Chihayafuru

WARNING: May contain itty-bitty spoilers. :) But it won't ruin your judgement on the anime. I'll be back in a couple more weeks to edit this review as I watch more and more episodes.


As of October 22nd, 2011, I have only watched three episodes of Chihayafuru, but so far, it has shown amazing promise. Already I am so emotionally tied to this series that I almost, ALMOST shed some tears. But boy did my eyes did get watery.

The story starts out with the protagonist, Chihaya, a beautiful girl. You quickly ... learn Chiyaha isn't quite what you'd expect a beautiful girl to act like - you know, poised, graceful, & calm and collecting and all. Instead, she's clumsy, boyish, and very innocent. I think this is what makes you love her so. Chihaya stands out in both her looks and the way she acts. I know you guys - and don't deny it - we all hate those popular, mean & pretty girls who don't give you a second look. But Chihaya is different. Despite her appearance, she is honest, and does what she believes is right.

Beginning from the last half of the first episodes to the 3rd episode, we go into Chihaya's past (if I am correct, I believe back into junior high). She is friends with a boy named Taichi, who seems to have been a big influence in the class. Anyways, in the class is a quiet boy called Arata. Chihaya, seeing he is being bullied by Taichi and her classmates, stands up for Arata at the cost of her classmates ignoring her.

From Arata, she learns the passion and art of karuta. In case you don't know what karuta is, to put it simply, you must find the card when the line from a poem is being read before your opponent does. It sounds boring when I try explaining it to you, but you'll get it when you WATCH, WATCH, WATCH (!!) the anime.

STORY [9]
I would give it a 10, but I need to see a few more episodes before I can confirm this.

ART [10]
In case, I haven't said this yet, the art is AMAZING. The only fault I find with it is when they're kids (in the flashback), the characters don't look as appealing as they do when they're in high school, thus shadowing on the beauty of the art. The background scenes are leaning towards average, but the character art is very easy on the eyes.

SOUND [7]
I haven't paid much attention to the music, but since nothing has stuck out to me, I'll give it a solid 7. I might come back and edit this section after a couple more episodes.

CHARACTER [9]
The character development is great. I think it's amazing how much I've gotten to know each of the characters already. I look forward to watching them grow in their own ways.

ENJOYMENT [9]
Truth be told, maybe 9 isn't really a fair judgement. It should be a 10. But being a shoujo and romance addict, I have to give it the lower score of 9 because there is almost no, romance so far. I can see tiny hints of it here and there though, and I'm hoping, hoping very badly that it might blossom into something else altogether as the story progresses.

OVERALL [8.5]
This might seem like a low score with all my praise about it up above, but I'm basing all of this on merely THREE episodes. I have to keep my bar raised high since it is only the beginning and it could all spiral down from this point on as more episodes pass, so for now...


Au revoire,


a.k.a ANIME&manga Addict -- Julie

I watched chihayafuru when i was a huge weeb, and loved it. After a lots, LOTS of years, i wanted to rewatch this show.

...Well, the result is this review. Stopped watching after ep6.

The directing.
The directing in this anime is awful.
The pacing is way too quick and everything is way too much dramatized.
If you take karuta away, all that is left is a bunch of characters that moves when the plot needs to move.

One of the characters has a very serious reason to have depression, but oh man, the way they handled it was just...brutal. Everything happened so quickly, he cured his depression way ... too quickly.

I can imagine myself liking the source material of this way more, since the pacing would be way slower than how anime handled it.

The scenario itself has a lots of drama already, so it was quite brutal to see this happening.

If i will summary my biggest problem with this show; basically it doesn't care about its characters enough. It just says "karuta is the best thing ever and the people who thinks thats not the case can go away from my life." AKA not realistic enough.

If you love sports anime and wanna see sprots but nothing else, you'll enjoy this. When they play karuta its pretty hype(in a good way).

First review!
ChihayaFuru is the first verse in a poem written as
"Impassionate gods have never seen the red that is Tatsuta River" (rough translation) that happens to be one of the hundred poems used in karuta, a japanese card game.

Karuta, like I said, is a Japanese card game. It's tricky and both mind and body should work with rhythm. Yes, it is a sport, though you shouldn't erase the fact that it is poetry (-Kana-chan). Not many understand it, and it's not like it will get any famous in other countries; so if you become the best in Japan, you'll be the best in the ... world.

So here comes a girl who just met her passion and dream to become the best female karuta player--Chihaya Ayase; Pretty yet sometimes an airhead and acts ungraceful. At first she followed the lead of his friend Arata Wataya, after years she realize she should take a shot on being the best along with Taichi Mashima.

THE REVIEW PROPER:

Chihayafuru is unexpectedly a very nice dose of Romance, Literature, and Sports. I've never encountered an anime that have those wrapped in one, more like filling up my interests. I really like how some cards' meaning are revealed (almost) each episode, mostly glowing with love. Sorry, I'm a literature fa(g)n and I really really admire how the author mixed thrill and romance with poetry well.

In every tournament, or even just practice featured in the show is exciting, you're dying to know who would win! Their perspiration makes me sweat too, only means that "this episode's a good show!". Most of the time.
Let's get going in the other side. The love story.

In most part at the beginning (child flashback) you could notice it's themed "Ai no Tame ni" Eh lol I mean, For Love's sake. -I wouldn't like to spoil the story-
Ahh, the blooming love of youth! (why do I sound like a grandma)
It's really moving, I mean the love plot, sweet and not (so) cliche.
...(I actually feel the jealousy of *toot* if I'm in his shoes sometimes)

The lesson, or morals.. they're bunch of them! 'Determination; is always present at this type of stories, but it never gets old. 'Find your OWN dream' is what I liked the most. There are many people in this world that are lost, and are in need to find themselves to hold on to something--a goal to achieve; a dream to reach. Oh, I just said the two keywords on the next moral, reaching dreams. It's always significant in one of us. Nah silly, I'm being gay. (wait I'm a girl)

Moving on to the techincal(?) part, wtf.
Art: SUPERB! From the smooth background to animation, I can say nothing else. (and yeah the way they draw characters is awesome)
Character: What can I say? Chihaya is indeed a nice name! The characters' status, plus the characteristic, together they could be a super group! filling up the flaws of each othaaar.
Sound: Appropriate enough.
Enjoyment: HELL YEAH! ...except when the battle gets intense and I dunno what they are doing already.. and taichi's analysis kills me x.x


For people who have read this, and had their impressions, give this anime a chance, it's really great and cliches are nowhere to be found, it's not 100% love thinggies but romance here is really moving. I have yet to watch the last three episodes but look at me; I'm dying to watch more.

Thank you and have a gooood time in Chihayafuru!~

“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 around ... a 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!

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 found ... Chihayafuru…

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.

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.

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 2 ... players. 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.

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 to ... say 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.

I'll admit I was forced to watch this. When I first took one look at the cover photo for this anime and went "Ehhhh... no." and scrolled on. But my sister, horrified at what I had done, nagged me to watch it to no end until I finally got off my reluctant butt to watch it.

And what a lovely surprise I got.

Chihayafuru is an incredible anime that I regret not seeing sooner. Especially since I had low expectations coming into it, I was swept off my feet within the first several episodes.

STORY:
The story revolves around a girl named Chihaya Ayase, a beautiful tomboy ... who is obsessed with karuta, a Japanese traditional card game. Through karuta, she makes all sorts of friends and even creates a club, all the while striving to reach her ultimate goal: to become the best female karuta player and receive the title of "Queen". Meanwhile, Mashima Taichi and Wataya Arata, Chihaya's two closest childhood friends, struggle with their feelings for her as they play karuta as well. (Yes, there IS some romance. While MyAnimeList does not mark it as such, it is not deprived of romance. So for you rom/com people out there, this is a possibility.)
I'll admit this story is somewhat lackluster at a glance. Heck, I thought this sounded suspiciously like Yu-gi-oh when I read the story. But words cannot do the story justice as the anime delivers its story excellently, with both clean pacing and clear direction. Despite its seemingly lackluster plot, it is enrapturing the whole ride to the end.
Don't be turned off by the fact its about a card game. It's a lot more complex than it sounds, and surprisingly fun to get into.
10/10

SOUND:
This is probably the best part of the anime that I will remember for a long time. There are multiple emotional moments scattered throughout the anime and are surprisingly moving. But Chihayafuru's simply amazing soundtrack is enough to bring me to tears whenever it came on. Whether it be when an intense match was reaching its climax or someone was having an emotional breakdown, the music simply blew me away and every time I could feel tears glaze my eyes. The music is reason enough for someone to watch Chihayafuru. Simply amazing.
10/10

CHARACTER:
Characters in the anime were all definitely lovable in their own way. All of them had their good sides, bad sides, and their own unique strategies when playing karuta. Watching each playing style was far more interesting than expected, especially when two completely different playing styles clashed. The protagonists were likable enough, but Chihaya's obliviousness to many people's feelings around her were definitely a frustrating aspect of the anime. Regardless, Chihayafuru does a good job at maintaining interest in the characters even when the focus of the anime shifts away from them in their
9/10

ENJOYMENT:
This anime surprised me by becoming one of my new favorites. I regret being so reluctant to watch it based on just its cover photo and a synopsis different from what I was used to. It's really opened my mind and I've started to venture outside my comfort zone. With its amazing, moving soundtrack and surprisingly engaging story, Chihayafuru does what not many anime are able to do: leave a part of itself inside of me. Unfortunately, Chihayfuru is over with its season 2, but I still pray that one day a season 3 will arrive soon.
10/10

(10) Story: Chihayafuru isn't like most animes. In fact most people who come across this might just pass it over because its about a group of high school students playing a game called "Karuta". But this anime is much more! When I first saw this anime I though well this is different and gave it a shot. Luckily I did because Chihayafuru is now one of my favorite animes. If you love animes with love triangles that will keep you wanting more and seeing what happens, who she'll pick, this anime is the one for you also. Chihaya is a girl up until a point ... her dream was for her sister to become the number one beauty in japan. One day she meets this boy, Arata, who teaches her this game called "Karuta". I can't give certain details or it might spoil it, i'm just going off of the info for this because if I say anymore I'll explain a few episodes. But believe me, you will not find another anime like this! This anime is one of my favorites and oviously it must be for a reason. I promise you you wouldn't regrett watching.

(10) Art: All the characters are goodly drawn, and that coming from me is good because one of my habits before watching a anime is to see how good the art quality is before I watch it. Well lets face it who wants to watch a anime with crudy characters? No one I'm sure.

(10) Sound: Sounds were good. Eveything exactly how it should be.

(10) Character: The characters are fantastic. Each have their own reason to as why they joined Karuta and the reasons behind them, well you [b]have[/b] to watch :)

(10) Enjoyment: You will without a doubt love this anime. From the very beginning I became hooked. This anime is very interesting and will keep you watching until the very end and even then you'll want more.

(10) Overall: Overall this anime is one of the best i've watched I recommend you add this to your anime list and watch it asap! :)

If you read to this far then you [i]must[/i] watch it and keep my updated on what you think. Thank you for taking the time to read my review I hope this helped you decide wheather your going to watch Chihayafuru. Believe me when you watch the first episode you wouldn't regret it. :)

I watched this anime after seeing an AMV about it, back then I didn't knew it was a sport-genre anime. I am not really into that, but Chihayafuru is an exception.

Story: 10/10
The story is well written and very detailed. It's amazing how they made Karuta looked so interesting. There were times when you can't help but cheer for both players knowing how hard they worked but of course only one player can win and for some reason whenever a favorite player lost I can't help but feel sad as if I am the one who lost lol. You can feel the struggle that some players ... have and their dedication and love for Karuta.

Characters: 10/10
Chihaya is a Karuta freak. She mostly thought of nothing but Karuta. But she is one of those female anime characters that you cannot hate.

Taichi: is someone very insecure because of the way he was brought up. But even so, his devotion to Chihaya and the way he worked hard just to be with her is something really amazing.

Arata: Doesn't have much screen time. Although he also had a lot of cute moments. Even though he doesn't have much appearances in anime. Whenever he appear, you know that something is about to happen.

Art: 8/10
At the beginning of the series, the art is not good. The characters looked too shiny -especially Taichi and Chihaya. But as the series continue, it gets better.

Sound: 10/10
The opening song of this anime is really catchy. It has been a long time since I heard a good anime opening song. The sound effects were also good-especially during Karuta matches.

Overall: 9/10
It was so good that I became an instant fan after watching the first episode and so I ended up reading the manga and the reason why I signed up in MAL.

I never knew that a card game like karuta could be a sport. Chihayafuru, an anime about karuta exhibits characteristics of a sports anime, and alongside it, their FLAWS.

The feeling of REPETITION is a plague that haunts other sports anime series such as Haikyuu, and Kuroko no Basket. Chihayafuru is actually worse than my aforementioned anime in dealing with this factor. After a certain point, all the karuta games in the series just look and feel the same. It just feels like you are watching the same match over and over again.

I found myself skipping through a lot of the scenes in the game as ... I found them really boring while binge-watching. If I were to watch this anime without skipping a scene, that would be tantamount to me watching ENDLESS EIGHT for an entire season. After a couple of episodes in, I found myself watching 8 to 12 minutes of the anime, and I am sure the average would have been much lower if it wasn't for buffering on my streaming sites.

And for the characters... I don't really hate much of them but there isn't a character I strikingly like either. Chihaya is the generic "athlete with talent but no brains", and Arata is the "generic role model", and Taichi the "childhood friend/loves protagonist" trope. This show really wasn't a special snowflake some people advertised it to be for me. Having Hikaru no Go (an anime about go, a sport mainly only played in East Asia) as one of my favorites, perhaps my expectations were too high for this anime.

But I am surprised that an anime about such seemingly boring topic kept me watching for quite some time. For that reason, I am giving this anime a 6/10. This anime isn't horrible. It's just meh.

So would I recommend this anime to a friend? No.
And I recommend to those who are planning to watch this anime to watch this at around 4-8x speed if possible.

Side note: I actually find the voices of the poetry readers annoying.

TL; DR Chihayafuru is repetitive like many other sports anime, and is not the special snowflake.

は や ふ る る is a beautiful mix of sport, slice of life and drama that entertains with many emotional and unforgettable moments and with its occasional comedy conjures up an amused smile on the viewer's face. A gripping story about a sport that requires skills, such as high concentration, excellent memory, lightning-fast reflexes, strategic thinking, stamina, resilience, mental strength and an enormous commitment to the long training of coordination and precession.

Story: Simple, not new but well written, good pace & very well presented (8/10)
The title "Chihayafuru" is already a reference to the traditional Japanese Karuta and the Hyakunin Isshu, whose poems can be ... found on Uta Garuta cards. The plot first introduces the protagonist Chihaya Ayase and lets the audience participate in the discovery of her passion for this traditional sport, as well as in her decision of what she wants to achieve.
The first question you will ask yourself is: What is Karuta? Simply put, a traditional Japanese card game based on Japanese poetry and best compared to Memory. I will summarize the historical background for you later.
The second question will probably be, how to play Karuta? The challenge is to recognize the poems as quickly as possible when they are read aloud and remove the corresponding playing card from the playing field before the opponent can do so. The passionate critic - myself included - wonders if an anime about a simple card game can be entertaining. I assure you, Chihaya's ups and downs, in trying to save the Karuta Club, team building, as well as the competitions are very entertaining.

If you are not interested in the historical derivation of Karuta, you can skip the text marked with brackets.
[historical excursus]
The poetry used comes from the so-called Hyakunin-Ishu. Around the year 1235, the famous scholar Fujiwara no Teika was asked by the rich Utsunomiya Renjô to choose the hundred most beautiful poems from the extensive Japanese literature that Utsunomiya wanted to have written in calligraphy on the sliding doors of his new house. Teika accepted the request and selected a hundred poems that he considered the most beautiful. The collection quickly became famous and because it was collected on Ogura Mountain, it was given the name Ogura hyakunin isshu. The poetry collection consists mainly of love poems, but there are also poems that depict the beauty of the seasons or the environment. A small part is dedicated to old stories or customs. Hyakunin Isshu literally means "one hundred (百) people (人) one (一) neck, which means head (首)" in the figurative sense. The form of poetry in which the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu of Teika is written is called Waka (和 歌) and is assigned to the Heian period (794-1185). This poetry is divided into Tanka (短歌) and Choka (長 歌) - short and long forms of poetry. The Ogura Hyakunin Isshu is written in Tanka (short poems). A tanka consists of five lines, each with a fixed number of syllables (or rather moren). In the course of time, the book of poetry developed into the well-known parlour game Karuta (か る た), which is now a firm traditional component of Japanese culture. The anime refers to the Karuta played with Hyakunin Isshu, called Uta-Garuta, which means "song cards". In this form, two piles of 100 cards each are required: one pile contains Yomifuda (読 み 札 - reading cards) and the other contains Torifuda (取 り 札 - take-away card). The Yomifuda contain the whole poem with contemporary art as well as the name of the poet and are read in a kind of song. Only the second half of the poem (Shimo-no-ku 下 の 句) is written on the Torifuda and is also written in simplified form, which is why it is best for a good player to memorize the entire collection of poetry.
[End historical excursus]

Characters: Successful presentation & development of the characters (9/10)
All characters in the anime have their own personality. Since each character has its peculiarities, it is fun to observe their interactions and personal development, both in the group and in relation to opponents.
Ayase Chihaya:
She is truly magnificent! Her passionate joy in playing is electrifying. She is open-minded, honest and her enthusiasm is sometimes frightening. She has spent most of her life supporting her sister in her modeling career. That changed when she met Arata Wataya, a talented Karuta player who believes Chihaya has the potential to become a professional. Chihaya's new dream is to become Japan's best Karuta player. After reuniting with her childhood friend Taichi Mashima, she founds the Mizusawa Karuta Club. And this is where the bittersweet difficulties begin.
Mashima Taichi:
He's not just number two, he's interesting. Although he is the classic top student with good grades, he has a difficult family background and enough internal conflict potential to not seem colorless next to Chihaya.
Watay Arata:
Actually a friendly and decent student, but very reserved because of his initially lower self-confidence. For this reason he is overlooked or even avoided by his classmates. Karuta on the other hand shows that the young man has a natural talent, a high degree of intelligence and enormous abilities. The contrast between his abilities and his general perception is a successful representation of the superficiality of modern society.
Wakamiya Shinobu:
The opponents also have a lot to offer, especially Shinobu-chan, a cute girl with a soft and cuddly fashion style, but cunning like a fox, and she loves not only to defeat her opponents but to destroy them completely. So to say a really sweet little Karuta-beast.
Sudou Akihito:
He is a cool badass, who not only puts pressure on opponents without flinching.

Visuals: Very good art & animation merge into a pleasant overall picture (9/10)
The original illustrations by Suetsugu Yuki were well realized in the character design by Hamada Kunihiko. The changes made during the adaptation are noticeable and concern especially the reduction of the manga's orientation towards the female audience. The very soft drawings of the manga have been slightly modified, but their characteristics have been maintained. This is evident in the emotional moments and the accentuation on feelings. These are often underlined by the character style and the animation with small but clear allusions like falling sakura leaves and soft colours. Especially this slightly feminine charm of the anime, which emphasizes the visuals, makes Chihayafuru extraordinary. The otherwise typical of a sports anime "We want to win" receives a larger and more emotional emphasis here. I really liked that the character designers and animators found other ways to convey the emotions, so that the individual characters aren't only beautiful to look at, but also have a personality. The animation also impresses by the implementation of rather inconspicuous little things and attention to detail, for example when Ooe Kanade peered through the window panes into the room of the old student council, a Torifuda flew against the window. While the card bounces off the window in slow motion, you can read it in the reflection. I liked the graphics as a whole, but such small things as described above give the anime a very special charm.

Music: beautiful music arrangements, very cool OP, matching VA (9/10)
The music arrangements of Yamashita Kosuke are fantastic. The musical background is very well chosen and underlines the content and mood of every scene very well. The mixture of symphonic and light orchestral tones, not only gives the characters emotional depth, you can almost feel it yourself. The music takes the viewer by the hand and leads through the emotional world of the characters. On the other hand, I especially liked the fact that the music wasn't overused. There were also moments when the music was deliberately left out in order to emphasize the mood properly. Very well done.
The OP "Youthful" was composed by Ko-ta & Ko-hey and recorded with their band 99RadioService. Classical rock guitars and bass notes as well as a casually slanting voice are pretty cool. The intro suits me quite well and I always like to listen to it. The title is influenced by classic western rock sound, not really J-Rock. Nevertheless the lyrics without anglicism can convince me again. The animation is good, uses the characters of the anime and presents the elements that will follow.
The ED "Soshite Ima" is sung by Seto Asami, who is also the Seiyû of Chihaya. The ED impresses with its soft, soulful animation, which is carried emotionally well by the gentle voice and the soulful music. All in all a fitting soft and harmonious musical ending for each episode.
The choice of Seiyû was good and so was the dialogue. The voice of Seto Asami as Chihaya was in my opinion very well chosen. The voice is powerful yet feminine and brings the passionate temperament of Chihaya to full development. The voice of Harada Hideo, spoken by Ishizuka Unshou, was also very pleasant and fitting.

Anyone, who can ignore the prejudice that it is just a "card game" will find a funny and unusual sports anime. The anime is as passionate as it is worth seeing and has a high entertainment value. All in all, if the show grabs you, it's like you're glued to the TV.

As always, thanks for reading and have fun watching.

Remember when you were a kid and you collected your Pokemon cards?
You felt it would be fun to attend a competition but within your first match your shocked by the seriousness of competition.
I can’t help myself from keep getting the feeling that Karuta could be the reason why Japanese love card games.

When watching this show the main draw was the Karuta itself.
I never even heard about the card game before watching this show.
It made the show feel unique and kept me engaging in wanting to learn more about Karuta.
My first process in grading this show was on the issue of the glorification ... of the game. Does Chilhayafuru keep Karuta within a realistic spectrum.
I went out and watched a few YouTube videos and the similarity was prevalent. Thus I was expecting a very realistic tone throughout the entire show.

I would say that the tone of the game was reflected in the characters.
What was nice about the main two characters were that none of them were “prodigies”.
There is no question that both had talent with Chihaya’s speed and Mashima’s mind but there wasn’t a magic trump card that caused them to become the best player.
The growth of the players actually was some of the slowest I’ve seen but it makes perfect sense for the sport.
Karuta takes more repetition than even swinging a baseball bat.

There of course are prodigies in the show like the current Master and Queen of Karuta but those are more benchmarks for our characters to reach.
They are the ones that our main characters needed to conquer and have their own distinct trait that is well defined.
There is also one more prodigy that in the first half of the show was built up as a ghostly figure to our main characters in Arata.

Arata is actually one of the things holding this show back from being a 10 out of 10.
Not because he himself is a bad character but because a lot of build-up between him and the other main characters have not been resolved or even invested into completing.

There are a lot of good side characters to note as well.
Desktomu shows characteristics of being a future coach and Kana shows characteristics of being a future reader.
This would be a good time to note that I was really digging the amount of strategy in this show, as an INTJ I appreciate this a lot.

The final verdict is this show has a lot of things that I look to in a Masterpiece in a serious show but falls short being a first season.
The Ending and Opening were good. I tend to listen to them instead of skipping it.
I do believe that there was too much crying in the show. I feel that a lot of drama shows tend to fall victim to this.
Too many tears can drown the affect that you want to achieve emotionally.
Season 2 definitely needs to complete a good portion of our plethora of unfinished business to possibly get a 10.

A sports anime about an obscure card game based on Japanese poetry... I typically enjoy drama animes but wasn't so sure about this specific one based on the capsule description. It ended up being one of the best drama series I've seen, and my personal favorite sports anime.

Chihayafuru has that elusive mix of story, characters and tense sports action that so few get right. And yes, a card game can be a sport, it's definitely a high level of competition, and in the anime world this is a very aggressive, cardio-intensive game which leaves its players drenched in sweat. The sport scenes are extremely ... well done and are deeply intertwined with the ongoing development of the characters, which really makes all the difference.

Most of the show takes place away from the straw mat, with immense time given to character development. Our protagonist Chihaya is a well-developed character, she has model looks but is known as "beauty in vain" for her abrasive personality and lack of interest in being ladylike. Although she might be obnoxious to sit in front of in class, she's quite likeable as a lead character, with ample silliness to keep things amusing but she's a fully fleshed out human being and watching her overcome her flaws is very rewarding.

Her two best friends are Arata, a poverty-stricken, Karuto-obsessed boy, and the hyper-wealthy Taichi who becomes obsessed with Karuto himself. While the focus is definitely on the two boys through the lens of their relationship with Chihaya, they are also strong characters who change a lot as the series progresses, and it's easy to find yourself rooting for one or the other.

There is a great cast of supporting characters, too many to mention, but for the most part they aren't cliches, and are fun and original additions to the show, great foils and friends to Chihaya as the action goes on.

This is simply anime drama done right. Its basic plot devices are nothing you haven't seen before, but there is still a lot of originality in the characters and the novel idea of an anime built around this crazy card game very few people outside of Japan had ever heard of. It's all just done so well, this one's a real winner.

This is one of the best animes I´ve watched lately. It goes about a group of friends that play karuta, a traditional card game, which in turn became a sport in Japan.

The game isn´t really called "Hyakunin Isshu", as stated in the summary. It´s called Karuta. There are several types, among them is the "Uta garuta", in which the three first verses of a poem are read, and the players must find the card with the last two verses that match the ones read, before the opponent does. The poems are the ones included in a classic poetry anthology called "Hyakunin Isshu" (one hundred ... poets, one poem each).

Chihayafuru is a story about the pursuit of dreams. Arata, one of the three protagonists, wants to become Karuta Master, the title given to the best player in Japan, because being the best player in Japan is the same as being the best player in the world. I found this line of thought so great! I have the anthology and an "uta garuta" set of cards at home. I’m going to learn the poems and become the best player in Argentina, as -most probably- I will only be able to compete against myself. That is what this type of anime generates in me, I suddenly find myself thinking: I want to do that, too!!!! But, going back to what I was saying... Chihaya, in turn, wants to become the Queen, the title given to the best female player. Taichi, the other male protagonist, knows he isn´t as good as Arata, which gets him frustrated. He has it tough, but -with the constant support of Chihaya- works to become better and surpass his friend.

There is a love triangle issue among the three, but this is by no means (at least up until the last episode I´ve watched so far) the most important story line in the anime. The story goes -as I already said- mainly about the pursuit of dreams, and friendship.

The game scenes are very exciting. The story is completely different, but for those who have watched Hikaru no Go, the feeling is the same as the one you get watching the Go matches in Hikaru no Go, with less static images, as Chihayafuru is much more recent and the art is much better. Don´t expect ghosts, spirits, or any fantastic component in this anime... I am only talking about the feeling you get watching the tournament scenes.

As for the characters, none of them is "the perfect guy". Probably, the most "perfect" one is Chihaya. But they all make mistakes, learn and grow up as the story goes forward. The most complex one is Taichi, as has already been stated by others, because he seems to be the most conflicted character.

There is another very interesting character: Kanade Oe. She joins the Karuta Club after the seventh or eighth episode. She is a lover of traditional Japan, and especially traditional clothing and poetry. She brings a poetic dimension to the anime. Karuta players rely on sound and speed. They learn the poems by hard, without giving much thought to their meaning, and learn to pick the cards by hearing just the one or two first syllables of the poems. Kanade often scolds them for their lack of interest in the poetic value of the game, and teaches them the meaning and beauty of the poems. Those who love Japanese poetry, as me, will probably love this character.

The art is very realistic. Don´t expect enormous eyes, hair of strange colors, or anything of the sort. Cherry blossoms, autumn leaves and color are very important, as they are a core component of classic poetry in Japan.

I absolutely love this anime and I feverously recommend watching it. Absolute 10 in all aspects.

Chihayafuru is one of the BEST anime i have watched! It has unique and intricate drawings that express each character perfectly. I really enjoyed the storyline. The storyline was fresh and different from other animes that revolve around a game or activity. I loved how it focused on Chihaya optimism and ambition, when she is playing Karuta. It made me want to extend my hand into the screen and play Karuta as well :D

The characters suited the anime amazingly well. Chihaya tomboyish behaviour but yet funny and enjoyable actions brought the story alive and made me keep watching. Also isn't her character beautiful! I ... love just how Yuki Suetsugu illustrated her and the other characters, its very detailed but yet simple.

Arata accent made it different and peculiar to listen to. I always had a eager feeling whenever Chihaya tries to contact or about to meet Arata. But then when they meetit is always cut short making me feel disappointed but yet making it more interesting for me to watch on!

I love how Taichi personality when he was a kid completely change when he started playing Karuta again!

Overall Chihayafuru is a exciting and enjoyable anime and manga that keeps you wanting more (SO GLAD they made a second season :3)
The emotions the characters feel and express make you as the audience feel the same way as them.

I recommend this to everyone and especially to people who love to watch fresh, friendly and inspriring anime!

Chihayafuru is a series that surprised me with it's loveable cast and a showcasing of how interesting Karuta could actually be. However, what started off as a promising motivational story about sports (I'll define Karuta as a sport after watching this series) and friendship reached it's peak at episode 15 and never really went anywhere for the final 10 episodes.

Story -, it is just a typical sports anime with a dash of romance and friendship on the side. That being said, it is pretty well written, and the Karuta scenes were pretty edge-of-the-seat stuff. But I felt that often, the story wasn't going anywhere, and ... the lack of progress can be frustrating.

Art - it is Shojou style. I am personally not a big fan of this style, but I will say that it is definitely above average.

Sound - nothing really stood out for me.

Characters - The characters is where this series shines. Each character has an interesting backstory, quirky traits and each leaves a lasting impression - pretty impressive for the large number of characters introduced throughout the series, including minor characters that the main cast meet at various tournaments.

Enjoyment - as I mentioned before, I loved the first 15 or so episodes, but the last 10 were somehow difficult to get through.

Overall - This series was fun, and the cast of characters were some of the best I had seen in a while. However, nothing else about this series really stood out for me. That being said, if a second season comes along, I'll definitely follow that too.

This show is so good, I don't know how to explain it well.

To start off, I can ensure that this Anime will make you cry more than you think it will. Sometimes they are sad tears, most of the time happy ones. It's not what I was expecting it to be. The entire thing was original, and Im pretty sure I'm not the only who has rewatched it a bunch of times...
Okay, so i'll try my best to review this show~

Story: The story started out with a high school girl who looks like she could easily be a model, but no one is perfect. ... When she walks, talks, or even moves, she loses her beauty and all thats left is a girl who looks like she needs to calm down a tad. It turns out, she was a "karuta-baka" Someone who was addicted to Karuta to the point where they had spent their entire life trying to become the Queen. Well, it turns out there was a reason to it all.
Flashback to elementary school, Chihaya had a bunch of friends. A new kid named Arata comes along, and everyone starts picking on him because he was "different." The bully of the class, Taichi decides to pick on anyone who tries to befriend him. It just so turns out that the person who actually tried to befriend him was Chihaya. Taichi decided to bully her too. Thus everything plays out. Arata introduces karuta to Chihaya, and she falls in love with it with the words, "If you become number one in Japan, you become number one in the world."
After a few episodes of flashback, we comeback to high school, and it turns out that Taichi enrolled in her school as well. This is where the tears begin. (If they haven't already... They had for me~) She creates a club, gathers friends, and the battle to the National Tournament begins.

The thing I like about this sotry is the writer took a sport that wasn't well know at all, and has created something that makes you ant to try out the sport as well. here in Japan, kids are playing karuta, and it turns out we have more that we have ever had, trying the sport out. I find that amazing.

Art & Sound: The art was really pretty. You would thing that some scenes must have taken ages to draw up, thats how detailed they are. And you get to enjoy those scenes throughout the entire series. Honestly, I really loved the art.
The music is really pretty, and it is soothing to listen to. I actually put the entire OST into my iPod so I could listen it over and over...

Character: Chihaya is really an interesting character. You want to support her throughout the story, and it is hard to ignore the fact that she is trying to get to the top with a reason... Arata, as far away he might be, she wants to see him again. That is her momentum to keep going and somehow she manages to intrigue others to help her through it... Gotta love all of them... WATCH IT O-O

Enjoyment: I loved it. I love love loved it /o/

Overall, There was nothing I can say that I hated throughout anywhere in the story. It was fun, it was outstanding, and I couldn't wait for the next season!

P.S. I recommend this anime to those who like animes where the main character is trying to accomplish a goal, and finds a hint of romance along the way.

Chihiyafuru is a josei comedy-drama series focused around a high school girl named Chihiya and her interest in the Japanese card game of karuta as she assembles her own school club devoted to the game and competes in a number of competitions with them. Much like Hikaru no Go did for the Chinese game of Go, Chihiyafuru boosted the popularity of competitive karuta games immensely when the anime aired back in 2011. The series takes its time to explore how Chihiya became acquainted with the game of karuta as the first few episodes of the series are devoted to how she befriended Arata and took ... interest in the game. Several more episodes in the series are used to introduce additional members to Chihiya's newly formed school karuta club, each of whom either being experienced or newcomers to the game. The series shows the gradual developments of the karuta club through their competitions as they learn to improve their skill in the game and get introduced to a number of other karuta players who also get their fleshing out. A plus that I would give Chihiyafuru over Hikaru no Go is that the game of karuta is more accessible for viewers than Go as the game is more focused around memorization and reactions compared to Go's focus being on strategy and tactics, thus making it an easier game for newcomers to adapt to.

I do have a number of issues with this series. Chihiyafuru has a tendency to milk melodrama at a number of points in its run during tense moments in the competitions that Chihiya and her club go through. While such exaggerated emotions may seem appropriate during losses and setbacks experienced by the characters, it does get overblown when milked during the middle of a game and less tense points of the title's story.

Also, my thoughts of Chihiya as the title's lead character are rather underwhelming. While her strong devotion to karuta is an admirable trait, her single-mindedness towards the game borders on obnoxious and there wasn't much else that stuck out for me with her character. Her character didn't seem to grow or develop at all throughout the course of Chihiyafuru as she is still the same energetic and naive tomboy that viewers are introduced to at the start of the series. Compared to the titular male lead of Hikaru no Go whose character gradually matured and his skills in his game of interest improved, I have to question why I should care for Chihiya as a lead character in this series as I cared more for her teammates in the karuta club than I did for her.

While not prominently focused on, there were a few points in the series where I found myself questioning the parenting of some of the families for major characters in the series, most notable instance being the neglect Chihiya received from her family as they are more fixated on her older sister's modeling career. In addition, the series ends just as Chihiya's second year in high school starts up and the series continues onward into its second season the following year.

Overall, I would say my thoughts on Chihiyafuru as a whole are mixed and its praise by many seems mostly exaggerated. While it is nice to have another series like Hikaru no Go that delves into another game unique to Eastern cultures and having some solid side characters, the show's dabbling into melodrama and its rather shallow lead character were major bumps in my enjoyment of the series. I'm not sure if I would even want to dabble into the show's second season.