Due to various reasons it took me a very long time to finish Nodame (I’m talking about years not merely weeks or months). But if you are looking for good Japanese series Nodame Cantabile is a must see. If you love classic you’ll love this one for it presents numerous numbers from Beethoven, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schubert, Debussy, Schuman and Sarasate’s just to name a few.
For those who love romance and find that Japanese series often lack – in comparison with its Korean counterpart in the romantic gestures department from its male lead, excluding Hana Yori Dango – by the end of it you’ll find Nodame Cantabile increadibly satisfactory.
Nodame Cantabile tells a story of Megumi Noda or Nodame as she is called by Chiaki the male lead.
Nodame who studies piano at Momogaoka the Music College is an extremely talented pianist who prefers to play just for the fun of it. She finds it hard to read the music score but could learn difficult composition just by listening to it.
Despite her music talent she’s rather stupid in other areas.
She’s extremely disorganise, has no interest what so ever in cleaning up either her person nor her room. As if that’s not enough there’s her love for food, but as she has no cooking expertise she doesn’t consider stealing her friends’ food as a big deal. One day she accidentaly meets Shinichi Chiaki the best student Momogaoka ever has. He is a brilliant gifted student who spent his chilhood in various cities in Europe with a secret ambition to become a conductor one day. The solitary perfectionist could not tolerate Nodame at all.
Unfortunately for him Nodame falls in love with him and practically attaches herself to him and becomes his daily nuisance.
The only reason Chiaki bears Nodame’s presence is because he recognises her potential and has no other choice but to bear it since she’s living right next door. 
His encounters and forced relationship with Nodame (who tells everyone that she's his wife) slowly change him into a better person.With Nodame's helps he's finally able to conquer his biggest fear which has become his main obstacle into becoming the greatest conductor of the century.
On the other hand in her effort to catch up with Chiaki Nodame tries her best to reach her full potential.
The one or two only romantic scenes happen near the end.
They are not extra ordinary – it translates that they aren’t even romantic –but as we never see any of it during the previous episodes - unless if you'd like to consider Chiaki's cooking scenes for Nodame as romantic, than they are quite a number indeed - they serve as a pleasant surprise gift that put a big smile on our faces.
The second installment (the episodes when they went to Europe) is even much better. It has a number of scenes which made me sigh and forgive all Chiaki's previous coldness.Besides the romance it also focuses on Nodame and Chiaki. Of how Chiaki has been forced to admit his love for Nodame and how they both strive to achieve their fullest potential.
Have a great watch!
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