Japanese violinist Ryota Higashi will be playing the violin for the Hajime Aono in the upcoming anime Blue Orchestra. The anime was first announced in April of this year and follows a young violinist who tries to rekindle his love forr music. Higashi commented on the announcement on Twitter, saying that he feels like he has an important role to play and that he will do his best to properly convey the music.
The 23-year-old violinist won the 88th Music Competition of Japan in 2019. He has also received numerous music awards such as Leucadia, Sumi and Kuroyanagi Awards. Higashi is currently affiliated with the Japan National Orchestra.
“I have been involved in orchestral music for a long time, so I read the chapters in “Blue Orchestra” with a lot of emotion, thinking about the joys and difficulties of making music together with my friends. I read the original work with a lot of emotion.“
Statement from Ryota Higashi (via Comic Natalie)
Blue Orchestra previously announced its first teaser visual. The premiere date is set for the spring of 2023.
Ao no Orchestra (Blue Orchestra) is based on a manga by Makoto Akui, serialized since 2017 on Shogakukan’s Manga ONE app. Shogakukan is also publishing physical copies in the Ura Sunday Magazine. The plot is described as:
Hajime Aono, influenced by his father who is a violinist, competed in competitions until the first grade of junior high school. When his father left home, Hajime became apathetic and distanced himself from the violin. However, in the fall of his junior year of high school, he met Ritsuko Akine. Through teaching her the violin, he faced music again.
Aono reaffirmed his enjoyment of music, and together with Akine, he enrolled in Umimaku High School, which has a strong orchestra club. Through friendly competition with rivals and friends, Aono confronts himself and his past and refines his talent. Aono, as well as his family and the other members of the club, face a variety of problems related to their talents. Overcoming their own problems, they work together to create their own performance for the regular concert. A coming-of-age ensemble drama in which the members come together through music.
Source: Official Twitter, Comic Natalie
©Makoto Akui/Shogakukan / N, EP, NA