History Characters / KonoOtoTomareSoundsOfLife

* DullEyesOfUnhappiness: This is one feature that clues into her damaged mental state. Her eyes are without shine and completely dark. But when she begins to find purpose in life once again, the glow returns as well.

* NiceGuy: Sweet, outgoing, and very amiable.

* HappilyAdopted: While it got strained due to his bad behavior, he absolutely loved and adored his grandfather for [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre always having faith in him]] and attempting to change the misguided road he had taken. He also seems at ease living with his aunt once his grandfather passed away.

* SirSwearsALot: With his background, it comes as no surprise that he can be rather foul-mouthed, and is the member of the cast who curses the most.

* RagtagBunchOfMisfits

* CuddleBug: He's very quick to hug people he likes.

* TheGlomp: His [[EstablishingCharacterMoment very first appearance]] has him tackle-hugging Chika. It speeds up from there.

* LoveIsAWeakness: When her feelings for Kurata distract her from playing well, she feels guilty and resolves to kill her emotions. After some mentorship from Takinami-sensei, she realizes that those emotions can be a source of strength as well.

* MyGreatestFailure: When she was a middle schooler, she automatically disqualified herself by playing an original composition in a bid to send her mother a desperate message. Her mother only grew colder and excommunicated her from the Hozuki Group.

The son of a composer and a top-tier pianist, Takinami-sensei is a math teacher at Tokise High School that also doubles as the Koto Club advisor. At first, he holds only cynicism for the club’s prospects, but events in the story force him to reevaluate his stance on the world of music.

* ArcWords: For her personally, her brother’s words of encouragement.
-->''“Because I gave it everything I have, I succeeded.”''

* DespairEventHorizon: The 36th National Koto Playing Contest. Despite an amazing performance that won first place, it only solidified the fact that she would never be on the same level as her brother.
-->''“I thought there was light waiting for me. But all I saw was an even deeper inescapable darkness.”''
* JadeColoredGlasses:All she wanted was to be like her brother, who she idolized. When it became clear that his natural talent was on another level from hers, she grew disillusioned about loving music for music’s sake.
* SuddenlyShouting: After the koto competition that she felt she didn’t deserve to win, she throws her award in disgust and screams at herself in self-deprecation. It’s a stark contrast to the icy, dignified persona she built up in the chapters before.

!Tokise High School

* DevotedToYou: After falling in love with Kurata, she finds a renewed determination to be the best she can be.
-->''I'll do my best – my absolute best, my everything. I'll do it.''

* ChickMagnet: Girls begin to acknowledge him once they realize he's [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold really not as dangerous as first thought]], much to Hozuki's chagrin.

* NecktieLeash: Gets this twice from Hozuki, for different reasons.

* SirSwearsALot: With his background, it comes as no surprise that he can be rather foul mouthed, and is the member of the cast who curses the most.

* [[WhenSheSmiles When He Smiles]]: He spurs this sentiment in specific moments of authentic laughter, something that catches Hozuki's attention. One instance even had other girls witness it favorably before Hozuki blocked their view with a cardboard piece.

* LuminescentBlush: Prone to this around Kudo after her defrosting. Chapter 74 takes the special kind of cake.

* CannotSpitItOut: Mind-blowingly ''beautifully'' averted in Chapter 106, bordering on AnguishedDeclarationOfLove and doubling as CrowningMomentOfAwesome AND CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming all at once.]]

* LoveEpiphany: Various members of the club get one at some point in time.

* BlatantLies: When Hozuki asks him if he has any musical experience, he responds that he has none. He wrote a full orchestral score when he was seven.
* BrutalHonesty: He does not mince words or say when the club performs poorly. On the other hand, this makes his rare moments of encouragement that much more powerful.

* WhamLine: He gives many of these throughout the course of the story.
** He gives one to the rest of the club when he explains that Kurata and Kurusu have only one shot to go to the nationals.

* BerserkButton: Do '''not''' insult any one of the club members. He can take jabs hurled at himself, but once you get his friends involved, his docile attitude does a [[TranquilFury complete 180]] (after development kicks in). It tends to leave the target speechless, just ask Hiro's ex-boyfriend.

* ExtremeDoormat: Overcoming this tendency is the crux of his character development. With the help of the rest of the club members, he grows into a respectable leader that guides the Koto Club to the national championships.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Kurusu comes to his house in Chapter 17 in order to motivate him to take control of the club.
* GrewASpine: His desire to be a worthy president of the Koto Club leads him to be more assertive in confrontational situations. A prominent turning point for him occurs in Chapter 18, when he asks Takinami-sensei to resign as the club advisor.

* LoveEpiphany: After the Christmas Eve party, he realizes that he likes Kurusu.

A second-year student in Kurata's class, first appearing in Chapter 9. An attractive socialite unlike the rest of the club members, Kurusu seemingly joins the club on a whim. In reality, she joined to spread discord and destroy the fun atmosphere she witnessed at a performance last year. Gradually, her motivation transforms to more genuine reasons, and she becomes an equally dedicated member of the club.

* DevotedToYou: [[spoiler:After falling in love with Kurata, she finds a renewed determination to be the best she can be.]]

* DontYouDarePityMe: After Kurata confronts her about her lies to break up the club, she invokes this.

* NoPlaceForMeThere: As a result of her past, she feels recurring doubt that she truly belongs in the Koto Club. After Hozuki and her bake a cake in Chapter 57, she accepts that the club members truly are her friends.
-->''What am I doing? Worrying myself, getting depressed alone... It's not like before. I've already made it here.''

* TearsOfJoy: Many of her ShipTease moments with Kurata end with an internal monologue of her wanting to cry in happiness. She also is the one to interpret the kanji of “Tenkyuu” this way.

'''[[Administrivia/SpoilersOff All spoilers unmarked]]'''. Continue reading at your own discretion.

!!Tokise High School

!Third-year students

[[folder:Chika Kudo]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_vol_1_cover.jpg]]
-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/YuumaUchida (JP), Creator/DamanMills (EN)

The first member to join Kurata in the club. Kudo brings with him a reputation for fighting and delinquency, which initially makes others distrustful of him. However, underneath his rough exterior is a kind heart who wants to honor his deceased grandfather by playing the koto.

[[folder:Hiro Kurusu]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_vol_5_cover.jpg]]
-> '''Voiced by''': Sara Matsumoto (JP), Creator/AlexisTipton (EN)

A second-year student in Kurata's class, first appearing in Chapter 9. An attractive socialite unlike the rest of the club members, Kurusu seemingly joins the club on a whim. In reality, she joined to spread discord and destroy the fun atmosphere she witnessed at a performance last year. Gradually, her motivation transforms to more genuine reasons, and she becomes an equally dedicated member of the club.

* BigSisterInstinct: She is very protective of the other members of the club, and holds their feelings over all else. When realizing that Dojima's presence was affecting the club morale, she tries to convince everyone that the club is better off without her.
* DevotedToYou: [[spoiler:After falling in love with Kurata, she finds a renewed determination to be the best she can be.]]
-->''I'll do my best – my absolute best, my everything. I'll do it.''
* DontYouDarePityMe: After Kurata confronts her about her lies to break up the club, she invokes this.
* GreenEyedMonster: Originally her defining feature. She joined the club because she was envious of the wholesome atmosphere. Although she makes vast progress, she occasionally relapses into bouts of jealousy, such as when Mashiro visited Kurata at the cultural festival.
* TheHeart: She oftentimes is the first one to offer rallying words of encouragement to the rest of the club.
* NoPlaceForMeThere: As a result of her past, she feels recurring doubt that she truly belongs in the Koto Club. After Hozuki and her bake a cake in Chapter 57, she accepts that the club members truly are her friends.
-->''What am I doing? Worrying myself, getting depressed alone... It's not like before. I've already made it here.''
* LoveIsAWeakness: When her feelings for Kurata distract her from playing well, she feels guilty and resolves to kill her emotions. After some mentorship from Takinami-sensei, she realizes that those emotions can be a source of strength as well.
* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: She falls for the plain but serious Kurata when before she made fun of his unassertive personality.
* TearsOfJoy: Many of her ShipTease moments with Kurata end with an internal monologue of her wanting to cry in happiness. She also is the one to interpret the kanji of “Tenkyuu” this way.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Kota Mizuhara]]
->'''Voiced by''': Creator/YuichiIguchi (JP), Creator/JoshGrelle (EN)
One of Chika's three delinquent followers who originally joined the club for his sake, Kota is the most cheerful and affectionate of the trio, but also the one that struggles the most playing koto. He has very poor sense of rhythm, but he makes up for it with hard work and determination.
----

'''[[SpoilersOff All spoilers unmarked]]'''. Continue reading at your own discretion.

'''[[SpoilersOff All spoilers unmarked]]]'''. Continue reading at your own discretion.

* AllYourPowersCombined: Although Hozuki’s skill is far beyond any of the other club members, only when the club plays as an ensemble do their songs really shine. Likewise, only by coming together did the team grow to love and understand their instrument - Hozuki to love the koto again [[spoiler: after being disinherited from the Hozuki Koto School]], and everyone to discover the koto.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: The one time he really gets angry [[spoiler:and confused over Hiro trying to break up the club]], even Kudo, former delinquent and streetfighter, is terrified of his frustrated DeathGlare.
* ExtremeDoormat: Overcoming this tendency is the crux of his character development. With the help of the rest of the club members, he grows into a respectable leader that [[spoiler:guides the Koto Club to the national championships.]]

* GrewASpine: His desire to be a worthy president of the Koto Club leads him to be more assertive in confrontational situations. A prominent turning point for him occurs in Chapter 18, [[spoiler:when he asks Takinami-sensei to resign as the club advisor.]]
* [[spoiler:HeroesWantRedheads]]

* LoveEpiphany: [[spoiler:After the Christmas Eve party, he realizes that he likes Kurusu.]]

* AloofDarkHairedGirl
* CannotSpitItOut: [[spoiler:Mind-blowingly ''beautifully'' averted in Chapter 106, bordering on AnguishedDeclarationOfLove and doubling as CrowningMomentOfAwesome AND CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming all at once.]]
* DefrostingIceQueen: [[spoiler:Her excommunication from the Hozuki Group left her cynical and unappreciating of other people's struggles.]] Playing in a group and understanding other people gradually warms both her personality and her sound.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: [[spoiler:After her disastrous solo in middle school, she lost the motivation to play the koto, thinking it to be pointless if she could neither help her mother nor reconcile with her.]]
* {{Irony}}: When listening to the [[spoiler:original version of ''Tenkyuu'' that she played in the National Koto Competition, she realizes that such a harsh sound would never express the feelings of love she felt for her mother.]]

* LuminescentBlush: Prone to this around Kudo after her defrosting. [[spoiler:Chapter 74 takes the special kind of cake.]]
* MinorLivingAlone: Kudo visits her in Chapter 11, to find that she lives [[spoiler:in a dinky one room house.]]
* MyGreatestFailure: When she was a middle schooler, [[spoiler:she automatically disqualified herself by playing an original composition in a bid to send her mother a desperate message. Her mother only grew colder and excommunicated her from the Hozuki Group.]]

* WellDoneSonGuy: [[spoiler:Her only reason to excel at the koto was to earn her mother’s smile. As her mother grew more and more stressed from managing the Hozuki Group, Satowa pushed herself to higher levels of excellence to try to make her mother happy again.]]

A second-year student in Kurata's class, first appearing in Chapter 9. An attractive socialite unlike the rest of the club members, Kurusu seemingly joins the club on a whim. In reality, [[spoiler:she joined to spread discord and destroy the fun atmosphere she witnessed at a performance last year.]] Gradually, her motivation transforms to more genuine reasons, and she becomes an equally dedicated member of the club.

* BigSisterInstinct: She is very protective of the other members of the club, and holds their feelings over all else. When realizing that [[spoiler:Dojima's presence was affecting the club morale]], she tries to convince everyone that the club is better off without her.

* DontYouDarePityMe: After Kurata confronts her about [[spoiler:her lies to break up the club]], she invokes this.
* GreenEyedMonster: [[spoiler:Originally her defining feature. She joined the club because she was envious of the wholesome atmosphere.]] Although she makes vast progress, she occasionally relapses into bouts of jealousy, such as [[spoiler:when Mashiro visited Kurata at the cultural festival.]]

* LoveIsAWeakness: [[spoiler:When her feelings for Kurata distract her from playing well, she feels guilty and resolves to kill her emotions.]] After some mentorship from Takinami-sensei, she realizes that those emotions can be a source of strength as well.
* PluckyGirl
* [[spoiler:SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan]]: [[spoiler:She falls for the plain but serious Kurata when before she made fun of his unassertive personality.]]
* TearsOfJoy: Many of her [[spoiler:{{Ship Tease}} moments with Kurata]] end with an internal monologue of her wanting to cry in happiness. She also is the one to interpret the kanji of “Tenkyuu” this way.

* TheNicknamer: He dishes out {{Affectionate Nickname}}s on the regular, such as calling Akira "Aki-chan-sensei" or nicknaming his [[spoiler: underclassmen Yoshinaga and Momoya "Yoshirin" and "Momoyan", respectively]].

The Koto Club Instructor. Her first appearance is in Chapter 33, when [[spoiler:Hozuki comes back to her mother to beg for another seventeen-string koto]], but she assumes the role of club instructor in Chapter 34. Akira first joins with the intent to break the will of the club members through spartan, traditional teaching methods. However, after witnessing the dedication and potential of the club firsthand, she turns around to genuinely wish for the club’s success.

* BrokenBird: [[spoiler:Despite what looks like a very successful koto career, she is absolutely miserable with her life. Until meeting the Koto Club, she did not think her effort did not have any value, when it was so easily surpassed by the naturally talented, like Hozuki.]]
* [[spoiler:DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife]]: [[spoiler:Believes that her own worth is nil, when musical geniuses like Satowa and her brother exist.]]
* DespairEventHorizon: [[spoiler:The 36th National Koto Playing Contest. Despite an amazing performance that won first place, it only solidified the fact that she would never be on the same level as her brother.]]

* ShutUpHannibal
* SuddenlyShouting: [[spoiler:After the koto competition that she felt she didn’t deserve to win, she throws her award in disgust and screams at herself in self-deprecation.]] It’s a stark contrast to the icy, dignified persona she built up in the chapters before.
* YamatoNadeshiko

All characters in ''Kono Oto Tomare!'' Names will be listed in Japanese convention; that is, surname, followed by given name.

[[caption-width-right:300:From left to right: Kurata, Kudou, Houzuki, Kouta, Kurusu, Sane, Mittsu. Not shown here: Yoshinaga and Momoya]]
* AllYourPowersCombined: Although Houzuki’s skill is far beyond any of the other club members, only when the club plays as an ensemble do their songs really shine. Likewise, only by coming together did the team grow to love and understand their instrument - Hozuki to love the koto again [[spoiler: after being disinherited from the Hozuki Koto School]], and everyone to discover the koto.

[[folder:Kurata Takezou]]

President of the Koto Club. At the beginning of the story, Kurata is the sole remaining member of the club, after Mashiro and the rest of his upperclassmen graduated. With Kudou's help and a little bit of luck, Kurata turns the floundering club into a formidable ensemble.

* InSeriesNickname: “Glasses” from Kudou as a rough form of affection, “Nadeshiko-chan” from his bullies.

[[folder:Kudou Chika]]

The first member to join Kurata in the club. Kudou brings with him a reputation for fighting and delinquency, which initially makes others distrustful of him. However, underneath his rough exterior is a kind heart who wants to honor his deceased grandfather by playing the koto.

* TheAtoner: Kudou joins the Koto Club to honor his grandfather’s memory.
* ChickMagnet: Girls begin to acknowledge him once they realize he's [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold really not as dangerous as first thought]], much to Houzuki's chagrin.

* {{Determinator}}: Although every member of the club is intensely dedicated, Kudou is a cut above, usually being the first one in the club room every morning, practicing until his fingers literally bleed, and playing through a concert with a sprained hand. All so that he can catch up to Houzuki and be worthy of playing with her.

* MagneticHero: While Takezou is the club president, the entire Koto club kickstarted the moment Chika applied. His perseverance, determination to improve, and hard work continuously inspires the rest of the members, and when the chips are down and doubts fill in, it's him that provides the encouragement for them to push forward via figuring out musical epiphanies and indirectly prompting them to continue trying.

* NecktieLeash: Gets this twice from Houzuki, for different reasons.

* RealMenHateAffection: Kudou gets shy when his aunt hugs him in Chapter 54.

* SweetTooth: Many of the after-chapter sketches humorously depict Kudou begging Tetsuki for sweets.

* {{Tsundere}}: And Class S to boot! Harsh type to all his friends, especially Houzuki.
* [[WhenSheSmiles When He Smiles]]: He spurs this sentiment in specific moments of authentic laughter, something that catches Houzuki's attention. One instance even had other girls witness it favorably before Houzuki blocked their view with a cardboard piece.

[[folder:Houzuki Satowa]]

A koto prodigy, and a member of the renowned Houzuki Group, one of the most prestigious organizations in the koto world. After an infamous performance as a middle schooler, Houzuki joined Tokise's koto club with the intent to increase her own fame. After further reflection and the help of the other club members, she comes to appreciate the koto as not just an instrument, but something more.

* DefrostingIceQueen: [[spoiler:Her excommunication from the Houzuki Group left her cynical and unappreciating of other people's struggles.]] Playing in a group and understanding other people gradually warms both her personality and her sound.

* LuminescentBlush: Prone to this around Kudou after her defrosting. [[spoiler:Chapter 74 takes the special kind of cake.]]
* MinorLivingAlone: Kudou visits her in Chapter 11, to find that she lives [[spoiler:in a dinky one room house.]]
* MyGreatestFailure: When she was a middle schooler, [[spoiler:she automatically disqualified herself by playing an original composition in a bid to send her mother a desperate message. Her mother only grew colder and excommunicated her from the Houzuki Group.]]

* {{Tsundere}}: Towards Kudou; her lack of social skills leaves her quite embarrassed to show her Dere side. She's steadily growing out of it though.
* WellDoneSonGuy: [[spoiler:Her only reason to excel at the koto was to earn her mother’s smile. As her mother grew more and more stressed from managing the Houzuki Group, Satowa pushed herself to higher levels of excellence to try to make her mother happy again.]]

[[folder:Kurusu Hiro]]

* BigSisterInstinct: She is very protective of the other members of the club, and holds their feelings over all else. When realizing that [[spoiler:Doujima's presence was affecting the club morale]], she tries to convince everyone that the club is better off without her.

* NoPlaceForMeThere: As a result of her past, she feels recurring doubt that she truly belongs in the Koto Club. After Houzuki and her bake a cake in Chapter 57, she accepts that the club members truly are her friends.

[[folder:Mizuhara Kouta]]

One of Chika's three delinquent followers who originally joined the club for his sake, Kouta is the most cheerful and affectionate of the trio, but also the one that struggles the most playing koto. He has very poor sense of rhythm, but he makes up for it with hard work and determination.

[[folder:Adachi Saneyasu]]

* ChivalrousPervert: All three boys have shades of this, but it's perhaps most prominent with Sane. He's experienced {{Nosebleed}} more than once upon meeting pretty ladies, and is usually the first to comment on them. One way to tick him off- as Mittsu knows and Chika finds out- is to say you were in closer proximity to a pretty girl than he was. However, he is respectful towards the the female club members and Doujima and a has a protective streak that eventually extends to include the whole koto club.

[[folder:Sakai Michitaka]]

* AllTheOtherReindeer: Starts feeling this at the beginning of his second year after being placed in a different class from his friends. The story notes that he isn't as naturally sociable as Sane or Kouta.

[[folder:Takinami Suzuka]]

* BlatantLies: When Houzuki asks him if he has any musical experience, he responds that he has none. He wrote a full orchestral score when he was seven.

[[folder:Doujima Akira]]

The Koto Club Instructor. Her first appearance is in Chapter 33, when [[spoiler:Houzuki comes back to her mother to beg for another seventeen-string koto]], but she assumes the role of club instructor in Chapter 34. Akira first joins with the intent to break the will of the club members through spartan, traditional teaching methods. However, after witnessing the dedication and potential of the club firsthand, she turns around to genuinely wish for the club’s success.

* BrokenBird: [[spoiler:Despite what looks like a very successful koto career, she is absolutely miserable with her life. Until meeting the Koto Club, she did not think her effort did not have any value, when it was so easily surpassed by the naturally talented, like Houzuki.]]

->'''Voiced by''': Yuichi Iguchi (JP), Creator/JoshGrelle (EN)

* CryCute: [[spoiler:Following her second rendition of ''Tenkyuu'' in Chapter 52, Houzuki breaks into tears after reuniting with her mother.]]

* LuminescentBlush: Prone to this around Kudou after her defrosting.

* MagneticHero: While Takezuo is the club president, the entire Koto club kickstarted the moment Chika applied. His perseverance, determination to improve, and hard work continuously inspires the rest of the members, and when the chips are down and doubts fill in, it's him that provides the encouragement for them to push forward via figuring out musical epiphanies and indirectly prompting them to continue trying.

* {{Tsundere}}: Towards Kudou; her lack of social skills leaves her quite embarrassed to show her Dere side.