Mashiro no Oto

Mashiro no Oto follows Setsu Sawamura, who leaves his small hometown after the death of his grandfather, the legendary shamisen master Matsugorou Sawamura. Before he dies, Matsugorou tells Setsu to give up the shamisen if he is only going to copy other players instead of finding his own voice. Shaken by the loss and that final warning, Setsu heads to Tokyo hoping the city will help him discover a style that feels truly his own, only to find that the noise and pace of urban life leave him even more unsettled. Worried about him, his wealthy and successful mother, Umeko, returns to his life and forces him to enroll in Umezono Academy. There he meets Shuri Maeda, a girl fascinated by the Tsugaru shamisen who wants to perform a song her grandmother once heard. Shuri forms a shamisen appreciation club and convinces Setsu to teach the members how to play. As he spends more time with the club, Setsu slowly rediscovers his love for the shamisen while continuing to search for the unique sound he has yet to find.