Japan / SEASON

Season 1

23 listed episodes · First aired January 12, 2007

Season overview

Shinichi Chiaki is a first class musician whose dream is to play among the elites in Europe. Coming from a distinguished family, he is an infamous perfectionist—not only is he highly critical of himself, but of others as well. The only thing stopping Shinichi from leaving for Europe is his fear of flying. As a result, he's grounded in Japan. During his fourth year at Japan's top music university, Shinichi happens to meet Megumi Noda or, as she refers to herself, Nodame. On the surface, she seems to be an unkempt girl with no direction in life. However, when Shinichi hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is in awe of the kind of music she creates. Nevertheless, Shinichi is dismayed to discover that Nodame is his neighbor, and worse, she ends up falling head over heels in love with him.

EPISODE GUIDE

Episodes

Full guide ↗
E1Lesson 1

Shinichi Chiaki was almost giving up his dream of becoming a conductor, until he met Megumi Noda, also known as "Nodame". The pieces performed in the episode are Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns…

E2Lesson 2

Ryutaro Mine is a violinist who needed a piano player for his violin jury. But when he chooses Nodame as his partner, little did he know his troubles were just beginning. The piece performed in the episode is Sonata No.…

E3Lesson 3: Queen of Percussion Instruments

An admirer of Chiaki, timpanist Masumi Okuyama becomes jealous of Nodame's relationship with him, and torments her with pranks. To sort out their rivalry, they compete to see who can snag a date with Chiaki on Christmas…

E4Lesson 4: Master Milch's Appearance

A foreigner visits Chiaki's school and becomes friends with Nodame. Chiaki refuses to let him into his house because of his perverted behavior. It turns out the foreigner is Maestro Franz von Stresemann and is attending…

E5Lesson 5: Many Years of S Orchestra's Direction

With Stresemann knocked out cold, Nodame "convinces" Chiaki to be substitute conductor for the special orchestra. Chiaki agrees and finds out that the group he's conducting is out of synch. As the rehearsal falls apart,…

E6Lesson 6: Secession

The S orchestra is to perform before the A orchestra at the upcoming concert. However, Stresemann takes "business" leave and Chiaki is forced to take his place conducting the S orchestra. In a twist of events, Streseman…

E7Lesson 7: Kazuo's Many Years

Chiaki is still having trouble getting the orchestra into shape, and everyone's confidence shatters under his harsh criticisms. With help from Nodame, Chiaki finally realizes Stresemann's reasoning behind the S Orchestr…

E8Lesson 8: Milch's Repatriation

Chiaki is asked to leave the S orchestra to play the piano solo of Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff as requested by Stresseman for the A orchestra. It is revealed that Stresseman was asked by his ex-lover, a …

E9Lesson 9: Music Festival

Stresseman sends Chiaki, Nodame, Mine, and Masumi to a musical festival where each takes lessons from famous musicians in order to better their playing. An unprepared Mine is quickly overwhelmed by the many talented mus…

E10Lesson 10: The Notion That Where It Can Charm

The school festival is here and the S Orchestra is to perform without the aid of Chiaki, who is busy practicing with the A Orchestra with their performance. Chiaki discovers what was missing from his playing courtesy of…

E11Lesson 11: Piano

It is finally Stresemann, Chiaki, and the A Orchestra's turn to perform for the school's fall festival. They manage to captivate the audience with their Rachmaninoff performance. Chiaki and Stresemann go their separate …

E12Lesson 12: Course

Chiaki and Nodame perform Rachmaninoff on two pianos and cause quite a stir attracting an audience including Saiko and Etou-sensei. Later Chiaki meets with the writers from Classic Life magazine and they try to investig…

E13Lesson 13: Graduation

It's graduation time at the Momogaoka College of Music and its graduating students (including Chiaki and Masumi) put on a performance of various classical pieces for their graduation recital. Kiyora, the former concert …

E14Lesson 14: Past

Under rather bizarre circumstances, Nodame makes a visit to the home in which Chiaki grew up, meets his family, and even makes dinner for them (onigiri and nabe). Since the passing of Chiaki's grandfather, tensions seem…

E15Lesson 15: Change

Chiaki's relatives are awaken by Chiaki and Nodame's playing. Both uncle and cousin agree that Chiaki should continue his music studies. Just before leaving Chiaki and his relatives all agree that Nodame should become a…

E16Lesson 16: Starting

The R-S Orchestra starts rehearsing for their first concert, while Nodame and her new teacher finally come to an agreement. The piece played is Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C major K 314.

E17Lesson 17: Wastefulness

Nodame finishes her last "Moja Moja" song and now must do her part in her deal with Etou sensei. Meanwhile, some members of the R-S Orchestra take a break on rehearsals to dedicate to their solo competitions. The piece …

E18Lesson 18: Awakening

Finally the time comes for the R-S Orchestra's first concert.

E19Lesson 19: Flight

After the concert, Nodame uses hypnotism to cure Chiaki's fear of flying. The pieces performed in this episode are Symphony no.1 in c minor by Johannes Brahms, Piano Sonata D845 by Franz Schubert, and Transcendental Etu…

E20Lesson 20: World

Nodame advances through the preliminaries of the Maradona piano competition, while the R-S Orcherstra's fame increases, drawing more and more attention. The pieces performed in this episode are Piano Sonata D845 by Schu…

E21Lesson 21: Accident

Nodame makes it to the final round, but an untimely fever from practicing too much sets her back as it now becomes a race against time to finish memorizing the pieces for the final round. Just when the pressure couldn't…

E22Lesson 22: End

Nodame is in deep trouble as her train of thought is robbed at an unfortunate moment. She leaves the competition hall disappointed as well as Chiaki who had hoped she would goto Europe with him. The New Year's concert i…

E23Lesson 23: Future

Chiaki conducts his last piece with the Rising Star Orchestra and contemplates how he even got there in the first place. With Nodame still away in Okawa, Chiaki is urged to persuade her to return to piano by visiting he…