What a great story. Part of me understands why its not popular, the other part is saddened that manga and anime is mostly aimed at kids. This is one of those stories that is aimed at young adults... I doubt it will be mainstream. Read this manga after watching the anime because the unique sound of the shamisen and the mature (and somewhat headstrong) male lead, Setsu, is captivating. Raised by his grandfather, he is heavily influenced by the traditional sound and genius of his grandfather's music. However, his grandfather recognized that each generation needs to evolve their own sound. Each generation has their own storyto tell. Mashiro no Oto is the story of a young man's struggle to find his own identity, his own voice, own sound while still honouring the music traditions of the past.

The mangaka's resonance with the creative temperament and struggle came through strongly in introspective musings and dialogue. How does one gain creative skill and soul while still earning an income in one's choice of artistic endeavour? This is a question many professional artists and performers battle with. The short answer is: its hard. The long answer is: it's a life long journey that requires much sacrifice, honesty, pain and endurance. What impressed me was that it never once tells you to give up, to do something more sensible. To get a 'real' job. This story is authentic in its realisation that there are no life hacks to true creativity. There is no 'copying one another's work'. While we can be inspired by others, to find our own creative voice we need to do the hard work of carving our own path.

In an era where sentiment is focussed on get-rich-quick schemes, the integrity and authentic message of slowly gaining experience and skill will mostly fall on deaf ears. No wonder young people struggle so much finding their identity... it's discovered through life experiences and how we choose to react to them.

This manga will resonate with creative people, fellow neurodivergents, those who choose the path less travelled. I greet you, fellow pilgrim, and wish you well on your journey. Be encouraged that you're not alone. We may have different muses, different backgrounds, but we share the same inner drive of the creative voice. One that will never truly be silenced. I hope that you'll be inspired as much as I was by this wonderful manga.

Scoring:
9/10 for a well illustrated, balanced and captivating storyline. Superb and original characters. Stellar MC. Minimal fanservice, some great humour, and only a few moments that were 'tropey' or lost my attention. Great respect for mangaka who was able to bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary music.