English Dub Review: Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life “A Piercing Sound”

Chika helps Takezo overcome his own self-doubt.

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Despite being late to the group performance/practice, the koto club gets to hear Kanagawa’s number 1, Himesaka, perform at Meiryo high school. They perform a rousing piece meant for a duet, but in perfect harmony even with their large number of performers.

Overwhelmed by the performance, Takezo seems shaken and it seems to have an effect on the whole group. When two of his former acquaintances accost him after the show and laugh at him for playing the koto, Chika intervenes. This causes a rift between them, with both of them exchanging cross words. But a visit from Kurusu and a speech from Saneyasu helps open Takezo’s eyes to the fact that he isn’t alone with his troubles. The two reconcile and vow to fight for the Nationals.

Our Take:

With A Piercing Sound, Kono No Oto! delivers another confidently-told story about what drives these kids to work so hard in their koto club activities. It allows Takezo to be a leader who is able to make mistakes while still being looked up to by his club members. Takezo is one of the most interesting characters in the show to me. He never actively looked for the main role in anything before this (judging by his family’s funny reactions), and doesn’t everyone love an underdog?

Ever since the show began, we’ve seen how Takezo is trying to cope with the pressure that comes from being the club president he never saw himself becoming. When the seniors left, he was the only remaining koto player. Even though he doesn’t see himself as being a bastion of self-confidence, the fact is that he persevered in keeping the koto club going as the sole member, and thus, the club president.

Kurusu’s role in this episode is not something I saw coming, but I rather liked it. She originally started off as an antagonist, someone who only joined the club because of her mean-spirited ulterior motives. In the last few episodes, she was able to move past her own troubled past and accept herself as someone worthy of making and keeping friendships alive. A Piercing Sound sees her taking another step forward on her journey of redemption. From her outsider perspective, she’s able to see what Takezo can’t. She visits him at home and tells him straight out: he isn’t in this alone, and what’s more, she’s applied for the vice president role in order to take some of the burdens off of him.

I’m happy to report that nothing has changed this week in regards to the quality of the English dub: it’s still great! Alejandro Saab doing a wonderful job channeling all of Takezo’s frustrations with the situation, as well as his genuine concern for the club’s well-being. I’m excited to see more of all the competing school’s koto clubs, as they’re all really fun characters. Chika and ‘Shaggy’ have an especially neat relationship, and I love their banter, including his nickname for her. They’re both vying for Satowa’s affection in their own ways.

The ninth episode of Kono Oto Tomare! does an excellent job making progress on the character work that we’ve seen on Takezo’s behalf when it comes to his continuing struggles with leadership. The series may have its share of pacing issues, but the character growth of Takezo is not one of them. Kurusu going after the vice president role in an interesting twist that has some cool implications for the future, including having much more stable leadership that won’t leave Takezo feeling solely responsible for guiding the group on merely his own strength.