Chiaki, Shinichi

千秋真一

At the start of the series, Chiaki is twenty-one years old and a third-year piano student at Momogaoka Music Academy. He is an accomplished pianist and violinist, yet he is also known as a perfectionist who is highly critical of both himself and others. He hails from a distinguished and wealthy family and is a fairly good cook. He seems to believe that most "poor" people (such as Sakura Saku) are like the little match girl.
Although he dreams of studying abroad and becoming a famous conductor like his mentor, Sebastiano Viella, he must overcome his fear of flying and the sea to achieve this (he finally did so with the help of Nodame's hypnosis).
He is dismayed to discover that the eccentric but talented girl, Nodame, lives in the apartment next door to him. However, he develops a sort of empathy with Nodame as he uncovers her hidden potential to be a great pianist, and he begins to transcend his perfectionism, starting to enjoy her music and the music of others.
Despite his constant irritation towards Nodame, he eventually develops romantic feelings for her and chooses to find work as a conductor in Paris, where he is going to study.
As Chiaki realizes his life's ambition to become a conductor, he also finds that he needs Nodame's support and that he cannot move on without her. He also appears to have a fear of being abandoned and surpassed; the former stems from being abandoned by his father as a young boy. Afraid of being abandoned, he often abandons other people instead, especially Nodame. He is also constantly afraid of being surpassed by Nodame, trying to go even further from her, which leaves her miserable as she tries to catch up to him. He can also be considered insensitive.