Kumiko Oumae (黄前 久美子 Ōmae Kumiko) is the protagonist and viewpoint character of Sound! Euphonium series. She is a student at Kitauji High School who plays the euphonium in the school's concert band. Throughout the series, Kumiko progresses from being a first-year student to becoming a second-year and eventually a third-year student. In her final year, she becomes the band's president. At the end of the series, she became the school's teaching assistant for the band.
Appearance
Kumiko has wavy auburn shoulder-length hair with characteristics curls and amber eyes. She is frequently seen in Kitauji High School uniform, both winter and summer variants. She also wears various band's performance attires during concerts.
Personality
Initially, Kumiko is somewhat indecisive and unsure of herself girl who often questions her own motivations and abilities. This leads her to be contemplative and reflective, frequently considering the deeper implications of her actions and choices.
Despite that, Kumiko is kind-hearted and empathetic girl, who often shows concern for her friends and bandmates. She can be awkward in social situations, sometimes struggling to express her true feelings or to confront others directly.
As the series progresses, Kumiko's determination and commitment to the concert band grow stronger. She becomes more passionate about music and more confident in her abilities, driven by a newfound sense of purpose. Her relationship with Reina Kousaka is particularly influential, inspiring Kumiko to push her own limits and to strive for excellence.
Background
Kumiko as a child
Kumiko is a daughter of Kentarou and Akiko Oumae, and a younger sister of Mamiko Oumae. Inspired by Mamiko, Kumiko has been a well-experienced euphonium player since middle school, and was a member of the Daikichiyama Middle School Band, which was able to secure a gold award in the prefectural (first round) tournaments. However, the band was unable to qualify for the national-level tournament, which caused a rift between Kumiko and Reina Kousaka.
Chronology
On her first day in Kitauji High School, Kumiko learns of the school's own concert band and comments on its dismal quality. Meanwhile, she makes new friends in her class, namely Hazuki Katou and Sapphire Kawashima, the latter revealing her music background and her interest in joining the school band. Many things prevent Kumiko from joining, including her experience in the middle school prefectural tournament, and the fact that Reina Kousaka herself, who also enrolled in Kitauji High School, has just revealed her interest in joining the school band. Eventually, after much thought and seeing the eagerness of both Hazuki and Sapphire in joining the band, Kumiko decides to join as well, but not until she could resolve her past with Reina.
Kumiko wanted to try another instrument in the high school and even initially avoided the bass section. However, she decided to play euphonium after being pressed by Asuka Tanaka after Aoi Saitou, an old friend of Kumiko, revealed Kumiko's musical background.
As the rest of the band, Kumiko begins practicing for their band's upcoming performance at SunFes festival. Because of her hard work as well, the band's performance was warmly accepted by viewers.
Later, Kumiko decides to ignore Shuuichi Tsukamoto's offer to go to Agata Festival, and goes with Reina Kousaka instead.
Kumiko succesfully passes an audition to play at the competition. She becomes quite close to Reina that she even confesses to Kumiko about her love to Noboru Taki. Kumiko has trouble with learning the piece, but after Taki's encouragement she manages to deal with it. Kumiko's first year ends with her school's band winning Kansai regional competition.
As the rest of her band, Kumiko set her sights on the next upcoming performance following their success in the qualifying round for the Kansai regional competition. She also gets involved into situation of Nozomi Kasaki, who wants to rejoin the band, and her old bandmate Mizore Yoroizuka. At last, Kumiko's band manages to win gold at Kansai regional competition, allowing them to advance to the national competition.
Later, Kumiko's band plays a piece in the school's cultural festival, together with the members who did not make the auditions. Seeing Reina frustrated by other students getting crushes on Taki, Kumiko reflects that she can't tell her about Taki's wife. Reina invites Kumiko to her class's exhibit, a haunted house, and she meets Shuuichi there, leading to Kumiko getting teased again about his crush on her. Later, a typhoon hits the region, and Kumiko overhears her sister Mamiko Oumae telling her parents that she wants to drop out of college to become a beautician. Kumiko goes out for a walk to escape the tension at home and runs into Taki at the florist's; as he drives her home he tells her about his wife. Kumiko later hears from Sapphire about the floriography meaning of the bouquet Taki bought for his wife indicating that he still loves her.
Kumiko reflects on her sister, who was her original inspiration for wanting to play music, and the way her sister quit band to focus on college exams. While the other band members are reassured by Asuka saying she won't cause them any trouble, Kumiko asks if she really won't quit, and Asuka invites her to do homework together. Asuka shows up to club less and less often. One day Kumiko catches a cold and goes home early, meeting Aoi along the way. They talk about Asuka, and Aoi is surprised that Asuka has such messy circumstances, which angers Kumiko. At home sick, Kumiko dreams about her early days playing the euphonium, and wakes up to find Reina visiting her. The two of them listen to a CD by a famous euphonist together, but are interrupted by Mamiko, who tells them to stop; Kumiko lashes out at Mamiko, leading to an argument. Mamiko meets Shuuichi later, who tells her how Kumiko wanted her sister to hear her play.
While returning the clubroom key to the teachers' office with Reina, Kumiko expresses exasperation about the situation, but Reina agrees that Kumiko has a way with words when it matters most. While returning the key to Taki, Reina notices a photo on his desk with Taki's wife in it. The next day Kumiko goes to Asuka's house, and Asuka opens up to her about her situation: Asuka's father is a famous euphonist whom her abusive mother has prevented her from ever meeting, he is the one who sent her her euphonium as a child, and that he is set to be a judge at the national competition. She wanted to go to nationals so that he would hear her play. The two of them go out to the riverbank, where Asuka plays for Kumiko.
After she returns from Asuka's house, Kumiko and her sister reconcile while making dinner, admitting that they were jealous of each other. Knowing how much her sister regretted letting their parents push her around, Kumiko appeals to Asuka after school to stay in band, mentioning that everyone wants her to stay. Asuka pushes back against Kumiko's assertions, asking if she can really say so for sure, but Kumiko says that she herself wants to play with Asuka. However, Kumiko realizes that Reina is now avoiding her.
Kumiko unsuccessfully tries to corner Reina with help from Hazuki and Sapphire, only for Reina to ask her to climb Mt. Tenran again. Reina reveals that she is upset with Kumiko for concealing the story of Taki's wife from her. Because Taki was part of Reina's motivation to play, the shock goes on to affect her solo, and she reconciles with Yuuko when the latter encourages her. Reina asks Taki directly about his wife, visits her grave together with Kumiko, and resolves to help grant Taki's wish to win gold at nationals in his wife's memory.
The band travels to nationals. During their hotel stay, Kumiko and Shuuichi meet at a vending machine and have an awkward conversation, and he gives her a late birthday gift, a hairpin decorated the same kind of flowers Taki bought for his wife (having been told by Sapphire that Kumiko likes them). The band plays at the competition. Kitauji wins bronze, but Kumiko has an emotional reunion with Mamiko, who had come to watch.
The third year students retire from the club after the competition. Yuuko is named the new president and Natsuki the vice president; Kumiko is frustrated by how much she misses Asuka. Before graduation, the club has a farewell party for the third years, with the third years playing a piece for their juniors and the second and first years playing Crescent Moon Dance for their seniors. On graduation day, Kumiko is at last able to meet up with Asuka, and confesses that though at first she was confused by and disliked her, she now loves Asuka. Asuka gives Kumiko the piece her father wrote, and which she played many times throughout the series, "Hibike! Euphonium".
As the new executive committee of the band, made of Kumiko Oumae, Reina Kousaka and Shuuichi Tsukamoto, writes their exchanges in a notebook for better communication, they prepare to welcome new first year members. Kumiko ends up in the same class for the third year in a row with Midori and Hazuki as well as Tsubame Kamaya.
Reina Kousaka spares no first year during practice, doubts arise that some might leave. Suzume decides to reveal to Kumiko that a mass boycott is possible. When Sari, Suzume, Kaho and Yayoi do not show up for practice, Kumiko decides to go see Sari, who is ill, with the two in charge of the newcomers, Midori and Ririka. Kumiko talks with Sari and reassures her. She will do what she can to sort out issues.
Kumiko and Midori decide to talk to Higuchi to help with Motomu and they learn that his sister has passed away. Genichiro later asks Noboru Taki to transfer Motomu tu Ryuusei and shares it with Kumiko. Motomu decides to talk his mind with Kumiko about his sister, the cons of having a relative being your advisor, and how Midori reminds him of his sister. Kumiko advises him to talk with Genichiro.
Kumiko confronts her father about a new fish he got. Her father then asks about her plans after high school. Unsure, Kumiko is advised to talk to her sister Mamiko for guidance.
At school, Kumiko asks Tsubame and Hazuki about their future plans. Tsubame wants to attend college, but Hazuki is undecided. Kumiko later discusses this with Reina on a train. Reina suggests music school, but Kumiko is hesitant, unsure if she can make a living from music or see herself as a working adult. Reina reveals her own plan to become a professional musician.
Kumiko then tells Reina she wants to make decisions about upcoming auditions. Later, in a meeting, Reina, Kumiko, and others discuss wrapping up auditions by June and selecting band members in July to improve performance. Kumiko shares a strategy from Mayu's former school, which Taki approves.
Kumiko informs the band about the new audition process, confirming to Kanade that new soloists will be chosen for each competition. Midori shares competition insights with others, while Hazuki encourages Motomu to try for a solo part despite his reluctance.
Kumiko and Kanade talk to Mayu, who is hesitant to take a veteran's spot. Kanade then asks Kumiko about playing a soli piece with Reina, which Kumiko confirms. Kumiko later talks to Shuuichi about inviting Motomu to the Agata Festival. Shuuichi agrees and leaves just before Mayu arrives, asking Kumiko about the festival and practicing together.
During practice, Reina confronts Kumiko about playing with Mayu, who then reflects on their interaction. Reina invites Kumiko to her place during the Agata Festival. Before Kumiko responds, we see her meeting with Michie, who advises her on future plans and gives her a college pamphlet.
Back in the clubroom, Suzume and Yayoi invite Kumiko to the Agata Festival. Despite already having plans, Kumiko suggests Mayu join them another time. On the festival day, Reina and Kumiko go to Reina’s place, while Mayu’s group enjoys the festival. Kumiko and Reina practice the soli part, sharing their thoughts on their future.
Reina fears they won’t see each other after high school, but Kumiko reassures her that their bond will remain strong. They head to the festival to check out the food stalls. The episode ends with Kumiko placing a goldfish in the tank, symbolizing her final Agata Festival before graduation.
Kumiko reflects on past incidents involving Reina, Yuuko, and Kaori. She sees Reina helping band members and bumps into Azusa on her way home. They discuss their futures and current lifestyles, with Azusa revealing she wants a music-centric career but not as a professional musician like Reina. Kumiko overhears Suzume, Yayoi, Kaho, and others discussing auditions. She encourages them, despite Kaho's worries about competing with second and third-years. Suzume eagerly anticipates hearing Kumiko play the soli part with Reina. Kaho finishes her audition and shares her concerns, but Kumiko reassures her.
Kumiko then completes her audition, determined to keep her spot. Kumiko visits her solo practice spot, contemplating future challenges. Mayu arrives and asks about her song, but Kumiko declines to share. Later, Kumiko discusses tuba auditions with Taki, who explains Suzume's selection. They debate, but Kumiko concedes and leaves, running into Reina. Reina congratulates Kumiko on the soli part and hopes they'll continue to Nationals. Reina shares encouraging remarks with her bandmates at the Prefectural Competition. The episode ends with Kumiko pumping up her bandmates with the iconic Kitauji High School cheer.
The Kitauji High School Concert Band is on a bus heading to a three-day summer camp. Taki explains to Kumiko how the auditions and announcements will proceed before the Kansai Competition. At camp, Mayu asks Kumiko several camp-related questions and offers her help if needed. Kanade believes the band will make it to Nationals if Kumiko and Reina play the soli part. After an intense practice session, the band members eat in the cafeteria. Mayu and Kumiko discuss the audition and the soli part. Reina then asks Kumiko to practice the soli part with her. After practicing, Reina tells Kumiko she’s been getting warnings from Taki, unlike Mayu, who has good instincts and plays sounds Taki likes. Reina is confident she wants to play the soli part with Kumiko at Nationals. Mayu later asks Kumiko if she should forfeit the audition, but Kumiko insists she give her best effort. Mayu only wants to play with everyone, but Kumiko stresses the importance of having the best bandmates. Mayu retorts, pointing out that Kumiko would be upset if a new student took her part. The next morning, Kumiko reflects on her memory of Asuka and looks at a photo Asuka gave her, realizing this is her last camp outing. Mayu finds Kumiko playing a song in the same spot Asuka played it.
In the epilogue of Sound! Euphonium 3, Kumiko is seen working as an assistant teacher in Kitauji High School, also becoming an advisor of Kitauji High School Concert Band.
Relationships
Family
Mamiko is Kumiko's older sister. She likes to tease her younger sister, and she was also the person who inspired Kumiko to play and join the band. They appear to occasionally experience sibling arguments, but they share a close bond as sisters.
Akiko is Kumiko's mother. Little has been revealed so far in the anime about their relationship.
He is Kumiko's father.
Kitauji High School
Students
Kumiko and Reina have a quite complicated relationship. In junior high, Kumiko saw Reina being upset and crying because they did not advance to the nationals despite getting gold. This prompts Kumiko to absent-mindedly ask if she really thought they could have advanced. This offends Reina, thus creating tension in their relationship.
Every time they meet, Kumiko becomes very awkward, but Reina always behaves naturally and does not show any signs of embarrassment or discomfort. After several talks with each other, they resolve their issues and grow gradually closer to the point that they both blush when they see each other. In episode 8, Kumiko invites Reina to go to the Agata Festival with her, albeit unintentionally. However, after they begin conversing and relaxing with each other, they drop the polite form of speech and begin calling each other by first names by the end of the night, signaling a new level of friendship between them.
Now that they are friends again, Kumiko is probably the closest to Reina, since they intimately hug each other and share a strong bond of trust. They both have even said to each other that they love each other. Kumiko also says that she "will always stay by Reina's side" when Reina would compete against Kaori. Kumiko said that she "would never abandon her, even if it would cost her life." This indicates that the two share an amicable friendship that is on higher level from Kumiko's other friendships.
Kumiko seems to show a less-seen side of herself to only Reina and at times, Shuuichi, one that is more fiery, stroppy, and determined, unlike the blandly polite facade she presents to acquaintances at school.
Asuka is Kumiko's section leader and senpai, and is the one who discovers that Kumiko is a proficient euphonium player and ropes her into joining the bass section. In the first light novel, Asuka is very aware of her senpai status to Kumiko and thus always employs great discretion about her personal feelings when speaking to Kumiko. As the story progresses over the light novels, Asuka grows to care for Kumiko, and eventually invites Kumiko to her house and shares the story of her father with her. On the day of Asuka's graduation, she gives a book of euphonium pieces composed by her father to Kumiko, saying that Kumiko have better use for it now than she will post-graduation.
Kumiko and Shuuichi are close childhood friends. However, in junior high, when Kumiko invited Shuuichi to her home to play, he calls her "ugly" and asks that she never speak to him again. Soon after they entered high school however, they end up being on good terms again and use that as an opportunity to freely talk to one another about various topics. They get along so well that they do not speak to one another using the polite forms of speech, except for in public places. It is later revealed that Shuuichi has a crush on Kumiko when he asks her to attend the Agata Festival with him. Kumiko seems unimpressed by his offer, and accidentally ends up asking Reina to join her instead. Shuuichi and Kumiko become very distant after this event and have not had a meaningful conversation since, except for the one before their competition performance, when Shuuichi told Kumiko that things were going to be alright after which they fist bumped each other. However, they still see each other as musical peers and have been using each other for inspiration to improve their playing. Prior to them being distant, she seems to show a less-shown side of herself to only Reina and at times, Shuuichi.
In the light novel, Shuuichi tries to grow closer to Kumiko and nearly confesses to her the night before their final concert. He also gives Kumiko a hair decoration that's shaped like the white flower Taki gave his wife before he proposed. Asuka mentions the hair decoration on Kumiko after her graduation ceremony and asks if it's from her “boyfriend.” Kumiko stumbles and eventually says yes revealing that she is also in love with Shuuichi, and they start going out later in the light novels. In the anime, the plot subverts this in season 2 in which they don't start dating at all.
At the start of Hibike! Euphonium Movie 3: Chikai no Finale, Shuuchi confesses to Kumiko and they started dating. They nearly kissed during the summer festival to which Kumiko interrupts the moment as she became embarrassed. Later in the training camp for the upcoming regional competition, Kumiko decides to break up with Shuuichi by returning the hair clip he gave her as she is overwhelmed thinking about her future. However, she mentions to him that she is willing to date him again after their club activities are finished next year.
At the end of the series during the post-credits scenes you can see a timeskip where Kumiko is seen with the sunflower hairpin, implying that in the end she and Shuuichi are together.
Hazuki is one Kumiko's first friends upon entering Kitauji High School, and Hazuki called Kumiko by her first name, which quite shocked Kumiko. Normally, Kumiko doesn't get along with sports-oriented people, but she gets along very well with Hazuki. They are on good terms and also, can talk to each other about various topics and so on.
When Kumiko found about that Hazuki liked Shuuichi, she tried to support them as much as possible, and she even declined Shuuichi's invitation to a festival, so Hazuki could go with him instead. This proves that Kumiko cares for Hazuki a lot, and they are close friends.
Sapphire is also one of Kumiko's first friends upon entering Kitauji High School. Hazuki, Kumiko, and Sapphire are almost always seen with each other. Kumiko and Sapphire also get along and they are on very good, friendly and close terms and support each other. Her friends and other people close to her call her, Midori.
Natsuki and Kumiko have a good and friendly relationship, as they both play the same instrument. However, it was later revealed that Natsuki was jealous of Kumiko since she played the euphonium better than her. Kumiko didn't realize this before she saw Natsuki practice very hard and when she didn't pass the audition. However, Natsuki later invited Kumiko to talk with her after the audition announcement. They talked about that and after that, they grew closer to each other.
Teachers
At first, Kumiko thinks that Taki was very strict about practicing and going to the nationals, but she realizes that it is all to help the band. She respects him and sees him as a good teacher.
When Taki cuts Kumiko from a euphonium part in Crescent Moon Dance, he does it as respectfully as he can, without mentioning her name. Later, he offers a second chance to be given to her for the second round of competitio, and reminds her to practice hard.
Taki takes notice when Kumiko begins to practice harder, and, like he does with other students, encourages her. In the second light novel, Taki buys Kumiko and Mizore Yoroizuka each a bottle of sweet green tea when he finds them practicing in the school building late in the evening.
When Kumiko is caught out in a typhoon with a broken umbrella, Taki drives her back to her apartment and then gives her his own black umbrella before dropping her off.
After Taki fails to reach his own goals of having the band secure a gold award at nationals, he comes close to a breakdown in his office, shaking all over as he speaks, and tells Kumiko the full story of his wife, and her last living moments, and the promise he made to her. Kumiko consoles him with a few words. Taki thanks her, seeming to feel slightly better.
Kumiko, like most of the other students, thinks that Michie is a very strict teacher. However, she also respects her and calls her Michie-sensei even when not speaking to her directly. Michie also seems to know Mamiko and gets along with Akiko, Kumiko's mother.
Hashimoto is friendly to Kumiko, though she is not one of his percussion students. During a firework sparkler party, he sits down next to her in a quiet spot and, concerned, asks about Kousaka Reina's relationship with Noboru Taki. He accidentally lets slip during this conversation that Taki is a widower, and ends up telling Kumiko most of the full story.
Other
Not so much known about their relationship, but Azusa and Kumiko were friends in junior high, and they later reunited when they were both performing at SunFes.
Etymology
- The name Kumiko means "long time" (久) (ku), "beautiful" (美) (mi) and "child" (子) (ko).
- Kumiko's surname Oumae means "yellow" (黄) (ou) and "previous/previously, before, earlier, front/in front, former, above, one-time, fore part, privy parts/privates, miss, presence, portion, for, since, forward" (前) (mae).
Trivia
- According to the official Sound! Euphonium novel website:
- Kumiko likes egg dishes, pastry, rice omelet and shortcake, and dislikes insects, especially caddisflies
- Kumiko's favorite colors are white and yellow.
- Kumiko's hobbies are listening to music and lazing around at home.
- Kumiko's special skill is being able to drink a can of corn soup without leaving a grain.
- In the novels, it is revealed that Kumiko and her family moved from Tokyo to Uji when she was in the third grade. Because of this, Kumiko speaks the standard Japanese dialect, unlike the other Kitauji students who use the Kansai dialect. This is not reflected in the anime, where everyone uses the standard dialect.
- Kumiko's school bag is plain and it seems that she is not interested in anything "over-the-top".
- Kumiko is an indoors type of person and she does not get along with sports-oriented people, except for Hazuki Katou.
- It was shown at least twice that Kumiko plays bass clef for her sheet music. It was also shown in the key of B♭ Major, indicating that Kumiko plays a non-transposing instrument.
- Kumiko likes novels which contain extreme matter that contrasts to her character.
- Kumiko lives on the south bank of Uji River, near Byoudouin Temple and Agata Shrine.
- Kumiko is very insecure about her below-average chest size where she tends to compare herself frequently during the series the books and the novels.
- In her second year, Kumiko is appointed, along with Tomoe Kabe, to be an instructor for the new band members and she also founds a counselling center.
- Kumiko's euphonium is based on a Yamaha YEP-621 model.
Gallery
References
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