January 29, 2015

Tsubaki is frustrated as she sees her friends moving forward, afraid that she might
be left behind. Kousei finds it difficult to keep visiting Kaori in the hospital. Hiroko
comes across a promising young talent.
16

"Two of a Kind"

"Nitamo no Dshi" ()

February 5, 2015

Kaori surprises Kousei with a shopping spree outside of the hospital. Meanwhile,
Hiroko assigns Nagi, the promising young talent, to Kousei as his first piano student.
Hiroko keeps a close eye on these lessons, as she is aware of Nagi's ulterior
motives: to destroy Kousei. Kaori can no longer hide her condition from Kousei, as
her health continues to deteriorate.
17

"Twilight"

"Towairaito" ()

February 12, 2015

Kousei faces ghosts from his past when visiting Kaori in the hospital. Nagi continues
learning piano from Hiroko and Kousei. As the school festival draws ever closer, Nagi
and Kousei prepare a joint performance. Nagi experiences performance anxiety in
the days leading up to the performance, but Hiroko soothes her with words of
wisdom. Kousei and Nagi experience a short, bonding moment in the minutes
leading up to their performance.
18

"Hearts Come Together"

"Kokoro Kasaneru" ()

February 19, 2015

Nagi and Kousei blow everyone away with their 4-hand piano duet at the school
festival. Afterwards, Takeshi confronts Kousei demanding the chance to beat him in
the upcoming Eastern Japan Piano Competition. Kousei visits Kaori at the hospital
again to find her passion for music reawakened. He challenges her to perform with
him one more time.
19

"Goodbye Hero"

"Sayonara Hr" ()

February 26, 2015

After hearing Kousei and Nagis duet, Kaori opts for a risky surgery that will end her
life if it fails, all so that she can perform with Kousei one more time. Even as she
verbally exhorts Kousei, whos begun practicing for his next competition, to work
harder, she herself is undergoing rehabilitation so that she can once again take the
stage.
20

"Hand in Hand"

"Te to Te" ()

March 5, 2015

The date of the finals is coming close and Kaori is pushing Kousei to keep practicing,
but whenever he visits with everyone else he says nothing. Tsubaki keeps doing well
on her tests and pushes forward to be with Kousei. During a rainstorm the Tsubaki
tells him that Watari likes Kaori and his only choice is to fall in love with her, then
kicks him in the shin and runs off. Later Kaori calls him about a late night flight and
watching the stars in the sky. The next day Watari and Kousei go to the hospital,
where Kousei admits he likes Kaori, to which Watari replies that that was obvious
and he already knew that. But when they get to her room, the two boys instead see
nurses scrambling to move Kaori to the ICU as her condition got drastically worse.
21

"Snow"

"Yuki" ()

March 12, 2015

Kousei stays home from school since the day he visited the hospital. Tsubaki, afraid
that Kousei will regress to the psychologically unstable state from two years ago,
asks Hiroko to help him. Hiroko goes to his house and yells at him that the contest is
a few days away and he needs to practice, but when she tries to get him up he says
he cannot play and claims that music has taken everyone he cares about away from
him. As people close to him worry, Emi and Takeshi practice for the final showdown.
Kousei returns to school, where there is a note left by Watari on familiar stationary
with one sentence - I want canales. Going to the hospital, he sees Kaori in her room
- who starts yelling at him to practice until she sees the canale bag and wants to go
outside to eat them. He helps her up to the snowy rooftop, where he tells her that
he is given up playing and tells her his fear. She stands up and pretends to hold her
violin again, and tells him she is going to undergo a risky surgery to have that one
last chance to play which also is the day of the contest. On the fateful day, Emi and
Takeshi put out high level performances as the surgery begins. When it is his turn he
begins to break down until he remembers what Kaori told him and begins to play his
most emotional piece ever.
22

"Spring Breeze"

"Harukaze" ()

March 19, 2015

Kousei performs Chopin`s Ballad No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 at the competition while
Kaori undergoes surgery. He reminisces about his past experiences and the lessons
he learned from the numerous people who have been a part of his life. As he plays,
he enters into a dream-like state, surrounded by color and light. He is surprised to
see Kaori and her violin before him. Kousei understands instantly that this means
that the surgery was unsuccessful, but returns a smile at her and continues his
performance as the vision of Kaori plays along with him. He begs her to stay with
him, but she disappears with one last tearful smile. In reality, Kousei completes his
performance with tears running down his face, saying his final farewell to her. Later,
at Kaori's funeral, her parents pass on her final letter to Kousei. As Spring
approaches, Kousei reads the letter, which reveals that Kaori, like the other pianists,

admired him as a child and was influenced to play the violin in order to someday
have Kousei play the piano with her. She was overjoyed that they were in the same
middle school, but was unable to speak to him because of his closeness to Tsubaki
and Watari. She explains that in April, she told a lie - that she was in love with
Watari - in a bid to get close to Kousei. Now knowing that Kaori loved him, Kousei
reaffirms his vow to never forget her, continuing to play the piano. Watari continues
his dating habits, but reminisces sadly about Kaori. Tsubaki, knowing that Kousei
had lost another person he loved, declares a promise to never allow him to be
alone. Kousei smiles, prepared for a spring without Kaori.
Live-action film[edit]
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.[5] Speculations were confirmed in September
2015 when the main cast was announced for the live-action adaptation of the
series: Kento Yamazaki as the piano prodigy Ksei Arima, Suzu Hirose as the freespirited violinist Kaori Miyazono, E-girls' Anna Ishii as childhood friend Tsubaki
Sawabe, and Taishi Nakagawa as soccer team captain Ryta 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 2016, will be written by Strawberry Night's live-action
scriptwriter Yukari Tatsui, and directed by Paradise Kiss's live-action director
Takehiko Shinj.[6]

Reception[edit]
It won the award for Best Shnen Manga at the 37th Kodansha Manga Awards.[7] It
was nominated for the 5th Manga Taish.[8]