#chihayafuru marathon

[natsumi-no-hotaru]

Chihayafuru #55: Karuta is so unpredictable... and fun!

AKA. I was completely blown away by how AWESOME this episode is. 

[Previously: The four-on-four team match and all hail the Shiranami Offensive!]

Gosh, what an episode. Absolutely wild, chockful of surprises and oh so meme-able! The pacing is faster and so much happened in 20 minutes. Seriously, a lot and wow, I haven’t felt that energized after watching Chihayafuru in a long while. Not that the last couple of episodes were dull or anything, but they kind of lack a certain spark that makes them truly memorable and leaves viewers at the edge of their seats. This is definitely not the case with Chihayafuru #55. As soon as I finished watching, I felt compelled to start writing, and had it not been for the intense workload and pressure at the office, this post would have come out much sooner. 

Picking up from where we left off, the match between Chi-chan and Haruka entered its most critical juncture, as Chi-chan snatched back the Chihayafuru, the one card that Sakurazawa never managed to take from the former Queen. 

Why she plays karuta

The loss of Chihayafuru was a considerable blow to Haruka, whose inner tumult gave Chi-chan the chance to reduce the card difference and turn the tides in her favor. Facing a fearless young opponent who played with such tranquility and enjoyment, Haruka became trapped by strenuous thoughts of having to “throw off [her opponent’s] pace and not let her have fun”. 

Her elder kid is so cute!!!

Instead of making the overly enthused Aki a burden to Haruka and her pursuit of karuta, the narrative took a step far from the beaten track, in turning his curiosity and budding interest into a source of strength and encouragement for the young mom. 

The game was momentarily interrupted but it gave Haruka just the needed headspace to recall her karuta origin story. Turns out that her parents were also karuta players and she, along with her sibling, joined their karuta practice ever since they were little. Haruka grew into a successful player, as proven by her holding the Queen title for 4 consecutive years, and became a young mom with two adorable kids. Convention would dictate that she should be satisfied with what she had, with the implication of giving up karuta, akin to a part of herself, to focus on her kids. But that was not the choice that her parents made, and this is the one case where “history repeats itself” does not mean a negative thing.

“But the realization that parents can have something they treasure as much as their kids set me free.”

I am once again blown by the bold and mold-breaking direction taken by Suetsugu-san (the mangaka), and subsequently honored by the animation, with regards to Haruka’s storyline and character. At first glance, Haruka had all the family trappings that, in your run-of-the-mill competition narrative, would have weighed her down and turned her into a past-her-prime mom player. But this is definitely NOT the case here. Previously, we have seen how supportive her husband was of her karuta to the point of sharing in the child-rearing and caretaking responsibilities and how Haruka herself was not content to rest on her laurels. All of that culminates in this episode, where she demonstrates a solid conviction to be a model for her children, to show them that a rewarding lifelong pursuit does not need to come at the cost of family. She plays karuta because she wants to stay true to herself and believes that by not giving up on her passion, she is passing on her parents’ gift to her children - a chance to embark on the journey of self-validation and self-affirmation from a young age. 

To this end, there was no other way for Haruka to proceed but to play the karuta that she excels and enjoys. Instead of dwelling on how to break Chi-chan’s momentum, she recovered herself in time to showcase the top-tier hearing that carried her through past games and astonished all. 

In a battle over a multiple-syllable card, Haruka emerged victorious when she swiped at Chi-chan’s card after hearing only the first syllable, which, technically, should not be enough to let her know which card the reader was reading: hers or her opponent’s. Yet it was not a grab made in desperation or blind luck. Haruka knew which card was read with dead certainty because she could pick up on the tonal variations of the card reader (who is from the west like her). There was simply no contest possible for Chi-chan in this regard.

Just as the match was about to take a more serious turn, a curveball came out of nowhere in the form of a card being slightly moved upon the reading of a dead card. 

A moment of confusion gripped the room as everyone tried to figure out who moved the card. 

But for the two persons in question, it was no more than an amusing incident, a much-appreciated reliever of tensions that brought them closer. It is also another instance that highlights Chi-chan’s growing maturity as a karuta player; she would have been so flustered had this been a year earlier. The fact that she could laugh about it and enjoy a bonding moment with her opponent, a former Queen for 4 consecutive times no less, speaks volumes about her mindset and approach to the game. Her little routine of wiping her face, fixing her sleeve ties and hair, and exhaling deeply before returning to the game without a hint of stress viscerally reflected Chi-chan’s inner composure and enjoyment of the game itself.

“I’d thought she’d tense up against a former Queen, but right from the start, and even this close to the end, she’s not getting worked up. Maybe in Ayase’s mind, the only Queen is Wakamiya Shinobu.”

Damn, this moment gave me the shivers. It is precisely why I ship Shinochi - this fleeting yet tenacious connection between two very talented and quirky players, both in search of personal fulfilment through competitive karuta. Previously, Shi-chan found in Chi-chan a promising rival who wants nothing more than going head to head against a Queen that went all out. In Shi-chan, Chi-chan found an indomitable will to aspire to, a constant source of inspiration that buoys her up at challenging moments. If Chi-chan can face Shi-chan after a merciless match and came out all the more gratified for it, then how can she lose heart in front of an opponent lesser than the latter?  

What puts the cherry on the top for me is how these insightful observations do not come from the usual sources, like Kana-chan, Tsutomu, Taichi or more recently, Sakurazawa-sensei, but from Nishida. The fact that he could grasp this facet of Chi-chan’s psyche so well speaks to the bonds between Mizusawa karuta club members. It’s a very beautiful and understated way of showing how much they care for one another’s progress.

“This is it, Taichi”

“Even Wakamiya Shinobu isn’t invincible.”

Mentions of Shi-chan and her defeat at the hand of Arata made for a smooth transition into Arata’s unanticipated loss against the unfavorably compared Tsuboguchi. The latter’s victory was such a major upset that left everyone dumbfounded in the most hilarious of ways. 

LOL, look at their faces. I absolutely DID NOT foresee this turn of event at all, too. Kinda bet on Chi-chan facing Arata in their first official match in this tournament. Turned out that would have to wait. 

Me very glad that it was not an actual bet me made. Would be a major loss here lmao. Who would have thought that Arata would lose here, to high school karuta coach Tsuboguchi-san of all people, cursed or not by the latter’s student? 

Nothing seemed to go according to plan for opponents of the Shiranami Society. Murao-kun, Arata’s senpai, managed a win against Harada-sensei, but at great expense to his stamina. Imagine the kind of unyielding battle Harada-sensei must have waged against this much younger player, to have brought the card gap from 10 down to 4 at the end. 

It was a vicious tug of war for Chi-chan and Taichi, both locked in a tie against their opponents. At a juncture where many would play cautiously, our beloved President and Vice President persisted with the Shiranami-famous offensive style, living on the edge as their sensei and senpai would have it. 

The imagery is a little silly in how it made Harada-sensei and Tsuboguchi-san the dearly departed, instead of the still kicking members of the Shiranami Society; but the emphasis on the bond between all members and the influence they had on each other’s mentality, playstyle and decisions rendered depth to the story, neatly harking back to the team-tournament spirit espoused by Harada-sensei before the quarter-finals, as well as to the desire to stay true to oneself in karuta, as embraced by Haruka at the episode’s beginning. 

Chi-chan ended the game victoriously on the poignant note of “Since I could not hide my love” (remember when Taichi himself pulled through the class A ascension game with this same card?) and promptly fell into sleep on the spot, to the joy and dismay of Kana-chan and Nishida. The only match undecided left was Taichi’s, and as per his usual luck, it came down to a luck of the draw, again. Good thing this was not a cliffhanger cos I was literally holding on to my tea mug for support. 

Feels like Taichi is becoming a Master on his own at luck of the draw...

The instant the reader started reciting, Taichi reached for the card on Sudo-san’s side, before the latter even reacted. It was not that he could hear a decisive sound as the basis for his judgement. It was simply a move borne out of much arduous experience.

Lmao, it was too outrageous even for Sudo-san.

Regardless, GO, Taichiiiiii!!!! *exhaled in relief* Semi-finals, here we come!

Well, before the semi-finals was a somewhat out-of-the-blue segue about Chi-chan’s mother, who sought to juggle between doing her own work and supporting her daughters in their career/pursuit. 

It did find its way back to an unconscious Chi-chan cradled in the arms of friends but still, bit disjointed, albeit an interesting glimpse at the dynamics among the Ayase women.

“I’ll take the loss by default.”

In another surprising turn of event - well not the post-march dead-to-the-world Chi-chan, Hiroshi chose to lose by default to Chi-chan, instead of making her lose by not being able to show up for the match. Certainly one may chalk this up to team spirit but that would not be ... sufficient. Hiroshi’s concern for Chi-chan - “just let Chihaya-chan sleep” felt very brotherly, which is nice because it didn’t seem like she was showered with enough familial care and affection at home.

Taichi is a different story though. It’s not that Hiroshi did not care for Taichi but like a big brother, he knows exactly which button to push to get his sibling fire up, the way he did back at the Omi Jingu team tournament as a karuta high school coach. Hiroshi knew that Taichi needed someone to acknowledge his efforts and progress without sugarcoating the thornier parts.

“Most people here think you’re just a kid who rode a wave of momentum to get here.”

As Hiroshi rightly said, Taichi could never rely on momentum or luck, but pure skill. This helped to bolster his spirit but also placed the weight of expectations on him, as someone with the skill. Thankfully, he was motivated by the fact that Arata would be watching him - a chance to show Arata what he could do now. 

An easy win is not gonna help Taichi mentally and I think that’s partly why he said that he would not have yielded to Taichi, the way he did to Chi-chan, in response to Harada-sensei’s question. Certainly, rivalry also fueled this answer but at the core of it is Hiroshi’s desire to show that he takes Taichi seriously as well as his deep awareness of Taichi’s inferiority complex. 

“This is my first time watching Taichi play.”

Gosh, that cute chuckle of Arata. This is, if memory serves me well, the first time that we got to see Arata showing an interest purely in Taichi, without being occupied by other considerations such as forming his own karuta club or joining group tournaments. His flashback was of the few interactions with Taichi that did not directly involve Chi-chan too - the incident with Arata’s glasses in their early days and Taichi’s tsundere attitude towards playing karuta with his childhood friends. I personally enjoy very much these brief moments of camaraderie between Taichi and Arata and look forward to more of them, be it in the rest of season 3 anime or in the post-s3 chapters of the manga. There is a lot of potential to flesh out meaningful character developments from these interactions, not just from Aratachi or Taichihaya moments. 

Before getting back to Serious Land™, and I do mean it, cos oh boy the ending, here are Chi-chan’s lovely selves.

I do want to see Chi-chan and Shi-chan decked out in all their goofy glory for a karuta game lol.

The perfect defense

In previous episodes, Taichi has shown a certain affinity towards incorporating others’ techniques into his own mentally rigorous playstyle. Against a Murao-kun whose "simple-minded aggressiveness” has been whittled away by the attrition battle waged by Harada-sensei, Taichi held his own and maintained a large card difference against his opponent, even finding opportunities to test out a new pull-back move (which is Sudo-san’s move right?).  

While this battle’s outcome is more or less decided, especially with the large card difference and Chi-chan already being slated for the final, it would be nice to be able to delve deeper into Taichi’s state of mind here. Seemingly in response to the unvoiced question from Tsutomu-kun and Nishida, Taichi mentally pointed to the presence of Arata in the audience, Harada-sensei’s previous whittling effort, and Chi-chan’s absence. I am not quite sure how all these pieces fit together to bring about this version of Taichi; hopefully we will get some insight in the next episode. The most ominous piece is Chi-chan’s absence... considering what several people already said regarding Taichi’s performance in her absence. 

In the meantime, Harada-sensei clearly sensed that in spite of the offensive karuta he was taught, it is defensive karuta that increasingly defined his playstyle and brought him victory this time. I vaguely recalled someone already making an observation to similar effect, was it Sakurazawa-sensei, during the team tournament in season 2? 

And here we go, the match that has been hinted at for quite sometime now - an official match between Taichi and Chi-chan!! 

Chi-chan certainly is the better player and she has proved herself against very strong players, from Queen candidates to actual Queens, so I think there should be no surprise as to the final outcome of this match. Nonetheless, I am certain that Suetsugu-san would not have this important turning point to be without its share of twists and drama. 

Can Taichi hold his own against Chi-chan? Will he lose to himself? And more importantly, what will he do to improve his karuta, especially the defensive playstyle, in the aftermath? I eagerly await the next episode (or episodes, since the match may take longer) and what it has in store for Taichi.

Before ending this post, I just wanna drop a quick note for all readers, new or regular (gosh, do I have any left after more than a year of hiatus). Thank you so much for your support and I am sorry for disappearing for so long. Life has been putting me through the wringer ever since and drained me of any interest in putting out my own written word. This is not the first time this happened, unfortunately. But regardless of my pre-occupations, be it professional, gaming or anime-wise, I remain invested in seeing my series of posts on Chihayafuru to its completion. So buckle up, cos this train is resuming service, to the next episode of Chihayafuru and beyond!

[zeroar]

So brainspotting is pretty flipping rough – Session 01

First session today. Afterwards, I felt like how they describe the marathon that is a karuta tournament in Chihayafuru. Need to plan to bring sugar or chocolate from now on for aftercare recovery. It was very similar to how the aftermath of a meltdown feels sometimes for me (I'm also autistic).

If you don't know what it is, brainspotting is a PTSD treatment that apparently developed from EMDR—Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing—that was described to me as a less-intense process than that. The tentative plan is to start with this and eventually move to full EMDR if needed.

It doesn't have the literature behind it yet that EMDR has, but I can verify that, anecdotally, it definitely does something. Can't say what that something is just yet and the overanalyzing, hypervigilant, raised on "mind over matter"–Me feels somewhat miffed that it is addressing the physiology of my trauma instead of just "figuring out the answer" ... though I suppose if an answer could have been figured out by now...

It was also slow and had a painful (for me) lack of stimulation ... presumably by design.

Anyway, I don't want to get hopeful, and I'm also scared that addressing my trauma this way (if it works) will set me up for more trauma ... though it's not like my current state of constant danger / runaway autonomic response is doing me much good, if any.

Oh, since this is my first post on the topic, I'll describe what my treatment was like from my POV and understanding. The basic idea seems to be that when recalling memories there is a connection between specific "spots" our eyes move to and spots in our brain. So the process starts with recalling trauma/uncomfortable memories, focus in on the tension and feeling in the body as a gauge, and then follow a pointer with my eyes, using the feeling in the body to find a location where the tension is strongest. Some purportedly calming meditative music track starts playing while staring at the spot/point where the tension is.

I was advised to let my mind wander while staring, but I don't know if the idea is to disassociate that "brain spot" from the trauma by having wandering thoughts or if it was some allistic (non-autistic) idea of "wandering" and it didn't matter what I thought of while staring or what. I had a very difficult time maintaining my sight on the spot, partially due to having a lazy eye and also because my thoughts were "wandering" to the memory of trauma. I kept having to close my eyes and refocus on the point and every time was like pushing into the tension. I stared at the spot for ten minutes in silence (well, music was playing), then my therapist moved the pointer to a different spot and I stared there for some additional amount of time.

The amount of relief I felt, both mentally and physically, from staring at a different spot was unexpected. It was so distinct from being in the tension spot. That was when I was like, oh, this is definitely something.

Then I went back to staring at the tension spot. I think for another ten minutes. Then coming out of that spot, finally, following the pointer down and closing my eyes and having my eyes closed while focusing on breathing for a few minutes. I thought I was going to fall straight asleep at that point and I honestly might have dozed off briefly.

Afterwards, I was unsteady, mentally exhausted, and physically drained. I probably shouldn't have driven as quickly as I did and in hindsight I feel like I should have done some sort of physical activity to reconnect my brain with my body (such as a walk around the block or something).

It seems like the idea is the brain silos those memories with those spots, but again, I dont know if the idea is to reinforce the silo or to break down the wall of it. I anticipate the ideal solution is probably different for different people and maybe even for different memories of trauma for the same person. There's so much people just don't know about the brain.

My layperson intuition is it seems like the idea is to trigger the trauma physiologically, then mentally go elsewhere while maintaining the physical connection to the trauma. From this, it seems like EMDR would be the reverse? I.e., mentally trigger the trauma while physically going elsewhere (at least via vision).

I need to clarify what having my thoughts wander means next time. Although, it's possible that the right answer isn't known because it's too nebulous/vague at this point in the research.

I know everytime I closed my eyes to refocus on that spot it brought me back though. If you want my mind to wander I need to look around. We weren't even doing any of what I consider my more major traumatic events, today.

My thoughts just kept going back to things like my childhood pair(?) of footie pajamas that child-Me could wear to be covered from neck to toe. I wondered why child-Me kept so still and quiet, being afraid to breathe while lying there. Remembered being scolded for having my eyes open and not going to sleep.

... it was a lot.

I've mostly been in bed since getting home. I'm still pretty drained. If it was colder I'd be under my weighted blanket. My therapist advised that I'd be drained and said to not feel like I have to push through it. But it was just staring and thinking.

I will add that it didn't feel like ruminating because I couldn't escape inside my head. It had a bit of that circularity or being penned in like ruminating sometimes feels like, but having to stare at the same point was like poking at a wound more than racing in a panic or working myself up.

So yeah, thanks for reading. I'll keep writing as I go but I think that's good for today. It's just the first week for me here.

[narumi-gens]

Top five JJK characters you’d watch anime with

Top five jjk characters I would watch anime with (and what types of anime we would watch together):

1. Itadori - Itadori is such good best friend material that watching anime together would be so much fun. You would both be freaking out at the same parts and laughing at the same parts, so it would be a great time. He’s probably the guy you watch that season’s big anime with, your demon slayers, your my hero academias, etc. (and honestly your jujutsu kaisens.)

2. Miwa - I WANT TO WATCH HORIMIYA WITH MIWA. That’s all I have to say about that.

3. Junpei - Junpei seems like he’d be super into having a Satoshi Kon marathon, just binging all of his movies and then all of paranoia agent. And then we would go down a youtube rabbit hole watching video essays of people analyzing what his films were trying to say. 

4. Yuuta - I just want to watch something soft with Yuuta. I feel like he actually might be into something like chihayafuru bc it’s not your usual sports anime but is just as interesting and I don’t have any friends who watch chihayafuru so this would mean I could talk to yuuta about it. 

5. Momo - I mean...I want to watch kiki’s delivery service with her for very obvious reasons.

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: 21 Great Anime You Should Absolutely Watch In 2021

    Happy Anime Day! With every season bringing a plethora of new series, there are now countless shows and movies, both new and old, to watch. Whether it's adventure, comedy, romance, or drama you're looking for, here are 21 anime series you should add to your watchlist in 2021.

      1. My Hero Academia Season 5

When it comes to the next chapter of My Hero Academia, 2021 couldn't come fast enough. Season 4 showed audiences just how high the stakes really are and how dangerous the enemies can be. Season 5, which recently premiered in March, will not only deliver high-level action, but we'll also get more time with the great slate of heroes and villains showcased last season.

      2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train

After hearing the news of Mugen Train dominating the box office, the time has come for North American audiences to experience this highly anticipated film. Mugen Train will be available for digital release this summer and will help fill the void fans of the series have been feeling since the season ended. And we can always revisit Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba in the meantime.  

      3. The Devil Is A Part-Timer

The Devil Is A Part-Timer! offers lots of comedy with all the appeal of your traditional fantasy series, but it takes place in the modern world. Demon Lord Satan gets transported to Tokyo, and while his original goal was to take over his homeland of Ente Isla, Satan finds a better path to world domination ... climbing the ranks at the local MgRonalds! It's fun, it's wacky, and it's one of those series we never thought would get a second season, until now.

      4. Given The Movie

Talk about a bag of mixed emotions. Like the series, you'll feel proud and happy one minute, and then a pile of mush the next. Given The Movie provides a touching viewing experience following these fractured characters as they navigate their personal feelings, as well as expressing their innermost emotions through music.

        5. Hunter X Hunter

2021 marks the 10-year anniversary of Hunter X Hunter. Whether you've never seen this series or you've re-watched it hundreds of times, come celebrate this epic title's milestone!

      6. MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD

MEGALOBOX brought all the charm of a '90s anime, but with the story of a futuristic society that takes boxing to a whole other level. Gearless Joe made a name for himself in Season 1, and although things have changed and gotten complicated, he's "not dead yet." For Joe, the fire still burns within him, and he seeks to fight once more. 

      7. Osamake: The Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won't Lose!

Finally, a series where the childhood friend captures the heart of the MC ... I hope? It is a harem after all! Osamake: The Romcom Where The Childhood Friend Won't Lose! has a whole lot of comedy, a whole lot of shenanigans, and a noticeable amount of ... revenge. It looks like an epic competition is about to get underway!

        8. Chihayafuru

If you're experiencing Haikyu!! withdrawals, then Chihayafuru may be the next best sports anime for you! Now don't be fooled. Although Chihayafuru is all about Karuta, a Japanese card game, it still delivers the same level of development and high-stakes settings as other sports anime. This may be one of those series you always saw around but never watched but if there was ever a time to binge, it's now!

      9. Tokyo Revengers

With the manga receiving much praise, probably one of the most anticipated anime adaptations for 2021 is Tokyo Revengers. Motivated by tragedy, Takemichi Hanagaki finds himself in the past, climbing the ranks of the Tokyo Manji Gang in order to change destiny. He may not appear the toughest, but he's determined to get through the intense situations he finds himself in.

      10. To Your Eternity

Knowing this is a story from Yoshitoki Oima, creator of A Silent Voice, To Your Eternity, will surely be an adventure that tugs on your heartstrings. Audiences will witness an intimate journey of life and death revolving around an emotionless orb with no identity but can take the shape of those around it. There will be elements of time, drama, emotion, plus Hikaru Utada performs the theme? ... Sold! Want to know more? Check out the full manga catalog here.

      11. Shaman King

A Shaman King reboot was the best present fans of the original series could've gotten as the title just marked its 20th year since the show premiered back in 2001. Fans will be transported back to their childhood, all the while looking forward to a new story that reflects the manga. The series recently aired in April in Japan, and fans in North America can expect to watch the series sometime later this year. 

        12. Horimiya

  If you've been searching for a romance anime unlike any other, then you should watch Horimiya if you haven't already. This series takes everything you know about anime romance tropes, and delivers a series of fresh new twists, making for a warm and cozy viewing experience.

    13. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

If in between all the action and comedy you need a good slice of life series about friendship, Anohana is the series for you! The original series aired 10 years ago, but sometimes a trip down memory lane is exactly what you need. Plus a new visual and news of an upcoming project will surely get you pumped to hit play.

      14. The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2

Thinking he'd be the hero in this new fantasy world, Naofumi Iwatani ended up being hated, shunned, and stigmatized at the beginning of The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 1. But as he journeyed on, he developed genuine relationships, gained valuable trust, credibility, and gratitude from others. Season 2, airing in October, is ready to continue with Naofumi's journey and progression.

        15. Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S

Miss Kobayashi Dragon Maid has it all! This series draws you in with its cute appearance, but it surprises you with its mature moments and shocks you with some unexpected sizzle. Plus it has dragons, maids, and sweet raps! Be sure to check out the second season's adventures this July. 

    16. One Piece

  If you haven't already committed to the legendary behemoth One Piece, now may be a good time to start. The anime is set to hit its 1,000th episode this year, and while diving into a series that's so far along can seem intimidating, if you've been spending a lot of time binging TV lately, this series could be your next big marathon.

      17. S8 the Infinity

Take the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games, and mix them together with vibrant, aesthetically pleasing animation and cool action scenes and you have S8 the Infinity. Sports anime has been really expanding its catalog lately, and this series is an entertaining addition to the genre.

  Image via Hulu

  18. The Wallflower

A little bit of nostalgia is nice to mix into your anime watchlist. If you're a fan of Ouran High School Host Club, then you'll love The Wallflower! It's got some handsome boys, a cute and quirky girl with a fascination for all things dark and scary, and all the ridiculous antics of a harem!

      19. Death Parade

Death Parade has stayed under the radar, but it at least deserves to be on YOUR radar. A story about the afterlife where a bar represents limbo and its bartender decides the fate of the souls in front of him whether they experience reincarnation, or disappear into the void by playing a game. This is a psychological, thought-provoking drama with some mystery, as we don't know the true nature of the people in the bar, or what led them to where they are. Those secrets will eventually be revealed as the game plays on.

    20. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Like Hunter X Hunter, this year also marks the 10-year anniversary of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Madoka was and to this day still is a defining series that was a real game-changer for the magical girl genre, showing just how much danger magical girls face. It's a must-watch if you haven't already, so make a contract with yourself to watch or re-watch this series sometime in 2021.  

    21. How To Keep A Mummy

  How To Keep A Mummy is a heartwarming episodic series to watch when you want to have a feel-good time! Friends and classmates spend time together with their mythical creature companions: A precious, tiny mummy who anytime he holds anything will make your heart melt, a somewhat hot-headed but caring oni, a clever dragon, and a fluffy baku. After catching up on everything on your watch list, have fun with this series to round out 2021.  

What anime will you be watching in 2021? Let us know in the comments!

        Veronica Valencia is an anime-loving hot sauce enthusiast! You can follow more of her work as a content creator on Twitter and Instagram.

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Veronica Valencia

[kazetoame]

So, I kinda paused my Chihayafuru rewatch/finally getting to season 3, to read fanfics, bad Moshi! Picked up my marathon bug with other series. How not to summon a Demon Lord, this series reminded me how much I love harems. It’s more comedy hijinks than practically porn that was prevalent in Testament of Sister New Devil. The main character was very relatable. The other one, which I just finished, was Toilet-bound Hanako-kun which totally reminded me of Haunted Junction (I think I might have just revealed my age). It was cute, engaging, and much fun with a deeper story that I would like to know.

From How not to summon a Demon Lord, I rewatched this scene a few times, it was quite funny to me, especially how the seiyuu says “I cut it too much.” I will probably revisit the series to hear the dub (both on Hulu).

The art style for Toilet-bound Hanako-kun is a bit different from the other series I’ve watched lately, I liked it. The comedy is always a delight with me. Poor Nene-san, girl has thick ankles where a running gag is that they look like daikon. Yet, she’s cute, sweet, enjoys gardening and she just wants to find someone who likes her, akin to any teenage girl. So what is a girl to do, make a wish to the spirit who haunts the girl’s bathroom of course! Except, this Hanako-san turns out to be a boy. Add in a boy from a family of exorcists and poof! Comedy of spirit world proportions! Oh, and the cutest of spirits, Mokke:

[sonaslife]

bro,, i just want to marathon-watch avatar: the last airbender or fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood or the chihayafuru movies with someone, is that too much to ask out of life ??

[makapedia]

in my newly acquired free time i am trying to marathon all of chihayafuru before the third season starts 

[save-the-data]

Hottest 100 Japanese Actors 2018 (Under 30)

First 10 / 11-20 / 21-30 / 31-40 / 41-50 / 51-60 / 61-70 / 71-80 / 81-90 / Last 10

61. Chiba Yudai, kept to a busy 2018 schedule with four movies and an equal four dramas for the year, including reuniting with ex-tokusatsu actors in  N.Y. Maxman (2018) and part of the 97th NHK Asadora drama Warotenka. 

62. Hirano Sho, had a big outbreak role with  Boys Over Flowers Season 2, playing the lead character as well as appeared male lead in the two love stories  Honey (2018) and  You, I Love (2018). 

63. Hayashi Kento, captured the hearts of many Japanese and international fan with his gay character in  Ossan's Love as well as appeared in two dramas and three movies. 

64. Sometani Shota, quiet compared to previous years (probably to be a father to his son) the year 2018 saw Sometani act in three movies, including the Chinese folklore  Legend of the Demon Cat  as well as his appearance as Buddha in the drama series Saint Men. Next year however seems to be normal, with Sometani already cast in two movies, including the all-star action  Samurai Marathon 1855. 

65. Morinaga Yuki, continued his ‘nice-guy’ acting with three movies, including the conclusion film  Chihayafuru Part 3 (2018) and appeared as part of the supporting cast in both  A Forest of Wool and Steel (2018) and  We Are (2018). 

66. Iwata Takanori, had his first lead in a drama since High and Low with Hotel on the Brink and had a face-off with veteran Saito Takumi in the suspense movie  Last Winter, We Parted (2018). 

67. Yamazaki Kento, didn’t stop his 2017 momentum with two popular dramas in 2018 ( Kiss that Kills and Good Doctor) and acted lead in the movie  A Forest of Wool and Steel (2018). Next year he takes on an even bigger role with action movie Kingdom (2019). 

68. Kai Shouma, newcomer Kai as like many of his Kamen Rider pals continued acting with Kai appearance in the drama Are You Ready? Hey You Girl! and flow-on movie  Lock-On Love (2018). 

69. Hayato Sano, M!lk member Sano kept busy with five movies ( Chihayafuru Part 3,   Real Girl,  A Forest of Wool and Steel,  Run! T High School Basketball Club and  Blue Summer) as well as appeared as part of the all-star young cast in the  Kiss that Kills. 

70. Sato Ryuga, this Johnny Jr. is one to watch with a breakout role in drama series  Zero: The Bravest Money Game (2018). 

[sawamura-daichis-thighs]

aaaaa okay ;a; iwaoi please? (queeniwa)

my pleasure @queeniwaizumi​ :D thank you!!

send me a ship & i’ll tell you…

who is more likely to hurt the other?Iwaizumi but it’s all in an effort to express care or concern (see: him headbutting Oikawa in middle school). He always feels guilty if a punch is a little stronger than he meant.

who is emotionally stronger?Iwaizumi; Oikawa is better than he used to be but certain things can still really eat at him and get him down.

who is physically stronger?Iwaizumi (have you seen those arms??)

who is more likely to break a bone? Oikawa, with his penchant for overworking himself…Iwaizumi wants to break another in retribution for Oikawa’s idiocy but he just begrudgingly gives him plenty of TLC until he’s better

who knows best what to say to upset the other?They both know which buttons to push to really get under the other’s skin but they don’t take advantage of it. They had one really huge fight due to this and once they made up it became an unspoken agreement not to stoop so low again

who is most likely to apologize first after an argument?They’re both ridiculously stubborn so it usually ends up with them kind of edging around an actual “I’m sorry”. They’ll do things for each other that they might not normally do (for example, Iwa will record an alien movie marathon & have it set up for a night Oikawa is free; Oikawa will make an effort to worry Iwa less, such as going to bed earlier or coming home from practice straight away, etc.).They can admit when they’ve crossed a line, respectively, though so if it’s really bad they’ll just come out and apologize.

who treats who’s wounds more often?Iwaizumi since, again, Oikawa often pushes himself too hard.

who is in constant need of comfort? Not constant but Oikawa often needs it more than Iwaizumi. He likes being reassured and offered a shoulder when he’s feeling down about something (it’s especially nice seeing as Iwaizumi doesn’t often show his softer side outside of times like these).

who gets more jealous? Oikawa–Iwaizumi is pretty popular in his own right with most anyone he meets and Oikawa really dislikes sharing.

who’s most likely to walk out on the other?N O P E. :) :) :)

who will propose?It could be either of them! & it would probably be something casual too, like one of them just dropping the whole “hey, we should get married” line. It would feel like another natural step in their relationship.

who has the most difficult parents?Oikawa; I envision his mother to be similar to Taichi’s from Chihayafuru–it’s where Oikawa got his drive for perfectionism/success. She’s not uncaring, just practical-minded and sees no point in putting time into something that seems doomed to fail.She was not pleased with Oikawa’s decision to continue on with volleyball after it “became clear” he couldn’t win against Ushijima.Volleyball is the first thing Oikawa rebelled against her for (& later, Hajime).

who initiates hand-holding when they’re out in public?Both; Oikawa is really tactile but when they first started dating he didn’t want to assume Iwaizumi would be okay with PDA. Iwaizumi quickly put his mind at ease over that by continuously holding his hand, regardless of where they were or who was around (he was all “what’s the difference, moron, you’ve been hanging off of me with no regard for anyone since we were little; what’s holding my hand matter now?”).

who hogs the blankets? Oikawa and his damn spindly limbs. Iwaizumi learned when they were young just to keep a spare blanket close by. It’s easier than trying to wrestle any away.

who gets more sad?Oikawa gets lost in his head and over-analyzes sometimes. Iwaizumi knows when to let him be and when to knock him out of it (literally or figuratively, considering the situation).

who is better at cheering the other up?Oikawa! Where Iwa will kind of coddle (or lecture, situation depending) Oikawa until he’s out of his mood, Oikawa will make active effort to cheer Iwaizumi up. He knows all the tricks (& if they don’t work, well, he doesn’t mind a little snuggling until Iwa has worked through it).

who’s the one that playfully slaps the other all the time after they make silly jokes?Iwaizumi (they’re shitty jokes most of the time anyway).

who is more streetwise?Iwaizumi. Oikawa has very little regard for his safety in most aspects (plus he doesn’t feel the need to observe all of his surroundings all the time when he has Iwa-chan by his side).

who is more wise?Iwaizumi. Oikawa is observant and clever but Iwaizumi has this partly-learned, partly-ingrained wisdom.

who’s the shyest? When they first started dating, Iwaizumi was definitely more shy about more intimate things like kissing or hugging or cuddling (even though he was fine with public hand-holding, but that’s because his shyness can be pushed to the back-burner when Oikawa seems anxious).

who boasts about the other more?Oh, both of them do. Oikawa is much louder and brazen about it but Iwaizumi often subtlety brags about Oikawa to others (just not necessarily when Oikawa is within hearing range; don’t want to inflate that ego any more than it already is).

who sits on who’s lap?Oikawa loves just plopping down on Iwaizumi’s lap, even if the majority of the couch is free or if Iwa is working on homework at the table.

[kdramastuff]

I know you've been watching some jdramas, and I'm sorry if I'm not asking it in the right blog. But is the acting good in jdramas? I remember that I really disliked Japanese acting when I was younger and watched the cliché dramas (itazura na kiss, etc). Have japanese actors improved their acting, generally speaking? Or is it still kind of robotic? Thank you

The thing you’re talking about.. most likely.. it’s what usually happens in manga live-actions.. It depends on the genre, but most of those shows require dramatic over-acting to make the characters look like their manga prototypes. It requires some really outstanding skills to pull that off, that not many rookie actors got. So it’s rare for me to enjoy the live actions. If it’s a story that I already love, I can forgive a lot.. for the sake of the new material. But then, they somehow manage to cut out / change all of my most favorite scenes, every time. The other side of the dramas, is.. how do i put it.. The gloomy, depressing slice-of-life shows, or maybe slow psychological thrillers.. They might have the deepest plots, and more natural acting.. But I could never get into either genre. I get bored and upset whenever I try to watch those shows. 

So, to put this simply.. I am not a big lover of jdramas/jmovies myself, and I have quite superficial knowledge of them, too. I usually only check out the works of my fave actors, or live actions for the stories I already know and like, since my anime loving days. I can’t even say I have any actual big faves, besides the Chihayafuru live action movies (that comes from my undying love for Taichi). But I keep craving jdramas at times, just as I occasionally feel the need to marathon a fantasy cdrama. 

[natsumi-no-hotaru]

Chihayafuru #53: What it takes to be the Queen

AKA. In which Chi-chan and Taichi were treated to an overwhelming show of support and older female players bonded over child-raising.

[Previously: Welcome to class A, Taichi]

Welcome back, me, to the world of competitive karuta. 

Though I did technically come back to Chihayafuru with my previous post, I was just finishing off the draft that was half-written prior to my disappearance. So this time feels more like my actual return, since every word is fresh out of the press. Keeping up the writing is proving to be quite a challenge (again, lol) but I will do my best and your company is much appreciated, as always, on this lovely journey. 

While the matches are the focus of this episode, there is just as much to unpack off-stage: the appearance, or more correctly, the return of an extraordinary female player (not Shi-chan), the strangely nice (until not) chat between Taichi and Arata, and the coaches’ thoughtful exchange about Chi-chan’s potential to be the Queen. These little surprises unfolded rapidly before viewers even get to the halfway point, and while they could do with some more congruence, together they highlight the theme of “pursuit” as central to all players present.

The former Queen

And, tada, this is Haruka Inokuma, 4-time Queen and proud mother of two, one of whom is still at breast-feeding age! She is such an inspiring character, what with returning to karuta after pregnancy to reclaim her title and breastfeeding her littler one during break. She is so cheerful, energetic and filled with that fervent, yet unassuming, tenacity that makes you want to immediately root for her. Truly, I am so grateful for Chihayafuru’s wonderful array of strong female characters who all have their stories to tell, and Haruka is another welcoming addition to the cast. If only there are more mangaka like Suetsugu-san, imagine the kinds of empowering stories and positive role models manga and anime would bring to girls and young women!

A husband who’s supportive of her passion and patiently looks after the young ones during her matches - gosh, she’s so blessed and I am so happy for this heartwarming portrayal of Haruka’s partner. Together they make an enviable real-life power couple and a warm, loving family. 

Chihayafuru - Suetsugu-san - truly excels at the little details. It was incredibly endearing to see Haruka’s husband putting on the breastfeeding covering on her. And I love that Coach Sakurazawa came over to enquire after Haruka and ending up being awed by the latter’s dedication as both a mother and a karuta player. You know me (or you would, if you go back to read a couple of old posts, lol), I’m a big sucker for women’s bonding over topics unrelated to any male figure, and Chihayafuru has never disappointed me on that count. 

What is my problem?

Fun as it was to get to know Haruka and her connection with Sakurazawa, it’s time to check on the Mizusawa gang.��

Chi-chan won against fancy-hair senpai from Fujisaki but still needed some time to get used to the feeling of using her right hand instead of her left. Nishida-kun seemed rightfully worried about Chi-chan’s right hand as not having returned to its full strength. 

Interestingly enough but not so surprising that Chi-chan was the one surrounded by her clubmates, and Taichi spent his break by himself - well, not for much longer.

ARATAAAAA!!!

No man is an island, and Taichi is no exception. 

His surprised-blushy face is so adorbbb! And it was just like Arata to be the one reaching out, especially given his heartfelt desire to come to Tokyo and reunite with his childhood friends. He found Taichi at the perfect moment for them to have a lovely chat too!

Turned out that Taichi was using his alone time to forget the card layouts of the previous matches by humming his school song (seriously though, the lyricist’s urm... name is Karuta? lol). Though flustered by Arata’s question, Taichi soon got over his initial hesitation and the conversation flowed naturally as the two boys exchanged methods to reset one’s memory post-match and approaches to memorization during matches with unexpected earnestness.

On memorization during matches

Taichi’s excitement was palpable and Arata just gave away his tactics and tips without any reserve. Gosh they are so so precious. 

You can hear in Arata’s gentle cadence his wholehearted attention for Taichi. Lol, now that I think about it, Hosoyan and Mamo-kun have quite the voice-acting chemistry, huh. It was with Arata and Taichi, and then with Kunikida and Dazai in BSD. So amazing. 

Wide-eyed Taichi ~

A moment of self-awareness dawned on Taichi, who was truly surprised by how easy it was to talk to Arata and how much he wanted to reach out to Arata through karuta. Taichi himself might find it “weird” but it is far from the first time that he found encouragement and support in Arata, even when he did not know of Arata’s presence and despite viewing him as more of an enemy than as a friend at times.

Unfortunately, the good vibes did not last and the conversation soon left the comfort zone for rocky waters. Similar to their last meeting at Omi Jingu, it began with Arata expressing his desire to play as a team, this time not with Chi-chan and Taichi, but as part of his school’s karuta team. 

“He wants to play team matches, too?”

Unlike the last time, what irritated Taichi is not just being on the same team with or facing his enemy but more deeply rooted in his perceived inferiority to Arata in terms of karuta. And as typical of Taichi, he downplayed his contribution to the creation of the Mizusawa club, citing Chi-chan as the one who “brought our club together”. 

The conversation took a swift turn for the awkward and was cut short by one of Taichi’s rare outbursts. 

“I thought you were focusing solely on the Master match.”

It’s ultimately a great shame because confidence or arrogance was far from what motivated Arata. It was his own participation in the school national team tournament, limited as it was, and the bittersweet joy derived from it, that drove him to give team karuta a go. But Taichi, who is still bogged down by insecurities when faced with Arata, read the latter’s desire as an expression of his self-assurance in all things karuta. Mere moments later, after leaving Arata to himself, it seemed that even Taichi did not believe in his words, frustrated as he was by his overreaction (poor kabe-kun had it bad). 

“Think of all those ugly matches where I lost to myself!”

As someone who was stuck in a hyper-competitive mindset for a good part of 2020, I truly worry about Taichi. The more he sees Arata as an insurmountable peak that he had to overcome no matter what, and less as a childhood friend whom he could count on, the more he will be fighting a battle he can’t win, not against his rival, but against himself. 

Taichi was aware of his own psychological pits, but it didn’t seem like he had fully gotten hold of himself. And that gave the Mizusawa gang and Shiranami Society peeps cause for concern. 

The pairings

Chi-chan would face a runner-up Master, aka. a challenger sorely defeated by Master Suo. Setting up the old vs the young, Harada-sensei was paired with Ririka-chan, the talented young girl that Chi-chan once played against.

Another interesting pairing is Sudo-san vs. Yama-chan (Rion). Sudo-san plays a tough game but Yama-chan is not so easy to budge.

Taichi oftens gets paired against uhm... peculiar dudes. Last time, it was Emuro (Ero-senpai) and this was curly-hairpin-kun. Feels like the more hyped up Taichi is for a match, the more likely he will encounter very memorable opponents.

How incredible it is that Chi-chan and Taichi are playing on the same stage! They have come so far, especially Taichi. And this brings us to the question - who’s to watch? Seeing Nishida torn between Yumin, his club senpai, Taichi and Chi-chan, and unable to stop worrying about Chi-chan’s right hand and performance is absolutely precious. Troubled by the same dilemma, Kana-chan stayed true to herself and took the best seat in the house to shadow this round’s reader, whose voice is the textbook audio of karuta.

I love that amid the main action, an amount of screentime is still devoted to exploring Kana-chan’s passion for poetry reading and her ambition to be an accomplished karuta card reader. And the awe-struck expression on her face when the card reader raised his voice and filled the room with the melody of poetry - it was truly visceral.

A dream of silent karuta

The “Naniwa bay” verses recited, the matches began. Takemura took the first two cards with bursts of power and speed; his “tank-like” show of force seemingly overwhelmed Chi-chan.

There was something different about Chi-chan in this match. At the beginning of the episode, she looked like she might be struggling to keep up but Nishida-kun and all of us were in for a pleasant surprise. 

It’s not that her swing was too wide or her capture lacked force. 

Chi-chan’s time with her left hand did not weaken her right hand like Nishida-kun worried; in fact, it even helped her to be more judicious in the application of force and come a step closer to the silent karuta, the karuta that Shi-chan so excels at and that she ardently aspires to. 

While Nishida-kun’s worry for Chi-chan was proven unnecessary, others’ worries might not be so quickly set aside. Just as Chi-chan realized that she forgot to put up her sleeves with the bands given to her by the Empress, the point of view switched to the two karuta club advisors of Mizusawa and Fujisaki. 

It was quite a leap of faith that Miyauchi-sensei took, even in desperation, to seek advice about the possibility of Chi-chan becoming a Queen from a newly-acquainted coach of a rival school. Granted that Coach Sakurazawa took an interest in the Mizusawa students, particularly Chi-chan, and could draw from her own experience as a runner-up Queen to provide a reasonable answer, I still found it incredibly moving that the Empress posed the question without any reserve. Such bluntness shows how much she cares for her student and desires to be on their side as much as possible, even if she is not sure of the proper way to proceed. 

Perhaps Miyauchi-sensei could sense something from Coach Sakurazawa, a certain willingness to engage with the question through her inquiry about the former’s reasons in asking. Perhaps it was for this reason that she let her guard down and revealed the extent of her worry for Chi-chan’s future in karuta and in life, like a silent plea for empathy from her younger colleague.

All of this once again highlights the care that Chihayafuru devotes to character development, even of minor supporting characters like Miyauchi-sensei. I love that the Mizusawa kids, especially Chi-chan, can count on surrounding adults and teachers for genuine support and encouragement. It’s a truly heartwarming moment to watch and so well-placed amid all the tension of the matches. 

Deep in the snow of Yoshino 

The game entered its most heated as tensions and fatigue began piling up. Some thrived in it, like Harada-sensei and Sudo-san who sought to overwhelm their opponents and demoralize them, while others struggled to keep a clear head, like Taichi and Yama-chan. 

Even though his opponent seemed to be of a lower caliber than himself, Taichi refused to let his guard down and demanded nothing less than perfection from himself in his grabs. 

What a misjudgment. Yama-chan is the kind of girl who would get rattled by her opponent’s mid-game injury, not by their taunting about her personal flaws.  

And there are those who remained unfazed by their opponents’ antics and steadfastly marched on toward their goal. Arata was paired against Yumin, a tenacious sort of opponent who would contest for every possible card by claiming that she touched it first. It seemed like a very Arata thing to not argue and like Yumin said, “strive to play clean” and not let his mind be swayed by anything but the cards themselves.

Meanwhile, Chi-chan was steadily gaining the upper hand over the runner-up Master. As Nishida-kun came to realize, Chi-chan’s hand-eye coordination improved by leaps and bounds, thanks to her time playing with her left hand, which enabled her to go after her right-handed opponent’s weakness on the left side with surety and ingrained skill.

“There’s no way that she even realizes it. She doesn’t, but practicing with her left hand all that time resulted in mirroring her body and attack positions. Going after her old weak spots, her own left side and the opponent’s right side, broadened her awareness of where her hand is going!”

Fierce collision burgeoned forth at the instant the Chihayafuru card was read. Both Haruka and Chi-chan sent their cards flying so far that they had to literally go around and ask for the right cards from their decks.

What are the chances that Chi-chan would be meeting her next round’s opponent, the former Queen, this way? 

It was a powerful set-up for a true moment of serenity, aptly amplified by Coach Sakurazawa’s realization of how their cards collided and her ongoing pondering on the Empress’ question of whether Chi-chan can become the Queen. 

For Haruka, tension was just a way to warm her up and get her in the groove. 

I love that Chihayafuru did not shy away from such candid revelations! She is a mother in the breastfeeding period, so she would very likely encounter a situation like this one. 

And look at how supportive and excited her elder kid was! It’s super encouraging to see depiction of family as not an obstacle to the pursuit of one’s dream.

Haruka, from the flashback of Coach Sakurazawa, is certainly intriguing, not to mention a formidable opponent, whom Sakurazawa challenged 4 times but failed to dethrone. Unassuming and modest, Haruka openly shared the “secret” behind her success with the now Fujisaki karuta advisor - simply the ability to “hear well”. Not only does she have a genius level of hearing the likes of Yama-chan, but she also carries herself through the games with solid technique, rich experience, and a vibrancy and composure befitting of a Queen. It would be super fun to see her playing against the current Queen, especially since they have such opposing vibes: warm vs. detached, agile vs contemplative. 

Sakurazawa’s insight proved valuable and enlightening again, as she compared Haruka to someone whose strength we are well aware, aka. Master Suo, the playful trickster that I can’t wait to see again. 

For the team

Haha, this is so deja vu, huh. Another match, another struggle with your psyche at stake. Taichi initially dismissed his opponent for his “too heavy” movements and slowness but halfway through the game, he found that a reduced speed enabled curly-hairpin-kun to make grabs without having to slow down, and with considerable precision. Adding this to the pressure of being “perfect” and there you have it, Taichi’s mind was again encumbered by needless stress, even when he was actually in the lead.

At the very instant where things seemed to fall back into that loop of self-doubt and self-destruction for Taichi, he was struck by the realization that his opponent was not fighting merely to win for himself but also to drain as much of Taichi’s stamina as possible, in the likelier event of losing the game. 

This quiet awareness gave more meaning to his struggle, in the sense that all is not lost even if he could not bring his A-game to the table. As long as he chipped away his opponent’s strength so as to make things easier for fellow members of the Shiranami Society, he still succeeded in making a productive contribution. And I think that helped him tremendously at this lost-in-his-head moment. 

And it’s incredibly moving that both Harada-sensei and his Shiranami-society senpai (Hiroshi-san...?) somehow intuitively gave those lovely pats of encouragement to Taichi with such good timing. It’s like telepathy, I swear. I think it also spoke of how well they understood him and what he needed. Absolutely heartwarming to see that Taichi, in spite of all the things that sought to bog him down, always received the right support from the right peeps at the right time.

Gosh, that adorable face all wowed and awed by that reassurance of affection and care. 

Ehehe, isn’t it nice to have someone looking after you right?

Mamo-chan’s exhale here was the very sound of burdens lifted.

Taichi recovered in time to take advantage of his opponent’s lack of speed. What use is a perfect movement when just covering your card or blocking his grab would suffice?

yayyyyyyy go Taichiiii

Contrary to Sudo-san’s expectations, Yama-chan was only more motivated to put up a good fight the more tired she got. She might not be able to come back from the lead that Sudo-san held but still managed to make Sudo-san expend efforts and stamina to maintain his not-that-significant advantage. 

I’m sorta rooting for this senpai now, lmao. Hope he’ll get Yama-chan’s attention one of these days? But maybe you’ll need to get a bit better at karuta first....?

Sudo-san, don’t underestimate Yama-chan!!!

I love how energetic and radiant she looked, all sweat-drenched and reddened with exertion. It’s all the more perfect that she didn’t bother responding to Sudo-san’s taunts. Action does speak louder than words, after all.

Senpai so moved by Yama-chan’s shining determination ehehe

Don’t ever change, Yama-chan. Please stay like this always. 

Poor Yama-chan finding it hard to keep her priorities straight, thanks to Chi-chan’s enthusiastic meddling from the Fujisaki boot camp. 

Lightning speed on her favorite card!

Bad bad Sudo-san, so misogynistic. Can’t wait to see Chi-chan handing you yo ass. Or Taichi, I’m not picky. 

I kinda enjoyed seeing Arata perplexed by how tired it was to not rise up to Yumin’s card contest bids. But Yumin’s assertion about throwing off his pace if she was able to argue for 4 more cards is pretty worrisome. I am not a fan of Yumin but mm, wonder if Arata might be meeting someone troublesome in the future. He had a close match with Shi-chan back at Omi Jingu but it did not seem to give him this much fatigue...

Runner-up master beaten by Chi-chan, yayyyyy!!! Poor guy though, being trounced by Master Suo and unable to do karuta for half a year is pretty rough.

Love how everyone is so happy for Chi-chan!!! And it makes sense too, considering she was up against a Runner-up Master no less!

Taichi dashing over, out of breath as usual.

Yayyyyy everyone is here to cheer on the gang!!

Another match done and dusted, good job, Chi-chan!!! 

There is no answer in sight yet for the Empress’ question, though Coach Sakurazawa did mention the factors of “fate” and the “times”. Perhaps there is something to be said about them in the coming episode(s)? 

It’s time to face Harada-sensei next! 

Oh wait, I mean, the former Queen Haruka!!! Onwards, Chi-chan!!!!

[bobduh]

Chihayafuru - Episode 7

Chihayafuru – Episode 7

Hey everybody! Today I wanted to watch some Chihayafuru, so damnit, that’s what I’m gonna do. I’ve kinda burned through my buffer of funded Chihayafuru episodes, but hey, that’s what happens when shows have the audacity to be good. Solid character writing and great color work aside, Chihayafuru is fundamentally blessed with a sense of momentum that makes it an easily marathonable show. Outside of…

[natsumi-no-hotaru]

Chihayafuru 54: Who is there left now that can claim to know me well?

AKA. In which the former Queen reminded all of what she’s capable of.

[Previously: Arata gave Taichi advice on memorization mid-match and Taichi’s adorably awed face]

I really should have been more careful about what I wished for. 

Bad bad Sudo-san, so misogynistic. Can’t wait to see Chi-chan handing you yo ass. Or Taichi, I’m not picky.

Yeah... next up against Sudo-san is Taichi. 

I get it though, it really can’t go any other way. Fellow Shiranami members aside, anyone would also be a tough match-up. Haruka is a former Queen, Murao-kun had way too much experience under his belt and had been playing against Arata-kun for ages, and well, Arata is Arata. Would be fun to see Arata vs Taichi in an official match but that is probably too soon for now - like an premature final of sorts.

“Can I make through a match with Sudo-san?”

Taichi’s anxiety and wariness make for a sharp contrast with Chi-chan’s lack of awareness of her opponent and buoyancy in getting to play more karuta.

Once again, Nishida tried to be the voice of reason and a stand-in coach for Chi-chan but it kinda backfired? lol

Chi-chan’s reaction to Nishida’s revelation and words of counsel truly showed how much she had grown. Gone were the days when her game play would be affected by her opponents’ track record, like with Yumin and Megumi Ohsaka. What matters to her now is to play her karuta and enjoy karuta to the fullest.

Meanwhile, the question on the tip of everyone’s tongue was how strong the former Queen is, and another for those in the know is whether she had returned to her former glory. The anticipation was almost palpable, as even the head of Suihoku Society exclaimed that no one wished to have Haruka as their opponent in a conversation with Yumin. And Nishida is not given to exaggeration, so someone who could surpass Shi-chan in terms of game sense is truly worth watching out for.

The individual-turned-team tournament

I absolutely love how exuberant Harada-sensei was - and why wouldn’t he be proud of all his treasured proteges making into the quarter-final stage? 

Like a general rousing the troops before a major battle, Harada-sensei sought to inspire fellow young Shiranami members with his infectious confidence and unshakeable self-assurance. 

All in a such a loud and assertive tone too, lmao. 

Would have made for a good intimidation tactic, had it not been for these battle-hardened veterans and their formidable charges.

Meanwhile, Chi-chan was on cloud nine. 

Before the match began, the audience was far more interested in Haruka than Chi-chan, for obvious reasons. Our dear protagonist was viewed as no more than a capable player who could help them assess Haruka’s performance. 

Chi-chan of course had no idea of such expectations and she went into the game with no more than the usual desire to play her karuta. 

Much as Taichi would like to take heart in Chi-chan’s presence right by his side and the team spirit of Harada-sensei, he was also keenly aware of his own battle and the need to not let Sudo-san’s taunting get to him.

The qualities of a sound

Without further ado, the reader recited the Naniwa Bay verse and the quarter-finals kicked off. All eyes (well, nearly all) were on the highly-anticipated match between Chi-chan and Haruka, and it was certainly the wise thing to do, though not quite for the reason the spectators had in mind.  

No-one could have thought that Chi-chan would take the first card right off the bat, with such decisiveness and surety in her movement. 

Rising to the challenge, she made use of her newly-gained grasp of low and high pitch from Yama-chan to seize the momentum. 

“Maybe what we’ll be seeing today isn’t Inokuma Haruka’s comeback, but a new generation’s takeover!”

Unlike Chi-chan, the former Queen was certainly more conscious of the crowd’s dimming interest in her and rising expectations for Chi-chan’s ascendance. But far from letting it affect her play, she seemed only more determined to assert her presence and reclaim her rightful place. 

Because that future, until which,

you say, you will “never forget”

is hard to rely on, 

oh, if only today could be 

the last day of my life!

In true Chihayafuru style, no poem is coincidental. The poet’s fear of being forgotten by her love resonated deeply with Haruka’s desire to not be dismissed and replaced by a new star, and the second verse’s desperate prayer echoed her perseverance to not give up on karuta after her pregnancy. As Coach Sakurazawa said, she could not be here had she not such enduring passion to come back to the game. 

“It is hard to discern the pitch for the “The” cards, yet she could hear it?”

As befitting of a 4-time Queen, Haruka immediately picked up on what Chi-chan was trying to do and moved it up several notches. 

Haruka’s genius-like hearing was shown to be honed by her experience of many many matches and readers. Pitch is not the only quality of a sound that she could discern, for a sound has many colors. 

“High and low, strong and weak, feminine and masculine, soft and sharp...

Whether the reader is from the east or the west...”

The match heated up as Haruka finished her warm-up and got her hearing back to her usual competitive *read: insane* level. But that is not the only “trick” she has up her sleeve. 

Unlike most players, she does not move her cards to fill the gaps left behind by those that were read. The positioning of her cards does not change for the entirety of the match. I am still not sure as to what she would substantially gain from this unique play style, besides it being a lesser burden on memorization. Nonetheless, regardless of the rationale behind her strategy, Haruka was certainly living up to her reputation and more, convinced that she had yet to reach the peak of her abilities.

The Shiranami Offensive

Things were not looking exactly favorable for the other Shiranami members.  Their attacks were pushed back while their opponents were all taking the lead. Harada-sensei had the biggest card difference of 10, and Hiroshi was not faring much better against Arata and his insane acceleration speed. But the matches were far from a done deal, as the 4 Shiranami members had yet to give up on turning the tide of battle. 

“I still don’t know much about the finer points of karuta but...”

And though all eyes were on Chi-chan’s match and Haruka, one can always rest assured that there would always be a certain avid fan following Taichi’s progress at every step of the way. 

The game was doubtlessly arduous but if there’s anything, Taichi is no stranger to the sort of mind tricks employed by Sudo-san to confound and rattle his opponents. Even when he lost a card to Taichi, albeit by a hair, he still managed to put a demoralizing take on what happened by claiming that Taichi could not see exactly how things went down. 

Since this tactic did not work so well, Sudo-san lived up to his name by taking digs at Taichi’s lack of love life.

oops.

Taichi did not take it well. Nonetheless, true to Sumire’s assessment, he quickly recovered from the psychological attack and gathered himself together. The little voice of belittlement was conspicuously absent and he still retained enough composure to be aware of Sudo-san’s increasing fatigue (thanks to Nishida’s valiant effort to sap at his stamina!) and not be taken in by his aggressive act. 

Taichi’s balanced perspective of his opponent’s strength and weakness in this match helped him clear his head and be free from the usual self-doubt.

And a calm and collected Taichi is one hell of a player. 

It was time for him to display what he had learnt from recent tournaments and the Fujisaki camp, including an upgrade to his movement speed and the tactic to cover multi-syllable cards with few unique syllables, taken straight from Emuro-senpai’s book.  

Sudo-san, he’s not the same Taichi that you met at Omi Jingu anymore. 

While Taichi was pushing himself, Chi-chan exploring the depth of sound, and Hiroshi holding on against Arata, Harada-sensei seized the spotlight with a loud and clear rally call, delivered in his usual style of intimidation. 

“GOT THERE IN TIME!”

He shouted “Got there in time!” after executing a swift and powerful turnabout that allowed him to grab his card after making a move at his opponent’s.

While it’s true that Harada-sensei’s game etiquette was questionable in that instant, I absolutely love that he was still so energetic, at his age and after several games in a row, not to mention during such a tough game.

Harada-sensei’s triumphant shout was a spontaneous move but it was just in time to lift the morale of his “troops”, a call to stay true to the Shiranami method.

First to respond was Chi-chan, who pulled off yet another unexpected feat against the former Queen. 

Sliding a finger into the gap under Haruka’s hand, she managed to take a multi-syllable card that seemingly was already in Haruka’s grasp. But that’s not the only outrageous thing that she aimed for. 

“She’s sending ‘Chihayaburu’ to Inokuma’s side, despite her tight defense? Even if this is offensive style karuta, just how offensive can the Shiranami Society be?”

I absolutely love Suihoku coach’s aggressive commentary that is a constant dig against Shiranami Society. Nonetheless, while it is true that Chi-chan made a rather risky gamble in giving her best card to such a formidable opponent, it was not an act made in the heat of the moment.

Pushing herself to the limits has always been Chi-chan’s creed in karuta. If she’s gonna “be greedy” and aim for the best, then she will need to face opponents head on and make use of all learning opportunities for self-improvement. That translates to not playing safe against a former Queen and sticking to her chosen style of card taking, no matter how unique the placement. 

Even Haruka could feel the mounting pressure exerted by Chi-chan...

The moment of truth!

Both of them were so fast (all I could catch of the animation is their blurred hands)! But unlike the stalemate 2 cards before “Chihayafuru”, there was no doubt as to who reached the card first.

She did it!! The flames behind her are incredibly apt in representing her passion, all the more so given that she got the one card that Sakurazawa-sensei had never been able to take from Haruka, back in her competitive days.

The other battles were far from decided as Hiroshi, Harada-sensei and Taichi did their best to wrestle control of the match from their opponents in their own ways. Hiroshi held on by the virtue of taking cards carefully and relearning the basics while coaching his merry band of karuta club kids. It’s sweet that the kids came to cheer for him and got a shout-out too (in Hiroshi’s mind LOL, not out loud a la Harada-sensei).

Against Sudo-san’s cutthroat karuta, Taichi’s relaxation technique worked wonders in ensuring a clear focus on the cards themselves, prevent him from second-guessing himself and worrying about what his opponent might be up to. 

Among the four match-ups, it is likely that Taichi and Sudo-san are the pairing with the greatest knowledge and understanding of each other’s strength, mentally and physically. This makes for really interesting dynamics, as if they mirror each other. They were both acutely aware of the other’s growing fatigue, particularly after their fumble over a dead card. They ended up being fired up over the same thing - Retro’s victory in his class B final, as their game neared its closing. It would be interesting to see more interactions between these two after the match because difference in play style aside, they are more alike than expected. 

LOL, Harada-sensei looked so fierce here. He’s certainly not one to give up early or easily. 

I truly appreciate the show’s dedication to realism when it comes to portraying the trials of child-raising faced by Haruka and her husband. It’s not easy to keep an eye on a toddler and a baby at the same time, and I’m really curious as to how Haruka would handle her child’s presence in the thick of action. Would she be distracted or remain calm and cool?

This episode wound down with shots of players making tenacious grabs for cards at the last stage of the game. It made for a very intense cliffhanger but as Chi-chan said, this four-on-four team match has been so much fun! All in all, that’s the kind of energy that only true lovers of karuta could manifest, and I can’t wait to see the outcomes of this team match!  

Thanks for reading and see you next episode!

[natsumi-no-hotaru]

Chihayafuru #52: Here comes the Yoshino Tournament

AKA. Kanatomu is back and absolutely here to stay. 

[Previously: There’s a kind of confidence only Ayase-san can give him.]

Gosh, picking this up after a hiatus of 1.5 years is not gonna be easy, lol. Can’t believe that this partial post on Chihayafuru season 3 episode 2 has sit in my drafts for that long. I would like to blame Netflix for getting me hooked on The End of the F*cking World and Haikyuu, but to be fair, it was Genshin Impact. Okay, fine, it’s me. But I dare you to be unaffected upon the sight of and acquaintance with the one true Queen (of GI, obviously not karuta), I dare you. 

... Jokes and finger-pointing aside, I am truly glad to return to rambling about this wonderous world, despite feeling lost and out of tune like Taichi making his way back to karuta in the beginning of season 1. I must admit that I have forgotten quite a bit of what happened in the past seasons - the matches, the characters’ struggles and dynamics. Before sitting down to finish this post, I have re-read my Chihayafuru collections in the hope of filling up the gaps in my recollection but the fact remains that I am truly worried about my ability to do the rest of Season 3 (which is a lot left ahahaha) and the entire Chihayafuru story justice. It is such an intricately and tightly written work thus far, with so much depth and all the details that all tie together.

Nonetheless, seeing Taichi and hearing Miyano Mamoru have never failed to inspire me to do my best at any given moment. So this is for you, Masuge-kun, and me, for us idiots who ran away and could not help coming back to home.  

*deep breath* Now that I got that out of my chest, let us go back to episode 52 because Kanatomu is a thing already. I’m just literally waiting for either of them taking the next step of confession because really, it’s just a matter of time that Kanatomu is canon. So excited for them to be actively turning toward each other and walking the same path hand in hand!!

Before snow falls on Yoshino Village

So many heartstrings were tugged on hearing that sweet bumbling hesitancy in his voice. 

There’s so much about the opening scene of this episode to love, from Arata’s cute blushy face, the return of his less-seen shy self, to his gentle and whole-hearted conviction in the need to keep the karuta world growing via school teams, which are often regarded by traditionalists as lesser players. It’s truly heartening to see friends cheering on our resident soft-speaking, socially distant boy and him declaring his intention to enter the next national team tournament. 

“Our world of karuta can only grow because of team players who keep the game alive, right?”

It was not until this scene that I truly felt the karuta world’s transformative power on Arata and how much he has opened up since his reunion with Chi-chan and Taichi, and his return to karuta. Had it not been for such experience, Arata might have been much more like Shi-chan, closed off and passionate all on her own. While Arata’s plan to form a school team for the national tournament quickly came to a bust, there’s no denying that Arata’s world has vastly opened up, the moment he wished to spread the word of karuta. 

Our fun and peaceful school life rounds continued with Chi-chan and the hardship of figuring out a future path. A certain obstacle will soon be placed in her path but before that, here comes training time. 

You’re not the only one lol. The only move Taichi made was to declare war on Chi-chan... so we’ll have to wait and see. 

Reality, as it looks, is pretty disheartening, huh?

Taichi’s progress was all noted by Chi-chan, especially how much further his strength in memorization had taken him in the game, making him a very formidable opponent in the later half.

Boy is aiming much higher now, heh? Well, one thing is certain - he definitely had Chi-chan’s attention now. A poor shipper can only hope that he would build something substantial out of it, while Arata is not yet back in the picture permanently. 

Perhaps not so surprisingly, Taichi is not the only whose spirits ran high. #everyone_wants_taichi

It’s absolutely hilarious to see these 3 fighting over who got to play Taichi and even better to see the ever gentile and soft-spoken Tsutomu-kun literally snap after an ill-advised argument from Nishida lmao.

Achievement unlocked: one snapped Tsutomu.

There’s a real sense of momentum in Tsutomu’s progress and it would certainly do him good to keep riding on that wind. As Kana-chan so shrewdly observed, going undefeated for an entire day can truly change a person’s mindset. 

And Tsutomu is not the only one energized by the team and individual victories of the club. The competitive bug has taken hold of another, one who has found a guiding goal for herself and started to walk firmly towards it. 

If Tsutomu’s spirited outburst was already quite unexpected for someone of a quiet disposition, Sumire certainly took the prize in being the greatest surprise of them all. She was asked by Taichi to take a turn playing against Chi-chan, who have started to get comfortable playing with her left hand. Sumire was meant to be an “easy” opponent so that Chi-chan could slowly reacquaint herself with using her right hand. While her level may have not seen a big leap but the same could not be said for her determination and resolve to do exactly what Taichi is trying to do - getting on the radar of her love interest. 

That look in her eyes certainly said all. No longer directionless, she now takes tenacious steps with her eyes dead-set on the goal. Her no-nonsense attitude, previously dormant, has taken hold and redefined her character in such a way that completely captivated everyone’s attention.

“I’ll win more in the next tournament. I’m not gonna be class D forever.”

Sumire’s desire to catch Taichi’s eyes being a powerful motivator for her karuta is just in her character. What really strikes me is how enduring such motivation has turned out to be. Seeing this once-flippant and thoughtless girl putting her mind to some real serious pursuit and self-development is truly gratifying. 

It feels a little strange to go back to school with these guys after a whole season of mostly tournament matches in Omi Jingu. Suddenly, school trips are a thing, even Chi-chan is hyped over it. These reminders of them having some sort of life outside of karuta will need some getting used to, lol. Unfortunately, seems like school and karuta will come head to head at some point. 

Apparently, school trip is not something Chi-chan can easily skip for karuta. Even her literature teacher, after reading her love poems to karuta, took upon himself to forewarn the Empress, aka. the karuta club adviser, on how Chi-chan is a flight risk. Downtrodden by thoughts of not getting to go to the Qualifiers, Chi-chan was shaken out of her funk by Kana-chan, who has always sought to instill feminine grace in our heroine.

I do like the idea of performing small acts of good behavior to accumulate good luck. It is similar to building good karma through acts of kindness and charity, and is a very Kana-thing to believe in.

Then came this somewhat bewildering insert of a Japanese lit. period, which touched upon the age-old debate of creator vs. critic and the role of literature teachers as those who pass on “the words of the many who came before”. Like I do appreciate the insights but I’m not sure of their relevance to the story, now or later. But it did make Chi-chan’s face light up so is this some sort of placeholder for some discussion of future career pathway? *shrug* still weird. 

There is finally some good news for Chi-chan: her finger has recovered well after the surgery and her right hand is back! And the Yoshino tournament is literally around the corner, so let’s go! 

Team or individual...?

The arrival and clashes of karuta societies made the Yoshino tournament livelier and stand out from previously seen tournaments, where either the schools or the individuals took the center stage. Chi-chan and company were here to play for themselves and to also represent the philosophy of their respective societies. 

Here comes the Nagumo society, from Fukui. 

And their arch-rival.

I miss Harada-sensei!!!! 

Love how the members are so gentile, except for the coach...

There are also some peeps whose schools are akin to karuta societies, me thinks.

Yay, Rion made it to class A too. That should put her in matches against Chi-chan and Taichi at some point!

Lest I forget amidst all the excitement, but this is Taichi’s first-ever tournament as a class-A player!!! 

Harada-sensei welcoming Taichi to class A and being a proud papa is all the fluff I need. 

Fired up by his own agenda for the Shiranami karuta society as he was, Harada-sensei never forgot to cheer on his Eyelashes-kun, the prodigal child that returned home to karuta.

Meanwhile, Chi-chan had a sweet moment or two with Arata, and then promptly got herself caught up in shenanigans, again. 

blushie from Arata. Now that I think about it, when was the last time that Taichi was this blushy around Chi-chan... Though to be fair, he was too busy keeping up with her antics and too jaded by her less-than-feminine comportment to have time for blushies... 

She looked so cute here, reminding me of younger Chi-chan - so pleased by praise from Arata.

But above all, they are here for the karuta.

Certainly not before meeting Arata again, right?

And here came Sudo-san, whose “s” stands for shenanigan, sadist and stalker.

... Oh come on, he provides commentary for all of Chi-chan’s matches, whenever he’s not playing himself. If that is not stalker-ish behavior, then it’s secret admirer, mwhahaha. 

Taichi = Chi-chan’s tamer.

The stakes just keep getting higher, huh? DON’T TAKE IT, TAICHI!!!

Though I must say I do look forward to a rematch between Sudo-san and Chi-chan, if the mangaka karuta god wills it so. Actually, Sudo-san has yet to play against Taichi thus far, right...? 

*fingers cross* my memory please come backkkk

Lmao, bit early for this pairing to be exciting, considering the last round of team tournament at Omi Jingu. But I would like to see this senpai again, for sure. His puppy love for Rion is so hopeless lol.

It sure is the thread of fate lol. Awww, I do like this President Cheers/Yoroshiku. 

Poor Nishidaaaa, gambatte ne. 

With Chi-chan and Taichi growing by leaps and bounds and having exciting reunions with friends and rivals, it can be easy to forget about the lower-level players like Tsutomu-kun. To think that it only took him about a year (or less?) to reach class B. That, in itself, is quite the feat and his progress deserves all the recognition and spotlight from before and here onwards. While class B proved to be more challenging than he expected, and Tsutomu-kun has a long way to go before becoming a strong player, I do hope that he will have more chances to show his resolve and be more than a supporting character. 

“I should have known a class B match wouldn’t be like class C.”

Unfortunately, this is as far as he got in this tournament. I find it such a shame that we won’t get to see more of Tsutomu-kun the karuta player for now, but I understand that the narrative is building up something spectacular for the trio in Yoshino so Tsutomu-kun’s early elimination would help with the story’s focus, which has been a little all over the place in this episode. 

Before moving on, some appreciation from the girl who has been walking the same path with him since the beginning. 

Kanatomu has always been my comfort ship, especially whenever Taichihaya feels like the most hopeless thing ever. Kana-chan’s openly-expressed affection and care for Tsutomu-kun is truly balm for the soul.  

“You said were going to win so I wanted to be there to see it.”

Both Kana-chan and Tsutomu-kun are the quiet strength that supports and holds the team together. They make for an adorable couple-to-be, with all the chemistry that any pairing could ever hope to have. 

Back to the class A matches, it is with another untimely elimination that this episode ends on.  

Nishida’s tenacity was amazing as always, but I wished that we could have seen more of his match against Sudo-san. At least his Nikuman roll. 

Overall, this episode is a bit of a mixed bag. I do get pumped for the upcoming matches of Chi-chan and Taichi, as well as reunion match(es) with Arata but I am not so sure about two eliminations in one go. I don’t enjoy seeing support characters being used so blatantly as plot devices, especially when they barely have any screentime. Nonetheless, this speaks to Chihayafuru’s strength in character writing, in how the series really gets viewers invested in all characters, regardless of how brief their appearance or their importance to the main storyline. 

Wow, I am here, at the end of my post on the 2nd episode. I still can’t believe that it took me so long to finish it. All the excuses I could have said I did, so allow me to leave you with these parting words. 

Even while in the thick of GI, Chihayafuru still colored my world. There are many reasons as to why one would choose to pull for Kazuha, but for me, it was how he embodies classical Japanese poetry and aesthetics, and manifests it in every aspect of his character design and lore. I literally decided to pull for him because of his maple-themed kimono (which feels so quintessentially Japanese to me) and the name of his Elemental skill - “Chihayaburu”. It doesn’t hurt that his kit (skills) is awesome and totally kicks ass, but truly, I was sold at the moment I saw the leak with his Elemental skill’s name.

And while his “Chihayaburu” does not come from Chihaya’s favorite poem #17, it is still a reference to classical Japanese poetry - the Man’yoshu, or “Ten thousand leaves” collection. And the more you dig into Kazuha’s character, there are more references, like in the voice-overs for his Burst animation (a splendid affair of maple leaves caught in whirlwind) and his musing on maple leaves (in which he recited Ogura Hyakunin Isshu’s poem #5). In a character demo video, Kazuha is also shown to be composing a haiku, while wandering the world. 

There is so so much about Kazuha that appeals to me, and it would take much longer than 2 paragraphs to say it all, but all in all, it is the Japanese poetry so richly imbued in his design and character that speaks to me. And I would not have any appreciation of that, had I not been exposed to it in Chihayafuru.  

Thanks for reading thus far, lovelies! I’ll be dashing off to watch the 3rd episode now! See you, for sure. 

[natsumi-no-hotaru]

The Chihayafuru Collection: Season 2

Previously: Season 1

Choosing the pictures for this post is like choosing yearbook pictures - so many options, so very few slots. The 2nd season has been so much fun, incredibly moving, and filled with so many of my favorite things about this show: strong female characters (both new and returning!) and meaningful interaction between them, doki-doki time with both Taichihaya and Shirata (and Shinochi, Kanachi,..), exciting, goosebump-raising, and hilarious battles, such delicate and thought-provoking weaving of poetry into the narrative, and above all, compelling character development for both the main and supporting cast. 

It’s impossible for me to pick out which is my absolute favorite episode, but I think I can narrow down to best 5 (chronological order): 29, 39, 44, 47, 48, 49. Actually that is 6, right? Lmao. I’m just bad with ranking things in general, even when I have strong feelings about them lol. 

Some last words before I gallop off into the sunset: a big thank you to all of you for reading and liking my posts. They often gave me just the nudge I needed to finish up my drafts and get to this point. So, thanks again. This compilation is made possible because of you and thanks to you, dear reader.

#26: Wilted beauty, wasted time

#27: The expressions of love

#28: My love has grown to fill the river’s quiet deeps

#29: Towards the countless islands in the broad expanse of the sea

#30-31: In this ancient house, what a past to remember!

#32: The Meeting Hill

#33: We all look at the same shining moon

#34: It’s Arata-furu time!

#35: Pride and Memorization

#36: All about Tsutomu-kun

#37: The day that defines our summer

#38: Pining for you in my dreams

#39: The truth of my passion on my face

#40: Perfect whiteness laid on Mount Fuji’s lofty peak

#41: Recap episode

#42: They call this mountain wind the witherer

#43: My fear is a promise unfulfilled

#44: I do not know where this love will take me

#45: Out in the autumn fields stands my makeshift hut of grass

#46: The manly opponent, the girl who played with her left hand, and the boy who didn’t give up

#47: The long awaited midnight moon

A crazed fangirl’s guide to the finals

#48: Part 1: What am I still doing here?

#49: Part 2: How can I find the words to tell you I yearn

#50: Finally at the finish line

Next stop, Season 3!

[natsumi-no-hotaru]

Chihayafuru #51: A new dawn before the night is done

AKA. The first episode of season 3!!! I finally caught up to the latest season!

[Previously: Back to the old apartment where you and I played karuta]

[Shameless plug: Complete Season 2 Collection] 

When season 3 came out last October, 6 years have passed since the season 2 finale was aired. The more I think about it, the more amazed and thrilled I feel at the fact that Chihayafuru was renewed for a third season. How many shoujo anime even got more than 2 seasons? From my limited knowledge, not many. So this is an incredible feat for Chihayafuru, for a shoujo manga whose primary focus is not romance or singing but a little-known card game, one not even that popular among Japanese people. Truly though, banzai Chihayafuru! Banzai!

As there’s such a big time gap between this season and the last, it is no wonder that this episode took some time to reacquaint viewers with the core story line and karuta itself, through a series of flashbacks showing the trio of Chi-chan, Taichi and Arata. We traveled back to that small apartment where they played karuta for the last time before Arata went back to Fukui, where life-long bonds were formed in recognition of their karuta fellowship. Their path further diverged, with Chi-chan and Taichi each going to a different school and finding new friends and interests. Yet, all roads lead back to karuta, if Chi-chan had any say over it and oh boy, she had plenty of say. Had it not been for her persistent efforts to drag Taichi and Arata back to karuta, things would have turned out very differently.

Back to when she was almost Ayase-san of the track team...

She took her new friend to Harada-sensei’s karuta society and introduced her to karuta. We got a brief but helpful explanation of basic karuta rules (I must confess that prior to this, I only had a kind of vague understanding of the rules, gathered after watching game after game, hahahaha) and though Michi-chan didn’t find her calling in karuta, I love that she remained Chi-chan’s friend all the way to high school. 

Chi-chan’s match against Michi-chan, where she completely decimated her new friend, seamlessly led to Arata’s recollection of his first match against Chi-chan and the Chihayafuru card she made her own.  

It was this moment that Arata would later revisit and draw the strength needed to face any opponent. Thematically, it also tied in with the end of Chi-chan’s match with Michi-chan: regardless of their opponent’s inexperience, both Arata and Chi-chan put in their best efforts because they found joy in devoting themselves to karuta, to what they loved so much. 

If loving karuta for Chi-chan and Arata is as simple as breathing, the same could not be said for Taichi. In just a few screens, the complexity of Taichi’s affair with karuta was beautifully laid bare in a most succinct manner. Karuta, for Taichi, was the joy of being in the company of Chi-chan, and was also the humiliation of being a coward and a bully to Arata and the inferiority complex of pursuing something that he believed he had no chance at being the best (read: better than Arata). 

Seasons went by and they grew ever further apart until Chi-chan, by chance, went to the same high school with Taichi... 

And the rest is history.

As fond as I am of seeing the adorable middle school versions of our main characters, the present beckons me back. It’s time to check out the Fujisaki training hell camp!

And they said karuta is not a sport. Lol. 

Training, romance, and bonding 

The training regime at Fujisaki is nothing less than spartan and true to its very name. Enhancing endurance and stamina is a priority, with a slew of physical exercises and activities the likes of mountain running climbing (they really mean it when they said Fuji), coupled with marathons of consecutive matches. Coach Sakurazawa was determined that the participants would be pushed to the limits and that meant having her Fujisaki kids facing off their rivals from top competitors like Mizusawa and Hokuo. Her open-minded, strategic approach to karuta training was the result of her own competitive experience in karuta, of battling scores of opponents to get the right to challenge the Queen five times. 

Intense and serious as it was, the training camp was not without its moments of lighthearted tomfoolery, primarily sponsored by the mascara-holding eyelashes senpai and the endearingly oblivious Yama-chan. 

The denial game is strong with this one. 

“... it’s to improve relations, friendships among club members...”

Lmao

Meanwhile, the girls’ bedroom talk turned to romance and to the surprise of no one but new acquaintances, Chi-chan is woefully lacking in this department. Rather than getting curious about dating and crushes, she fondly dreamed of reuniting with her favorite opponents at the tatami mats for karuta. But as her karuta grew, so would her emotional maturity, albeit at a slower pace. Like Kana-chan said in the last season, she won’t be clueless forever. 

Listening to her roommate talking about confessing to a fellow club member on wining at the tournament got Chi-chan wondering about Arata’s feelings.       

Throughout their stay at the Fujisaki camp, Taichi did not seek out Chi-chan on his own, not even once. It may seem like he wasted the opportunity made possible by Kana-chan’s effort to prevent the rest of the Mizusawa gang from going along with him and Chi-chan. However, it soon became clear that Taichi was in for the long game, not for the temporary gains. 

Though he was somewhat taken back by the mannerism of his roommate, he soon enough found something for them to bond over. It is not often that we get to see this sociable side of Taichi and together with his interest in the more physical training, it spoke strongly to his determination to prove himself and draw Chi-chan’s attention. And in a way, that gave me a small measure of reassurance - that Taichi has a plan and is putting it into action.

I love Retro-kun’s reaction - and it’s absolutely hilarious that both the girls and boys going for baths ended up peeking at the 2 presidents doing stretches. 

And of all unexpected things to happen, an illuminating conversation between Retro-kun and Chi-chan about how well Taichi has been doing in karuta. 

Chi-chan has yet to really see Taichi as a serious challenge, in spite of Retro-kun’s friendly warning. 

Again, Retro-kun made a very good point - Chi-chan had never faced Taichi in an official match, when he put everything on the line. 

I initially thought that Retro-kun might be a covert shipper but sadly, have been proven very wrong. You traitor to the cause, damn you!

“I really don’t know anything.”

Morning after with Yama-chan

Truly a well of optimism in her heart, lol.

I love that Coach Sakurazawa paired Chi-chan and Rion for the entire day of practice; their temperaments are very different from one another but they both have a kind of earnest approach to karuta and similar advantages in speed and hearing. Rion would likely make later appearances at future tournaments so it’s a good idea for the viewers to have a better sense of who she is, with and without karuta. 

Chi-chan’s post-match collapse like a battery-dead phone never fails to crack me up lol. 

#girl_with_onigiri

They shared a bento! And such a fancy onigiri feast too! The black onigiri balls look interesting - wonder what gave them that colour.

Breaking news: the girly side of Chi-chan making a rare appearance!!! 

Literally, Rion’s motivation for playing karuta and staying in her grandma’s karuta society is to get rice for her family. #unexpected_poverty

As silly and outlandish as it is to play karuta for rice, Rion is no pushover when it matters. She may not have much of a desire to be a Queen but she is determined to meet the expectations of her club members, the same way she discharged her duty to her family.

Coach Sakurazawa’s wisdom

“I never give advice during a match, but just one thing...”

Fatigue and exhaustion caught up with both Chi-chan and Rion as they took to repeating the morning routine of playing 3 consecutive matches against the same opponent in the afternoon. Mistakes and faults were abundant on both sides and even such a basic thing like maintaining proper posture during the matches became a challenge. None of this was out of the usual, until Coach Sakurazawa, for some unfathomable reason, broke her habit of non-intervention in ongoing matches to give Chi-chan incredibly insightful and valuable advice.

“Rather than taking cards by speed, do it with grace in your natural form.”

Her action baffled all of the Fujisaki kids, especially Rion, who recalled that she had never given them any advice that way. There’s something about Chi-chan that held Coach Sakurazawa’s attention and she just can’t help but gravitate to the Mizusawa ace. I’ve talked at length about the connection between Coach Sakurazawa and Chi-chan in my previous posts and once again, in this episode, we see the growing role and influence of the former as a mentor figure, who came close to the pinnacle of the karuta world several times and had a wealth of experience to offer. Good thing that none of her coaching went wasted as Chi-chan took to her advice like a duck to water. 

It seemed that having better posture than her opponent did not help Chi-chan score that longed for victory. However, Chi-chan’s passion for karuta and her determination to do her best and master new skills (playing with her left hand) regardless of her injury might have struck a chord with Rion, who decided to open up and answer Chi-chan’s earlier question about good game sense.

“...The pitch of the sound right before the unique syllable...”

Rion: I regret my decision immediately.

It came as quite a surprise that Coach Sakurazawa would pair Chi-chan and Taichi up for their final match. As Rion said at the end of the training camp, what’s the point of pairing two people who played against each other almost every day?

“He seems like he could make vast strides with just a little more confidence... there’s a kind of confidence only Ayase-san can give him.”

It’s absolutely incredible how perceptive Coach Sakurazawa is, given all that she knew of Taichi came just from observing him during his official matches. She had yet to speak to him in person and yet, she instinctively understood the crux of the problem facing Taichi - which is truly nothing else but lack of confidence. I wonder how much she picked up on his constant desire to prove himself to Chi-chan, but without the shadow of a doubt, she hit the nail perfectly on the head in noting the importance of Chi-chan’s approval to his self-esteem. And hearing those words and looking at the last scene gave this Taichihaya shipper so much hope and happiness.

And before I bid you a very fond farewell, here’s Taichi, with an extra shot of confidence, issuing a challenge to Chi-chan.

#notice_me_chihaya

Haha, she certainly won’t go down easy like this time though, Taichi! Take care!!

Until the next time then, folks!