by Naoshi Arakawa

5 Stars

Your Lie in April, otherwise known as Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, is a heart-touching, Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa. The series was published in 2011 and continued until 2015.  

The tale begins with Kousei Arima, once an astounding pianist until his cruel instructor, who is also his mother, passes away. This causes him to have a mental breakdown during his recital, with flashbacks of his mother’s abuse and death. He claims that he can no longer “hear the piano” as the overwhelming emotions drown him. Driven by his pain to refrain from playing, he presumes to living in his own monotonous colourless world. Living this bland life, he is astonished when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a free-spirited violinist. Now the question remains whether she can bring Arima back to music and, more importantly, back to life. 

This manga truly is worth reading as it is not just the practical, beautiful, yet tragic, love story. The graphics perfectly harmonize with the text as it depicts a number of themes such as love, friendship, growth, courage, and fulfillment. The dynamic artistry is well-suited for those who admire visuals and desire for their text to really come alive. “I swing between hope and despair at your slightest gesture, and my heart starts to play a melody. What do they call this feeling- I’m sure this is what they call love.”, (Arakawa, pg. 108) quoted from the protagonist, Kousei Arima. While reading this book, I was mesmerized by the wording the author used and felt as if I were the main character himself. For example, in that last quote, the language the author used to describe the feeling of the protagonist’s first love does its job in enticingly warming the hearts of many readers. Secondly, there are a number of hidden messages that emphasize the true meaning of the entire narrative, from true love and learning to let go to finding self-identity. Ultimately, it encourages people, especially teens reaching adulthood, to find their passion and be able to appreciate it, no matter what lies ahead. “We are all afraid you know.. to get up on stage. Maybe you will mess up. Maybe they will reject you. Even so, you grit your teeth and get up on stage anyway.”, (Arakawa, pg. 170) wise words from the female protagonist, Kaori Miyazono.  

Jaelyn M.

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