Chihayafuru Episode 17 Discussion

LittleStar said:
I really don't get it...
I know Chihaya will end up with Arata,
since she always "Arata! Arata!"
but Taichi!
He always for her!
Always support her!
Aways help her!
So I ask you...
Why she have to end up with Arata!
I love him too...
Well... I prefer Chihaya, Arata and Taichi stay forever frends!
But if she have to pick someone please...
Pick Taichi!

Oh... When I start watching this anime,
I made promise to myself to not shipping anyone...
but after all these Taichi/Chihaya moments!

If they gonna make Arata/Chihaya,
then bring him to this anime!

kicayek said:
Well, I personally think that there isn't anything special going on between Chihaya and Arata. She is his friend, it is obvious that you will miss your friend when he is far away. I think that if Taichi would be the one living in different city, she would miss him and think about him in the same way she thinks about Arata. Yeah, sure, Arata was the one who taught her how to play karuta and she eventually got to love it, but Taichi did other meaningful things, like he is the one always supporting her. I think that currently she doesn't feel anything towards any of them or she just doesn't see it yet. Though I think she won't pick either Arata nor Taichi.

bootyjon said:
i beg to disagree, if you read the manga from vol1 and vol2 remember after elementary the three of them study in the different midle school but chihaya never forget arata she always sent a letter and postcard to arata but never do that to taichi. yeah taichi always support chihaya that's why he categorized as a puppy, it's a wrong notions to believe that a women will love you back because you always support her, actually there a more a chance you trap in a friend-zone if you will always stick your nose to women. if you want a fact and hard evidence go read the manga, the manga will speak itself.

TBOkmph said:
So if there's one thing I've learned from it is that more prostitutes means rich green.

...Yeah somehow I don't trust the translation of this subs I've saw. XD Or maybe I'm just missing some deep poetic meaning that can give any sense to that. xP

kittybell said:
I think Chihaya will eventually see all the cards as colours like the 'impassionate' card. This is what I've thought from the beginning when that card was first coloured.

keeetz said:
Everyone talks about Chihaya's love because we are omniscient viewers. We know more about Chihaya than she knows herself. lol

And the meetings between Chihaya and Arata were definitely NOT minor! Those scenes prompted one of the most crucial developments in the series. During the first meeting in Fukui, viewers/readers find out why Arata stops playing, and due to Chihaya's letter and visit to Arata, he began to think again about karuta. In the second meeting, because of Chihaya's hard work, Arata remembers how much he loves karuta and begins playing again, aiming to become Meijin.


Yes, right now, Chihaya has complete adoration for Arata. If her image is this guy who's super good in karuta and gave her a dream. then so be it. But you cannot say that's merely an image of Arata because that IS Arata. And you cannot say that that's only the elementary school Arata because that aspect is also evident in the current Arata.

The fact that he's dreaming to be a meijin and the fact that Chihaya sees him as a hardworking person is not a figment of imagination because that is the truth. And it's not unusual for adoration to turn into love. For example, Skip Beat.

Right now, her romantic feelings for anyone is dormant, but it's definitely there. The romance in this series is not really straightforward except for Taichi's monologues that screams "HEY I'M IN LOVE WITH CHIHAYA". I feel that his loud romantic thoughts are hushing away the subtle whispers of amor that Suetsugu-sensei puts in her work.

For example, the interpretative meaning of Chihayaburu, a poem about "deep red love." In both the manga and the anime, the mentioning of the "deep red love" is accompanied by a scene/panel of Arata behind a COMPLETELY red backdrop.

What about during the regional competition when Nikkuman & co. talk about how Chihaya is constantly texting Arata? Even Kana-chan mentions that the relationship between Chihaya and Arata is that of the love poem, "Swift waters parted by the jagged rocks are joined at river's end."

What's amazing about this anime is that it uses the Hyakunin Isshu poems to narrate how these characters feel. (like when Nikkuman uses tennis as a replacement of karuta, ex. "The world offers no escape. Even I hide in the mountains, only to hear the haunting cry of deer")

Take a look at this poem. It's not part of the Hyakunin Isshu, but it still has a meaning to the story.
"The crimson sunset sets these forbidden fields aglow. Wave not, for the guards may find us."

This was recited by Kana-chan on the day they arrive at Omi Jingu. And Chihaya also recites this poem as well. As Kana has stated in the anime, this poem is about the never-changing love of a man and a woman even after separation. If anything, this poem can relate more to Arata and Chihaya than Taichi. Thus, Taichi isn't the only one whose feelings have not wavered. If you're still not convinced, listen to Chihaya and Arata's character songs. x_x;

Anyway, a lot more miraculous things occur between Chihaya and Arata than ChihaTaichi. Her sudden fatigue and meeting with Arata during Omi Jingu seemed like a God-given gift in disguise. It was as though the Universe (in this case, the mangaka) approves the relationship between Chiharata.

I feel that many people support Taichi because of his obvious monologues. Yes, Taichi cares for Chihaya deeply. And it's heart wrenching to know that there's a man who loves a woman so much that many can't help but give him support. But, if they were to go out, I don't think there would be much development between them. It would be too normal. Furthermore, it would mean that Chihaya is settling because Taichi does not share the same dream as Chihaya. To many of us, karuta is a boring sport. But for Chihaya, it's magic; it's the most amazing thing on Earth. That's why arguing that "If Chihaya goes with Taichi, her life doesn't always have to be about karuta!" is invalid. Many are simply saying that because they don't think highly of karuta as she does. That's why the person that can potentially satisfy her needs is Arata because he's just as crazy for karuta.

And yes, Taichi's smart and rich. Arata is poor. But Arata is different from his family. He's a genius and hardworking (all work and no play). He has photographic memory. That's why arguing that Taichi will take care of Chihaya is easy to rebut. Arata has just the amount of potential (or even more) than Taichi to support her financially (if you want to go that far into life).

And I could mention more about how Chihaya isn't just thinking of little Arata, but I would be taking evidence from parts in the manga that have not been shown in the anime.

keeetz said:
Everyone talks about Chihaya's love because we are omniscient viewers. We know more about Chihaya than she knows herself. lol

And the meetings between Chihaya and Arata were definitely NOT minor! Those scenes prompted one of the most crucial developments in the series. During the first meeting in Fukui, viewers/readers find out why Arata stops playing, and due to Chihaya's letter and visit to Arata, he began to think again about karuta. In the second meeting, because of Chihaya's hard work, Arata remembers how much he loves karuta and begins playing again, aiming to become Meijin.


Yes, right now, Chihaya has complete adoration for Arata. If her image is this guy who's super good in karuta and gave her a dream. then so be it. But you cannot say that's merely an image of Arata because that IS Arata. And you cannot say that that's only the elementary school Arata because that aspect is also evident in the current Arata.

The fact that he's dreaming to be a meijin and the fact that Chihaya sees him as a hardworking person is not a figment of imagination because that is the truth. And it's not unusual for adoration to turn into love. For example, Skip Beat.

Right now, her romantic feelings for anyone is dormant, but it's definitely there. The romance in this series is not really straightforward except for Taichi's monologues that screams "HEY I'M IN LOVE WITH CHIHAYA". I feel that his loud romantic thoughts are hushing away the subtle whispers of amor that Suetsugu-sensei puts in her work.

For example, the interpretative meaning of Chihayaburu, a poem about "deep red love." In both the manga and the anime, the mentioning of the "deep red love" is accompanied by a scene/panel of Arata behind a COMPLETELY red backdrop.

What about during the regional competition when Nikkuman & co. talk about how Chihaya is constantly texting Arata? Even Kana-chan mentions that the relationship between Chihaya and Arata is that of the love poem, "Swift waters parted by the jagged rocks are joined at river's end."

What's amazing about this anime is that it uses the Hyakunin Isshu poems to narrate how these characters feel. (like when Nikkuman uses tennis as a replacement of karuta, ex. "The world offers no escape. Even I hide in the mountains, only to hear the haunting cry of deer")

Take a look at this poem. It's not part of the Hyakunin Isshu, but it still has a meaning to the story.
"The crimson sunset sets these forbidden fields aglow. Wave not, for the guards may find us."

This was recited by Kana-chan on the day they arrive at Omi Jingu. And Chihaya also recites this poem as well. As Kana has stated in the anime, this poem is about the never-changing love of a man and a woman even after separation. If anything, this poem can relate more to Arata and Chihaya than Taichi. Thus, Taichi isn't the only one whose feelings have not wavered. If you're still not convinced, listen to Chihaya and Arata's character songs. x_x;

Anyway, a lot more miraculous things occur between Chihaya and Arata than ChihaTaichi. Her sudden fatigue and meeting with Arata during Omi Jingu seemed like a God-given gift in disguise. It was as though the Universe (in this case, the mangaka) approves the relationship between Chiharata.

I feel that many people support Taichi because of his obvious monologues. Yes, Taichi cares for Chihaya deeply. And it's heart wrenching to know that there's a man who loves a woman so much that many can't help but give him support. But, if they were to go out, I don't think there would be much development between them. It would be too normal. Furthermore, it would mean that Chihaya is settling because Taichi does not share the same dream as Chihaya. To many of us, karuta is a boring sport. But for Chihaya, it's magic; it's the most amazing thing on Earth. That's why arguing that "If Chihaya goes with Taichi, her life doesn't always have to be about karuta!" is invalid. Many are simply saying that because they don't think highly of karuta as she does. That's why the person that can potentially satisfy her needs is Arata because he's just as crazy for karuta.

And yes, Taichi's smart and rich. Arata is poor. But Arata is different from his family. He's a genius and hardworking (all work and no play). He has photographic memory. That's why arguing that Taichi will take care of Chihaya is easy to rebut. Arata has just the amount of potential (or even more) than Taichi to support her financially (if you want to go that far into life).

And I could mention more about how Chihaya isn't just thinking of little Arata, but I would be taking evidence from parts in the manga that have not been shown in the anime.

kittybell said:
I think Chihaya will eventually see all the cards as colours like the 'impassionate' card. This is what I've thought from the beginning when that card was first coloured.

Oh Taichi, creating tension for the viewers again with that train scene. =P