Line #15 Characters/KonoOtoTomareSoundsOfLife


1	All characters in ''Kono Oto Tomare!''
2
3	'''[[Administrivia/SpoilersOff All spoilers unmarked]]'''. '''Continue reading at your own discretion'''.
4	----
5	[[foldercontrol]]
6
7	!Tokise High School Koto Club
8
9	[[folder:The Club as a Whole]]
10	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kot_club_ch_26.PNG]]
11	[[caption-width-right:300:From left to right: Kurata, Kudou, Hozuki, Kota, Kurusu, Sane, Mittsu. Not shown here: Yoshinaga and Momoya]]
12	* 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 after being disinherited from the Hozuki Koto School, and everyone to discover the koto.
13	* BookDumb: With the exception of Kurata, none of the other members are shown to be particularly bright at academic subjects. Likewise, they learn better by listening to music and feeling its emotions instead of understanding its theory.
14	* {{Determinator}}: The club endures {{Training From Hell}} on a regular basis in order not to disappoint each other.
15	* HiddenDepths: Everyone on the team gets a significant amount of character development that prove that there's more to them than what meets the eye.
16	* RagtagBunchOfMisfits:
17	-->'''Fujimoto:''' An honor student next to a gyaru… like seven jigsaws mixed together.
18	* StrongerThanTheyLook: Many of their rivals initially write them off due to their lack of reputation, mismatching personalities, and seemingly delinquent style.
19	* TrueCompanions: It's what brought them all together and why they're able to play so well together. This companionship also inspired Takinami to take up music again and Akira to defeat her own personal darkness and cynicism.
20	[[/folder]]
21
22	!!Third-year students
23	[[folder:Takezo Kurata]]
24	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_vol_2_cover.jpg]]
25	-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/JunyaEnoki (JP), Creator/AlejandroSaab (EN)
26
27	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 Kudo's help and a little bit of luck, Kurata turns the floundering club into a formidable ensemble.
28	----
29	* 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 [[GrewASpine development kicks in]]). It tends to leave the target speechless; just ask Takeru and Hiro's ex-boyfriend.
30	* BespectacledCutie: He may be the archetypal nerd, but his glasses make his child-like features even more endearing. They also don't stop Hiro from becoming attracted to him.
31	* BewareTheNiceOnes: The one time he really gets angry and confused over Hiro trying to break up the club, even Kudo, former delinquent and streetfighter, is terrified of his frustrated DeathGlare.
32	* ExtremeDoormat: Initially, he's submissive, passively pleasing and insecure. 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.
33	* HeCleansUpNicely: During the school festival, he tidies up his hairstyle and his wardrobe. Naturally, Hiro becomes more attracted to him for it.
34	* InformedFlaw: Chika calls him 'baldie' a couple of times, despite him having a full head of hair.
35	* InSeriesNickname: “Glasses” from Kudo as a rough form of affection, “Nadeshiko-chan” from his bullies.
36	* NiceGuy: While it was taken to a [[ExtremeDoormat needy]] extreme in the beginning, Takezo is always kind-hearted, well-behaved and compassionate, which is why he maintains his underclassmen's respect.
37	* OnlySaneMan: When Takinami uses childish appeals to motivate the boys of the club (like when he said they were too young to understand “sex appeal”), Kurata is the only one who doesn’t fall for the ruse.
38	* StereotypicalNerd: He starts out as one, with the GeekPhysique, the NerdGlasses and projecting an air of insecurity and neediness. He grows out of these stereotypes as the story progresses, however.
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Hiro Kurusu]]
42	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_vol_5_cover.jpg]]
43	-> '''Voiced by''': Sara Matsumoto (JP), Creator/AlexisTipton (EN)
44
45	A 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.
46	----
47	* TheAtoner: After her being figured out by the koto club, she musters the courage to head to everybody whose relationships she destroyed with her previous manipulations and apologize. Even if it got her beaten and bruised.
48	* 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.
49	* BitchInSheepsClothing: Starts out manipulating the club members so she could ruin their camaraderie under a thin veneer of cheer. After she's called out for it and later resolves to involve herself more seriously at playing koto, her kindness is considerably more [[NiceGirl sincere]].
50	* 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.
51	* GenkiGirl: After enrolling in the club fully, she often serves as the bubbly, energetic counterpart to the more stoic and reserved Hozuki.
52	* TheHeart: She oftentimes is the first one to offer rallying words of encouragement to the rest of the club.
53	* NiceGirl: Her earlier stints aside, Hiro's truly a sincere, warm-hearted and friendly young woman who will always support her peers when they're in dire straits.
54	* PsychologicalProjection: She had a small case in the beginning; she reasoned that if her relationship and friendships could be ruined by a single lie, it meant that relationships were frail to begin with, so she resolved to do the same. Fortunately, all it took to snap her out of it was one group of friends (the koto club) who weren't so easily torn apart.
55	* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: She falls for the plain but serious Kurata when before she made fun of his unassertive personality.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	!!Second-year students
59
60	[[folder:Chika Kudo]]
61	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_vol_1_cover.jpg]]
62	-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/YuumaUchida (JP), Creator/DamanMills (EN)
63
64	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.
65	----
66	* TheAtoner: Kudo joins the Koto Club to honor his grandfather’s memory.
67	* ChickMagnet: He's a conspicuous {{Bishonen}}, and girls begin to acknowledge him once they realize he's [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold really not as dangerous as first thought]], much to Hozuki's chagrin.
68	* CuteLittleFangs: Comical scenes always portray him with two sharp teeth sticking out of the corner of his mouth, to highlight his occasionally dopey nature.
69	* [[{{Delinquents}} Delinquent]]: Former. Rehabilitated thanks to finding his path in the Koto club.
70	* {{Determinator}}: Although every member of the club is intensely dedicated, Kudo 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 Hozuki and be worthy of playing with her.
71	* TheDreaded: At the beginning of the story his reputation is awful, and the entire school is afraid of him. Things get better.
72	* GuiltComplex: To the point that he took personal blame for what occurred to his grandfather's shop, despite that he neither participated nor incited the destruction, and it was just vengeance by members of his previous gang for deciding to finally remove himself from them to begin a new leaf. He was simply on the wrong place at the wrong time. Didn't help when one of the cops arresting him stated that even ''if'' he had nothing to do with it, that he probably deserved it due to his history of delinquency.
73	* HairTriggerTemper: He gets fired up very easily, which unfortunately has obscured his heart of gold.
74	* 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.
75	* HotBlooded: At the start of the story, he got riled up so effortlessly that he seemed uncontrollable, and resorted to violence like second nature. [[CharacterDevelopment He improves]].
76	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He definitely does not provide the best first impression, but it doesn't take long for others to see his virtues and the softness underneath.
77	* MagneticHero: While Takezo 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.
78	* MagikarpPower: Although he begins as an absolute amateur, his natural talent allows him to play basic passages with incredible emotion.
79	* MeaningfulName: His name is written with the character for “love.”
80	* RaisedByGrandparents: By his grandfather, before the start of the series.
81	* RealMenHateAffection: Kudo gets shy when his aunt hugs him in Chapter 54.
82	* 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. He also uses keigo very little, and is criticized for it.
83	* SourOutsideSadInside: His irate and aggressive tendencies appear to derive from being disowned by his father for being a "brat" and seemingly [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife finding no purpose in life]]. He's terribly affected by his grandfather's koto repair shop being damaged and then has to deal with his subsequent death, although his grandfather was aware he was not at fault and stated so. Dealing with the loss is what actually spurs Chika to join the koto club, as his grandfather was the club founder.
84	* SweetTooth: Many of the after-chapter sketches humorously depict Kudo begging Tetsuki for sweets.
85	* TameHisAnger: As the series progresses, he is less prone to violence and hissy fits than he used to be, and has become [[TookALevelInKindness more gentle and emotionally mature]] thanks to his friends.
86	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Strawberries, or anything strawberry-flavored. He loves them so much he asked that his class serve strawberry daifuku in their culture fair festival, which is one of the first things that gets his classmates to realize that he's not as bad as the rumors say he is.
87	* {{Tsundere}}: And Class S to boot! Harsh type to all his friends, especially Hozuki.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Satowa Hozuki]]
91	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_3.jpg]]
92	-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/AtsumiTanezaki (JP), Creator/AmberLeeConnors (EN)
93
94	A koto prodigy, and a member of the renowned Hozuki Group, one of the most prestigious organizations in the koto world. After an infamous performance as a middle schooler, Hozuki 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.
95	----
96	* AloofDarkHairedGirl: At the beginning, she's quite pompous and arrogant towards the other boys, but over time, mellows out once she gets to know them and connect with them. The black hair is self-explanatory.
97	* CannotSpitItOut: Naturally, she's completely dumbstruck about expressing her feelings towards Chika. At least until later on.
98	* CrushBlush: Prone to this around Kudo after her defrosting. Chapter 74 takes the special kind of cake.
99	* DefrostingIceQueen: 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.
100	* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: 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.
101	* {{Irony}}: When listening to the 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.
102	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: She's quite arrogant and pompous upon introduction, as well as a rather impatient teacher that looked down on her teammates, but her heart is very much in the right place. She mellows out considerably as she spends more time with her clubmates.
103	* LethalChef: It is implied several times that she cannot cook. Justified since she hasn't seen anything but koto for several years straight.
104	* MinorLivingAlone: Kudo visits her in Chapter 11, to find that she lives in a dinky one room house.
105	* NoSocialSkills: A life fully immersed in the koto world left Satowa with little else to socialize about. In brief scenes of her chatting with female classmates, she’s often left overwhelmed and confused, an embarrassed LuminescentBlush over her face.
106	* {{Tsundere}}: Towards Kudo; her lack of social skills leaves her quite embarrassed to show her Dere side. She's steadily growing out of it though.
107	* WellDoneSonGuy: 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.
108	[[/folder]]
109
110	[[folder:Kota Mizuhara]]
111	->'''Voiced by''': Creator/YuichiIguchi (JP), Creator/JoshGrelle (EN)
112	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.
113	----
114	* CampStraight: His mannerisms, choices of colors and high-pitched voice are somewhat effeminate, but later chapters reveal that he's unequivocally attracted to girls.
115	* CuddleBug: He's very quick to hug people he likes, and he does it with [[TheGlomp maximum flare]].
116	* {{Determinator}}: Frequently struggles with difficult rhythms, but works extra hard to get the hang of them anyway.
117	* {{Keet}}: The cheeriest and most energetic member of the idiot trio, as well as the whole club.
118	* NiceGuy: Sweet, outgoing, and very amiable; arguably the friendliest of Chika's three friends.
119	* TheNicknamer: He dishes out {{Affectionate Nickname}}s on the regular, such as calling Akira "Aki-chan-sensei" or nicknaming his underclassmen Yoshinaga and Momoya "Yoshirin" and "Momoyan", respectively.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:Saneyasu Adachi]]
123	->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HarukiIshiya (JP), Creator/AustinTindle (EN)
124	One of Chika's three delinquent followers who originally joined the club for his sake. Seems to be the most musically skilled among the trio, for after his initial struggles, he's noted to have developed a good sense of power and balance in playing.
125	----
126	* 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 Dojima and a has a protective streak that eventually extends to include the whole koto club.
127	* ChekhovsSkill: He mentions during a dinner outing that he knows how to play guitar, which proves that he's musically inclined. This is why he lands a position playing a 17-string koto in the future.
128	* JackOfAllStats: Developing into one where his koto playing is concerned- and a few characters have acknowledged this. His familiarity with the guitar likely helps.
129	* TheLeader: Subtle, but he's usually the one among the trio to take charge when Chika isn't around.
130	* NiceGuy: Friendly, reliable, and always loyal to and mindful of his friends.
131	[[/folder]]
132
133	[[folder:Michitaka Sakai]]
134	->'''Voiced by''': Creator/MakotoFurukawa (JP), Creator/AnthonyBowling (EN)
135	One of Chika's three delinquent followers who originally joined the club for his sake. A plump boy who hails from a large family.
136	----
137	* 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 Kota.
138	* AnimeHair: His hair is pink, hedgehog-like and spiky.
139	* BigBeautifulMan: Being obese doesn't mean that he's spared the BishieSparkle.
140	* BigFun: He's the only obese man in the cast, and often one who brings humor to the club. Though, it isn't always played straight.
141	* InSeriesNickname: Is affectionately called "Mittsu" by his peers.
142	* MassiveNumberedSiblings: Four, all of whom are younger than him. They come into play later in the story.
143	* NiceGuy: He's quick to share his affection with others and is usually very gentle. He often generously gives his food to others when they're down.
144	* StrongFamilyResemblance: Out of all his siblings, it's Michitaka who looks the most like his mother. It helps that both are obese.
145	* YouAreFat: Subverted. He's sometimes seen with food, and his friends make a references to his weight, but it's never intended to be as mocking or mean spirited, and he has no problem joining in from time to time. His development in the story actually has nothing to do with him being "the fat kid", and his friends remain fiercely supportive when he gets ADayInTheLimelight.
146	[[/folder]]
147
148	!!Associates
149
150	[[folder:Suzuka Takinami]]
151	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_vol_8_cover.jpg]]
152	-->''“Then practice. If you don’t want this to be the last one, then for the next two months, train like your lives depended on it. Efficiently, frantically, earnestly… train so that you can proudly say no one trained more.”''
153	-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/DaisukeNamikawa (JP), Creator/BrandonPotter (EN)
154
155	The son of a composer and a top-tier pianist, Takinami is a math teacher at Tokise High School and the Koto Club's advisor. At first, he's very skeptical about the club’s prospects, but events in the story prompt him to reevaluate his stance towards music.
156	----
157	* TheAce: Although he wouldn’t have the club know it, it is clear that he is an absolute genius composer with keen understanding of each individual’s strengths and weaknesses.
158	* AffectionateNickname: Hiro calls him ''Suzuka-chan'' due to him being her electives class teacher. Everyone else affixes the more respectful ''-sensei'' to his name.
159	* BrutalHonesty: He does not mince words or lie when the club performs poorly. On the other hand, this makes his rare moments of encouragement that much more powerful. [[BlatantLies The only exception to this is his notion that he has no experience working with music]].
160	* HiddenHeartOfGold: Despite his outward presentation as a cold, unhelpful teacher to the Koto club, deep down, he genuinely hopes to see the kids strive to do their best and improve. The piece he writes for the nationals cements his complete trust in them.
161	* StealthMentor: His comments are often harsh, but they're said to make the club stronger.
162	* TheStoic: He always speaks with a low, even tone and almost never displays extreme emotions.
163	[[/folder]]
164
165	[[folder:Akira Dojima]]
166	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kono_oto_tomare_vol_10_cover.jpg]]
167	-->''“I understood from that one note alone – the overbearing, absolute difference. No matter how much I tried… I would never reach that place.”''
168	-> '''Voiced by''': Creator/NaoTouyama (Japanese), Creator/CaitlinGlass (English)
169
170	The Koto Club Instructor. Her first appearance is in Chapter 33, when 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.
171	----
172	* AlwaysSecondBest: Being surrounded by koto geniuses and strict teachers made her always feel like this. It’s the main reason she harbors resentment towards Satowa.
173	* BrokenBird: Despite what looks like a very successful koto career, she is absolutely miserable with her life. Until meeting the Tokise Koto Club, she did not think her effort had any value, when it was so easily surpassed by the naturally talented, like Hozuki.
174	* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Believes that her own worth is nil, when musical geniuses like Satowa and her brother exist.
175	* EmptyEyes: 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.
176	* FormalCharactersUseKeigo: With the exception of her big brother, she always speaks the polite form of Japanese.
177	* HatesBeingTouched: She's not awfully receptive to the bouts of affection she receives from her big brother.
178	* 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.
179	* TookALevelInCheerfulness: After spending some time with the Tokise Koto Club, her disposition gradually brightens up, even though she remains overall demure and calm.
180	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / KonoOtoTomareSoundsOfLife