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]
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Comentários
MelKaven
"What the hell is Katura?" Of course, that was my first reaction. But then... Wow... Just wow... At first, this anime really didn't catch my interest. It was plain and dry, like trying to shape out the dry clay; but as it went on, I found myself immersed in it. Like a sea of colors vibrantly expanding across an infinite of sky. Yes, even now, fifteen minutes after I finally saw the last episode, I am still numbed by its excellence. **NO SPOILERS** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Story:
In the beginning, the story seemed boring. Predictable. Like a boat streaming across still water. It was lifeless, and simple. I expected it to be like any other Anime with a swindle of a romance eclipsed by the ever flamboyant facade of a sport or activity.
But somewhere, as the series progressed, it seemed to evolve. It seamlessly grew to something more, something beyond the natural limits of a story. It wasn't plagued with typical conflicts or unrequited desires, it was like a light that slowly lit itself brighter and brighter, unblocked by the trends of literature and expectation. Barriers that innately shackled a series' potential seemed to fade away, and every climactic moment that the characters felt was somehow shared with the viewer. As if a crescendo of realization would slay you alongside them.
All in all, it was about the sport, Katura. And, you'd think: "Well, if its just about a sport its not like anything interesting can happen." But somehow, it was different. The sport was a sort of catalyst that helped the characters not only develop towards one another, but it opened the door for an entire world that we all seem to forget, as if blinded by the mundane trudge of life.
The competitive aspect of the game, which yearned for such a demand of stamina seemed to be later eclipsed by the "true" virtue hidden within the sport. Yes, what the beginner sees, and the masters forget: The poetry. Such an attribute slowly became the mortar that gave new meaning to each simple issue that arose during the characters' failures.
It was seamless as we learned with them, through their desperation and hardship; their envy and willpower. The goals kept increasing, and aspirations began to soar, capping only at what the characters truly wanted.
Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Romance. Friendship. Deeper revelations. Aspiration oriented. Perseverance through strength. No text box storytelling. Failure.
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Art:
The art in this show was interesting. It had primarily bold lines, and definitely took some getting used to. But now that I finished it, I really couldn't imagine this anime any other way.
The thing is, since this show is so off on a tangent in the first place, it seemed necessary to break the norm.
However, I will say that there were moments when I wished that they wouldn't have. The fact of the matter is, the art does well for its purpose, but it seems like it was aimed at a particular niche. I guess it just comes down to personal preference, really.
Nonetheless, the art was still phenomenal. Everything down to lighting was near perfect, and facial expressions were particularly pronounced so as to invoke the true feelings of the characters. Bloom, Sparkles, Glitter, Comical Backdrops, and Chibi Moments; everything seemed in good shape.
Overall, it had a realistic feel. Which held tremors to the viewer considering the entire theme could be realistically translated into anything the viewer truly desired.
Rating: 9
tl;dr:
The art was different, but really you shouldn't have any complaints.
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Sound:
Ah. Sound.
This soundtrack is simply awe inspiring. Even now, as I write this review, I have OST 7 "Main Theme" on loop.
The music in this show was EXTREMELY good. It did very well to convey the emotions that were felt by the characters, and worked seamlessly with the art and choreography to invoke what the moments wished you to feel. To be honest, the music had a voice of its own. As if it was an entire character separate of the cast, watching the show with you, helping you along through the tears.
It sympathized with you when necessary, and laughed alongside you, guided you along the adventurous moments... It really couldn't have been any better.
Even if this show had 5 frames a second and 1980's art, I would still choke for air at how many times this musical score seems to steal your breath away.
If anything, I'll still be listening to this music many decades later. Thank you, Kousuke Yamashita.
If only I could rate this 20.
Rating: 10.
tl;dr:
Symphony. Commonly repeating motif. Varied orchestration. Light sounds mixed with heavy ensembles. Stellar composition.
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Characters:
While romance is an aspect of the story, it is merely a development feature. Note that the story is more so directed toward the love of friendship and the game itself than it is towards any romantic moments.
To start with, each character occupies a niche.
Ayase is a beauty, yet it is in vain. The moment she speaks, it is broken by her tomboyish image and personal drive. But its those very traits that reel you in. She is the joyous energy that keeps the group together, and despite her clear superiority in the game, genuinely cares for her friends, and helps aid them in their journey to pursue Karuta.
Taichi, Ayase's childhood friend, remains her loyal companion throughout the years. His mental forte is unmatched to most every player the game has ever known; even once reciting every card at random in the entire deck of 100, just because he could. His family is privileged, and he is pressured by his parents to keep at the highest tier in terms of sports and exams. His brains keep him on par with the purists that achieve their status merely due to athletic prowess. He acts as the groups motivator and leader, often amping everyone out of their slumps with "Just the right words" to turn them around.
Arata represents the reverse side to Taichi, being the poorer, lesser appreciated, segment to the story. As the story progresses, his darker past becomes realized, and he continues to become a shining beacon for Ayase.
There is a triangle romance between the three of them, but remember, the show does not articulate this enough for this show to be branded as a romance.
Of course, there are a great many other supporting characters that help aid Ayase on her journey to realize herself through Katura, each having a realistic and effective back story that warps the plot in one way or another.
Rating: 10
tl;dr:
The characters were diverse, which allowed for the story to be seen through a wide spectrum. Realistic. Believable. Nothing was over exaggerated.
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Enjoyment:
Did I find this show enjoyable?
Well, in a way I did.
I felt that it was really giving a perspective about achievement I had never really thought about.
To learn meant failure, to grow stronger meant to feel hardship and to overexert yourself to what phase out the illusions to what you truly desired.
At the end of each episode, with the crescendoing music resounding with each episodic climax, I felt the overwhelming desire to watch the next.
Rating: 10
tl;dr:
It was like a ten hour long movie that always kept you drooling for more.
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Overall:
I was stunned by the hype of this show that I nearly skipped over it. And let me tell you, I ALMOST did.
And simply for the thought once existing, I regret it.
If I had passed up this show, I really would have missed out on such a masterpiece. I am shamed of myself.
I honestly cant wait to jump into Chihayafuru Season 2.
Rating: 10
tl;dr:
It was beautiful to the core. Every aspect was heartwrenchingly flawless. If you have any last minute questions before watching this series, feel free to PM me.
I really don't think the world can afford to have people so many that haven't seen Chihayafuru.
retardation
Man, Chihayafuru is freaking good. I wasn’t going to watch this show. You look at the promo. It’s a shoujo/josei type joint about some chick who plays Japanese cards or some nonsense. How can that be good? I know a lot of people mess with those mah jong anime that keep coming out. I can’t hate but I never know or care about what’s going on in any of that stuff. Lucky things happened though. Winter 2012 anime were failing hard so I had to start review crawling. MAL gave this thing an 8+ so figured I’d giveit a shot. Normally that’s a bad idea because girl anime tends to have inflated ratings on this site.
Expectations exceeded. This show right here filled me with some serious glee. I still have no idea what the rules of Karuta are and I still loved the show. All I managed to discern is that somebody reads a poem in a creepy voice and then you have to snatch up a card real quick. Apparently that was all that I needed to know.
Characters? Mostly win. I like that every character is unique. There hardly any typical characters, except some minor side dudes from that red shirt karuta club. Actually I’ll contradict myself and say that Chihaya herself is a pretty typical ditzy but hard working female lead character but everyone else is fresh. My favourite guy of all is Desktomu-kun. I’m comfortable enough to say that he is actually cute as a grown male character. Welcome to 2012. Speaking of Desktomu-kun, how come all the side characters in the club were small and funny looking where as the main three characters are all tall and handsome? It’s like there’s a class system through character design. I save further analysis of this for the Marxist anime review page.
While I said the characters are good that’s not saying the chracters are deep or anything. It seems like they all have one personality type, typically only express a couple moods and are all motivated by a single factor. For example, the adorable Kana-chan, can be summed up completely as the girl who likes poetry or a history buff. Not every anime has to be an exercise in psychoanalysis though.
The worst parts of the show are some of the flashbacks and plot devices used to motivate characters are pretty bad though. Arata’s motivation for quitting karuta is so contrived. Pisses me off right now just thinking about how little imagination went into that.
Taichi seemed like he was the most multifaceted guy. He’s sort of an insecure ass but more at least it’s only as far as a real person acts like an ass. You watch these josei/shoujo anime and the main guy is usually some epic dirtbag dude that could only another dirtbag could relate to. A good example is the guy in Nodame Cantabile. I want to punch the trash out of that guy. You always have these girl anime pitting Dirtbag Dans against Nice Guy Norms but here I don’t really get that. Taichi actually seems like a nice guy but he can’t help but do some dumb stuff. Arata is kind of shy but he doesn’t really seem that nice either. He is actually pretty edgy since he’s supposed to be the Lebron James of speed cards or whatever.
Then you have the action, which kicks a bunch of ass solely because of the direction and writing. Like I said before, I still have no idea how karuta works but I definitely felt the suspense in every match. I’m dying to hear them read the cards out and I don’t know what they mean. That’s good TV. The matches are made interesting by focusing on internal mental stuff going on with the players and small details that the reader can understand. For example, there is a part where a distinction is made between a player with speed and a player who uses rhythm and pacing. I don’t really need to understand karuta to be able to relate to that.
Thematically, you get a lot of the typical stuff here around being in a team and striving for a goal and all that sports anime crap. I love that sports anime crap. Makes me feel good as heck. You also get a little education about Japanese poetry. That also makes me feel good. Like I’m not just watching cartoons, I’m getting educated out here. I would have liked to have seen a little more focus on the outsider nature of the game though. The whole ordeal with the Empress teacher was supposed to present that aspect of things but that unravelled pretty predictably. I think more focus on Taichi and Chihaya’s interactions with their parents and the parents’ acceptance or ignorance of karuta would have been nice.
I give this series a 9. It delivered happiness, that sports anime suspense and some interesting knowledge about a weird sport. I’m dying for a second season. You know, I have now seen anime about karuta and kendo. When am I going to get a sumo anime?
Ruse
Chihayafuru is a sports anime about Karuta. What is Karuta you ask? I had no idea either until I watched this anime. Karuta is a card game based upon Japanese poetry, with a hundred poems as cards so memorization is key. As a reader reads out the first line of the poem, the player's goal is to touch the corresponding card that has the second line of the poem before the opponent. Sounds boring? Well you could not be more wrong. The way Chihayafuru depicts the relationships between the characters and the feelings of those who dedicate their lives to something only to be trumpedby those more talented. If you have ever competed in anything seriously, you will be able to relate.
The story is similar to many other sports anime. The main character Chihaya Ayase childhood dream is to watch her sister become the number one model. This all changes when she meets a transfer student, Arata Wataya, that open her eyes to the world of competitive Karuta. Ever since this fated meeting that made her entranced in the world of karuta her dream has been to become the queen (best female karuta player). From here on out the plot is quite simple, with Chihaya going to karuta societies to improve or tournaments to compete. Finding rivals,mentors and teamates along the way, each with their own influence on Chihaya. Honestly though if you watch Chihayafuru for a riveting plot with many twists and turns, you will be disheartened. Notably due to the slow start of the anime, with a long five episode flashback. Chihayafuru is mainly a character-driven show, which in its own way can produce its own heart-wrenching entertainment equivalent to an amazing plot.
And the characters really do not disappoint, from the design to their personalities each character has a trait to love. Though Chihaya is a stereotypical tomboy airhead type character with her stereotypical childhood friend,Taichi Mashima, and stereotypical outsider transfer stuident Arata, the way they develop is what differentiates Chihayafuru from the status quo. Each and every character has their own dilemma, which they have to face. Inspiring us not only through their success but also in their own failure. Even the side characters have progress, and are explored throughout the show.
In terms of art style, some might not be too accustomed to the differences in Chihayafuru. I know at first I had a hard time looking at Taichi and Chihaya because of their oddly super long eyelashes, but I grew to appreciate the design. There are some characters that look similar to others but this is primarily with background characters. Overall most of the characters don't look very similar, something I really appreciate in anime nowadays. As for the animation, everything is pretty crisp. Their is not much action to animate but they do a good job with the Karuta scenes, I have only seen problems in one or two episodes, where the frames drop a bit. Hardly noticeable, may even be my computer playing tricks with me. Now onto backgrounds, and other non-character related animation, was pretty good. Not amazing to me (like bakemonogatari background amazing) but still good. I am all for dark colors > light but the bright colors really stand out yet is cohesive with the piece as a whole.
With the great animations it leads to the Karuta matches actually being quite interesting. One would think that just watching a couple players try to get to a card first would be boring, but they build up suspense and emotion for every match. They do not get too technical about the technique and skill, and instead focus on the character's mindset. Despite the fact that at times this show is very serious, it does have its comedic aspects. Its funny to see how Chihaya go from ditzy in other situations, to being graceful at Karuta.
Lastly the Sound. The tracks do not vary too much considering the insert songs during the animation. Despite this lack of deviation, these songs were well timed and really highlighted the moments of emotion. In comparison the intro and outro differ greatly yet are just as memorable. The opening has a more upbeat tempo that makes you want to tap your feet to the rhythm. I imagine the characters drive and love for karuta during the opening. Slowing down the pace with the Outro, it drives the great emotional impact of Chihayafuru. The ending really expresses the character's relationships well. As for the voice acting, nothing really stood out, but nothing was annoying. I do not really have an ear for voice acting so do not quote me on that.
All together Chihayafuru provides a great experience for the audience, with emotional attachment to the characters and the suspense to see the results. Don't let the fact that the show is about Karuta, and you have no idea what that is (yet) stop you from enjoying it. I believe that Chihayafuru's virtues strongly outweigh any faults that it may have, and highly reccomend it to anyone.
Dawn
*This review is spoiler free!* Chihayafuru is an anime centered around the sport karuta and follows the story of a young girl named Chihaya as well as the friends and rivals she meets along the way. Before jumping into Chihayafuru you may have never heard of karuta and that really isn't an issue. The anime does a great job of creating a story around this sport that isaccessible to everyone and after only the first few episodes you will understand the sport well.
For a brief overview of what the sport karuta is about, it’s essentially a sport based around the idea of determining which card out of a set has been randomly selected and then to quickly grab it before your opponent. Each of the cards are poems and at higher levels of play the players should be able to memorize the initial position of each card to be able to take them as soon as they can be identified. Even though Chihayafuru is based on karuta, the sport mainly acts as a platform for the ideas of growing and following your dreams, which are the underlying themes for the majority of the anime.
The characters learn to realize their dreams through karuta and watching them work hard to reach them is very satisfying. Most of the characters who are introduced are dug deeper into, including the opponents making it so you usually had a bit of sympathy for each character as they faced off. Each character has their own strengths, weaknesses and goals that make the character line up quite diverse and somewhat relatable. Each of the characters end up learning a lot from each other as they travel the same road, in karuta.
The sport karuta is the driving motor of the anime and watching the passion and determination the characters present in it really helps Chihayafuru capture the charisma a sport anime needs, but the great thing about this is, while it does capture the charisma of a sport anime, it also introduces the beauty and meaning of poetry making the karuta scenes very exciting to watch. These scenes are complimented by smooth and thrilling visuals, as well as sound effects and music, that really engage the viewer. For example, the intriguing sounds of the players skimming their hands over the cards to knock them to the sides or the interesting camera angles used to build suspense as the cards glide through the air. You'll be at the edge of your seat for a lot of the anime, especially during the intense karuta matches.
Chihayafuru has a great selection of music that really help to set the mood and engage the viewer throughout the anime. The background music is of high quality as well as the opening and credits. The music during the opening I've noticed really excites and energizes the viewer before it even begins, it does a great job at setting the atmosphere at the beginning. At the end of the anime, the credits have the opposite effect relaxing the viewer after all the intensity Chihayafuru has to offer. The art style is very appealing featuring a mostly bright and warm colour pallet with a large emphasis on floral patterns. The anime also does well in giving each character very individualistic and easy to identify character designs without making it off-putting. The animation is very smooth and enjoyable for the most part, but in a few episode I did notice a slight drop in the quality. In terms of visuals, this may have been the weakest feature, but I would still consider the animation quality very good so I wouldn't worry about it having a negative or noticeable effect on how you enjoy the anime.
In my opinion, the thing Chihayafuru does best is keeping the viewer interested throughout the 25 episodes. The anime rarely had a boring moment from start to finish and really keeps the viewer wanting more the whole way through. The concept and story of the anime is quite simple but at the same time can be a bit moving and really unexpected. Chihayafuru isn't a one dimensional anime and is actually full of twists and turns while still remaining in essence, simple.
The anime does have a second season and an ongoing manga series so you shouldn't expect everything to be finalized in the last few episodes, but I can still safely say the ending of the first season was satisfying and you won’t hesitate to watch the next. Overall Chihayafuru was a very well done and exciting anime built around an unexpected sport that surprisingly works wonderfully. There really isn't much to dislike about Chihayafuru and watching it is quite refreshing while still remaining simple and very engaging. To anyone who found anything I mentioned about this anime even the least bit interesting I recommend you don't get put off by the idea of an anime based on a sport you may have ever heard of and give Chihayafuru a try.
MotherOfUltra
This is my very first review, and I'm glad to give my first time to this anime...wait what? I first started watching this because I was bored. I just thought the art was okay (looking at the poster) and so started this five whole days ago. Pretty long time ago huh. Well then, all jokes aside, let's start the review. Overall-10: I haven't had such a beautiful anime for as long as I had started watching anime. The mix of the beauty of karuta, enjoyment of life, perfect sound, smart character selection...this anime was a new experience on my part. At first I was worried on whether Iwas going to enjoy this anime, but I decided to watch it, since I had nothing else to do--as a time killer. Who'd have thought that an anime I selected at random was a time mass murderer, and not a simple enjoyment!
Well, then, let's go part by part.
Story-10: Karuta--I have not seen any anime with such a traditional theme before. Even more, this kind of theme is something anime writers avoid because of the lacking interests in people. However, despite that, this anime was able to draw the viewers into it via tackle of current issues. The blend-in of the issues and the main genre, moreover, was unbelievably coherent that I wasn't caring if Karuta was an inexplicably old game. The author did an amazing job of drawing people into the art of karuta. However, the author did not only focus on other "more immediate issues" either. The story's pace was steadily growing on the main theme of karuta and by the end of the episode, I was very absorbed into the game of karuta that I had my eyes stuck on the monitor, waiting for the next move. The author's unbelievably clean and beautiful job made chihayafuru not your everyday "filler anime" but a masterpiece.
Art-10: As I said before the start of the review, the art is what really drew me into this anime. At a glance of the poster, I couldn't tell the beauty of it, but when I actually saw the anime, I was surprised at the delicacy of the anime. Unlike other anime where "moeness" is a great factor, this anime had a very decent body curve and a very "traditional" style of art. It did have some points where the face appeared more simplified than usual, intending the moe factor to be a part of the art, but that was really intended for comedy rather than "cuteness overload". If, for example, sword art online is cute, chihayafuru is beautiful. It was as if the artist has spent few hours per every 1080 pages.
Sound-10: The music was kicked in at an appropriate time and was stopped at appropriate time, building tension and relieving them continuously. The opening and the endings were not just a fun-themed song but also a river-like, flowing type of music. These added to the traditional theme of karuta, adding up to the beauty of the 100 Japanese poems.
However, the most notable sound in this anime was the sound of the readers.
Reading a poem is very different from reading a poem in 100 poems. They need to be pitched right, stopped right and started right. The poem must not end in a loud pitch--it must fade out like the sun during sunset. The poem must not tremble too much, but it mustn't be in unison either.
In other words, reading in karuta is harder than playing karuta.
Despite the constant banging of the straw mat, despite the interesting turn of event, despite the heat, the coldness, the itchy feeling, flowing sweat, readers must keep their composure and read the poems the right way. These are very hard to achieve. It's a natural thing that there're not much readers. However, this anime was able to deliver that right pitch through vibrations of ear buds. It was able to connect to the audience few thousand kilometers away. The sound is undoubtedly a masterpiece's.
Character-10: Chihaya is a very boyish girl. Her pace is very straightforward yet she's a lovely girl towards her family, especially her sister. She grows as a person as the story goes by, from your average tomboy to a determined adult. The development and the selection of the character was a very smart one, and for that I give 10.
Enjoyment-10: Besides the slapstick comedies in between, the anime made me smile in those heart-throbbing moments. If comedy-genre anime is just a pure fun, chihayafuru is a fun in life. We all have downs and ups, but the downs are what makes ups more fun and enjoyable. The ability to deliver such an enjoyment--not a pure comedy, but a natural fun--is an ability the authors spend their entire life for. I give my bow to the wonderful writers of this anime.
WildNeptune
Chihayafuru is an under the radar type anime that I'm pretty sure a lot of people simply passed over. After all, it's about a group of high school students playing a card game called Karuta. What is that you ask? Well, to put simply it is a game where you memorize poems on each card try to swipe them up before your opponent as each card is read. I'm sure you really want to watch this right now Okay, in case that riveting introduction didn't get you pumped for this show you should know that karuta is simply the gateway for everything else. Everything in Chihayafurujust screams passion. You can tell that every character really wants whatever they are aiming for.
The cast is incredible. While it arguably does not have a huge stand out, all of them seem very real and well thought out. You can feel each characters dreams, hopes, and passion in everything they do. Especially Chihaya's and Taichi's. Each character experiences significant growth, and it's especially great how it seems like you're always in their heads it helps you relate to each character.
Because of the connection you'll get with the characters you'll find your emotions going all over the place during episodes. Karuta matches, something that might be incredibly boring under normal circumstances, suddenly become prime time entertainment. If clannad pulled on your heart, and Penquindrum messed with your mind... then Chihayafuru will capture your soul.
Now, as I'm sure a lot of you are aware the anime ended in an incomplete state (the manga is still ongoing after all). So if you want a sense of complete closure at the end you'll be disappointed. However, if you can look past this, you'll more likely than not really enjoy this show.
Cryptic-senpai
Let's be honest: I'm not really a fan of sports anime. Or anything that revolves around sports. More to the point, I'm just not a very competitive person, physically. Give me an essay topic and I'll try my darn hardest to prove I can write better than my opponent. Give me some math questions, and I'll melt my brain from the stress of making sure I don't make a single error. When it comes to brain games, I am a perfectionist. But the moment I felt pressured to be better than my fellow ballet classmates, my inspiration and desire to go further trickled away andvanished. The moment I understood that my tae kwon do classes weren't just for recreation, they were for competing with my other colleagues, I just completely lost interest. It is not my forte, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. That's why I so very much wanted Chihayafuru to prove me wrong – to show me that sports anime can be just as good and captivating as any other despite my lack of interest in the subject. The show certainly started off with a bang.
The main character, Chihaya, is in high school. A meeting with a former elementary school classmate of hers prompts a flashback that extends across several episodes, detailing her previous history with this classmate and, more specifically, the start of Chihaya's passion for an unusual sport – karuta. Karuta not only requires physical prowess, it also requires you to use your brain, constantly: the basis of the game is the memorization of one hundred poems. Only fifty of these are used in any one game. The cards that are used by the players in karuta contain the second verse of the poem. To put it in a nutshell, a reader recites the first verse of a particular poem. You grab the card that has the second verse of that poem. It sounds simple, and in a way it is, but it takes a lot of training to become good at karuta.
I suppose you can guess why even I wondered if I would want to play karuta – the mental aspect interested me. Not only that, but I was taken in by the way the anime showcased Chihaya's love for karuta. In addition, I also liked that it touched upon different forms of love for the same hobby and passion: one of Chihaya's high school classmates is a girl named Kanade, who adores karuta, not because she is particularly competitive, but because she likes the poems, and the history and meaning behind each and every one. The variety and carefulness with which the anime presented its theme held my attention. I definitely found myself liking the characters, and by episode eight, I found myself cheering them on. Even the card game matches were exciting. I was nervous, hoping one of the main characters would win, hoping that things would go well.
But things started going downhill when I realized that, by episode twenty, I knew pretty much nothing about any of the characters. Let’s start off with Chihaya, the titular main character. She is obsessed with karuta. Part of this is arguably because it was the first hobby she actually started to like. As a child, her only dream was to see her older sister become a famous model, but a chance meeting in elementary school with a boy named Arata sparked her passion. Seeing how good Arata was, Chihaya wanted to be as good as him, perhaps even surpass him. Arata himself is a bit of a mixed bag. He is characterized as a stoic young man who has a similar passion for karuta, although he hasn’t been playing as much as he used to due to a tragedy in his family. Taichi is Chihaya’s childhood friend, and in elementary school, he used to bully Arata, but has since then formed a grudging respect for him. Then there is Kanade, a female classmate Chihaya and Taichi meet in high school, along with Nishida. I’ve already mentioned Kanade, and Nishida is an overweight boy who, similar to Chihaya and Arata, has a love for karuta.
“But senpai, you told me so much about those characters!” Yes, but did you notice that I didn’t include much of their personality traits? That is because they don’t have a lot. They feel bland and, ultimately, uninteresting, which is a huge problem in an anime that is more character-driven than plot-driven. The anime definitely does not spend much time fleshing out its characters. Some interesting sub-plots that were brought up at first – such as Chihaya’s awkwardness and inability to talk to her parents about her hobby – are ultimately cast aside later on as if they never existed. I would have liked to see Chihaya opening up about her passion, especially since she is supposedly so good at karuta and is progressing in all these championships and matches. What do her parents feel about her going on so many trips to play karuta? What about her sister? We’re not privy to any of that. Similarly, we don’t know anything about Taichi or Nishida’s familial life. Arata seems to live on his own, and the only thing we know about Kanade is that her mother supports her, if only because she is present at some of the karuta matches later on.
What is more, is that the love plot feels artificial. Watching the first episode, you can probably guess pretty quickly that Taichi has a crush on Chihaya. That actually develops a bit throughout the series, since by the last couple episodes, Taichi admits this to himself. Chihaya, on the other hand, has a long-standing crush on Arata. The problem is that there doesn’t seem much of a reason for her to have this crush. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all for unrequited romances, and to some extent I can sort of understand her idealization of Arata. But, it sort of loses steam when she emails him and texts him, and he never replies. Not even when he actually sees the emails. There is one scene where he asks Taichi to give Chihaya his cell phone number, to which Taichi responds that he should do it himself. But we don’t know anything about what happens after that scene. We don’t know how Chihaya got Arata’s phone number. The scene just sort of ends and progresses on to the next one. To put it simply, Arata shows pretty much zero signs of being interested in Chihaya. In fact, he has a closer relationship with Taichi than anything else. I’m honestly guessing that the second season will reveal that he has a crush on him.
Back to karuta, though, since that is the main shtick of this anime: the matches, at first, are interesting. However, later on, they get rather repetitive and predictable. You could argue that in a game consisting of two players battling one another, there are only two possible outcomes, but you could still make it more interesting. Chihaya is supposed to be a good player, but she is always so amazed and taken aback by her opponents that I wonder where all these good players were. Why were they hiding in the woodwork? Taichi’s matches were overall more interesting than Chihaya, mainly because he tends to keep his cool and focus on the match, unlike the main female protagonist.
Another thing that I take contention with is that Chihaya is in group A, the rank that composes the best players in karuta. We are told early on that it is very difficult to get into group A. Chihaya then gets into group A. She must be a really good player, right? Maybe, but we don’t see much of it. She commits so many faults, makes so many mistakes, and loses so many rank A matches that I find it hard to believe she could even obtain A rank in the first place. Maybe the point is to show that she is talented at karuta. That is fine and dandy, but if you tell me a character is good at karuta and then show them being completely flabbergasted later on, you are not doing a very good job of convincing me that they are worthy of being in the group with the best players. Taichi and Nishida are far more believable A rank material.
Arguably, the thing I liked the most about Chihayafuru is its focus on different ways you can enjoy karuta, and finding your own reasons to be passionate about it. These aspects are applied to karuta, and other sports by extension, but they certainly don't need to be. They can also apply to a whole lot of other things, such as hobbies, school, and, really, anything else you need or want to focus on. That was something I thought was really interesting, and it was a nice theme throughout the show as a whole.
Chihayafuru’s OST is nothing to really write home about; it’s there, and it works when it needs to, but I didn’t find myself looking up the soundtrack to listen to them again. The opening theme is YOUTHFUL, performed by 99RadioService; like the band name, it’s a serviceable OP, but not completely my cup of tea. I liked the ending theme a lot more – a song called Soshite Ima by Asami Seto. The seiyuu for the most part do a good job. I couldn’t really discern any voices I liked in particular, although I certainly recognized some of the voice actors and actresses.
The art and animation is really where the show shines; Madhouse always does a good job, and Chihayafuru is no exception. The colours are bright, the character designs are very likable, and the animation is fluid. There are occasions where CGI is used, but it is never jarring or distracting, and fits in well for the most part.
Overall, Chihayafuru starts out very well, but ultimately loses steam in the long run. I can’t say whether or not it’s a good sports anime as a whole, since I don’t watch many at all, but I certainly enjoyed it as long as it managed to be engaging for me. In the end, I’m not certain I would recommend it to those who want to try the genre out, so I’ll leave that to people more knowledgeable in other sports-oriented titles. It was good while it lasted and would have definitely benefited from tighter and more consistent storytelling, in my opinion.
TheLlama
As the two seasons present themselves much as a continuous series, with little to set them apart, this review is made and posted for both seasons of the series. If there is one word that describes Chihayafuru, it is "passion" - indeed, "Chihaya furu" means passionate. On the surface there is little that separates it from typical sports anime, from the focus on the team and team spirit to rivalries to tournament story arcs where you're typically served the main characters' opponents' motivations and reasons for participating in this sport. Through tears and joy we follow the main characters' journey through the world of this sport,and Chihayafuru very much follows this trend. As for the sport in question, the series focuses on a rather obscure (at least to a Western audience) card game known as karuta, where one has 25 cards with the first verse of poems on either side of the field, and as a reader reads the second verse of one of those poems, you have to remove the corresponding first-verse card from the playing field. The first to empty their side (25 cards) wins the game. A very coarse explanation but that's the gist of it.
While it follows many of the traditional recipes for the sports genre, they are pulled off quite well in Chihayafuru, alleviating many of the issues doing so can present. It does in no way lift it off the ground and up to stardom, and if you are not a fan of sports anime to begin with, chances are you won't find Chihayafuru that very interesting. For the sports anime fan however, Chihayafuru offers a loveable and passionate experience, with some twists and differences. I already mentioned "passion" as a way to describe the series, and this is one of the aspects that sets it apart. From the at times striking visual and auditory imagery used - it is poetry after all - to the many ways of love for the sport that are presented, Chihayafuru delves deep into a world of passion, and while at times it seems a little too alien or cheesy how much of it the characters have for a single thing, it can also draw the viewer in and afflict them with a desire to do something they love, which is, at heart, what the sports anime genre is all about: Communicating passion and love for something.
Another thing that sets Chihayafuru apart is that unlike most sports anime, which are made to appeal more to a shonen audience, it leans more towards the shojo genre, evident in its at times flowery animation and colour palette, and more significantly, in its larger focus on emotion and romance. It forgoes some of the most intense focus other sports series has on the game itself and rather focuses on the inner world of the characters and their emotions - the full spectrum of it, not just the "I want to win"/"This is my motivation!" portions that you are often limited to. Often you see characters cry significantly, in joy or sadness, in defeat and victory. The series also builds up a solid love triangle between the main characters, without really forcing its and in its treatment, as well as adding these feelings and moments of love to the secondary characters. Of course, with a large cast it's a near-inescapable fact that some side characters are more bland than others, relying mostly on a singular trait or two to provide comic relief or interaction, but for the characters that matter there are for the most part many layers and aspects presented - and developed - in an intriguing manner.
Aesthetically Chihayafuru is stunning. The soundtrack builds up around the atmosphere very well, from the heart-warming to the bittersweet, from the passionate to the suspenseful. It applies a rich orchestral instrumentation that fits very well with the oft-poetic art and animation. Meticulous attention has been paid to the quality of the card reading, and listening to the voice actors' performance in this regard is absolutely fantastic, especially for the most skilled readers in the series. Visually it frequently applies imagery as befitting of a series focusing on a game of poetry: The voice of a reader like sakura petals, the flow of a match like that of water, the flowery feeling of romance; such feelings are expressed visually and beautifully, though, as can be expected, some come across as more cheesy than others, but for the most part it is a boon rather than a detraction.
When all comes to all, Chihayafuru definitely isn't a series for everyone. Karuta can come across as boring, the emotional layer as sappy or over the top to many sports anime fans, and for those who do not have a taste for sports anime in the first place, the story and the series' focus can seem unappealing. To me, personally, the series is a heart-warming and moving story that spreads a lovely feeling of passion, filled with lovely aesthetic value and likeable characters. It very often brings a smile to my face, not necessarily because it is outright funny and makes me laugh, but because it warms me up on the inside. At times cheesy, yes, but far from such a degree it spoils the series. It presents a lovely and different sports anime that quickly has earned a spot as one of my favourite series.
nishfx
When I think about Madhouse, I think about high-quality realizations of foolproof story concepts involving a somewhat guaranteed economic success. Chihayafuru, a series about a bunch of high-schoolers trying to achieve their dreams in becoming the best of the best in a sports called Karuta, represents a fitting example of this project selection pattern. Chihayafuru is a charming, highly likable and somewhat mind-opening anime providing for a high level of entertainment, in which I found myself immersed very rapidly. As you maybe already know, when producing a sports-related series, it often doesn't really matter what kind of sports is chosen as long as the atmosphere worksout well in making you like the sports. Competitive Karuta, as a rather unknown but highly demanding sports, carries this to extremes. By choosing a card game with motoric elements, thus combining mind-related and physical areas of personal development, the foundation was laid for a highly engaging experience to which almost any sportsman can relate in some way.
And that is why Chihayafuru is successful. The new sports that most of the viewers don't know anything about represents a highly mysterious component in the series, compensating for the actually not only highly predictable, but also monotonous story that lacks in innovativeness. I could name several other sports-related series, which are plot-wise structured almost exactly the same as Chihayafuru, but all of them were well received. For a successful sports series, there is no need to incorporate sudden plot-twists and ingeniously convoluted plotlines. All you need is an intense atmosphere, a goal, and some likable and highly ambitious characters going all-out. This is what you find in Chihayafuru as well.
The characters are not only likable, but also unique with only minor overlaps in their personalities. The five main characters are supposed to appeal to the audience, which leads to them turning out somewhat stereotypical. In general, there are two major flaws that cannot be overlooked. First, to enhance the aspect of perceived ambition, the main characters lack authenticity and personality consistency. They regard the same issue very differently from time to time and act highly unnatural, only to promote the story and preventing it from losing focus. Second, they lack depth. Although you find the main characters musing about how to becoming stronger with a high degree of reflection, they seem to not have anything in their minds besides Karuta and their mutual bonds, and that fact makes them appear more as story-driving tools than vivid, holistically conceptualized characters. But this is also the reason why they can be said to fit very well to the simple and straightforward story.
In terms of audio-visual execution, the production quality should have been higher if it was intended to overcome current standards (as of 2012). Ultimately, it turned out to be a well-produced show, and that's it. The opening manages to set the energetic and positive mood extremely well and provides for an outstanding audio-visual fit, whereas the fit of the rather melancholic ending is debatable. The seiyuu were appropriately chosen and don't stand out in a negative way. Remarkable are some of the sound effects used in Chihayafuru, which add to the immersive experience that is created especially during tournaments. The visuals fit the standard but don't give much of an outstanding impression. A positive factor is the high consistency in visual execution and its underlying arts style.
With Chihayafuru, you get to see an anime that adheres to the norm in sports-related series, but not surprisingly delivers a highly engaging ride through the world of competitive Karuta with a set of ambitious and likable characters. It features a positive and energetic atmosphere and does very well in generating excitement despite the predictability and monotonous nature of its story. Chihayafuru can be recommended for everyone who likes shounen and seinen, shoujo and josei, as well as sports in general.
Rating: 7.64/10
(A quantified evaluation can be found on my page.)
tetsu3
I didn't have high expectations when I first read the description of the show. However, I got hooked on the first episode and the rest of the season didn't disappoint. Story (10/10): Most series fall flat in the storyline for three reasons: 1) An uninteresting beginning discourages viewers from continuing the series. 2) The story line is inconsistent. 3) The story doesn't reveal enough, or it reveals too much. Chihayafuru, however, does it right and in an unexpected way. The story begins with several flashback episodes that help viewers understand and connect with the main characters. The plot itself is expected; after all, the series isabout competitive karuta, so it makes sense that the plot will center around the competitions. The series is consistently good, with good writing and just enough humor to lighten the mood but not too much to make the show look goofy. The most intense scenes in the series will make your heart race, and the sweet scenes will put a smile on your face.
Art (10/10): Chihayafuru's art is beautiful and elegant. In a lot of animes, the characters all seem to have a basic face structure (ahem, *Sword Art Online*), thus making them unmemorable. But Chihayafuru's characters don't fall into this category; it's obvious to those who watch that the show's artists spent time on making characters their own persons. The scenery is also very pretty, though typical of most shoujo anime/manga.
Character (20+/10): This category is where Chihayafuru really excels. It's really enjoyable to see the main cast develop and mature over the course of the series. The writers also used the supporting characters well, and I particularly found Harada Sensei to be one of the best supporting characters in the show.
If there's a fault with the characters in the show, most people would probably point a finger at the protagonist, Chihaya. At first glance she seems like a cliche--pretty, but not too smart, oblivious to love, and often single-minded. But her interactions with the others makes her likable, and she has depth. She never fails to surprise you.
Overall: This was probably one of the most underrated shows of 2012. Or possibly ever. I couldn't find it on any list of Best Animes of 2012. So this series may be one of those where you either don't understand it, or you love it. It's worth watching to find out.
CoolCat0615
Chihayafuru is a very unique show in premise but not so much in execution. It centers around a traditional Japanese card game called karuta and the aspirations of a girl named Chihaya set to become the best player in Japan (and therefore the world) alongside her friends. Karuta is a one-on-one card game in which players must try to touch cards inscribed with poems as the corresponding poems are read faster than their opponent. The game is explained very thoroughly early on, and while the concept may seem rather dull the show does a great job on making it interesting. Chihayafuru opens on a few flashback episodesto set the stage in elementary school as Chihaya learns about and grows a dedication to karuta, all while forming a love triangle with child prodigy Arata and childhood friend Taichi. This love triangle is probably the most interesting character dynamic in the show but sadly it's treated as background decoration due to Arata's overall absence and lack of screen-time. Eventually Chihaya and Taichi form their own team at Mizusawa Highschool with three others who all have some entertaining personalities on their own (the lady-like Oe is a favourite of mine).
However, despite their charm they don't really have much chemistry between each other overall. Everyone develops nicely and you can feel them grow closer as a group, but I can't describe any two characters' relationship any differently than any others'. In season two an additional two players are added to the team, but they are quickly sidelined and don't get much focus at all, which is a shame because they actually had some distinct dynamics with a few of the other characters.
As a group though, the cast does feel like a bunch friends who would genuinely spend their time together, which is something a lot of anime tend to miss. Watching them all grow to love karuta more and more as the series progresses is a spectacle alone. Chihaya herself is a very charismatic character with an unparalleled drive to better herself at the game, and her passion makes her lovable despite her clueless nature. This passion can occasionally steer the show towards melodrama, (never to the point of being overbearing however) but there are some very intriguing inner conflicts within the players. Taichi's constant second-guessing of his worth as a karuta player is as emotionally engaging as it is realistic, and it will surely resonate with many (especially athletes).
Most of the matches (it is a sports anime after-all) revolve around the players' psychology rather than strategies. Since karuta is a game centered around reaction time, if a player feels outclassed, overwhelmed, or simply out of their element, their game will be thrown off considerably. This emphasis on attitude can sometimes get a little repetitive as characters go through nearly identical trains of thought match-after-match but most of the time the individual matches are very entertaining. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the team matches. Because there are five separate games happening simultaneously there is a general lack of focus and tension, which become very tiresome when the games overstay there welcome. And trust me, they do, especially in the second season.
While they are quite engaging during the show, most games in Chihayafuru are forgettable in the long-term. This is because everyone besides the Mizusawa team is very bland and one-dimensional. There are a few fun standouts like Sudo the sadist but a strong personality can't maintain a conflict on its own. A good antagonist has to challenge the protagonist's physical and mental weakness, and sadly nobody gets the focus to do so aside from Shinobu Wakamiya. She acts as a very good foil for Chihaya to overcome, as the two have similar interests (sharing an obsession with children's merchandise and karuta) but she is much more aggressive and cold and completely outclasses her upon their first meeting.
Sadly, the two never get a chance to face off on equal ground, as a certain plot-point near the end makes it nearly impossible for Chihaya to play properly. It is a very sour note to end the series on, and while there is a possibility of a season three, Chihayafuru could become another unfinished Madhouse production.
In terms of aesthetic there isn't much to talk about. Yes the motions are always fluent but the show's art style is that of a standard josei, which isn't a bad thing but it isn't a good thing either. Some dynamic shots could've really helped make the show stand out. I'm not too keen on the colour palette either, as everything appears to glow, much like the fluorescence of pale skin. There are a few interesting visual metaphors however, much akin to Kaiji but on a less frequent basis. Arata's prowess flooding the area with water is definitely a visual highlight.
The audio department is pretty typical as well. The music is quite underwhelming, and there is one song that almost queues melodrama whenever it plays. On the plus side, Asami Seto did a great job accentuating Chihaya's quirkiness and disoriented personality through her stellar voice acting, and the sound effects are pleasant to the ears as well. The smacks of hands on tatami mats sound thoroughly striking, which really emphasizes how dedicated karuta players are to their craft.
Overall Chihayafuru is a fine watch and while personally I am indifferent to it, there is value to be had. I would recommend Chihayafuru if you would like something simple but unique and don't care about being on the edge of your seat ninety percent of the time. It's clear that the show's target audience is housewives longing for cultural nostalgia, so I suppose garnering the attention of other demographics is almost an achievement of its own. Will it be heralded in ten years as a masterpiece? Likely not, but Chihayafuru is a series that deserves to be completed.
Kyuutoryuu
Chihayafuru is, on the surface, a Josei anime about an obscure Japanese card game called Karuta. However, it would be a disservice to the anime to simply describe Chihayafuru in that way to anyone. It is so much more. Most if not all of those who watch Chihayafuru will have no idea what the heck Karuta is, even Japanese viewers! Yet, Chihayafuru makes it known right from the start that this will not be a roadblock to our enjoyment. In fact, the centralization around a niche game is precisely what makes Chihayafuru so captivating. Through the competitive nature of Karuta and the degree at whichthe characters compete, we as viewers cannot help but become interested. Chihayafuru does a splendid job at portraying Karuta to be just as exciting as, if not more exciting than mainstream sports. It has the one crucial element: its mechanics are easy to understand, but the room for improvement is vast. There truly is more than meets the eye with Karuta (and symbolically, Chihayafuru as an anime). How could a game that has gone completely under your radar, be so profoundly enthralling?
That very thought is shared throughout every single last character. You don't realize it in the beginning, but your own growing interest in Karuta is mirrored by that of the characters. Chihaya, the heroine, is initially aware that Karuta exists but has never bothered to think of it as more than a casual card game. Then comes Arata, aspiring Meijin ("Master") of Karuta. He shows Chihaya, as well as us, just how many tiers there are to Karuta; it truly is no casual game. The better the players, the faster the game is played and the less mistakes are made. It's truly captivating to watch Arata, whose life passion is to become the Meijin, be so super good at something. Chihaya felt the same way from watching him, and upon entering high school, she made it her mission to share her love for Karuta with others, as Arata had done for her.
Her Karuta club did not set sail without bumps. Initially, it was hard to convince even her closest friend Mashima to join the club. However, every time they played, a thought like "Why is she trying so hard?," or "What's keeping me from beating her?" would pop into his head. Mashima finally joins the club, seeking the answers to those questions. Perhaps this is Chihayafuru's defining quality. It shows that your interest in something can grow just out of a want to get better at something or be passionate about something. As long as there's something in life that makes you go, it really doesn't matter what it is. Karuta was this spark in Mashima's life; something to which he could devote himself. The subsequent members were just as reluctant to join, to say the least, but like Mashima, could not help but wonder, once they joined, what it was about Karuta that was so exciting.
As the Karuta club worked together as a team by practicing together and participating in tournaments, we see the core theme of hard work being explored. Nobody gave this incipient team from Miyazawa High School a chance; they did not have enough "talent." Indeed, most of the club members were not Karuta players since childhood; and yet, that's exactly the element that allowed their hard work to truly shine. Working tirelessly every day to perfect their skills, everyone from Ayase down to Kana made great strides. They were even able to upset another high school in a tournament, before losing in a later round. Their first big win in tournament was a defining moment in Chihayafuru; it proved that hard work and dedication can achieve greatness. Life is not about talent. It is about passion.
One aspect of Chihayafuru that deserves particular mention is its soundtrack. The OSTs cover a wide array of emotion, spanning from triumph to failure, from sadness to ecstasy, from cheerfulness to seriousness. Chihayafuru truly is an emotional ride at times, and the soundtrack does wonders in reciprocating the characters' emotions to us. The opening and ending are done masterfully; every episode is sandwiched by a happy opening and a sad ending. This juxtaposition perhaps represents Karuta itself; though people like Ayase play it because of how fun it is, the game could also bring pain through losing. It is this mix of emotion Karuta possesses, so thoroughly represented by the soundtrack, that is what makes it and Chihayafuru wonderful.
Now, to avid watchers of anime, one may be concerned about the "sports drama" aspect of the anime. Thankfully, one does not have to worry about this with Chihayafuru. Though cards fly around and actions are sometimes rendered in slow-motion, the most important aspect of the matches are actually done accurately: the players' speed. Seriously, professional Karuta players really DO take cards that quickly (look on YouTube). I was shocked to find that the anime did not dramatize the speed. Knowing that this realistic element of Karuta was portrayed faithfully made Chihayafuru have an authentic feel to it, which makes its messages and themes all the more impactful.
Chihayafuru is about developing a passion, perseverance in the face of failure, and the inevitable rewards of hard work. If the thought of Josei and "some card game called Karuta" turn you off from watching Chihayafuru, don't let it. You'll be pleasantly surprised; Chihayafuru has a meaningful story to tell, and it does it in a way you didn't even know you would enjoy. When watching Chihayafuru, you just won't be able to help but smile.
thedarkstalker
Chihayafuru Roughly 2 years back a female friend of mine urged me to watch a certain anime, but as I was busy in my own shit at the moment, I just took the recommendation, downloaded the series and that's it. Then came along it's second season, I thought - "Will start it after second season gets complete, maybe" and yes, I forgot again. 5 days ago, browsing through my collection I stumbled upon this title once again, this time I'm happy I chose to pick it up. Sometime the hype is right. The plot is generic, in fact so generic, that this is probably the biggest reasonwhy I felt hesitant to pick it up two times before. But the tags "Sports", "Josei" kinda piqued my interest. It's been almost 6 days since I fell in love with this series, thinking back now I feel sorry for not picking it up earlier. In layman terms, it's a story about various people coming together and working hard to achieve their respective dreams. Let's see what are the things that makes "Chihayafuru" unique among various other titles with similar plots.
Game: - "Karuta" - A traditional Japanese card game. This game had been mentioned in some of the other anime, but I always took it as some Japanese version of playing cards, not to mention one can't really think of it as a sport of hard work, mental & physical abilities and passion, much like how we view Football, Baseball, etc. But this anime will make you think twice about that prejudice. Instead of dwelling into the details of karuta, I leave that part for the anime since it does a great job in explaining all the rules and procedures quite well over the episodes. But let's just be clear about few things, karuta is a game that can be played in many ways and each style have it's own set of rules. However, In this anime the karuta we see is "Competitive karuta". When you think of a sport, you also think about the players, here the various stages of a player learning and playing the game has been covered quite extensively, let's devise an example from anime -----
In terms of player levels (not official, but just to make the explanation easier) -
1. Noob class - Beginners who have just started playing the game. It provides a good opportunity for audience to learn the game with them and also to witness their evolution from the start. Ex - Kana.
2. Middle class - They have played and still playing the game from a long time. They are strong but are still inconsistent as players. They serve as a good measuring stick between beginners and very good players. Ex - Taichi.
3. First class - These players have refined their play over years of practice, both shining their skill and talent. Just having one of them in your team gives you mental assurance and having one against gives you the scare. Ex - Chihaya.
4. Monster Class - These players have dedicated their whole life for the game. Their mere presence is enough to intimidate their opponent. They have honed their skill and talent as close to perfection. A match between two such players is something to look out for. Ex - Arata.
5. God Class - Their level of play exists on a different plane of it's own kind. Very few people have managed to reach that level, even among monster class, not many can even dream to reach it. Ex - Queen and Master.
In this way, the viewer is able to briefly understand the players and follow their evolution over time. Also, even among the same class, the individual player's game attitude (offensive/defensive), techniques and fortitude can put one miles ahead than the other. Anime explores each aspect of it very well, as a sports anime it brings out the best of karuta.
Characters:- While story can be quoted as the bone structure, characters are the muscles and flesh, more so in series like this. It is also the part where this anime excels the most. First, we have Chihaya, a high school freshman, pretty, tall and the younger sister of a famous model, but she's also an airhead, simple-minded, dumb and weird person - often referred to as "Beauty in vain" or "karuta baka" (since all her thoughts seems to be centered around karuta only). Even though Chihaya's character comes out as a typical airhead stereotype at first, she has more to her than that. As the story progresses we bear witness of the changes and the events that leads to those changes in Chihaya's personality. Also, regardless of what idiotic things Chihaya does, one can't really help him/herself from feeling admiration towards her passion for the sport. Second, Arata, belongs to a lower middle-class family, average-looking, grandson of the man respected as the "Eternal Master" (Master, Title granted to the best male player), in the world of karuta. His love for karuta comes from his grandfather who also taught him how to play as a kid. Arata is an honest, straight-forward and kind person, though he can look extremely scary in the eyes of his opponent. He's the one who introduced Chihaya to the world of kaurta when they were kids and also the one who gave her the dream of becoming the "Queen" (Title granted to the best female karuta player in Japan) one day. He moves away shortly after befriending Chihaya and Taichi due to family reasons. Since Arata doesn't get enough screen-time in both the seasons, it's pointless to talk about his character development. Third, Taichi, high school freshman like Chihaya, handsome, first in academics, belongs to a rich family and basically a "Jack of all trades" but Taichi doesn't think of himself as privileged. He's also the third member of Chihaya and Arata's team when they played karuta as kids. "You are a good student and good athlete, so only do things where you know you can win" - Because of this constant reminder by his mom, Taichi has developed a complex towards things which he isn't good at. This is also one of the reasons why Taichi doesn't like Arata, he thinks he can't beat him no matter how much he practice and that Arata will always be better than him. Ironically, the most brilliant character development also came out in the form of Taichi. He breaks away all the stereotypes over the length of the anime and comes out as the most dynamic personality in the whole series.
The Dreams:- Arata wants to become the Master, Chihaya wants to become the Queen. Having a dream and then trying hard to achieve it is such a wonderful thing, but then what is Taichi's dream? In the beginning even he didn't knew it himself. He seemed to be playing along because it was fun and later, because he wanted to help out Chihaya in fulfilling her dream, he wanted to support her as a friend and as someone who loves her. But as Arata once said - "Your dream should be about yourself", Taichi too begins to realize the meaning of these words through various experiences and people he meets. Also, what's more interesting than watching two people working hard to realize their dreams? It's to witness the voyage of a person who is still having a hard time struggling with his emotions, self-hatred, self-loathing and limitations, in order to search for a dream first, a dream that's only about himself. I have this feeling that Taichi will come out as the dark horse.
Side - Characters:- When I said that - "It is also the part where this anime excels the most" for character department, that also included my views about side-characters. Chihayafuru has wonderful side-cast. Unique personalities, character designs and their thoughts make them stand out and prevent them from suffering the same fate as many side-characters do in most of the stories. They enjoy, suffer, evolve alongside our main cast in a way that the viewer ends up connecting and be concerned for them. We as viewers starts to feel as if their story is equally important to tell, and undoubtedly it is. For ex - There was this match between two side-characters, and it ended up hogging more limelight than the match of a MC which is taking place simultaneously.
Both side cast and main cast, they may not necessarily be what people call "lovable characters", since you may or may not like some of the things they do, but you'll feel your own emotions resonating with them regardless. That's a very important aspect which all entertainment mediums aspire to attain. Emotional and intellectual involvement is directly proportional to one's enjoyment, though the level of that involvement vary from person to person.
Romance:- Though the show is mostly focused on players' hard work and passion towards the sport, and the love of friendship, romance among characters has been introduced and explored briefly, but in the background. It doesn't try to take over the story, it's been hinted upon at appropriate places, which in turn, also makes the relationships among characters to come out naturally. It wouldn't be a spoiler to say that there's a love triangle among our MC's and a love polygon (if we also include side-cast). But people who are hoping to see brief amount of romance, I must warn you before hand that it'll not happen. Anime only gives very little (yet strong) moments dedicated towards it. Some people might even find the whole triangle situation to be frustrating, more so if they watch it with only one set of mind and without putting themselves in each character's shoes. It is a josei anime, anything can happen as far as romantic relations are concerned. *coughs in* Nana, Honey and clover *coughs out*. Viewer discretion is advised.
Art & Animation:- "Chihaya is cute!", that was my first impression about the series. LOL. Art-wise the show is quite good, the beautiful patterns on hakamas, the level of details that adds up to the charm , use of vibrant colors. Madhouse has done "one fine job" with the animation, especially in the games department. The hand movements accompanied by the effect line and after-image blends quite well with the camera angles. Both Art & Animation adds up a lot to the whole passion and tension factor befitting a sports anime. I tried reading the manga till 5th chapter and stopped, it doesn't have the same "drive" that anime has because of the wonderful animation. Most likely, I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for a third season to come, I don't want to read it's manga if i can help it.
Music:- It doesn't stand out but it goes well with the flow of the story. Sound Effects, on the other hand stands out, like they are supposed to, and adds up to the scene as a whole. Chihaya's seiyuu, Asami Seto, has done a good job. Even though she has mostly done supporting roles, I believe she has a nice voice for a main cast. Taichi's seiyuu on the other hand is no no-namer, Mamoru Miyano (Light Yagami, Setsuna F. Seiei, Okabe Rintarou) and undoubtedly, he has done his thing correctly. What was shocking is to learn that Arata's seiyuu is a girl (though I absolutely loved the dialect), Yuka Terasaki.
I've also watched the second season, and if you ends up liking the first season, then you'll definitely like the second one too, since it follows the same exact pattern, just more karuta matches. Chihayafuru in all it's entirety, is a bittersweet experience and I have this very strong feeling that it'll also end on a bittersweet note. Regardless of however the mangaka choose to end the story, it will remain in my memory for a very brief amount of time. Strongly recommending it to all.
Some memorable quotes:-
1. "You have to do the things you don’t want to do, before you can do the things you truly want to do." - Tsutomu Komano to Ayase Chihaya
2. "Love is when it isn't fun to be with that person. It's when nothing goes the way you want. When you're not having fun...and yet...You still want to be with her." - Mashima Taichi
3. "I can't cry, not when I haven't put in the time. But it still hurts." -Mashima Taichi
4. "Frustrations will not last forever. Nobody can keep on going without some measure of reward." -Harada-sensei
5. "As long as you have a smile on your face, karuta will always be fun. That's the truth, Captain!" - Mashima Taichi to Ayase Chihaya
5. "My grandfather always used to tell me...you don't need game sense to play karuta, you just have to take cards faster than your opponent. It's difficult to achieve a similar level of game sense, but there are many different ways to become faster" - Wataya Arata. In response, "Arata...in your world, there's no such thing as a prodigy" - Mashima Taichi
AnimeFan500
I was drawn to this anime because it reminded me so much of Hikaru no Go.The game and characters of Chihafuru is so similar to Hikaru no GO. Chihayafuru is about a game called Karuta. The rules of this game is that the players must memorize the 100 hundred poems- which are written in cards. Setting the cards face down in a certain pattern. When the match starts, the announcer reads a poem verse and the players must knock that card out. The main character Chihaya Ayase who meets Wataya Arata( Karata Master XD) and is drawn in the world of Karata andwants to get the title of Queen so she can play Karata with Arata. Masami Taichi( friend of Chihaya) also plays Karata. Later in her high school year, she meets her close friend Masami Taichi again and they start a Karata club. Hikaru no Go fans will love this show!!!
Serendipity
“I hope they will fall in love with karuta. The way we did...” - Ayase Chihaya At face value, I don’t think I would have ever watched Chihayafuru. Revolving around a card game, karuta, and being a sports anime, the show naturally checked off two boxes that I try to avoid. Sparked by the novel curiosity of how a foreign sport could be brought to life by animation, I ended up watching the anime. It was one of the best whimsical decisions I’ve made, as my prejudice could not have been any more wrong – I loved this anime. Chihayafuru is an anime that revolves arounda simple premise that has been explored many times in the sports genre: friendship through sports. The viewer is introduced to Ayase Chihaya and her dream to reunite with her childhood friend, Wataya Arata, through karuta. She attempts to start a club at her high school, Miyuzawa High School, in order to improve her skills for the day she meets Arata again. While the story does not seem very sophisticated and the production values will not steal the show, Chihayafuru truly captures the ideals of the word ‘sport’ through its themes and diverse cast of characters introduced in the world of karuta.
“The more I learn about competitive karuta, the more magical it seems. Gender doesn’t matter. Size doesn’t matter. Intelligence and strength don’t matter. Age doesn’t matter. Every poem sends you back a thousand years. How many sports are capable of such a feat?” - Miyauchi-sensei
It is easy to brush off Chihayafuru as just another sports anime, albeit being centered on some strange card game masquerading as a sport. Karuta is what separates Chihayafuru from the other shows in its genre – a sport where age, gender, athleticism, and intellectual capacity do not matter. Despite being a mentally and physically taxing game, relying heavily on memory and reflexes, Chihayafuru makes it clear that anyone can be an ‘athlete’. Unlike many sports anime where muscular high school boys charge up and down the playing court, Chihayafuru is a breath of fresh air. Through the experiences of Chihaya, a rarity as a female protagonist in a sports anime, the viewer will be introduced to a diverse cast of characters. One will be able to watch matches between young and old, male and female, bookish and athletic, and more. Many athletes have been humbled by an older, but fundamentally sound player at their local YMCA or park. Similarly, in Chihayafuru, intellectual players tactically dissect an opponent and mature players use their superior game sense to overcome their adversary. Chihayafuru is a shout-out to all athletes: sports do not discriminate and there is no right or wrong way to play, as each individual can play at their own pace.
“That’s something you can’t know until you’ve tried it. And you still won’t understand after you play. I’ve been playing for 45 years and I still don’t understand. I’ve never been able to figure it out. That’s why I keep playing.” - Harada-sensei
Chihayafuru’s strength lies in its aforementioned diverse cast of characters. Every member of Miyuzawa High School’s karuta club is unique, allowing Chihayafuru to lend various perspectives on the world of sport and why we play them. Sports are a funny thing, as they’re often something that is unwillingly forced onto children by parents. In Chihaya’s case, she begins playing karuta to further her relationship with Arata. Friendships come and go and so do these games that bond us together. Chihaya, however, is ultimately captured by a love for the game and continues to play, even when nobody around her does. That is the beauty of the word ‘sport’. Everyone has their own situation that leads them to playing, however that often gives way to a deeper connection to the game itself. The other members of Miyuzawa’s karuta club are no different. For example, Taichi initially plays to be close to the girl he has feelings for, but the game quickly becomes an outlet for his desire to overcome his cowardice and to accept himself for who he is. Ultimately, the viewer watches these new players laugh and cry with each triumph and loss, as they experience the highs and lows of karuta. It is often hard to pinpoint a moment where you can say you fell in love with a sport. Love just happens and the charming character development in Chihayafuru captures this perfectly.
“Instead of a genius, I would rather have our new member be someone who puts in effort on the mat.” -- Mashima Taichi
Playing sports is a scary thing. Exposed against an opponent, stepping on to the playing surface is an act of bravery – an admission of one’s weaknesses and an acceptance of one’s shortcomings. For many players, support is necessary for them to thrive in a sporting environment. Chihayafuru demonstrates this, mostly focusing on the team aspect of karuta. Miyuzawa’s karuta club highlights the importance of leadership, communication, and understanding of teammates, showing that technical skill is not enough to succeed in sports. Harada-sensei says it best: “You must trust in your teammates while playing by yourself”.
Furthermore, few anime foster such an infectious feeling of solidarity and friendship as Chihayafuru. Each member of Miyuzawa’s karuta club is unique, which allows for moments of compassion and teamwork to truly strike home. A moment of camaraderie between Taichi and Tsutomu is truly poignant in my memory. Tsutomu, who has joined the club in hopes of surpassing Taichi at some discipline, has come to the realization that there is more to karuta than he expected. His teammates crush him in practice and a sense of inferiority sets in. Taichi recognizes this conflict and relates with Komano, telling him that he has no talent for karuta either, yet continues to play through all his losses as winning after putting in blood, sweat, and tears is the greatest satisfaction.
“You have to do the things you don’t want to do, before you can do the things you truly want to do.” -Komano Tsutomu
Just like the quote above suggests, the most important thing is to not skip over the fundamentals. To run, you must first be able to walk and Chihayafuru puts in the legwork necessary for its characters to shine. The plot is simplistic, without many plot-twists, yet it elegantly sails through the task of explaining karuta and the culture around karuta. The tempo of Chihayafuru is quick, flowing from game to game, allowing for many characters to be introduced and developed. The matches themselves are masterfully planned out, focusing heavily on both the players’ internal dialogue and game analysis while never compromising the tense and passionate atmosphere of the sport itself. Don’t let this fool you though, there are funny and cute moments to be found in this anime. While there is intermittent melodrama and jarring humour, the result is a captivating, but easy to follow, storyline with characters that are truly loveable.
“A woman must always move with grace, whether you’re wiping a table or drying sheets. Or in the fight of your life.” - Oe Kanade
In terms of production values, Chihayafuru looks fantastic. The animation of the cards flying off the tatami mats is incredibly fluid and the artists do a fantastic job depicting the various backgrounds using soft, bright colours. The animators don’t just bring the karuta gameplay to life, but also the rich culture that characterizes the sport. From the hakama that the Miyuzawa karuta club wear to the visual imagery after a poem is recited, Chihayafuru truly succeeds in evoking a sense that karuta’s history has transcended its time, sending the viewer back a thousand years with every poem. If there is a visual nitpick, then it is the character designs. While there are various unique character models, many have very large eyes and long eyelashes – potentially a little distracting for some viewers. It should be noted, however, that the anime adaptation looks very much like the manga and deserves praise for capturing the visuals so faithfully.
Regarding sound, Chihayafuru’s voice acting does its job. There aren’t many voices that stand out, but in that way the voice actors have done their jobs – each voice fits their character. Asami Seto impressed me a lot, bringing out the innocent and headstrong passion that characterizes Chihaya so well. It really made the difference to me personally, as Chihaya is one of the most unique and charismatic female leads in anime. Furthermore, Chihayafuru has one of the best soundtracks I’ve listened to. Starting with the opening theme, YOUTHFUL really captures the situation that Chihaya finds herself in – chasing after Arata. It is also one of my favourite opening themes out of any anime, being upbeat and catchy. Soshite Ima, the ending theme, similarly echoes Chihaya’s hopes, but isn’t as memorable. The real body of the musical score, however, is the collection of orchestral themes used throughout the anime. The track I enjoyed most was Team Chihayafuru. The song is light and uplifting, with the horns providing that innocent, but impassioned, feel of pursuing one’s dreams. Aside from that track, the other orchestral pieces are able to evoke various emotions in the viewer, further enhancing the critical moments in the storyline.
“As long as we have karuta, we’ll see each other again, won’t we? As long as we keep playing, we’ll see each other again.” - Ayase Chihaya
Overall, Chihayafuru holds a special place in my heart. As a sports enthusiast and an athlete, I can’t begin to explain how Chihayafuru is a refreshing anime that truly captures the competitive spirit of the genre. I strongly recommend this anime for, not just all fans of the sports genre, but for viewers who may not have seen much of it. The plot is not unique nor are its production values truly outstanding, but Chihayafuru does, however, provide a memorable cast of characters and a cleanly executed storyline. It is a simple anime, but an engaging one that is easy to become invested in. The second season is equally fantastic and the manga is still running, so now is a good time to get on-board. With the quote above in mind, I personally will keep waiting on Chihayafuru 3 – this franchise is a gem!
Vangakuz
I had been wandering on the Internet to seek for a good anime. The truth is, sadly, anime is now losing its purity and attraction. A lot of shitty shows and fan-service series have been in progress more and more than before. The only improvement of anime in general is the enhanced stunning graphics and animation. Shows such as Guilty Crown, Tari Tari, Toaru Majutsu no Index, Sword Art Online… are examples of good animations but informative and forgettable scenarios. Fortunately, I have not given up yet on anime, another world within me, and continued on the finding of the next masterpiece. ….. and I foundChihayafuru…
Ah! I had seen the picture of this show before but ignored it due to its lack of attraction. But then I tried the first episode in the boring mood. At the end, I thought deeply: “What kind of the show is that? I never know about the weird game called karuta.” But omg, this game is so stunning and addictive even though I attempted to play it by myself using two standard decks of playing cards. However, at some point, I felt just a little bit of lame :)
Why does Chihaya Ayase and all other members of her club play karuta and spend time on it like it is their most priority in life? What is the point of doing something like benefit them on their future? Naaaaaaaa…. it’s so lame and childish. “NO WAY, I am gonna drop this show and write my first negative review.”
“What have I done? What am I even thinking? How can I say that?” At that moment, I just realized that I am identified with all of them at some points.
I was so desperately play piano with all my heart when I was 12 and then quit at the age of 15 due to lack of interest. Arata Wataya, same as me, dropped karuta and deeply regret later on. I don’t know what will happen to me in the future but hey, if any of you ask me that what the most regrettable event in my life up until now, I won’t hesitate to answer : “5 years of my age, 15 to 20, dropped piano playing is the most deadly time in my life. I wish I could turn back time now” Fuckly, give up something deep in our heart will redefine us as human being wandering in despair and regret.
I ignored Ayase and felt lame for her karuta addiction. But wait a minute, I am the same as her: refuse to socialize with people and even delay one university class to spend all pastime alone to make up to that 5 years of no music practice. Same as Chihaya Ayase, I don’t see any point of karuta for her and piano for me helping our future. Simply, karuta for her and piano for me may not be our dream anymore but become an utmost element to keep us enjoy life as human being.
Tsutomu Komano, an intelligent boy, ignore all thing like making friend, socializing to only focus on his study. I bet him he knows for sure that he’s pathetic himself about everything except for his studied record. Fortunately, he was saved by other desire and fused with the flow of victory hunting, with the touch the card, with the word of poem…
We all have rules, dreams, goals for ourselves. Surviving in our life without willpower may break our rules and dreams. As a result, we will become something unknown, we will wander in life with no desired goal. Definitely, we will just suddenly realize and regret ourselves because in this wide despair of lives, we will encountered our true-selves in others who enjoying their dream.
wowsermax
Everybody in life possesses a dream. To obtain this, people push themselves extensively. However, the process of striving to grasp his or her dream is never an easy feat. Due to this fact of reality, people make friends to ease the process. Unfortunately, things change, and friendships become hard to maintain. Nevertheless, the desire for one's dream remains and even merges with the desire of friendship or love. Our dreams cannot exist without our loved ones, but our dreams connect us to our loved ones. Chihayafuru revolves around this and one more element–karuta. Karuta is a Japanese cultural sport regarding poetry. A game consists of 2players. Each draws 25 cards from a pile of 100, each one containing the 2nd verse of a poem. The player is given time to place his or her cards and memorize his/her placement as well as his/her opponent's. The poems are then read one by one and the players must touch the second verse of the poem being read. When taking a card from the opponent's side, the player sends a card of his/her choice. The player that empties his/her side wins. By watching the anime, you will learn that this is a beautiful sport.
Story: 9/10
The story is rather simple yet meaningful. As seen in the introduction of this review, it shows how ambition bridges relationships. Furthermore, the plot is relatable. Ayase Chihaya (the protagonist) and her friends don't always win nor constantly fail. The balance of triumph defeat is something anyone can relate to, in spite of it being about karuta. Moreover, the plot moves at a steady (but not too slow) pace with just a small quantity of fillers.
Art: 8/10
Chihayafuru has beautiful and unique art, particularly for most of the important characters (Chihaya, Taichi, Arata, Shinobu, etc.). However, the other characters have eyes which are duplicates of one another. Nevertheless, the art is still nicely done.
Sound: 10/10
The opening song of Chihayafuru (YOUTHFUL by 99RadioService) is wonderful in all aspects. The closing song (Soshite Ima) isn't as nice as YOUTHFUL, but it definitely suits the show. The karuta poems are also beautifully sung/read, much better than many readers in actual karuta games.
Character: 9/10
What makes Chihayafuru truly special are its characters. Each one has a story which we can relate to our own lives. Furthermore, the relationships between these characters feel so real that one would literally run across a room screaming over.
Enjoyment: 10/10
Chihayafuru is one of the most enjoyable anime out there. It has hilarious jokes but gets serious when necessary. Cute romantic moments perfect to fangirl over happen often as well. Especially during the suspenseful karuta matches, one would feel desperate to watch nonstop. It is certainly a show that engages the viewer well.
Overall: 9/10
Chihayafuru is a wonderful anime. It is certainly a rare gem that blows one's heart and one's mind away. It is one of the best anime out there.
jooules
Warning: I have completed the series and my review reflects such, and ties in the final episode. Though I do not outright 'spoil' anything (it's hard to spoil a non-ending) you may want to keep this in mind.... Let me start with the positive: Chihayfuru is BEAUTIFUL. It's visually stunning, and obviously done digitally, though there's no "out of place CG," just a lot of cherry blossoms on everything. There is no significant drop in aesthetic quality throughout the 25 episodes. If you are looking for a "Sports Anime" akin to Hikaru No Go, another series dealing with Japanese competitive games that are not 'mainstream popular'among young people in Japan, this is perfect. There's very little 'training' (though there is some) and more strategic studies of multiple kinds. It takes place in a realistic setting (no supernatural, no ghosts, lol) and it's all very believable and realistic in setting, other people perceiving the main characters at school, and so on and so forth.
The main characters are really one dimensional and stagnant though, and they don't inspire any real concern from me. I would call it a lack of character. The main 3 characters I'd mark as downright bad (3) but the entire cast rounded it up to a higher score, since the truly love the iside characters, though they are largely ignored.
Chihaya is horribly boring and has no character, she's just OMG SO PRETTY WHAT A WASTE, they only made her 'pretty' so the entire show could be pretty. If you've seen the opening episodes you see that Chihaya's early life is defined by a lack of thereof: She has no interests, no talents, and no concerns, and her entire family is obsessed with her older sister, who she also supports. (Spoilers: this NEVER REALLY CHANGES except a single episode in which Chihaya's Dad shows that she has a single album of news clippings about Chihaya's Karuta games, in comparison to bookshelves full of ones about her sister and the fact that her parents never show any support to her before OR after this single moment). High School Chihaya's only characteristics are that she is really really pretty but also really obsessed with Karuta and doesn't have any friends (I say High School Chihaya because pre-Karuta Chihaya has no characteristics at all other than being highly impressionable). Over and over it is stressed how 'beautiful' she is (LOL GET IT HER SISTER IS A MODEL) but this has absolutely ZERO impact on the series, which otherwise would be a normal 'sport club tournament' show along the lines of Hikaru No Go, only now the main character looks really good in a kimono and doesn't have to overcome any prejudices based on her appearance unlike the other, better Karuta players (who are all inevitably depicted as plain or sloppy or fat, for the girls). In fact, by making her beautiful they really take a cop out approach to her character: the same personality applied to an 'average' looking person would not have been as instantly likable by viewers, and would have resulted in bullying and people being outright mean or demeaning in her school life. Chihaya has none of these obstacles other than some guys she doesn't know saying her beauty is wasted on her. In fact, it's almost humorous that Chihaya's looks make much better players feel unsure of themselves despite their being much more competent.
She does have a slight complex because of her sister at first but all mentions of this inferiority complex are dropped by episode 12 and never mentioned again.
Chihaya never learns, her only 'growth' is "I Want to be stronger!" like every other sports/competition show. Unlike other shows though, she never uses any of this to grow as a person, to fix her relationships with others, or her family, or her estranged friends who she's so maddeningly incapable at communicating with that it makes her somewhat annoying and unlikable.
The story is not without likable characters though. Side characters who aren't pretty, like Kanade and Nishida seem to actually have PERSONALITIES (other than being boring and easily impressionable like Chihaya, who has no qualities at all until she starts copying a boy she met once in elementary school) but they NEVER RECEIVE ANY CHARACTER EPISODES other than their brief introduction episodes. Even Tsutumu seems to have more personality than Chihaya, it's simply never explored. These characters have had OBSTACLES placed before them, and I don't just mean tournaments and shit, but actually obstacles in their daily life, and it reflects on them because they are more interesting and developed.Too bad the side characters are little more than furniture to fill out the club, and are treated as such for a while by Chihaya, until they start ranking in matches when she suddenly realizes everyone has potential (at least as someone for her to practice against). The series nears a lull around the midway point, but picks up nearer to the end, the last 10 episodes or so discounting the recap. The glimpses you see of the SIDE CHARACTERS evolving (the mains, Chihaya and Taichi NEVER evolve except the "I must become stronger!" mindset which is really one dimensional, they never improve their communication between each other really either) and other aspects of their personality and past (Nishida's in particular as he's the only one with a relevant background) it actually becomes interesting, and you think there might finally be some conflict and growth, but it's generally all curtailed by the ending of the Master and Queen matches.
The Ending is pretty average for a 'sports' type story whose original story doesn't have time to be finished within the 25 episode time span (or a 'non-ending' as I would call it since the story is not wrapped up). Not terrible, hopeful for the future, possibly set up for a sequel (which I sort of doubt), though really what I want to see more of are Kanade, Nishida, Tsutomu, or maybe even Arata (who has a really bafflingly unimportant role in reality versus his role in Chihaya's stupid obsessed little head). The final episode does give a little bit of a glimpse of Kanade growing, but it's sort of curtailed by Chihaya immediately disappointing her with the truth. We also see Chihaya studying the actual poems but, well, shouldn't she have done that earlier? I found Kanadae's love of the Japanese language and literature far more compelling and pure hearted than Chihaya's LOL GOTTA WIN GOTTA BE THE QUEEN WAITWHATISTHISGAMEIDONTEVENKNOW.
Chihayafuru is by no extent "Bad" but it did baffle me to an extent, as I liked some elements but also got bogged down in how little the characters were changing during the otherwise rather boring action of watching them plays (parts of) games you can't truly understand or even see. Generally you watch things like this not because of the game they play (as you never see a game in full, anywhere, that'd be long and boring!) but to see the characters progression and growth. Hikaru No Go is a good example of that, the main character, and even some side characters, grow and change their understanding of the game, and while Hikaru does desire to "become stronger" it's a much more complex growth, which changes his personality and how he acts, and meets or surpasses his mentor in new or different ways. The very last scene of Chihayafuru recalls the opening scenes in her high school, cementing the fact that Chihaya's attitude and actions are largely unchanged in her life, she's only become more focused and concentrated while playing games or studying for games, it hasn't seemed to take any effect outside of that, and there is no resolution to her family and inferiority complexes, just as there are no real resolutions to Taichi's issues of inferiority or unrequited feelings that may or may not even exist (but we need some romansu doramu so ppl will watch it, right?!?!!? so they had to imply there were some in the beginning). I guess that makes it more realistic, in a way! Since people are not so quick to change in real life. It just didn't feel like it delivered any resolutions at all, or any growth from the 'main' characters.
kawaiiprods
I usually don't watch sports anime and I am not sure what compelled me to watch Chihayafuru. Lets just say I am very happy that I gave this anime a shot. Chihayafuru starts out with a strange premise. The entire story is based around a card game called Karuta. I found Karuta to be very interesting, and I am sure that I never would've heard about the sport if I hadn't watched Chihayafuru. When I first began watching it Chihayafuru, it seemed more Shoujo-like than a sports anime. This does eventually change but it does seem that the target audience is girls. (That is not tosay that guys won't enjoy it.)
Story [9]
The story is very interesting. There is a love triangle, interesting characters, an original premise and an amazing heroine. What more can you ask for? (lol) Although very good Chihayafuru's story is not perfect. The end leaves you without a feeling of closure. (It leaves perfect room for a second season though.) The love triangle between Chihaya, Taichi and Arata could have definately been fleshed out more, and in the end Chihaya remains as dense as ever to Taichi's feelings.
Art [9]
I love the art in Chihayafuru. The characters look amazing and so do
the backgrounds. The only thing I can complain about here is that Chihaya sometimes looks awkward. (For some reason.)
Sound [9]
The opening of Chihayafuru is amazing, there are great voice actors, and the ending song is also good. There is not much to complain about when it comes to sound.
Character [9]
Chihaya is one of the best female anime characters ever in my opinion. (You really enjoy her character development and personallity.) The rest of the cast is great too! The characters are all so unique, not one of them feels like a cliche! I really enjoyed seeing how over time they all formed bonds together and made a great team.
Enjoyment [10]
I enjoyed Chihayafuru the entire time I was watching it, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Overall [9]
I really hope that people give Chihayafuru a chance. It is really a hidden gem. I am very glad that I chose to watch it.
