Chihayafuru

ちはやふる

Manga8.616347 votes50 volumes · 253 chaptersFinished

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About this title

Synopsis

Always deemed inferior to her elder sister, the strong-willed yet aimless Chihaya Ayase has no dream of her own. In contrast to her, Taichi Mashima, the son of a surgeon, is gifted yet insecure as he is burdened by the heavy expectations of his strict mother, who wants him to be perfect in everything. However, the lives of Chihaya and Taichi soon change as they encounter Arata Wataya, the new transfer student in their class. Inspired by Arata's dream to become the best at competitive karuta—a card game based on the classic anthology of one hundred Japanese poets—Chihaya quickly falls in love with the game. Refusing to lose to the talented Arata, the prideful Taichi joins along and immerses himself in the game, aiming to one day surpass his fated rival. The three friends spend their childhood practicing karuta everyday, until certain circumstances force them to part with each other. A few years later, now in high school, the trio finds themselves reunited through the world of competitive karuta. Alongside their newfound comrades and rivals, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and romance. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Publication notes

Chihayafuru won the second Manga Taisho award in 2009 and the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in the shoujo manga category in 2011. In 2012, the manga was selected as part of the Jury Recommended Works list in the Manga category at the 16th Japan Media Arts Festival. As of December 2022, the series has sold over 28 million copies. Kodansha published the first three volumes of Chihayafuru in two English/Japanese volumes under their Kodansha Bilingual Comics line on December 22, 2011, and February 24, 2012, respectively. They consist of the first 17 chapters. The series was published digitally in English by Kodansha USA from February 14, 2017, to June 3, 2025. The manga has been published in Italian by RW EDIZIONI; in French by Pika Édition; and in Spanish by ECC Ediciones. Three Japanese live-action films based on the series have been released. The first, titled Chihayafuru: Kaminoku, opened in Japanese cinemas on March 19, 2016, followed by a second film, titled Shimonoku, on April 29, 2016. The third film, titled Musubi, was released on March 17, 2018.

Published

Dec 28, 2007 to Aug 1, 2022

Authors

Suetsugu, Yuki

External links

MyAnimeList page KodanshaKodansha USA Official Site Wikipedia Wikipedia

MAL rank: #117
Members (MAL): 54,558
Favorites (MAL): 2,975

Related titles

Sequel

Chihayafuru Plus: Kimi ga Tame

Adaptation

Alternative Version

Chihayafuru: Chuugakusei-hen

Main characters

Chihaya Ayase3851 fan favorites
External profile
Birthday: June 1 (Gemini) Blood type: B Height: 167 cm Weight: 54 kg School: Municipal Mizusawa High School - Year 2 Class 9 - Karuta Club captain Karuta Society: Shiranami Society, A Class Favourite food: Chocolate, pollock squid Hobby: Collecting Daddy Bear merchandise A determined schoolgirl who "possesses a remarkable hearing ability." She believes that by persevering in karuta, she will meet Arata again, and begins a karuta club at her high school with Mashima. While she is beautiful, she is considered too weird; her classmates refer to her as a "waste of a beauty." She has been described as a "tomboy trapped in a supermodel's body." Favourite Song: Poem #17 Even when the gods Held sway in the ancient days, I have never heard That water gleamed with autumn red As it does in Tatsuta's stream (Source: Wikipedia)
Taichi Mashima3304 fan favorites
External profile
Birthday: April 2 (Aries) Blood type: A Height: 172 cm (178 cm) Weight: 67 kg School: Municipal Mizusawa High School - Year 2 Class 1 - Karuta Club president Karuta Society: Shiranami Society - A Class Favourite food: peking duck, rock oysters Hobby: crossword puzzles Taichi is from a wealthy family (His father & Grandfather are both doctors). Chihaya's childhood friend is quite the golden boy. Smart, good looking, and mature, he excels at nearly everything he does which makes him the voice of reason in the Misusawa Karuta Club. While he sees himself as keeper of Chihaya and the less experienced members, he demands a lot of himself both in games and as a leader and can overthink even the most simple situations. Taichi's karuta leverages his incredible memory to give him a sense of which cards might be called next and the ability to out-think opponents. He also has a crush on Chihaya but is hesitant to do anything as he thinks that she only has eyes for Arata. Favourite Song: Poem #16 Though we are parted, If on Mount Inaba's peak I should hear the sound Of the pine trees growing there, I'll come back again to you.
Arata Wataya868 fan favorites
External profile
Birthday: December 1 (Sagittarius) Height: 173 cm, 177cm Blood type: O Weight: 65 kg School: Fukui Prefecture East Hitsufujioka High School Karuta Society: Fukui Nagumo Society - A Class Favourite food: Habutai mochi, Katsu don with sauce Hobby: Karuta, Reading, Math, and cooking Arata Wataya was a transfer student from Fukui that went to Chihaya's elementary school. The grandchild of a master karuta player, Arata inspires Chihaya to take up karuta by telling her that he thinks she has a talent for it. He had difficulty fitting in at Chihaya's elementary school because of his Fukui dialect and his family's poverty. His passion for karuta is inspired by his grandfather, a Meijin (master). After their first game at Arata's house, Chihaya befriends him. His dream is to become a karuta Meijin. After graduating elementary school, he returned to Fukui to care for his sick grandfather. He stops playing karuta because his grandfather died while Arata was competing in a karuta tournament to rise to A-rank. However, after Chihaya and Taichi visit him in Fukui, he regains his resolve to play competitive karuta again. Favourite Song: Poem #76 Over the wide sea As I sail and look around, It appears to me That the white waves, far away, Are the ever shining sky.