Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life
In the story, Takezou is the last remaining member of the koto club, a club dedicated to the traditional Japanese string instrument. If he doesn't find new members, the koto club will be terminated. One day, Takezou is alone in the club room when a student barges in and demands to join. The student is delinquent Chika Kudou, a guy who even scares delinquent upperclassmen at other schools. (Source: Anime News Network)
Episodes
E1 - New Club Members
It's Takezo Kurata's 3rd year at Tokise High and he's now the sole member of the Koto Club after his upperclassmen graduated. If no new students join, the club will be disbanded. He's in for a shock, however, when Chika Kudo, a delinquent, joins the club.
E2 - Having What It Takes
It's time to entice more first years into joining the koto club. Even though Takezo's solo performance doesn't seem to capture the crowd, the beautiful Satowa Hozuki suddenly shows up asking permission to join.
E3 - The Koto Club Reborn
Even though the instruments will soon be repaired, the club is still in need of more members or it'll be disbanded. Fortunately, Chika's old friends Saneyasu Adachi, Michitaka Sakai and Kota Mizuhara seem to be interested in joining.
E4 - The First Resounding Note
The club members are having trouble learning the piece for their upcoming performance and being so naturally talented is making it hard for Satowa to know how to teach everyone. Will the club really be able to learn this piece in time?
E5 - Let Our Sound Resound and Reach Them
It's almost time for the clubs big performance. They need to satisfy the whole school or the club will be disbanded! They're all nervous and the crowd seems displeased from the get-go. Can they do it?
E6 - An Invisible Boundary
A new member, Hiro Kurusu, has joined the koto club. She's a second year student from the same class as Takezo. He hasn't talked to her much but she seems nice. Will she get along with the members of the club?
E7 - Unknown Sounds
Both Chika and Hiro now know Satowa's secret. Now, Hiro plans to stir more trouble within the club with this new information. How will Hiro's meddling affect the club? Will their bonds prevail?
E8 - A Sign
Chika and the other club members are having trouble understanding Satowa's instruction. Later, 2 girls from the elite Himesaka Girls Academy randomly show up at the clubroom that seem to know Satowa!
E9 - A Piercing Sound
The koto club gets to hear Kanagawa's number 1, Himesaka, perform at Meiryo high school. Overwhelmed by the performance, Takezo seems shaken and it seems to have an effect on the whole group.
E10 - Near Yet Far
The club decide to do a training camp so they can really focus on practicing their next piece. However, while everyone else seems to be improving, Kota's still struggling and feels left behind.
E11 - The Sound We Were Searching For
The training camp has come to an end and the High School Students' Kanto Region Traditional Japanese Music Festival is finally around the corner. To the gang's surprise, the koto clubs from Meiryo and Himesaka are participating in the festival too.
E12 - Rivals
Meiryo's brilliant performance has rattled some of the koto club members from Tokise. More schools perform but none seem to compare. Takezo's Aunt Isaki, however, doesn't seem so impressed by everyone's performances.
E13 - Kuon
It’s nearing Takezo’s and the other’s time to perform but Chika’s hand injury is starting to really swell up. He’s determined to still perform with the others but is that a decision they will regret?
