Anime Review: Chihayafuru (Overview)

Synopsis

Chihaya Ayase is a frank and ebullient girl who becomes fascinated by the obscure world of competitive karuta, a card game based on Japanese poetry. Introduced to the aggressive style of the game by a quiet and thoughtful elementary school classmate named Arata Wataya, the two quickly become close friends. They start playing as a group with Taichi Mashima, Chihaya's smart and athletic childhood friend, until they have to part ways during their middle school years due to several circumstances. As their high school life begins, they meet once again.

(Source: ANN)

review

           

            It should be mandatory to watch the title track of every anime at least once, just to set a mood, and often it may be found that it can score early brownie points for the show in question. This was the case with Chihayafuru. So tip #1 is – Don’t skip the title track. In fact, this show seems eager to make an early impact when a hilarious introductory scene in the first minute acquaints us with the main character, Ayase Chihaya, as a quirky, zestful highschool girl with an unwitting tendency to leave all those who first meet her, slightly flabberghasted.  An almost notorious beauty, her candid flagrance and incomprehensible love for a seemingly obscure poetry card game instantly befuddle people. Why would the beautiful sister of a well-known model, play Karuta, an obscure card game based on dusty old collection of classical poetry (The Ogura Hyakunin Isshu)

              It is around this unassuming ”hobby” that the show revolves. Those who don’t play Karuta can’t fathom why it so consumes its patrons, and those who do play it are almost as stumped.  We, however, see how it shapes the lives of the characters as they explore the intricacies of playing it competitively, and through the development of their style of playing the game, we see a progression in their characters and personalities as well happening right before our eyes, more interesting is the fact that the writers use the game to facilitate this progress. It is through this unique medium that most of the story is told, and not just that of the main characters.

           Another interesting aspect is the insight we get into each opponent our protagonists face in their Karuta matches. Although we probably only see them in the role of ‘Karuta player’, the game is such that it their playing styles are most reminiscent of their personalities. There is a constant give-and-take, with every contender analysing, probing, and ultimately learning something from their opponent’s playing style, and so effectively getting to know the strangers sitting across from them, by the end of just a couple of matches. Its unusual, in a sports/game centric anime for the viewer to have such deep insight into every step of the characters improvement in the game. We see clearly how every game teaches our protagonists something new, they learn and improve right before our eyes.

              Even though it is the prime focus of the anime, the significance of this game is never blown out of proportion. On a number of occasions, it is seen in the context of the broader world, and we understand that it only forms a part of the lives of all those partaking in it. It’s relevance, however, is never belittled. Karuta is never protrayed as ‘all important’, but it is made clear that it doen’t need to be- it’s importance is determined by those who play it; as long as it’s important to them, it’s important enough. The game imparts something different to each of the characters- be it identity, strength, expression, a challenge, or a legacy. This is another tool that provides dimension to the characters. They are multifaceted individuals, difficult to fit into any specific ‘shoujo’ character tropes, and that is perhaps one of the most charming things about this show. The characters are almost eerily realistic and hence, we as viewers are far more invested in the different aspects of their lives than we would have been had we been served a set of one dimensional-but-charmingly-typical characters (a type that is seen far too often in Shoujo anime)

       

            Since this is a Madhouse production, it would be criminal not to address the art and animation. As is the way with this studio, simple lines and features are employed in conveying a wealth of information about the characers. Physical quirks share nuances of the characters’ personalities that we, as viewers, grasp without realizing how we procured such an understanding of them. How this is accomplished is still a largely baffling conundrum to us mere mortals, and a feat most can only hope to accomplish. The history of the hundred poems in karuta is explored as the story progresses, and the fundamentals of human nature are touched upon as the characters understand the sentiments expressed by different poets, centuries apart. The status of karuta oscillates between ‘sport’ and ‘art’, which provides yet more perspective to an already unusually layered show.

          Apart from being a masterpiece, both visually and in terms of writing and story, the show is immensely enjoyable. From the very beginning one finds oneself mesmerized by the energy of the game, the intensity of the players and the lyrical atmosphere created by the poems that serve as an accompaniment to the show itself. Be prepared to be fully invested in the Mizusawa Karuta Club, An unlikely set of heroes on a mission to conquer the sheltered little world of competitive Karuta.

       To conclude, we loved everything about Chihayafuru!