The world is a total disaster scene right now, and in between obsessively checking online for any developments in the George Floyd case over in America, and staring into space feeling absolutely hopeless and agitated, my anime and manga have been a desperately welcome release. I’ve been trying to keep abreast with seasonal releases more often, as being the impatient person that I am, I always preferred to binge series when they’ve finished. Chihayafuru is fairly recent, albeit completed, and I was excited to get stuck into it.

premise

Chihayafuru is a sports manga with a twist. Based around the traditional Japanese card game, karuta, the story follows Chihaya and her quest to be the best female player in Japan. Karuta is a complicated game which requires skill and wit, and even though it’s clearly a niche, bespoke past-time, it does have regional and national competitions, with the dominant male and female players titled Master and Queen respectively.

It’s hard to get excited about a card game, but we are always immersed in the story due to the frantic tactical decisions made by our main characters as told through inner monologues. Thanks to Kana, the bubbly sweetheart of the school karuta club, the significance of the cards and their meanings provide a traditional backdrop, and we are always given easy explanations of particular moves or playing styles.

The matches have everything you would expect from a sports battle: intense music, drama, a race against time, witty tactics, and emotional backstories. In one episode, Chihaya meets a senior female player who has desired to be the Queen since adolescence, and is still trying to get there. In another, a former Queen suffering from an inferiority complex uses her match against Chihaya to regain her old confidence. Time and time again, the stakes of the game are raised, and the personal triumphs of the players are made more sympathetic when you consider that to the wider population, karuta doesn’t really mean anything.

Of course, what really carries the story is the characters themselves, and their individual journeys are so engrossing, that the card game is often a secondary feature.

characters

Arata is the reclusive genius of the main trio. Hailing from a poor family, he first meets Chihaya and Taichi when he transfers to their middle school and is promptly bullied. As the school’s “it” boy, Taichi joins the teasing, retreats a little in bemusement when he sees Chihaya trying to befriend him, and then ramps his bullying up to a hundred when he realises that Chihaya actually likes Arata. Thus begins a convoluted love square involving karuta, Chihaya, Arata and Taichi. But thanks to Arata, Chihaya now has meaning for herself. Up till then, she languished in the shadow of her popular older sister, and she lived her life basically dreaming for her sister’s success. Only when Arata tells her that she needs to live for her own dream does Chihaya become independent and confident in her own talents.

Chihaya is an airhead. Her love for karuta trumps everything else, often to the detriment of her friendships. She is totally oblivious to Taichi’s obvious love for her, and whenever Arata’s name is mentioned, she turns into a space cadet, totally absorbed by her childhood memories. All the while, Taichi stares on wistfully, but cannot bring himself to hate Arata. I admire Chihaya’s determination. She is driven by her love for the game and her dream to be the Queen. However, her single-mindedness can be tiresome at times, and I wish she would pay attention to the world around her and show some consideration for her friends. Thankfully, she is never too proud to learn, and I love how her karuta club members never hesitate to call her out on this behaviour. Credit to Chihaya, she does listen to them.

Taichi is the absolute opposite of Arata. Pretty, popular, filthy rich, and basically excellent at everything he does, he starts out as a horrid little brat in middle school before blossoming into a sensitive young man. Before long, you can’t help but sympathise with his deep feelings for Chihaya, and it’s obvious that he has tried to atone for this previous behaviour by being considerate and caring to those around him. I like Taichi, and I really want him to end up with Chihaya.

animation

The animation and the character designs are all stunning. Due to the historical nature of the game, players are expected to wear traditional clothes, a culture that is only upheld by our main karuta club, thanks to Kana-chan’s family business. This allows for beautiful clothing designs and bright colours. There are breathtaking sequences when a character is introduced within a border of flowers that I absolutely love, and all the character designs are unique and pretty much reflects the personality of the characters themselves. I particularly love the old, traditional paintings used to retell the stories behind the karuta cards. It helps to being a unique feel to the series.

conclusion

Chihayafuru is easy to get into. I enjoyed pretty much everything, from the comedy to the drama. However, I was expecting a little more of a rounded conclusion to this season, and sometimes the matches get formulaic, making the series itself seem too long. It can be frustrating to see the characters end the series having never won a national match, but it’s clear this is gearing up for Season Two or Season Three success, after which I expect to see Queen Chihaya, Master Arata, and a Taichi with his love requited. I am definitely looking forward to watching the next season.

We’re going through a difficult time. 2020 has been a year like none I can remember, and it feels disasters are following each other without a break. Self-care and self-preservation is so important right now, and I think taking regular breaks from social media just to catch your bearings is beneficial to mental health. Whilst you’re making some time for yourself, why not watch an anime like Chihayafuru? It’s a wonderfully sweet story, and will make you smile during days of so many tears and so much frustration.

7/10