Chihayafuru

As a child, Chihaya Ayase had only one dream: to see her elder sister Chitose become Japan's most successful model. However, upon defending her ostracised classmate Arata Wataya from his bully—Chihaya's childhood friend Taichi Mashima—she discovers the world of competitive karuta and soon becomes enamoured with the sport.

Based on the Ogura Hundred Poets anthology, this card game where poems are studied requires excellent memory, agility, and a tremendous endurance from the players. Full of hope, Chihaya joins the Shiranami Society together with the newly reconciled Arata and Taichi, embarking on an exciting journey for the title awarded to the top-ranked female player—Queen of Karuta.

Since middle school, Chihaya grew distant from a dispassionate Taichi and separated from Arata. However, in order to improve her skills, Chihaya decides to create a karuta club in her high school. With the help of Taichi, another veteran player, and a few spirited newcomers, Chihaya's new-founded Mizusawa Karuta Club aims for victory in the Omi Shrine's national championship.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Ayase, Chihaya Main

Seto, Asami Japanese

Mashima, Taichi Main

Miyano, Mamoru Japanese

Wataya, Arata Main

Hosoya, Yoshimasa Japanese

Wakamiya, Shinobu Supporting

Nakamichi, Mihoko Japanese

Ooe, Kanade Supporting

Kayano, Ai Japanese

Suou, Hisashi Supporting

Touchi, Hiroki Japanese

Harada, Hideo Supporting

Ishizuka, Unshou Japanese

Sudou, Akito Supporting

Ohara, Takashi Japanese

Komano, Tsutomu Supporting

Yonaga, Tsubasa Japanese

Nishida, Yuusei Supporting

Nara, Tooru Japanese

Maruyama, Masao Producer

Tamura, Manabu Producer

Nakatani, Toshio Producer

Tsunoki, Takuya Producer

Reviews

Aug 24, 2024

ReyvanSinaga

Recommended

This is my first anime with a sports theme, where the sport is a Japanese sport, karuta.
What makes me like this anime is the introduction of Japanese sports, karuta, which is delivered from how to play to the tournament very well.
I also really like each character in this anime when they are in the karuta tournament, for me I feel the tension and my adrenaline is also pumping when watching this anime.
For the shortcomings of this anime, namely because it is spiced up with a romance triangle
The opening and ending of this anime are good and the pronunciation of poetry for the karuta game I ... also really like
10/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Oct 21, 2021

Guts-Valley

Mixed Feelings

Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata are three friends living in the midst of Japan, torn apart by the need to play a children card games called Karuta. When this Karuta(card game) strikes close to home, its irrevocable effects ripple through the destinies of each of the three.

The anime isn't exactly original, but there are enough wrinkles that, coupled with strong character definition, lead to a occasionally engrossing story. Actually, there are three separate characters that occasionally cross and intermingle. Its basically a love triangle. After the first there episodes, however, each can stand on its own. The one involving Arata-- concentrating on Karuta addiction ... and its consequences, is heavy-handed. Arata probably would have been better focused without it. Taichi tale is scripted with greater intelligence than Chihaya but we seen before in other anime. Events surrounding Chihaya which are accorded the most screen time, offer the anime most absorbing moments.

The chronicle of Chihaya rise to power within the Karuta system is reminiscent of Anya Taylor-Joy's powerful 2020 Netflix series The Queen Gambit. There are parallels in both plot and character, but Chihayafuru story isn't as complex or gritty as that of Queen's Gambit, and its resolution is less satisfactory. Nevertheless, it still has an impact. There's a strange fascination in watching the violent politics that lead to the top rung of a Karuta's groups.

The ending is a disappointment. The attempt to force a happy ending where one is not warranted and is unforgivable. It has been said that this is the Japan's Queen's Gambit(manly by me) it lacks both the quality and scope of Scott Frank's series. Some of the themes may be similar, this is a loosely-focused story about loyalty, honor, and Karuta that takes us into Japan's subculture and introduces to three vastly different characters. The result is an anime that features several memorable scenes. It's not a masterpiece, but neither is it a waste of time like One Piece.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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Oct 2, 2020

mitkopom

Not Recommended

I have dropped this anime after ep 5. A while after that i got forced myself to watch it again based on its very high rating...
it was a pain to go trough ep 6. Dropped ...
what turned me down?
1. A lame card game which was supposed to look thrilling and exiting. Well my bad but it was boring.
2. A selfish and egoistic main female character who exploit her friends in order to reach her goals. She also tends to bully other people to join her club by forse.... Its a first time happening that i actually dislike the MC which is designed and supposed to ... be likeble... :( :(
3. Romance story look sluggish and i dont see any development there.. Same goes for characters development..
4. Poem readers sounded quite annoying ... feels like a funerall...
PS: anime looks well targeted towards its demographics, but lookig at its very high rating i strart questioning the rating credibility.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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