Piano no Mori

In the heart of a forest, an abandoned piano stands. Passersby might hear melodies emanating from it, and there, seated at the piano, is a young boy named Kai Ichinose. He lives with his young, single mother, who works as a prostitute, and he often finds himself in conflicts at school while defending transfer student Shuuhei Amamiya from bullies. Shuuhei hails from a family renowned for its distinguished pianists, thus he is expected to carry on their legacy. He dedicates himself to rigorous daily practice to meet his parents' high expectations. On the other hand, Kai, guided by his teacher—a former legendary pianist—aims not only to match Shuuhei's level of success but also to become Japan's top pianist. This rivalry between the two friends will elevate their talents to unprecedented heights and inspire aspiring pianists worldwide. "Piano no Mori" was awarded the Grand Prize for best manga at the 12th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2008. An anime movie adaptation premiered in 2007 and was nominated for the 2008 Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. The series has been available digitally in English as "Forest of Piano" by Kodansha USA since October 23, 2018.