“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
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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!
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Apr 22, 2016
Chihayafuru
(Anime)
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“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 ... 
Apr 22, 2016
Aria the Natural
(Anime)
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Dear customers, allow me, your Undine, to guide you down the many waterways of Neo-Venezia. It is a beautiful town with many sincere people and beautiful sights. While simple and honest, I hope that the sentiments of this town touch your hearts.
Often labeled as ‘relaxing’ and ‘cute’, Aria is definitely a soothing experience that you can kick back to after any day. However, to write Aria off as just that would be imprudent. While it can be watched solely for those reasons, I believe it is truly a heartfelt and down-to-earth journey down life’s avenues. With a multitude of gently suggested morals and life stories, ... |
