Chihayafuru is about kids who are so obsessed with Karuta that they don't even think much about their future carreers, hence making the main character Chihaya Ayase lagging in Academics. However, she's so ambitious that she tries extremely hard to find members for her Karuta club. Two were people she knew from childhood who also plays Karuta, and the other two are completely new to the game but finds it very much related to their interest.
What is Karuta? Google it.
it all started with the tomboy Chihaya, who initially was only obsessed with her pretty sister who dreams to become a model... until she met Wataya Arata, a Karuta prodigy. After Wataya criticizes her childhood 'ambitions', she became intrigued with the card game. Before Wataya left the primary school, they made a promise that they'll forever be Karuta players and meet in a competition. And the habit is stuck with her until high school. Unfortunately, when she reunites with Wataya several years later, it seems that he has given up on his dreams to become the Karuta... king(?). So what to do? She has worked hard for years to become his rival, and suddenly he's no longer interested?
So being a weeabo of course I'm attracted to this anime. And in spite of being a shoujo genre, everything reminds you of your typical sports anime. Well, you have rivalry, challengers and challenges and practices. And we also learn that even if it's just a mere indoor card game, you still need to build up your stamina to endure the throughout the gameplay and improve on your speed. Chihaya, even after years of obsessing with the game, finds that she still has a lot to improve on. She may be a pro, but when she gets emotionally furstrated, that ruins all her perfect plays. By meeting her childhood friends and the newbies, it helped her improve as they provide her with statistic, morale support and a more effective way to memorize the cards.
Just like certain sports anime, the movement or skills of the characters sometimes look exaggerated. But what the heck? you want to make the story interesting, let's just consider them as metaphors.
this anime has a lovely OP
Like Kanade Oe, I'm more interested in the 100 poems and the meanings. Plus, thanks to her their school's Karuta club look loveliest in their traditional costumes. She reckons is a MUST in a traditional game, although in the modern world it is no longer practical. But the obi seemed to helped her in the game.
The show ends with some kind of hint that there'll be a second season. By the end the team has not entered the final battle yet. I guess if we're curious we should go read the manga.
I have nothing else to say but if you want a mix of sport shounen feel with a Japanese traditional indoor game, and a dash of shoujo mood, then do try this anime :3
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