Forest of Piano

"Forest of Piano" (Japanese: ピアノの森, Piano no Mori) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Isshiki. The story revolves around two boys with different backgrounds: Kai, a piano prodigy from the red-light district who taught himself to play on an abandoned piano in the forest, and Shuhei, the son of a famous pianist who has received formal piano education. Their destinies become intertwined through the piano. The manga was serialized in Kodansha's "Young Magazine Uppers" and "Weekly Morning" from 1998 to 2015, with a total of 26 volumes. In 2007, an animated feature film produced by MADHOUSE and directed by Masayuki Kojima was released, featuring performances by renowned pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy. In 2018, a television anime series produced by GAINA aired on NHK, consisting of two seasons with 12 episodes each. The anime depicts the growth of Kai and Shuhei, as well as their love for and pursuit of music. The work also won the Grand Prize for Best Manga at the 12th Japan Media Arts Festival. The story is highly praised for its delicate emotional portrayal, beautiful piano performances, and profound exploration of musical dreams.