You offer some interesting insight into Noda’s character in this arc. It wasn’t only childish behavior though. There was almost no character development for her. Although, you are right, it fits into the story.

Much of the slapstick comedy was centered on Noda, which I thought turned her into a bit of a clown. I’ll give you that we weren’t suppose to take her too seriously yet. However, it was a bit unfair to her even if it was the way the story was written.

Except for a few omissions here and a few plot/character changes there, both the anime and the live action series have stayed pretty close to the original manga storyline.

The first half of this story does focus more on Chiaki’s development at the expense of Nodame. But she is still a child, and is fighting to stay that way in her own way.

“Why can’t I play piano the way I want to!”

Her childlike innocence and devotion is a part of her charm and why we like her so much. But it is also one of the reasons why it is hurting her in the long run.

Streissman stated that as long as she remains the way she is, an immature under-achiever, she cannot be with Chiaki.

Chiaki is the kind of man that you have to connect with his head first and then his heart or you’ll never reach him.

Nodame also realizes this in her own way. That is why she was so crushed and devastated after losing the competition. That is also why she refused to go with Chiaki to Europe at first. She just didn’t feel worthy.

After Chiaki came looking for her in Fukuoaka, she realizes that he does love her in his own way. However, now they must move on to the next stage in their relationship and their lives. Sometimes to achieve the greatest love is to put in some major work.

On the European front, it seems that a lot of obstacles have been placed in their path: distance, friends and enemies with their own agendas, and life in general.

Once Del Rey starts translating and releasing the rest of the books Stateside, I suggest you pick them up.

In particular, I didn’t like that Noda took a back seat throughout the story.

Maybe someone will do the second arc of Chiaki and Nodame in Europe. This is where both of them start to grow a little more. Especially, Nodame who has been pulled away from everything she has ever known ie Japan.

Both Chiaki and Nodame are not the wunderkids anymore like they were back home, at least not at first. They face some serious competition and must re-evaluate their place in the world.

The manga is still ongoing and is up to issue 18 as I write this. The shows themselves stopped at issue 9.

Here’s to hoping for a second season. For some closure if for nothing else.