Chihayafuru

A closer look at the story

For most of her life, Chihaya Ayase has devoted herself to supporting her sister's career as a model. Everything changes when a boy called Arata Wataya enters her life. Arata believes Chihaya has what it takes to become a great player of karuta, a traditional Japanese card game. From that encounter, a new passion takes root in Chihaya: to become the best karuta player in Japan. Before long, however, she is separated from the friends she used to play with. Years go by, and Chihaya is now a high school student. She has not given up on karuta, though; she keeps playing in the hope of one day being reunited with her old friends. Characters such as Taichi Mashima, Kanade Oe, Yusei Nishida and Tsutomu Komano also play a part in her journey. Running for 74 episodes over three seasons from its 2011 debut on Nippon TV, this anime features Asami Seto as the voice of Chihaya and Mamoru Miyano as Taichi.