Small Hands Challenge the World with Piano Passion: "Ottava!!!" Volume 1 Released
"Ottava!!!: The Pianist with Small Hands" (Ottava!!! The Pianist with Small Hands) manga's first volume was published in Japan on June 11, 2025. This new series from the pen of Serizawa Tomo tells the story of a young pianist burning with passion for the piano but struggling with a physical disadvantage, as he opens up to the world.
The manga follows a child who struggles with the classical piano repertoire due to his small hands, and who develops techniques to overcome this obstacle and participate in international competitions. Serizawa Tomo previously worked as an assistant on popular series such as "Mairimashita! Iruma-kun", and is a talent who later turned to his own original projects. In this new work, realistic details of the piano world and the emotional expression of musical passion come to the forefront.
Among piano-themed manga, there are cult classics like "Nodame Cantabile" and "Your Lie in April". However, "Ottava!!!" brings a new breath to the genre with its effort to turn a physical limitation into an advantage. In an interview, Serizawa said, "I wanted to show that small hands are not a hindrance for a pianist, but an opportunity to create a unique style."
The first volume is available for sale both in bookstores and on digital platforms in Japan. The second volume of the series is expected to be released in fall 2025. The manga has already attracted great interest, especially among music-loving readers and young people taking classical piano lessons. Although the series does not yet have a licensed edition in Turkey, it is likely to be offered digitally by international publishers in the coming months.
