Nodame Cantabile, based on the lives of Western art music performance majors in a Japanese music conservatory, has successfully appealed to viewers since it first aired in Japan in October 2006. It is a romantic drama and comedy centered on two main protagonists, Megumi Noda and Shinichi Chiaki, with several of their colleagues and teachers at the Momogaoka College of Music as supporting characters. Although music is the series' central theme, it's also about the developing relationship between Shinichi Chiaki, a perfectionist piano and violin genius who aspires to become a conductor, and Noda Megumi (Nodame), a pianist with below-average scores but a lot of hidden potential.
Both of them are in the same department at the same university, and Chiaki and Nodame’s first unfortunate meeting leads them onto a path that changes their lives forever. As they say, love can happen most unexpectedly, and this is especially with Chiaki, who never thought of falling in love with someone as eccentric as Nodame. Though Nodame falls in love with Chiaki in the very first episode, it isn't until later in the story that Chiaki reciprocates her feelings.
Differences in Lifestyles and Personalities
Chiaki and Nodame are polar opposites in terms of every aspect except their talents. While Chiaki lives a rather disciplined life, Nodame is a complete wreck. The first time Chiaki goes to her place, he is terrified by the amount of garbage littering it. Being the more responsible one in the relationship, Chiaki often cooks for her and helps keep her place tidy. Even before they start dating, he always seems to enjoy making dinner for her.
Differences in Passion for Music
Both characters have always had immeasurable talents in the field of music. While Nodame excels in piano, Chiaki is more of an all-rounder with his talents in piano, violin and conducting. He dreams of becoming a famous conductor someday. However, despite her own talent, Nodame wants to be a kindergarten teacher and will stop enjoying music as soon as people start pressuring her to perform. Thus, she wants to live her life freely and only play music for fun. Nonetheless, she joins Chiaki to study music in Paris and makes a name for herself after her debut.
How Does Chiaki Fall in Love With Nodame Despite Their Differences?
The pair's romance starts around the time when they are both studying in Paris. However, even before this, Chiaki has always been drawn toward Nodame, despite acting otherwise. He is floored the first time he listens to her music, when he recognizes her talent and decides to help her aim higher. They start getting along, and of course, living next door to each other means that they see each other often. As time goes by, Chiaki also caves to Nodame's constant enthusiasm and realizes his feelings for her.
In Paris, he tells one of his fellow conductors that being with Nodame is the only choice he has. He mentions how he didn't plan things to go like this, but he stopped going against her at some point. Whenever he and Nodame have to live separately even for a short while, he will keep thinking about her. Therefore, it can be concluded that after staying with her for so long, he has gotten used to her presence in his life and thus accepts things as they are just by being the passive one in the relationship.