Chihayafuru

Chihayafuru & Sakamichi no Apollon are both series about deep passion (for karuta in the first one and for music in the second one) with subtle, yet complicated love triangle in the background. They are also stories about great friendship. Both of those series offer amazing character development - characters are complex, mature and beautiful. To put it simply: josei at its best! 

report Recommended by cornflake-girl

Both shows are listed as "Josei", but still aim for all ages in certain, moral ways. They are both based about a trio of friends all with a passion of something big (Sakamichi: Music, Chihayafuru: Karuta), with one or two of them rejecting what they love at certain times. Both contain romance/one-sided love, though Sakamichi focuses on that aspect much more than Chihayafuru (which is more based on competition and sports).

They also both have a yet practical and appealing art style and great use of budget and music when it's needed. The two shows has a similar style of atmosphere, but they are also completely different, suited to each show's style. With the music or sport element for the two, it creates a unique charm for the Josei genre, making both anime much more interesting than one would expect. read more 

report Recommended by tommy73

Both chihayafuru and sakamichi no apollon are about people being passionate about something, and how their daily lives revolve around that passion. In chihayafuru its karuta, and in sakamichi no apollon, music. Both anime are set in different times but they emphasize the importance of friendship (even though there's some love triangles). Both anime have great animation and are based on josei manga. Highly recommend!!! 

report Recommended by salujas

Teen romances with a love triangle between the girl, the quiet glasses guy, and the jock-y looking guy set before a backdrop of their shared hobby. Jazz music in Sakamichi no Apollon and karuta in Chihayafuru.  

report Recommended by Lemon

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu addpermalink

Chihayafuru and Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu are similar in genre, both are josei and drama. Chihayafuru takes place in modern day school/life Japan, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu mainly takes place in the past, 30+ years ago and tells a story of upcoming sucess. Both shows have similar senarios and face a lot of the same tropes. 

report Recommended by Nikoru-san

Drama/Josei anime. The vibe and the suffering are real. Both deal with the arts, if I must say, being Chihayafuru about Karuta, a game that feature the 100 poems of the Hyakunin Isshu, and Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu about Rakugo, a form of art that perpetuates in theatres.  

report Recommended by MaahHeim

Both series revolves around very unusual activities that might not be known to a lot of people. The art is similar and characters are likable (so far).

If you're like me and have completely fallen for this anime so far, I'm sure chihayafuru will be your cup of tea as well. That accounts for the opposite way as well! =] 

report Recommended by Pyum

Both with traditional japanese culture kind of genre and Rakugo from being well written drama to with tragic romance, yet Chihayafuru is different, with a very endearing slice of life genre and a great plot.

Both with good characters, very stellar and good plot and very very good characters.  

report Recommended by riorangel21

Similarity:
1. Both about a Japanese cultural activity.
2. Features intriguing character-driven story.
3. Explore what this sport/art means for the main character and impact the relationship in their life.

Differences: Chihayafuru is more chill and modern as it is a high school sports anime, and Rakugo Shinjuu has darker themes. Darker not in the sense that it is deeper, but just Rakugo has more of that sad weariness from life, while Chihayafuru is just chill and hopeful. In their core, however, both touched me in similar ways. 

report Recommended by zcylunasia

Skip Beat! addpermalink

A girl who tries her best in making her dream come true while she is part of a love triangle between two childhood friends. Chihaya reminds a younger version of Kyoko:) 

report Recommended by Orulyon

Anime: Saki Achiga-hen: Episode of Side-A

Saki Achiga-hen: Episode of Side-A addpermalink

Main characters of both series aim to reunite with their friends in national tournaments of karuta and mahjong, respectively. 

report Recommended by arsonal

Read recommendations by 3 more users

Natsume Yuujinchou addpermalink

The stories aren't similar at all, the idea behind the anime's are completely different, and the characters have little in common. However both Natsume Yuujinchou and Chihayafuru are very warm-spirited anime. In Chihayafuru and Natsume Yuujinchou you find yourself smiling unconsciously when the main characters succeed at one of there goals or a nice emotional moment happens. The most striking similarity between the two is the inter-character relations. Both characters are able to make friends because of their various skills and personalities and this friendships blossom into strong bonds which I think are the basic foundations which make each of these anime so great. Natsume makes fiends with the spirits that continue to bother him and Chihaya is able to conquer the challenges that face her because of her friends.  read more 

report Recommended by JordanDN

Ping Pong the Animation addpermalink

Both series are normally overlooked for being in the sports genre, but really focus more in the growing and learning aspects of life, follow your dreams and the overlap between friendship and rivalry. 

report Recommended by Esternocleido

Read recommendations by 3 more users

Kimi ni Todoke addpermalink

Chihayafuru greatly reminds me of Kimi ni Todoke. They somehow look similar in terms of art, however Chihayafuru is slightly more detailed than the other. They both give a relaxing feeling whenever you watch them. 

Kimi ni Todoke mainly focuses on romance, while Chihayafuru focuses on a game called "Karuta". There's a bit of romance as well in Chihayafuru.   

report Recommended by Jstyle

Read recommendations by 3 more users

Kuroko no Basket addpermalink

Both anime deals with sports and relationships between members-friendship.Also,they both let us learn more about each individual character and these anime have their  own sense of humor. 

report Recommended by blueunicorns

Ore Monogatari!! addpermalink

Well, the graphics. This guy Makoto is very alike to Taichi, Yamato reminds me of Chihaya (the fact that both are very beautiful/cute and they both are kind). I personally liked the both and I think you will too. The main story is quite different but both are very heartwarming stories focuses around friendship and love.  

report Recommended by _midori_

Cross Game addpermalink

In some ways, I find these two series a bit similar.

Both series involves the main characters following their dreams in a sports-related event. They also have a past with childhood friends involved. 

Both series are lighthearted and presents every day life in a realistic way.

There is also comedy, drama, and some romance between the characters from the stories.

report Recommended by Stark700

The best stories are shown, not told. Both Cross game and Chihayafuru weave masterful stories of ordinary lives and mold characters who are memorable yet genuine. Though both series focus on a sport (baseball in Cross Game, competitive karuta in Chihayafuru), familiarity nor interest in either are necessary, as they are the mere groundworks for laying out the lives of charming characters who could very well exist in an excellent slice of life show without any unifying context. Both shows are about growth - Cross Game examines childhood friends growing beyond a childhood tragedy, while Chihayafuru explores childhood friends, reunited, growing toward their childhood dreams. The nuances of both shows reveals something so precious and rarely seen these days on TV - their humanity. How human we are, how intricately our lives interconnect, how subtly we change, and how this is all beautifully conveyed by our cast of characters under the guise of shooting for Koshien and becoming the karuta Meijin and Queen.  read more 

report Recommended by jinkaine

Both are sports shows which choose to focus large amounts of time on developing its characters, resulting in extremely strong emotional arcs through the series. The character depth in both shows are stellar - we will laugh with them, cheer for them, and cry with them. The shows start out very similarly, choosing to use the first few episodes to show us what our characters experienced as young kids, serving as an extended prologue, allowing us to see what drives them, and what has made each character what they are in the present time. Overall, both shows are a masterpiece when it comes to writing characters. 

As a sports show, the actual sport obviously has to be done well. Neither dissapoints - even though karuta and baseball couldn't be more different, the matches are filled with tension and excitement, and every moment is well-animated and backed by a fantastic soundtrack.

The major difference in the shows is in its tone. Chihayafuru is undoubtedly the more upbeat of the two, whilst Cross Game is a much subtler work.

 read more

report Recommended by Pixaiated

Nana addpermalink

Chihayafuru is very similar to Nana.
   • Both anime are of the genre josei
   • Chihaya is very similar to Nana Komatsu and Taichi looks like Shouji
   • Both anime have the same feelings
   • Complicated love 

report Recommended by Namerisek

Barakamon addpermalink

I'm only 2 episodes in but it's this warm familiar feeling that immediately made me check if they were by the same studio (which they are). Chihayafuru made me feel good. Barakamon makes me feel good. It's as simple as that. 

report Recommended by Evutal

Baby Steps addpermalink

Chihayafuru and Baby Steps give off a similar feeling as you're watching the show, in these series our main characters are joining a club, Karuta and Tennis. However, Chihayafuru is focused on Karuta, it is also largely focuses on romance. 

report Recommended by Nikoru-san

Bamboo Blade addpermalink

A motley crew's rise to prominence at a sport can be seen in either show. Every member has their own characteristics, and how they interact and bounce off each other make it fun to watch.  

report Recommended by ottocycle

Nodame Cantabile addpermalink

While Nodame Cantabile is about classical music and Chihayafuru is about karuta, both of them revolve around people following a passion most people would find odd nowadays. They are a bit slow paced, but feature very solid character development. Chihayafuru doesn't have the same amount of romance as Nodame Cantabile does, but it's there. And the female leads are just as clueless. 

report Recommended by Yamaro

Kabuki-bu! addpermalink

Anyone who enjoyed Chihayafuru should give Kabukibu a try.  They both stress traditional Japanese culture, and they both have a strong team-building ethos with groiups that span both genders.  Kabukibu has a more unconventional set of characters with a mannish female and a feminine man among the kabuki fans.  Like Chihaya, the protagonist of Kabukibu is obsessed with kabuki and recruits a bunch of others to his cause.  My only complaint is that he shows a maturity far beyond his sixteen years. 

report Recommended by SeijiSensei

Ryuuou no Oshigoto! addpermalink

both tells a story about japanese traditional game in a competitive setting. with relatively light background and ironically light competition/rivalry. the characters are simple and no hidden plot behind. 

report Recommended by sora2eugene

Special A addpermalink

The girls are both always happy-go-getto and are clueless that theres a guy friend who's totally in love with them. Kei liking Hikari and Hikari being the clueless ,determined ,cheerful girl she is. Taichi being in love with Chihaya and Chihaya being the the clueless ,determined, passionate ,cheerful girl she is. 

report Recommended by KikyoFlower

Usagi Drop addpermalink

The premise of both shows sounds very simple and boring! Raising a child in Usagi Drop and passion for a very simple card game named karuta in Chihayafuru. But masterful execution is the main reason that I'm going to say, Chihayafuru and Usagi Drop are two of the most enjoyable shows of 2011 in the same way. Also, similar josei art fits the beautiful and realistic theme of both. 
 

report Recommended by maKAKERO

Ballroom e Youkoso addpermalink

The stories themselves aren't extremely similar, but the execution and emotions you feel are very similar in my opinion. 

Both anime are about an uncommon sport/activity-  Chihayafuru is about a card game called karuta and Ballroom e Youkoso is about ballroom dancing. Both main characters are introduced to the world of karuto/dancing by somebody they idolize greatly. Now, they strive to become the greatest.

Supporting characters are also fleshed out more than most other series and everybody feels truly real. Interactions, feelings, problems, worries, arguments, and everything connecting the characters feels natural and legitimate. They feel less like anime characters and more like actual people. 

In both shows, there is also the underlying theme of romance. Neither are obnoxious and are point blank a romance anime, but the romantic mood is always in the air. These shows are also great for shippers! The canon ships aren't obvious. 

Soundtracks are both gorgeous and art is unique. Chihayafuru's art is more polished and honestly some of the best art I have seen. Ballroom e Youkoso's art is more unique and can turn some people away, but I loved it. The way the bodies are structured and posed intrigued me more and more each episode. The roughness worked. 

However, the most important part is how these shows make you feel. They might seem slow paced and boring from the outside looking in or after only a few episodes, but the pacing works for the shows. They are both a slow burn with a few explosions mixed in. Quality never drops and I feel like they even get better as time passes. During both of these shows, I have laughed out loud, cried, got goose bumps, screamed, and showed more emotions than I very rarely do. 

Both of these shows are 9/10 for me. Some of the best anime I have had the pleasure to watch. Highly recommend both. 

 read more

report Recommended by animegeek4life

Yume-iro Pâtissière addpermalink

These two shows give off the same 'vibe' while watching them.
Also, both have a airheaded female protagonist who is working hard to accomplish a specific dream - Chihaya wants to become a Karuta queen and Ichigo wants to become a pastry chef- while staying oblivious to romantic affections of her teammates. 

report Recommended by sweetbun33

Akatsuki no Yona addpermalink

Well, these two anime are quite different. But I don't know why I got a similar vibe between Arata x Chihaya and Hak x Yona. And Soo won is comparable with Taichi (?). But both has romance, mature romance and both are unfinished. Chihayafuru 3 and Akatsuki no Yona 2 are one of the most awaited project in anime lovers but probably both got axed. Art sound, character designs, comedy style are very similar. The background music during Hak Yona scene is very similar to Chihayafuru. 

report Recommended by ekla

Anime: Tsurune: Kazemai Koukou Kyuudou-bu

Tsurune: Kazemai Koukou Kyuudou-bu addpermalink

They have a great balance of believable characterization and enthralling sports scenes. Themes in both of these shows include finding one's passion, being on a team, overcoming obstacles and following one's dreams.  

report Recommended by SAniyoukoso

Shion no Ou addpermalink

Both of these Anime deal with girls who are passionate about a traditional Japanese game. There is very nice characterization and a bit of outside story involved, one dealing with mystery and the other friendship. 

report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari

Anime: Meitantei Conan Movie 21: Karakurenai no Love Letter

Meitantei Conan Movie 21: Karakurenai no Love Letter addpermalink

Obviously, they are both about Karuta. But as an avid Conan AND Chihayafuru fan, I noticed many similarities!
- Prominent love triangle
- Dramatic karuta battles
- Tear jerking scenes
- Amazing music 

report Recommended by Mayuka

Fukumenkei Noise addpermalink

One girl and Two boys, one of the boys is away after making a huge impact on her, while the other is around supporting her dreams, the girl is dense yet cheerful and lovable.
Both of the series have a competitive side to them, though in different majors, and the setting and the timeline are in high school. 

report Recommended by BakuraGh

Tari Tari addpermalink

+Both anime got school clubs.
+Both got many female characters.
+Both got transfer student.
+Both got similar atmosphere where people support main character dream and they       try to Recruit new members to the club.
+Both got a annoying teacher , but later she supports the club. 

report Recommended by TrOjAnHoRsE

Ookiku Furikabutte addpermalink

The atmosphere of Chihayafuru reminded me of Ookiku Furikabutte. In essence, they are quite different since one is about Karuta and the other is about Baseball but the drive of the characters and the in depth analysis of the sport makes both series similar and equally enjoyable. 

report Recommended by chibiangel_chan

Nana Maru San Batsu addpermalink

Gives me the Chihayafuru vibe because of that fast buzzing and answering without finishing the question. 

report Recommended by Zel_Ezl

Mashiro no Oto addpermalink

Both shows present an unknown part of Japanese culture.
The MC in Mashiro no Oto reminds me alot of Arata from Chihayafuru, going into details would spoil a key event in the first season of Chihayafuru, but fans of the show will see the connection.
Both have a serious tone, with some comedic sections, which makes for an entertaining watch.
Both have unique artstyles, Chihayafuru has a unique character design, and Mashiro no Oto has an almost watercolor-esque art style, this really sets both shows apart from the masses of shows that air. 

report Recommended by Lumyh

Anime: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai. addpermalink

The current life of the characters are strongly linked to the past. Both are enjoyable, simple and sweet. You will see many similarities between these two if you check them out.  

report Recommended by Tshuki