Shinichi Chiaki is a first-rate musician whose ambition is to perform among Europe's finest. He comes from a respectable family and is a known perfectionist—not only is he harsh on himself, but also on others. Shinichi's sole impediment to traveling to Europe is his phobia of flying. As a result, he is currently stranded in Japan. Shinichi meets Megumi Noda, or Nodame as she refers to herself, during his fourth year at Japan's finest music academy. On the surface, she appears to be an unruly young lady with no direction in life. When Shinichi hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is blown away by the melody she makes. Nonetheless, Shinichi feels disappointed.