Nodame Cantabile is an award-winning manga, anime and live-action drama. Nintendo DS released a game based on the manga in spring 2007. Shinichi Chiaki is the top piano student at his university and an excellent violinist, but he dreams of someday becoming a conductor. However, he has a deep-rooted fear of traveling, and so finds himself "trapped" in Japan. Because of this, he questions how far he can go in music, especially when he's passed over again and again. This is when he meets Nodame, or Megumi Noda, a messy free spirit who reminds Chiaki that music can be fun. This essential guide covers everything and more there is to know about this refreshingly insightful series.