Chihayafuru 3

Before Chihayafuru season 3 got announced, I’m sure some fans have been clinging onto hopes that the franchise would again take the anime medium by storm. The first two seasons have gained a cult following since the franchise introduced us to the world of its karuta and wonderful cast of characters. Now more than six years later, we are back in this franchise as if it’s almost yesterday. It did take a bit of time for the anime franchise to return but jumping back into Chihayafuru’s third season felt like going back to school after a Summer break. We reunite with our friends, learn the competitivegame of karuta, and experience new memories that will last for generations to come. Watching Chihayafuru 3 reminds me that games such as karuta isn’t just a competitive sport but a poetry in motion. Every episode capitalizes on the creativeness of the game that exemplifies on commitment, strategy, and wit. I won’t be explaining the fundamentals of the game since you shouldn’t be watching this season without the first two anyway. But coming into this new season, we got ourselves another masterful adaptation. With Chihayafuru 3 at our hands, the show draws us into the everlasting karuta experience similar to the previous season. Despite being a complex game, the anime makes it clear that anyone can pick karuta up. However, learning the game is one thing and mastering is another. We see the best of the best compete at the highest level in this season. Of course, I’m talking about the Queen Title matches. But before we get to that, you should also remember why Chihayafuru 3 managed to create such a faithful audience. It’s been six years after all and fans have been anticipating this show since the dawn of time. This is easily answered by the charming lovable cast of our three characters – Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata. The three make up the heart and soul of this franchise with their complex relationship between one another. Early in the season, we witness Chihaya once again picking up karuta and going head to head against none other than Taichi. If there’s anything that tells us about Chihaya’s character is that she is eager to learn, whether through success or failure. Her skills show improvement as she is able to match head on with fast paced strategy and clever tactics in these games. Still, a big question that surrounds her is why she is there. Why does Chihaya want to be a karuta player? This question extends to other prominent characters such as Shinobu, Suo, Haruka, and among others. The fact remains that every character has a purpose in the show, a reason to be where they are in the present timeline. As every episode progressed, the drama begins to mount up with the higher stakes in these high level karuta games. The karuta games themselves in fact are presented with superhuman-like reactions. It may take years of practice to reach such levels but the anime portrays it like poetry in motion. As I mentioned that before, karuta is much more than just a competitive sport. It’s like a work of art with each card representing a piece of value between two players. Adding to the game is the amount of emotions that us, the audience can easily get invested into. For instance, we witness Dr. Harada’s side of the story this season and why he picked up karuta. In his match against Arata, it represents a clash of new and old generation. Meanwhile, we also follow the journey of Shinobu Wakamiya, one of the most prominent Queens of this era. Fans will remember Shinobu as being the youngest Queen in karuta history and a prodigy with nearly unrivaled skills. She returns this season to compete against Haruka, another skilled karuta player with several titles in her name. The psychological pressure embedded into their match felt like none other as we witness the true potential of high class competitors. And that’s one other thing that identifies these karuta game: the psychology. Each game threads together a formula from start to finish to test the players’ ability to outplay one another. From tagging cards to crafting advanced moves in their heads, karuta at such exceptional high level feels like a different game. Watching the high level competitors such as Arata, Shinobu, Suo, and Haruka compete are such examples where they push these games to the limit. And at the same time, Chihayafuru 3 delivers its character relationship so well, being able to get the viewers understand them on a personal level. There's a complex relationship angle between Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata built from the very first season. Carrying into this third season also means new developments including an unparalleled confession that will surprises more than just the fans. For a show being so human and realistic, Chihayafuru scores with much more than karuta competition. From the first episode to the finish, it celebrates the personal commitment of the cast and how much people can change over time. Though the show has aged, Chihayafuru’s life cycle still stays true with its art style. Madhouse returns for this season to give us an elegant feast of visuals to lay eyes on. From the photorealistic settings to the mature character looks, everywhere, the camera angles lines up to showcase the technical achievements of the anime. And as a show loaded with drama, there’s plenty of time to experience a breather too with the light comedy. We can expect Chihaya and her friends to return to also enjoy their school life like normal people would. There’s also running gags that I’m sure fans are eager to see again. The character voices also makes their return in their noticeable accents. When combined with the emotive dialogues, it brings out so much worth to them. Welcome back Chihayafuru 3. I can say with supreme confidence that the third season is no short of delivering the house it has built. From the complex character relationships to the high stake karuta games, there’s something in store for returning fans. Even as someone who has read the manga, this is a classic to watch in animated form and that’s thanks to the wonderful talent of the staff and producers. I thank them for giving us this wonderful season.

First things first - karuta isn't a sport. It's just a game that that some folks took way too seriously. Well, not like that has any impact on the anime, I just wanted to get this out of my chest. But it also means that you might enjoy this even if you don't like sport anime in general. Now, I more or less liked the first two series (altrought I though they were, well, not *that* great), so when the 3rd season was announced, of course I was going to watch it. Yet, when I started thinking about the previous seasons... I found out I don'treally remember much. What I'm trying to say is that there wasn't that much impact, not really memorable matches and while yes, it is character driven, the karuta playing parts were kinda... boring. Enter the 3rd season which actually managed to fix this. Chihayafuru 3 story progress moved from the "start up" part to the "real shit" part and it shows. The matches are tense with tangible stakes and what's more important, they are well used as a proxy to let out the character shine and strong emotions of the players be shown. It is in fact the fight between the spirits of two people, the card game just lending a form to it. The matches of the third season are memorable and actually let out some variation, despite the inevitable repetitiveness of karuta. I believe this is because we got some strong, prominent personalities involved in the matches this time. I especially liked those that included Harada, Suo or Haruka. The main characters take on almost a support role in this season, but I don't see any problem with that. The animation sees it's moments of spotlights too, with the more abstract visual sequences mediating the mood and feeling of the characters. The soundtrack helps with this greatly as well, and combined, those two aspects can create some powerful and heartfelt moments. To add more about the sound portion of this anime, I also really enjoyed the voice acting. Most of the time I don't really care about the VAs, so for me to comment on them means it was either extraordinarily awful or extraordinarily great. Thankfully it's the latter here. The voices feel genuine and I especially liked the dialect that really breath some variation and uniqueness to the characters. Overall, I would say it's worth watching the first two seasons even in case you didn't like them that much just so you could get to this part. That's the level of improvement I'm talking about.

What makes an anime a masterpiece? Many of us ask this question when we review, rank, or just think critically about an anime. I had trouble finding the answer to this question because I usually chose the anime that I loved the most; however, the Chihayafuru series has made me realize what it takes for an anime to break the barrier between just being an enjoyable anime and being an unquestionable masterpiece. Let me first start off by saying that the Chihayafuru series as a whole is not for everyone. If you do not enjoy a slice of life/sports anime with a strong premise oncharacterization, this will not be your cup of tea; however, for those of us who do, it will be a favorite. While enjoyable, the first two seasons of Chihayafuru do not offer anything but a buildup to the climax, which is the third season. All those hours of watching the characters hide their emotions and only for it all to spill out in twenty-four episodes pay off tremendously. It is like attaining a gold medal in a sport you play or finally asking out your crush. All those hours of training or building up the courage to ask your crush out finally pay off, and you will find yourself just staring at the screen, not being able to take your eyes off the magic that is happening in front of you. While not being a perfect show, it is a perfect example of anime that transcended boundaries in terms of characterization, and for that reason I would call this show a masterpiece!

ちはやふる 3 is an endearing sequel to the past seasons with the same distinctive charm and a lot of heart. It is a really beautiful series that appeals to a wide audience with excitement, fun and emotions and entertains them great. The third season, my third review of the series, and I still recommend the series as much as I did at the beginning. Story: Familiar, yet different & new, so that tension & excitement arise again (9/10) The story follows a very plausible structure. While I understand that shifting focus from teams to individuals is a source of discussion and a certain sense of disappointment forsome, but it is precisely this development and change that spans all three seasons that is both the reason and a guarantee for that great entertainment value from the series as a whole. I hope the idea becomes clearer with a brief overview of each season. In the first season the characters and the traditional Karuta as a sport are introduced. The second season deepens the friendship bonds between the team members and the teams. Personally, I think that working out the different interpersonal relationships leads to a great sequel that doesn't have to hide behind its predecessor. The third season now focuses more on some members and their relationships. Unfortunately, the time of 24 episodes is not enough to deepen all the characters, but I am convinced that they did a very good job. About 27 volumes of the manga have been adapted. I therefore sincerely look forward to what the further implementation will look like. Character: Known & new characters, well presented and credible (9/10) As already mentioned, there is a concentration on individual characters within the plot, which is also important and makes sense in the overall context of the story. Even if the depiction of the masters and the queen is initially in the foreground, new characters are also introduced and the newcomers of the second season are further developed. Despite all of this, the show still manages to give the supporting characters time on the screen, so that despite the focus on individual characters, a good overall picture is still created. Ayase Chihaya: Despite the lapstick sleep attacks after a match, her characterization is terrific. She is ambitious (when it comes to Karuta), kind-hearted and easy to deceive. Since she is very pretty, but also a small tomboy, impulsive and outgoing, her emotional world will leave her puzzled at the end of the show. It was obvious, but for me it was presented as credibly as if reading someone's diary. Mashima Taichi: Endowed with athletic and academic skills and furthermore good looking, he has remained down-to-earth despite everything. What I really like about him is that he's smart, but works hard for it. Learning from his mistakes and being loyal to the Mizusawa team has made him a wise leader who uses his supportive words to guide the team through the difficult phases of the games. Wataya Arata: I like the Fukui dialect, it sounds even more fluid and mellow. Black hair and blue eyes are already unusual and the comparison with water matches the language and behavior. Arata's way of playing is also aptly described with the elegant and soft movements of the water, since he always acts calmly and prudently, is just perfect. Suō Hisashi: Suō is not the ideal Meijin and therefore a thorn in the side of the Karuta Society. This is simply because he is very careless in his academic commitments and often moves outside the otherwise very serious framework of the very traditional sport. But his nature is different, and because of the disparagement of his person in his environment, one tends to look at the character rather contemptuously. His quiet, very calm way of speaking reveals something different and his playing style is impressive, like Chihaya he has a very good hearing, which is not his only quality. There is more to discover. Harada Hideo: Harada-sensei is a great personality, he is a friendly man with a deep connection to traditional Karuta. He is the backbone and head of the Shiranami society, which also includes Tachi and Chihaya. He has also been the mentor of both of them from the very beginning, has always stood at their side with the knowledge he has accumulated over many decades, challenged and encouraged them. His playing style is the offensive Karuta, which is characterized above all by taking the cards from the opponent's field. He is an excellent Karuta player who pulls out all the stops when it comes to winning. He is enthusiastic, loud, very competitive and uses drama and exaggeration, the comparison with a bear is used over and over again in the series, and this is an apt comparison. Sakurazawa Midori: Her character could be described most quickly as the counterpart of Harada Sensei. Female, she speaks softly, but is also treated with great respect because she is a very talented Karuta player. Her excellent observation skills enable her to accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of other players. Due to her analytical skills and strictly demanding instructions, her protégés admire and fear her. Her loyal and sincere style is particularly striking. Outside of Karuta, she is a warm-hearted woman whose graceful figure fits well with her feminine and charismatic personality. If one of her male protégés seems to pursue her, she is not afraid to reject the young man with a charming joke. Visuals: breathtaking and pleasantly presented (9/10) A beautiful ensemble of art and animation that brings the characters elegantly and realistically to life. Studio Madhouse has set very high production values for the series and even improved them in the course of the adaptation in the individual seasons. The original illustrations of Suetsugu Yuki's work were beautifully adapted into the anime series from the beginning of the first season. The attractiveness of art is based on aesthetics and realism as well as on the love of detail and passion for quality. The charming accents of the Shoujo genre, such as falling sakura leaves and the graceful use of soft colours, give the series a special appeal. The art department has done an excellent job of creating the right mood for each episode, while at the same time highlighting the emotional and intellectual intensity that characterizes the Karuta games in the competition. The art department is also impressive in terms of animation. The implementation of the movements of the figures is fluent and the camera angles are perfectly coordinated to achieve the greatest possible effect from each scene. Again, cards played during the tournaments, are a great example of good camera work. The sometimes game-decisive movements are executed with great attention to detail, and the perspective is panned or tilted to focus the viewer's attention. In this way, the animation does a very good job of keeping the scenario incredibly exciting, especially in tournaments. Sounds: good, simultaneously emphasizing & accompanying, OP & ED good, VA stands out positively (9/10) The BGM of Yamashita Kousuke was again very successful. The individual scenes and the plot are beautifully accompanied by the musical arrangements and receive a great and very fitting accentuation. The beautiful orchestral arrangements, which also include solos such as grand piano, oboe or flute and violin, have a very lively and emotional character, which makes the listener feel the sensations of the scenarios. For example: か る た 日 日 和 has something lively and reminds me very much of the music for one of the most beautiful couple dances, the slow Foxtrot or高 ぶ る キ モ チ and 心 構 え are so beautiful, gentle and graceful piece of music. The soundtrack as a whole is very beautiful, and I enjoyed it very much. The OP is called "Colourful" and is once again performed by the J-Rock formation 99RadioService, founded in 2007. The voices of コ ー タ and コ ー ヘ イ give the good music the right note and bring the audience into the right mood for the series. The animation is reminiscent of the predecessors and presents the figures based on impressions of the past, present and offers a small look into the future. All in all, the title is fun and I like to hear it. The ED is called "Hitomebore" and is from the band Harassment. This rock band from Nagoya is still quite new, the formation was founded in 2015 and the four-man formation of Ibuka-, Wata-, Hakko- and Saimoto-san plays good J-Rock. With Ibuka's clear and stretched vocals, the catchy melodies are impressive. The lyrics of the title are straightforward without difficult puns and thus create a good mix that is well received by the audience. The text of the song fits very well with the events and feelings in the anime. The animation is also very suitable, with the individual pictures of the MCs and the three friends together. It is a very simple design, but also very effective. The Seiyū are also an aspect of the series' success. With great sensitivity, their performances convey the deep and moving emotions and give the well-written dialogues appealing and perceptible realism. The voice acting is excellent without exception, but I would like to highlight some voices that I particularly like. Regarding the male dubbing voices: Hosoya, Yoshimasa as Arata's voice. His presentation of the Fukui dialect, the nasal "Nya" sounds friendly and because it pulls the words or sentences together a little, the language sounds even more fluent, which in turn fits very well with Arata's character and the association with water. Personally, I was deeply moved that Ishizuka Unshō passed away in 2018. I liked his clear and deep voice as Seiyū very much. I will miss the great voice that brought Admiral Borsalino "Kizaru" and also Van Hohenheim in the FMA Brotherhood to life. The new casting of the role of Harada Sensei with Miyake, Kenta was in my opinion a good choice to fill the speaking role with a worthy successor. Among the female voice actors, I particularly noticed Han, Megumi as the voice of Hanano, Sumire. I haven't mentioned her in my last reviews and that's a pity. Her performance is excellent, her repertoire covers an impressive spectrum. It ranges from energetic, cheerful voices: Gon Freeccs (Hunter x Hunter - 2011) to cute voices, such as Kargari, Atsuko (Little Witch Academia -2013) to psychological roles, like Five (Zankyō no Teroru - 2014). Han-san understands perfectly with her voice, to embody Sumire, who is at first superficial and emotionally driven In hectic times, a gentle series with appealing characters and the simple elegance of a traditional sport is very soothing and appealing, even without a PhD in Japanese literature. In case you are new to the series and are not quite sure, my review of the first season contains a small overview of "Karuta". As mentioned at the beginning, I'm convinced that I can recommend the series to every anime fan, because I think everyone will like the series in his or her own way, since it is exciting, emotionally charged, visually beautiful staged and is accompanied by very good music as well as voice acting. As always, thanks for reading and have fun watching.

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