Whisper Me a Love Song

Japanese manga series and its adaptations From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Whisper Me a Love Song (Japanese: ささやくように恋を唄う, Hepburn: Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau)[b] is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eku Takeshima [ja]. It was first serialized in Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime April 2019 issue and is licensed in English by Kodansha Comics. An anime television series adaptation produced by Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory aired from April to December 2024.

Genre
WrittenbyEku Takeshima [ja]
PublishedbyIchijinsha
English publisher
Quick facts ささやくように恋を唄う (Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau), Genre ...
Whisper Me a Love Song
First tankōbon volume cover featuring Yori Asanagi (left) and Himari Kino (right).
ささやくように恋を唄う
(Sasayaku You ni Koi o Utau)
Genre
Manga
Written byEku Takeshima [ja]
Published byIchijinsha
English publisher
MagazineComic Yuri Hime
Original runFebruary 18, 2019 – present
Volumes12
Anime television series
Directed byAkira Mano (1–10)[a]
Written byHiroki Uchida
Music by
  • Hiroshi Sasaki
  • Wataru Maeguchi
Studio
Licensed bySentai Filmworks
Original networkANN (TV Asahi)
BS Asahi, AT-X
Original run April 14, 2024 – December 29, 2024
Episodes12
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Synopsis

On her first day of high school, Himari Kino watches her senior Yori Asanagi perform with a band, and instantly falls in love with her singing. When Himari confesses her admiration to Yori, she misinterprets Himari's feelings as romantic love. However, she falls for Himari anyway, and promises to win her affections for real after finding out the truth.

Characters

Himari Kino (木野 ひまり, Kino Himari)
Voiced by: Hana Shimano[2]
Portrayed by: Yui Watanabe[3]
A fifteen-year-old high school student and energetic girl who falls in love with Yori's singing on her first day of school. She confesses her admiration to Yori, who misinterprets her feelings as romantic. Upon learning of Yori's true feelings for her, however, she eventually comes to realise that she loves Yori too and they become lovers.
Yori Asanagi (朝凪 依, Asanagi Yori)
Voiced by: Asami Seto,[2] Kana Sasakura (singing voice)
Portrayed by: Momoka Ishii[3]
A seventeen-year-old high school student who serves as the vocalist and lead guitarist for the band SSGIRLS after their previous vocalist quit. Often seen as stoic by those around her, Yori enjoys singing while playing the guitar on the school's rooftop alone and collecting cute cat merchandise. Yori falls for Himari after her "confession", only to realize later that Himari was actually confessing admiration for her singing. However, she resolves to get Himari to reciprocate her feelings in time and they eventually become lovers.
Aki Mizuguchi (水口 亜季, Mizuguchi Aki)
Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu[4]
Portrayed by: Yuuki Temma[3]
A cheerful third-year student and the bassist for SSGIRLS. She is Yori's best friend and tries to support her in winning over Himari while hiding the fact she has romantic feelings for Yori herself. She had a falling out with the band's previous singer Shiho, who left the band on bad terms. After eventually learning that Shiho had romantic feelings for her realising her feelings for Yori had changed, however, she makes up with Shiho and later agrees to become her girlfriend.
Mari Tsutsui (筒井 真理, Tsutsui Mari)
Voiced by: Konomi Kohara[4]
Portrayed by: Nagisa Hayakawa[3]
A stoic third-year student and the drummer for SSGIRLS. She comes from a rich background and is childhood friends with Kaori. She tends to refer to people by their full names.
Kaori Tachibana (橘 香織, Tachibana Kaori)
Voiced by: Ai Kakuma[4]
Portrayed by: Nanase Kayama[3]
An easygoing third-year student and the keyboardist for SSGIRLS. She has been friends with Mari since childhood.
Miki Mizuguchi (水口 未希, Mizuguchi Miki)
Voiced by: Aoi Koga[5]
Aki's younger sister and Himari's best friend since elementary school. She is part of the brass band club and tries to support Himari and Aki any way she can.
Shiho Izumi (泉 志帆, Izumi Shiho)
Voiced by: Yuna Nemoto,[4] Sui Mizukami (singing voice)
Portrayed by: Chiyuri Itō[3]
A third-year student, and former vocalist and guitarist of SSGIRLS, which she left following a feud with Aki. She now fronts a rival band, Laureley, while also acting as a ghost member for the Culinary Research Club. It was later revealed that she had romantic feelings for Aki, becoming heartbroken upon discovering Aki had feelings for Yori and leaving the band as a result. Thanks to the efforts of Himari and others, however, she eventually manages to make up with Aki, who becomes her girlfriend.
Momoka Satomiya (里宮 百々花, Satomiya Momoka)
Voiced by: Reina Ueda[5]
Portrayed by: Shiori Nishikado[3]
A kind-hearted second-year student who is the president of the Culinary Research Club and the guitarist for Laureley. Gentle and supportive, she quickly befriends Himari, who joins her club.
Hajime Amasawa (天沢 始, Amasawa Hajime)
Voiced by: Chika Anzai[5]
Portrayed by: Kaede Sakuragi[3]
A third-year student who is the drummer for Laureley. She is often seen with Momoka and is the younger sister of Momoka's late girlfriend Kyou.
Kyou Amasawa (矢沢 キョウ, Amasawa Kyō)
Voiced by: Nao Tōyama
A violinist who was Hajime's older sister and Momoka's girlfriend. She was originally friends with Shiho until Shiho became jealous of her talent. She died in an accident, leading Shiho and the others to form Laureley.

Production

Manga

Prior to creating Whisper Me a Love Song, Takeshima already had experience in drawing yuri manga, having created several doujinshi fan works featuring yuri relationships. She had also previously published a one-shot story, Kimi ni suki tte iwasetai (君に好きっていわせたい),[6] in Comic Yuri Hime.[7] Takeshima has stated that she enjoys incorporating classic story tropes and is happiest when she can show characters being affectionate in these situations.[6]

Whisper Me a Love Song began with the idea of a senpai-kōhai dynamic, a type of hierarchical social relationship commonplace in Japanese culture. However, after struggling to develop a full story from this premise, Takeshima decided to focus first on character design, eventually creating twelve different character visuals. Yori's design was decided relatively quickly, whereas Himari's took more time to finalize.[6]

According to Takeshima, once the character designs were established, the story developed more easily. Her editor suggested incorporating a misunderstanding stemming from love at first sight and having the senpai character play guitar, both of which were eventually worked into the plot. As serialization began, Takeshima found the first two chapters challenging, since they were published simultaneously and depicted the same scene of Himari and Yori meeting from both of their perspectives. Takeshima named her favorite scene as the panel where Himari falls in love with Yori after seeing her singing, which she redrew five times.[6]

In terms of characterization, Takeshima aimed to portray Himari as an outgoing and straightforward girl who tended to act directly on her feelings. However, to avoid Himari coming across as self-centered, she made sure to show how Himari is also thoughtful with her actions. Meanwhile, for Yori, she focused on creating a contrast between her outwardly cool and composed appearance and her inwardly softer, more emotionally vulnerable side. The relationship between Himari and Yori was designed to be balanced, with each character alternately taking the lead and evoking emotional reactions in the other.[8]

Following the manga's publication, Takeshima said that one of her happiest experiences as a creator was meeting her work's readers in person during an autograph session, where she could directly see their appreciation for her work.[6]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Eku Takeshima, Whisper Me a Love Song began serialization in Japan in the April 2019 issue of Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime magazine, released on February 18, 2019.[9] It has been compiled into twelve tankōbon volumes as of April 17, 2026. Kodansha USA licensed the series in English and began releasing volumes in North America from October 2020.[10]

Ichijinsha published an anthology of the series, titled Whisper Me a Love Song Official Comic Anthology (ささやくように恋を唄う　公式コミックアンソロジー), on July 29, 2024.[11]

More information No., Original release date ...
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1June 18, 2019[12]978-4-7580-7950-1October 20, 2020[13]978-1-64651-115-0
  1. ”The Roof, a Guitar, & Senpai." (屋上と、ギターと、先輩と。, Okujō to, gitā to, senpai to.)
  2. ”First Love, Cherry Blossoms, & Kouhai." (初恋と、桜と、後輩と。, Hatsukoi to, sakura to, kōhai to.)
  3. ”Their Time Together After Class." (放課後、2人の時間。, Hōkago, 2-ri no jikan.)
  4. ”A Classroom on a Rainy Day." (雨の日、教室で。, Ame no hi, kyōshitsu de.)
  5. ”Love, a Date, and Then..." (好き、デート、そして…, Suki, dēto, soshite…)
  • "Bonus Comic" (おまけ, Omake)
2January 17, 2020[14]978-4-7580-2074-9December 22, 2020[15]978-1-64651-146-4
  1. “Confessions and Hesitations.” (告白と、戸惑いと。, Kokuhaku to, tomadoi to.)
  2. “The Roof, Senpai, & My Feelings.” (屋上と、先輩と、私の気持ち。, Okujō to, senpai to, watashi no kimochi.)
  3. “Clubrooms, Classmates, & My Vow.” (部室と、同級生と、私の決意。, Bushitsu to, dōkyūsei to, watashi no ketsui.)
  4. “First Day & Fun Times.” (初めてと、楽しさと。, Hajimete to, tanoshisa to.)
  5. “Development, Fear, & A Quiet Choice.” (進展と、焦りと、静かな決意。, Shinten to, aseri to, shizukana ketsui.)
  • “Bonus Comic” (おまけ, Omake)
3July 17, 2020[16]978-4-7580-2135-7June 22, 2021[17]978-1-64651-147-1
  1. “Hesitation and Redux.” (戸惑い、再び。, Tomadoi, futatabi.)
  2. “The Road Home, A Meeting, & A Promise.” (帰り道、出会いと、約束。, Kaerimichi, deai to, yakusoku.)
  3. “Club Room, Pleased to Meet You, & Unknown Pain.” (部室、初めましてと、知らない痛み。, Bushitsu, hajimemashite to, shiranai itami.)
  4. “A Second Date & Thank You.” (2度目のデートと、ありがとう。, 2-Dome no dēto to, arigatō.)
  5. “Love at First Sight & Finally, the Day Arrives.” (ひとめぼれと、約束の日。, Hitomebore to, yakusoku no hi.)
  • “Bonus Comic” (おまけ, Omake)
4January 18, 2021[18]978-4-7580-2201-9October 26, 2021[19]978-1-64651-228-7
  1. “The Roof, a Guitar, & Girlfriends.” (屋上と、ギターと、恋人と。, Okujō to, gitā to, koibito to.)
  2. “Restart & Reunion.” (再始動と、再会と。, Saishidō to, saikai to.)
  3. “A Sweet Cake & Another Meeting.” (甘いケーキと、もう一つの出会い。, Amai kēki to, mōhitotsu no deai.)
  4. “A Movie, a Date, & a Bit Off.” (映画と、デートと、すれ違い。, Eiga to, dēto to, surechigai.)
  5. “The Past, a Song, & a Secret.” (過去と、歌と、秘密。, Kako to, uta to, himitsu.)
5September 17, 2021[20]978-4-7580-2294-1July 19, 2022[21]978-1-64651-398-7
  1. “Distress, Regret, & What’s Next.” (動揺と、後悔と、これから。, Dōyō to, kōkai to, korekara.)
  2. “Memories, Truth, & Trust.” (思い出と、真実と、信頼。, Omoide to, shinjitsu to, shinrai.)
  3. “Support, Reluctance, & Resolve.” (応援と、戸惑いと、決心。, Ōen to, tomadoi to, kesshin.)
  4. “A Small Hope & Her Dream.” (小さな望みと、彼女の夢。, Chīsana nozomi to, kanojo no yume.)
  5. “The Dream She Once Had & Her Friend.” (かつての夢と、友だちと。, Katsute no yume to, tomodachi to.)
  6. “Plan, Failure, & Trouble.” (計画と、失敗と、波乱と。, Keikaku to, shippai to, haran to.)
  • “Bonus Comic” (おまけ, Omake)
6April 18, 2022[22]978-4-7580-2397-9December 6, 2022[23]978-1-64651-617-9
  1. ”A Choice, Welcome, & Manager.” (選択と、歓迎と、マネージャー。, Sentaku to, kangei to, manējā.)
  2. ”Selfishness & Heart of Hearts.” (わがままと、本音と。, Wagamama to, hon'ne to.)
  3. ”Practice, Manager, & a Secret.” (練習と、マネージャーと、秘密。, Renshū to, manējā to, himitsu.)
  4. ”Jealousy, A Song, & A Kiss.” (嫉妬と、歌と、キスと。, Shitto to, uta to, kisu to.)
  5. ”Summer Festival & Wavering Feelings.” (夏休みと、ゆれる気持ち。, Natsuyasumi to, yureru kimochi.)
  • “Bonus Comic” (おまけ, Omake)
7January 18, 2023[24]978-4-7580-2491-4January 30, 2024[25]978-1-64651-741-1
  1. ”A Lovers’ Kiss & After…” (恋人のキスと、それから…, Koibito no kisu to, sorekara…)
  2. ”New Song, Idea, & Memories.” (新曲と、アイディアと、想い出と。, Shinkyoku to, aidia to, omoide to.)
  3. ”The Past, Resolve, & A Curse.” (過去と、決意と、呪い。, Kako to, ketsui to, noroi.)
  4. ”Feelings Examined & One Last Secret.” (気持ちの整理と、最後のホンネ。, Kimochi no seiri to, saigo no hon'ne.)
  • “Bonus Comic” (おまけ, Omake)
8July 18, 2023[26]978-4-7580-2578-2March 26, 2024[27]978-1-64651-917-0
  1. ”Old Memories, Old Feelings.” (あの日の記憶、あの日の想い。, Ano ni~Tsu no kioku, ano ni~Tsu no omoi.)
  2. ”New Term, Regrets, & A New Song.” (新学期と、後悔と、新曲と。, Shin gakki to, kōkai to, shinkyoku to.)
  • “Bonus Comic” (おまけ, Omake)
  1. ”Festival, A Date, And Then…” (お祭り、デート、そして…, Omatsuri, dēto, soshite…)
  2. ”Confrontation & Talking Past Each Other.” (対峙と、かけ違い。, Taiji to, kake-chigai)
  3. ”Truth & First Love.” (真実と、初恋と。, Shinjitsu to, hatsukoi to.)
  • “Bonus Comic” (おまけ, Omake)
9March 18, 2024[28][29]978-4-7580-2694-9
978-4-7580-2695-6 (SE)		September 16, 2025[30]979-8-88877-399-4
  1. "My Feelings & One More Try." (私の気持ちと、最後の挑戦。, Watashi no kimochi to, saigo no chōsen.)
  2. "The Roof, Senpai, & One More Wish." (祭りの終わりと、最後の願い。, Matsuri no owari to, saigo no negai.)
  3. "The Song I Send to You." (君にとどけたい唄, Kimi ni todoketai uta)
  4. "Festival's End & Their Feelings." (祭りの終わり、それぞれの想い。, Matsuri no owari, sorezore no omoi.)
10July 29, 2024[31][32]978-4-7580-2742-7
978-4-7580-2743-4 (SE)		November 18, 2025[33]979-8-88877-425-0
  1. "After-party, Plans, & an Encounter." (打ち上げと、進路と、これからと。, Uchiage to, shinro to, korekara to.)
  2. "True Feelings, an Apology, & What's Next." (本音と、謝罪と、これからと。, Hon'ne to, shazai to, korekara to.)
  3. "Aquarium, a Date, and Then..." (水族館、デート、そして…, Suizokukan, dēto, soshite…)
  • 47.5. "After the Date, with Her Girlfriend." (デートの後と、恋人と。, Dēto no ato to, koibito to.)
  1. "A Stay-at-Home Date & What Follows." (おうちデートと、その先と。, O uchi dēto to, sono-saki to.)
  • 48.5. "The Two of Them After That." (その後の二人。, Sonogo no futari.)
  1. "Panic, Advice, Confession, and..." (焦りと、相談と、告白と…, Aseri to, sōdan to, kokuhaku to…)
11June 27, 2025[34][35]978-4-7580-2926-1
978-4-7580-2927-8 (SE)		May 19, 2026[36]979-8-88877-747-3
  1. "Confessions, Bewilderment, & Sorrow." (告白と、戸惑いと、憂いと。, Kokuhaku to, tomadoi to, urei to.)
  2. "Bewilderment, Lies, & Hesitation." (戸惑いと、嘘と、逡巡と。, Tomadoi to, uso to, shunjun to.)
  3. "Attachment, Giving Up, & a Promise." (執着と、諦めと、約束と。, Shūchaku to, akirame to, yakusoku to.)
  4. "Surprise, Doubt, & Tailing." (驚きと、疑惑と、尾行と。, Odoroki to, giwaku to, bikō to.)
  5. "Pursuit, Confession, & Girlfriends." (追求と、白状と、恋人と。, Tsuikyū to, hakujō to, koibito to.)
  6. "Double Date & Opening Up." (Wデートと、打ち明けと。, W dēto to, uchiake to.)
  7. "Spreading Feelings & Certain Love." (滲む気持ちと、確かな想い。, Nijimu kimochi to, tashikana omoi.)
12April 17, 2026[37][38]978-4-7580-9834-2
978-4-7580-9835-9 (SE)		——
  1. 冬服と、進路と、その先と。 (Fuyufuku to, shinro to, sono-saki to.)
  2. パーティーと、惚気と、おせっかいと。 (Pātī to, noroke to, osekkai to.)
  3. あいさつと、謝罪と、将来と。 (Aisatsu to, shazai to, shōrai to.)
  4. 放課後と、テストと、音楽と。 (Hōkago to, tesuto to, ongaku to.)
  • 60.5. すれ違いと、約束の日。 (Surechigai to, yakusoku no hi.)
  1. バズと、歓喜と、戸惑いと。 (Bazu to, kanki to, tomadoi to.)
  2. 説明と、想い出と、手紙と。 (Setsumei to, omoide to, tegami to.)
  • 62.5. 電話と、報告と、恋人と。 (Denwa to, hōkoku to, koibito to.)
Close

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.

  1. 焼肉と、報告と、未来と。 (Yakiniku to, hōkoku to, mirai to.)

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 13, 2023. The series is produced by Cloud Hearts and Yokohama Animation Laboratory. Initially, it would have been directed by Cai Xinya;[2] however, Cai stepped down due to health issues, and was replaced by Akira Mano.[39][40] Hiroki Uchida oversaw series' scripts, Minami Yoshida designed the characters, and Hiroshi Sasaki and Wataru Maeguchi composed the music.[2]

The series, initially scheduled for January 2024 but delayed due to "various circumstances",[4][39] aired the first ten episodes from April 14 to June 30, 2024, on the NUMAnimation programming block on all ANN affiliates, including TV Asahi,[5][c] with the remaining two episodes airing on December 29 of the same year, following production delays.[41][42] The Blu-ray Disc release, originally slated for four volumes released between September 13 and December 13, 2024, were delayed and later cancelled due to internal circumstances.[43]

The opening theme song is "Follow your arrows", performed by the anime's band SSGIRLS with vocals by Kana Sasakura. The ending theme song for episodes 2-6 is "Giftee" (ギフティー, Gifutī), performed by Hana Shimano, while the ending theme for episode 8 onwards is "Meritocracy" (メリトクラシー, Meritokurashī), performed by Laureley with vocals by Sui Mizukami.[44][45] Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in North America, Australia and British Isles for streaming on Hidive.[46]

Episodes

More information No., Title ...
No.Title [47][d]Directed by [e]Written by [e]Storyboarded by [e]Original release date [49][c]
1"The Rooftop, a Guitar, and Senpai."
Transliteration: "Okujō to, Gitā to, Senpai to." (Japanese: 屋上と、ギターと、先輩と。)		Nobuhiro Mutō
Yuka Hashimoto		Hiroki UchidaXin Ya CaiApril 14, 2024 (2024-04-14)
On her first day of high school, Himari Kino attends a freshman reception performance by school band SSGIRLS and becomes awestruck by their temporary vocalist, Yori Asanagi. Following the performance, Himari comes across Yori and tells her that she fell in love at first sight. Interpreting this as a confession, Yori finds herself falling in love with Himari at first sight herself. Spurred on by her friends, Yori meets Himari on the school roof and responds to her confession, only to discover Himari's "love at first sight" wasn't the romantic kind and she was just a fan of her music. Despite this, Yori becomes determined to make Himari fall for her for real and starts regularly meeting her on the rooftop so she can listen to her sing.
2"Love, a Date, and..."
Transliteration: "Suki, Dēto, Soshite..." (Japanese: 好き、デート、そして…)		Shinya KawabeHiroki UchidaReika AmaneApril 21, 2024 (2024-04-21)
When rain makes meeting up on the roof impossible, Himari comes over to Yori's class to make different plans for after school, coming across SSGIRLS' bassist Aki Mizuguchi along the way. Himari invites Yori out on a date to the shopping mall during the weekend, the news of which surprises Aki when Yori tells her about it. During the date, Himari speaks of her admiration of Yori's singing on stage, leading Yori to consider doing it again. At the end of the date, Yori tells Himari upfront that she wants to date her for real. Himari, realising that Yori's previous confession of love at first sight was serious, worries that her own love is different.
3"Confession and Hesitation."
Transliteration: "Kokuhaku to, Tomadoi to." (Japanese: 告白と、戸惑いと。)		Aya KawamuraNami OtomoHarume KosakaApril 28, 2024 (2024-04-28)
Having never experienced romantic love before, Himari becomes conflicted about how to respond to Yori's confession and turns to her best friend and Aki's younger sister Miki for advice. Later, Himari's mother tells Himari about how she and her father started dating, stating that she initially turned him down when he first confessed but eventually fell in love with him. The next day, Himari tells Yori that she wants to spend more time with her to see if she'll develop romantic feelings before deciding whether or not to date her. Wanting to make Himari fall for her for real, Yori asks SSGIRLS to let her join as an official member of their band.
4"Progress, Impatience, and a Quiet Resolve."
Transliteration: "Shinten to, Aseri to, Shizuka na Ketsui." (Japanese: 進展と、焦りと、静かな決意。)		Yoshihide IbataMomoka ToyodaNamato UnnoMay 5, 2024 (2024-05-05)[f]
As Yori begins practising with SSGIRLS in preparation for the Light Music Club concert, Himari, needing a way to pass the time on days when she can't meet up with Yori, decides to join the Cooking Club, led by 2nd year student Momoka Satomiya. When Himari reports the news to Yori, Yori starts to feel jealous from hearing her talk about Momoka, which Aki is quick to pick up on. The next day, as Himari comes over to Miki's house, Aki, frustrated with Himari putting off giving Yori a proper answer indefinitely, tells her that she is in love with Yori romantically and is willing to take her if Himari is not.
5"Going Home, a Meeting, and a Promise."
Transliteration: "Kaerimichi, Deai to, Yakusoku." (Japanese: 帰り道、出会いと、約束。)		Shinya KawabeTakahito ŌnishiNaoto HosodaMay 12, 2024 (2024-05-12)
Following Aki's warning that she can't hold off on answering Yori forever, Himari gets some advice from Momoka, telling her that there may already be feelings of love inside her. Later, as Himari and Yori walk home together, Yori's jealousy rises up again when Momoka comes to return Himari's phone. After the two talk with each other about their worries, Yori tells Himari to give her answer after the Light Music Club concert, where she hopes to make her fall for her. Another day, as Yori finishes writing the song she wants to perform, Himari comes over to meet the SSGIRLS, where she feels jealousy from Yori and Aki's interactions. As Yori and Himari makes plans to shop for accessories for the concert, Momoka receives tickets for the concert from her friend, SSGIRLS' former vocalist Shiho Izumi.
6"Love at First Sight and the Big Day."
Transliteration: "Hitomebore to, Yakusoku no Hi." (Japanese: ひとめぼれと、約束の日。)		Nobuhiro MutōHiroki UchidaKazuya MurataMay 19, 2024 (2024-05-19)
Himari and Yori go shopping for clothes they want each other to wear for the concert, after which Himari buys Yori some earrings for her performance. On the day of the concert, Yori sings the song she had written for Himari, expressing her love for her. After hearing the song, Himari finally comes to realisation that she is in love with Yori and agrees to go out with her. Later, as SSGIRLS learn they must undergo auditions to take part in the upcoming school festival, they run up against Shiho, who shows hostility towards both Aki and Yori.
7"The Past, a Song, and a Secret."
Transliteration: "Kako to, Uta to, Himitsu." (Japanese: 過去と、歌と、秘密。)		UnknownHiroki UchidaTBAMay 26, 2024 (2024-05-26)
Himari ends up meeting Shiho when she shows up at the cooking club, revealing she is in a band alongside Momoka and their mutual friend Hajime Amasawa. Meanwhile, Yori comes over to Aki's house to ask her about what happened between her and Shiho. Shiho, who had been kicked out of multiple groups because they didn't like her attitude, was invited by Aki to form a band with her. Then suddenly one day, Shiho quit the band after fighting with Aki over not taking the band seriously, claiming that she had wanted to quit the entire time. On the day of the auditions, after SSGIRLS gives a well-received performance, Shiho's band Laureley gives a performance that blows everyone away. Afterwards, Shiho confronts Aki, telling her that she knows about her crush on Yori.
8"An Old Dream and a Friend."
Transliteration: "Katsute no Yume to, Tomodachi to." (Japanese: かつての夢と、友だちと。)		Madoka YaguchiMomoka TodoyaTBAJune 2, 2024 (2024-06-02)
As Aki is left bewildered by Shiho's words, Yori suggests that the real reason Shiho left SSGIRLS may not be what she said it was. With Shiho remaining stubborn about her true reasons, Aki throws down a challenge that if SSGIRLS can get more votes than Laureley at the culture festival, Shiho must tell her the truth. After learning about the showdown from Yori, Himari comes across Shiho working at a café and asks about what made her decide to aim to become a professional musician. Long ago, Shiho, who was pursuing the violin, became friends with another violinist named Kyou. However, after losing to Kyou in a violin contest, Shiho became overwhelmed with jealousy and broke things off with Kyou, eventually becoming unable to play the violin anymore. Still unwilling to give up on music, Shiho decided to pick up guitar, which Kyou had given up on, in order to surpass her that way.
9"A Plan, a Blunder, and a Commotion."
Transliteration: "Keikaku to, Shippai to, Haran to." (Japanese: 計画と、失敗と、波乱と。)		Sumika TakaseNamo OtomoTBAJune 23, 2024 (2024-06-23)[51]
Believing that Aki and Shiho would be able to make up with each other if given the opportunity, Himari arranges a taste-testing session to get SSGIRLS and Laureley together. Upon learning that Himari and Yori are dating, however, Shiho suddenly adds a condition to her wager with Aki that Himari must become Laureley's manager until the day of the festival. Not wanting the wager to fall through, Himari agrees to the terms, with Shiho offering to grant her a request if she helps Laureley win. During the summer break, as the SSGIRLS get together to think up a new song to sing at the festival, Laureley make plans to take Himari with them to explain how they formed.
10"Old Memories, Old Feelings."
Transliteration: "Ano Hi no Kioku, Ano Hi no Omoi." (Japanese: あの日の記憶、あの日の思い。)		Kenya UenoTakahito ŌnishiKatsunori ShibataJune 30, 2024 (2024-06-30)
Laureley take Hima to a cemetery, revealing that Kyou, the violinist Shiho mentioned before, was Hajime's older sister who recently died in a sudden accident. Having felt relieved that she didn't have to compete with her anymore, Shiho started regular coming to Kyou's grave to talk to about her band life. After Shiho broke up with SSGIRLS, she was approached by Momoka, who was Kyou's girlfriend, who urged her not to quit music as it reminded her of Kyou. Upon hearing about how Kyou truly felt about her music, Shiho, realizing she could not quit music after all, had Momoka and Hajime form a band with her with the goal of becoming pros. Later, as Himari tells Yori about this, she notices these new details conflict with Shiho's reason for quitting SSGIRLS and don't explain why she is hostile towards Yori. When pressed by Himari over why she hates Yori so much, Shiho explains that the first person she fell in love with was already in love with Yori, leading Himari to deduce that the one Shiho was in love with was Aki. Reminded of the heartbreak she felt, Shiho becomes determined to put a proper end to things.
11"Confrontation and Differences."
Transliteration: "Taiji to, Kakechigai." (Japanese: 対峙と、かけ違い。)		Akira Mano
Kenya Ueno		Takahito ŌnishiMinoru YamaokaDecember 29, 2024 (2024-12-29)[g]
Shiho tells Himari that she intends to stop getting involved with Aki completely after the school festival. On the first day of the festival, after spending some time with Yori and visiting her class' cosplay cafe, Himari follows Aki's request to bring Shiho to talk with her ahead of the concert. Angered by Aki's suggestion that they return to being friends, Shiho reveals to Aki that she was in love with her and could not stand being around the one who broke her heart. As Shiho realises she had not fully gotten over Aki, she gives a powerful performance alongside Laureley, bidding farewell to her first love.
12"A Song For You."
Transliteration: "Kimi ni Todoketai Uta." (Japanese: 君に届けたい唄。)		Masahiko SuzukiTakahito ŌnishiAkira ManoDecember 29, 2024 (2024-12-29)[g]
Having learned of Shiho's feelings for her, Aki feels conflicted over how she can still be with Shiho while still harboring feelings for Yori, leading her to ponder what her current feelings for Yori are. The next day, after Yori helps her to confirm what those feelings are, Aki proposes a last-minute change to SSGIRLS' setlist for their performance. When Shiho goes missing just before SSGIRLS' turn on stage, Himari manages to find her on the rooftop and drags her to the performance. At the end of their performance, Aki tells Shiho that her feelings for Yori have changed and expresses her desire to start things anew with Shiho before singing a song that they used to play together. After being pushed by Kyou to not repeat her past mistakes, Shiho finally makes up with Aki, later expressing her desire to be more than friends with her. Meanwhile, Himari and Yori spend the rest of the evening on the rooftop where they reconfirm their love for each other.
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Stage play

In May 2024, it was announced that a stage play adaptation titled Butai: Sasayaku yō ni Koi o Utau (舞台『ささやくように恋を唄う』; Stage: Whisper Me a Love Song) would run from the following July 26 to August 2 at the Theater1010 in Tokyo. It is directed by Tomoyuki Ueno, written by Yuniko Ayana, and stars Yui Watanabe and Momoka Ishii.[3]

Reception

Accolades

In 2020, Whisper Me a Love Song was nominated for Niconico and Da Vinci's Next Manga Awards, placing 18th out of 50 nominees.[53]

Critical reception

Manga

The manga's story was well received. Anson Leung of Broken Frontier acclaimed its central romance, writing that the series "hooks [the reader] with its realism, its sincerity, its warmth, its humor, and its unconditional acceptance of queer love."[54] Sara Smith of The Graphic Library described the first volume as "very cute" and "sweet love story", scoring it 8/10 overall,[55] while Erica Friedman of Okazu, reviewing the second volume, called it "an oasis of innocence and joy" and a "genuine delight", rating it an 8/10 as well.[56]

Regarding the art style, Friedman praised Takeshima's illustrations, stating that it had a "dramatic quality" that was "very appealing".[57] On the other hand, Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network (ANN) felt that the art was sometimes overtoned and gave it a "B+" rating.[58] Meanwhile, Leung opined that the art was deliberately stylized in a way that added elements of "fluffiness" and "warmth" to the story.[54]

Several critics praised the series' characters, with Silverman opining that their imperfections made them "all so human" and commending how they were "unabashedly themselves".[58] Similarly, Friedman described the characters as "relatable [and] charming", scoring that aspect of the story a 9/10.[56] Leung commented favorably on Himari's character, describing her journey of self-discovery as showing a "level of emotional maturity" that "speak[s] volumes to any reader".[54]

The series' themes of LGBTQ+ representation were met with favorable reactions. Leung noted that Himari and Yori's lesbian relationship is treated normally by other characters, which he felt allowed the story to avoid "heteronormative prejudice" and become a "truly exceptional queer love story".[54] Likewise, Friedman praised a scene where Himari's mother fully accepts Himari having a girlfriend, calling "nice to see" compared to the typical "fraught" scenes of the genre.[59] Silverman commended the story's depiction of "love just being love",[58] later suggesting that Himari's portrayal left the possibility of her being demisexual and demiromantic.[60]

Anime

The anime's premiere was generally well received.[61][62][63] Nicholas Dupree of ANN praised the premise, calling it "charming, sweet, and funny in equal measure", while James Beckett of the same site described it as "simple and sugary-sweet in all the right ways" and a "pleasure to watch".[62] Chris Beveridge of Fandom Post characterized the debut episode as "very appealing and easy to stick with" for the strength of its story, giving it a "B+" rating overall.[64]

The anime's plot and characters were praised by several critics.[62][63] Beveridge commented positively on Himari and Yori's relationship, stating that it was "executed pretty well" and had "some real stakes".[64] Vrai Kaiser of Anime Feminist likewise spoke positively of their relationship, opining that the series had a "surprising amount of introspection".[65] Silverman commended the "strength of the romance" but was hesitant regarding pacing, feeling that the way that scenes transitioned broke up the story's flow.[66]

Early reviews of the anime's production value were generally positive;[62][63] Kaiser opined that it "looks soft and romantic in all the right moments".[61] However, the production value of the anime's later episodes was criticized by many reviewers,[67] with Kaiser stating that the "visuals really begin to struggle" there.[68] Similarly, Silverman contended that production issues in the eight episode created some "truly awkward art" and bland illustrations.[69] Josh Piedra of The Outerhaven said that sometimes the "art just suffered", with background patterns being "out of place and quite jarring".[70]

The music received mixed comments.[62] Piedra described it as "pretty good" but criticized the lack of full songs,[70] while Richard Eisenbeis of ANN felt that it was not compelling enough despite being "above average".[62] Kaiser called the anime's soundtrack "pleasant but unremarkable" with the exception of the song "Meritocracy", which she praised as having a "compelling bite".[68] Silverman opined that in the final episode, the show "finally delivers the music that was lacking from its earlier outings".[71]

Overall reviews following the anime's conclusion were also mixed.[70] Friedman contended that the anime had "mauled" the manga with its poor production and regretted its wasted potential.[67] Meanwhile, Kaiser acknowledged the anime was "decidedly rough around the edges", but recommended it anyway, stating it was "very sweet" and had compelling drama.[68] Silverman concluded that it "never fully lives up to its promise", but was still "glad that [she] watched this".[71]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    No director is credited for episodes 11–12.
  2. [b]
    Also translated into English as Whispering You a Love Song in Japan.
  3. [c]
    TV Asahi listed the series premiere at 25:30 on April 13, 2024, which is effectively April 14 at 1:30 a.m. JST.
  4. [d]
    All English titles are taken from HIDIVE.[48]
  5. [e]
    Information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
  6. [f]
    This episode aired at 2:00 a.m. JST, 30 minutes after the original air time on TV Asahi.[50]
  7. [g]
    Episodes 11 and 12 premiered back-to-back, and aired 15 mins later after the original air time on TV Asahi.[52]

References

External links

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