Chihayafuru it is a sports anime, ok. But that's it? For me, it was so much more than that... At first, my expectations were really low because I don't like sports anime (better, I didn't like sports anime) but this anime changed my mind. Even though, I still don't consider it as a sports anime because, for me, Karuta is more than a sport... it's poetry. And then you may ask? Karuta, what's that? I can say that it is the most brilliant "sport" that I know of and that's the main topic of this anime: "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."
Karuta is a card game based upon Japanese poetry, with a hundred poems as cards so memorization is key. The poetry is from the knowledgable book of poetry, or better, a book of hundred feeling placed into words by people of diferent 'worlds'. As such, in this anime you will see the greatness of the poetry and how the characters learn with it.
That's why I say that Chihayafuru is so much more than a sports anime. At least, for me it was. It shows us the greatness of love and dreams, the permission to cry and fight for what we want. Every character is so deeply different but, at the same time, is touched by the poetry. Like Oe Kanade said, Poetry can transcend any barrier. This anime also relates the struggles the characters have to achieve their goal. Even their goals could be different they find in Karuta the way of getting there. They connect and they get strong by playing along with karuta and by being passionate about that.
This anime also has a fresh story of love. It's presented to us, the viewers, a love triangle but it is not overrated. It is told along with the main story and that's what makes it brilliant and tolerable. You feel the presence of that love problems but it is treated so gently that makes you with 'that' right feeling.
All the characters presented are not boring or even overrated. Each one of them are unique in terms of personality and even in the looks. Chihaya is the main character and she's gorgeaus (actually for me it's hard to put a some characters as the 'main' because everyone of them have their place and spotlight). However, it is the others characters that shine, in my opinion. Specially Taichi and Oe. In a few word and quoting some parts of the anime, I'll describe them. I was not expecting that Taichi would turn into such a deep and complex character. At first, seems that 'random shoujo perfect guy' but I am glad that he turned out so much more than that.
"Love is when it isn't fun to be with that person. It's when nothing goes the way you want. When you're not having fun...and yet,,, You still want to be with her."
Oe Kanade it is, indeed, my favourite character in this anime. Even though she's 'secundary', she is really something in the entire anime. She is so deep and has kind of a magic aura, yes! a poetry aura. She's the one who extol and praise poetry. She makes us the characters and us see and feel how beautiful the words can be if spelled/wroted with the heart.
"We share the same feelings that they did in the past. However, Hundred Poets is an anthology of poetry. Their poems are still known a thousand years later, because they expressed their feelings and techniques"//"It's not difficult to compose poetry. You just have to translate your feelings into meter."
Along with that, the art style really delivers in the backgrounds and in the design of the characters. You actually can notice who is it, thank god.
The animation it is pretty good too and makes the karuta matches really interesting and beautiful. The soundtrack is not perfect but it works in the right moments.
So... let's go the objective rates!
Story: 9
Character: 9
Art: 8
Sound: 8
Enjoyment: 10
Overall: 9
I love this anime and, as such, it has a special place in my 'kokoro'. You will experience a wave of emotions because, inevitably, you will get attached to the characters. Don't be stopped because it is a sports game... It is so much more than that so give it a try! “I hope they will fall in love with karuta. The way we did…”
