Chihayafuru Part 1
Ariwara no Narihira read
it a thousand years ago.
It's a passionate poem of love.
But...
All I can see now...
Are the characters, "Chiha".
(3 years ago)
Please join!
Won't you try out?
Please join!
Let's do our best together!
Mashima!.
Taichi!.
Wassup!
Hey!.
Are you still going to
join soccer in high school?
I guess.
You?
I'll surely join the karuta club.
Karuta club?
Yup.
No way.
Really.
All the guys in our class are
going to join the karuta club.
Ours too.
Why?
Huh? Haven't you heard?
Look here. Look.
The little sister of
Chitose Ayase right here
is enrolled here and said
she'll form a karuta club.
The Hundred Poems each
have first verses and second verses.
You first arrange in front
of you the second verses.
When the reader says the first verse,
you then pick up its
corresponding second verse.
That's all.
Simple, right?
Yeah, yeah.
Then, let's try it out.
~Naniwa Bay, now the flower blooms,~
~but for winter.~
~Here comes spring,
now the flower blooms.~
~Here comes spring,
now the flower blooms.~
~From this world~
Whoa.
I don't wanna go!
Come on! Let's go!
Hey!
W-wait!
Hey Hasegawa! Hey! What's wrong?!
No way! No! No! No!
Wait!
Here she is!
Hey, look, look.
It's fine if it's
4-to-1 next time!
Sorry!
Damn! The little sister's also too cute!
So cute!
Did you see her, Mashima?
Huh?
Mizusawa!.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Mizusawa!.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Hey you!
Let's see!
You're Shiranami Karuta
Society's Taichi Mashima, right?!
Whoa! Long time no see!
How many years has it been?
Hey!.
Wait! What?!
You're doing tennis?
That's not it.
Oh come on now! Don't be shy!
Now that we're in high school,
karuta's out of the question.
Right.
If you're going to join a club,
it should be a popular one, right?
Come on, why don't you join our club.
Let's smash together to Air K!
Who was that?
Because it is required to join
club activities in our school,
please choose wisely what
club you're going to join.
That is all for today.
Mashima..
Taichi Mashima?
We've only just met so no.
Saki!.
What if you're so rich!
So smart!
Good at sports, and
above all good looking!
Don't get ahead of yourself!
Hm? Did I just got praised?
No way!
Hey!.
Hey!
Hey!.
I don't know his name...
Hey!.
Air, Air K!.
K! Sir!
Anyone there!
Help!
It's no good.
Taichi?.
Hey.
It's you, Taichi!
Elementary school was
the last time we met.
Taichi!.
Please help!
Ma'am? Kana?
Please help!
Hey! Someone! Anyone! Please help!
Ah! Ah! Hey! Hey! You over there!
Hey! The girl over
there in school uniform!
Ah! Hey! Hey! The girl over
there in school uniform!
Hey!
Chihaya, you aren't popular
with the guys, are you?
By the way, why are you in this school?
Didn't the middle school you
were also had a high school?
And spend three more years
commuting two hours each way?
Taichi!.
What?
This is "Se o hayami".
"Se o hayami"?
This must be fate!
( Let's make a karuta club
together ) This must be fate!
( Let's make a karuta club together )
I've decided that I would build a
karuta club once I entered high school.
We can enter team competitions
if there are five members.
The summer's nationals
will be held at Oumi Jinguu!
It's like the Koushien of karuta!
What?
Sorry.
You're still so into karuta.
Of course I am.
You, me, and Arata made a
pact to keep playing, right?
What's so funny?
You haven't changed at all.
Here.
Besides, is it good to find members
who won't play karuta
as passionate as you?
I'll do soccer.
What? You're kidding, Taichi!
Hey, hey! You're kidding, right?
Stupid Taichi!
Ms Ayase! I've not enough words
for what you're doing!
What kind of merchant
do you think you are?
Posters are limited to size A4!
As for all of you, go
back to your classrooms!
Yes, Ma'am.
Karuta freak.
What do you want, soccer freak?
Have you kept in touch with Arata?
I didn't get a New Year's
card from him this year.
You?
Nope.
I heard that he wasn't in last
year's national tournament either.
I see.
I wonder what happened.
Maybe he found something more
important that karuta to him.
Is there something like that?
Wow. You heard what I
said with a straight face.
No seriously. Nothing comes to mind.
Give me an example.
Example?
Like a girlfriend.
Arata having a girlfriend?! No way!
But we're already high schoolers!
We won't always be doing karuta.
It's different now.
Compared to then.
I know. Let's do this, Taichi.
If I win this Sunday's tournament,
you're going to help
me make the karuta club.
Why should I?
It's a promise then.
Hey!.
Hey!.
Taichi..
"Se o hayami"?
"Though divided, on it rushes,
And at last unites again."
You're so slow, Taichi!
"Kimi ga tame"
"But now it is my heart's desire
It may long, long years endure."
"Yo no naka wa"
"Of the little fishing boat
Drawn by ropes along the bank."
"Inishie no"
Ouch!
"In our nine-fold palace court
Shed their sweet perfume today."
Say, since you're moving back to Fukui,
starting next week, you can snowball
fight like this everyday, right?
Got you!
Did it hurt? Sorry, sorry.
Thank you...
For playing karuta with me...
Most likely...
We'll never see each other again...
Why?
But we...
...have karuta.
Won't we meet again?
If you continue playing,
we'll see each other again.
We'll surely see each other again.
~It was not for this~
~I prayed at the holy
shrine That she would become~
She's a finalist.
Eyelashes! How much you've grown!
Sir Harada.
Mr Tsuboguchi's here too.
Sorry for not keeping in touch.
I've been worried since you've not
shown yourself in the Karuta Society.
It's not just your eyelashes
that are all bushy now?
Don't, don't, don't.
Sorry.
Glasses should have grown too.
Arata is...
I'm not sure.
~As pitiless and as cold As
the storms on Hase's hills. ~
~It is by its breath~
That's too close. Who got it?
~Are wasted and driven. ~
Alright. Chihaya got it.
Didn't she tried snatching
it before the first syllable?
The sound before the sound.
Chihaya already heard the "F" of "Fu".
Is that even possible?
~Our sleeves were wet with tears~
~To the dim cottage ~
~If the maple leaves ~
She has the most
important skill for karuta.
Good ear?
She'll become more and more stronger.
~Surely there is none ~
~If your name is true, ~
She did it by herself.
Even if you guys were
gone. Even after that.
I wonder if the gods of karuta
was watching over Chihaya.
~Why do the cherry's new-blown blooms~
~Scatter like restless thoughts?~
~To Tago's coast, I see
Perfect whiteness laid~
She won.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Hey Chihaya.
You don't have to cry.
She's dead.
Huh?
She always fall asleep after
a match because of burnout.
Come on, let's carry her.
Carry?
What a bothersome girl!
Once you competed to many matches, the
player's brain will ran out of sugar.
And you can even lose three kilograms.
Over there.
Wait, wait, wait! Watch out! Ouch!
Ouch!
You okay?
Bye then. I still have things to do.
I'll leave her to you, Eyelashes.
Hey, hey, Sir! Wait!
What repentance is this?
Taichi.
Oh, you're awake. If
you're awake then...
It's alright if you forget
about the karuta club.
The last card that
that was left of me was
"Tare o ka mo"
That poem means that my
old friends are now gone.
But...
I still think that us three
are still a team.
Even if we play karuta
or not.
Just you wait Taichi.
Once I make a karuta club,
I'm going to make Mizusawa a
prestigious school of karuta.
The members will increase.
I'll still teach karuta to the
juniors even after I graduate.
Like how fun karuta is.
I will make Arata's passion
be spread
and spread
to lots of people.
Are you a kid?
Huh? There's a condo unit here now.
Chi! Bye bye!
Bye bye!
Hey guys. Have you thought about it?
Karuta club.
We don't think we can do karuta.
Why don't you join the track
again, Chi. It looks fun.
But...
I want to do karuta in high school.
Oh no, we're running out of time.
Oh no!
Sorry.
Sorry, Chi.
See you.
See you.
Take care.
I got this old one from
the tea ceremony club.
There are three more so help me out.
Air!.
Look out! Look out! Watch it!
Sorry about that. Don't mind it.
Wait, wait, wait, wait!
What are you doing?
No way! Wait!
Carry it properly.
No!
Why do you go that way?
I told you.
The only way it could
be an official club
is to have at least five members.
Please re-consider.
I can't.
Search for two more.
Two?
There is one thing.
There's a student who
has not joined any club yet.
Whatever we do, we
can't make five members.
Hey! What should we do?
How about Air K?
Come on now.
That's now Air Karuta of course.
In other words, it's the approach.
Hey, you're joining the karuta club?
Of course I will. Who do you think I am?
No way! Alright!
This is good news, Taichi!
Nice to meet you.
I'm Chihaya Ayase.
What's with you? This is
not the first time we met.
Don't you remember? Your team against
our team in the team
competition years back.
Right?
Who are you again?
Don't you remember?
I see now!
You don't remember since
you butchered me instantly.
Right, right, Mashima?
No, I don't remember you either.
You traitors! You don't
remember?! Come on, come on!
My name starts with "Ni".
Ni?
Ni.
Ni...
Ni...!
Nikuman / Meat Bun!
How rude! This is a pork stew bun!
No! No! No! You're really Meat Bun!
You were also eating that time.
Meat bun?
Was I eating?
During the team competition...
Wait!
What is she, a pre-schooler?!
Nishida! The name is Nishida!
Meat Bun!
The placement of the kimono...
is reversed.
Sorry.
He is our last hope.
Everyone calls him
Desk / Tsukue in secret.
That's because he's always at his desk.
This is impossible.
He passed the entrance
examinations as second place.
It really suits him to play karuta.
Come on.
Go away!
Wait! Hold on!
Excuse me, Desk.
This is a desk. This is a wooden desk.
Is it made of cedar or zelkova?
It's lauan plywood.
I see.
What do you want?
Are you going to join a club?
How about joining the karuta club?
Karuta?
Of all the clubs, why karuta?
You see...
I'm antisocial. Find someone else.
What the...?
Wait! Wait! Why are you running away?!
I said wait!
The high school that wins the nationals
are considered prestigious.
Do you know why?
Who cares...
That's because you use your
head when playing karuta.
In other words...
If you're good at karuta...
I'm sorry. I'm really
sorry. I'm so sorry!
Mother!
Why are you calling your
mother? Wait, wait, wait.
Aren't you interested in karuta?!
Do you like karuta?
Yes. You see...
How do I put it...
The Ogura Hundred Poems
is a Japanese culture
we should be proud of.
Anyway, could you check
out the karuta club?
For me to give practice to karuta is...
Is...
...is an elegant hobby.
Alright! Got it!
Dammit!
What is this?
Isn't competitive karuta so cool?!
You frequently jam your fingers.
I can't seem to hear the poem at all.
Poem?
You can take cards even if
you don't hear the songs.
The "Beginning Character"...
Silence!
They are magnificent poems passed
down to us from ancient times.
This is...
This is...
This is blasphemy!
Ah! Wait...
There she goes...
She loves traditional stuff?
Ayase, you should give her up.
She doesn't suit competitive karuta.
No! There is no bad
person who likes karuta.
Here.
[ Application ]
[ Resignation ]
Don't get the wrong idea.
I will only join because
of school regulations.
I will quit whenever I want to.
Oh my.
And if I don't leave within 6 seconds
I might not catch my usual train.
Where are you Oe?
Kana!.
You'll get scolded if you don't run.
So you hate running.
Running while wearing a hakama
is a ribald thing to do.
Ribald?
My family is in the
traditional clothing business.
That's so cool!
I chose the archery club
because I can wear kimono.
I deeply love the
cultivated Japanese culture.
Despite it all, the
symbolic Hundred Poems
is being used as a fastest
fingers first ultra quiz contest.
Um, you see... It's true that
karuta is being used where you
won't hear many of the characters.
But I like a poem out of it.
Do you know?
"Chihayaburu Kamiyo / Even
when the gods Held sway"
"Held sway in the ancient
days, I have never heard"
"That water gleamed with autumn
red As it does in Tatta's stream"
The first person who taught
me karuta said this to me.
He said this is my poem.
Your sweetheart said it?
Your sweetheart said it right?
No, no, no. Um. No.
No, no. He's not my sweetheart.
Why'd you ask?
Because it's a love poem.
Love?
The poem is about the Tatta's
stream is filled with autumn red,
and looks so pretty, right?
You are indeed correct.
But a thousand years ago, Ariwara
no Narihira hid his love with it.
Hid?
Because it's a forbidden
love with the empress.
This poem is about
former lovers that was
dedicated to the empress.
A poem Narihira made.
Through the fierce stream,
his passionate feelings
was intense to dye it red.
He is saying that he
still yearns for her.
It is that kind of poem.
With such short words, there
can be many ways of reading it.
That's why poems are interesting.
5-7-5-7-7
character form
nowadays is just a 31 character tweet.
Is something wrong?
It has become so red.
My head
has become so red.
Wow.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Tell me more!
Among the Hundred Poems, even though the 43rd
poem has a difficult image, is actually about love.
When the people a thousand
years ago worry about love,
don't you think you can
somehow relate to them?
Let's play karuta together.
You should tell all of us
about all your beloved poems.
I have...
I have but one condition.
It's fine.
The karuta club is approved.
Alright!
I'll be the adviser for now.
But I'm busy with the tennis club too.
I'll just leave the
responsibilities to the president.
Yes Ma'am. Leave it to us!
From now on, let's aim to win the
Tokyo championships this coming June!
There are two beginners you know.
It's impossible to be a finalist.
It's not impossible, Meat Bun!
Meat Bun?
I'll start training
them hard from now on.
Ah! Be sure to leave
your Golden Week open.
We'll have training camp.
Excuse me.
Yes, Ma'am.
You're not the President, Ms Ayase.
[ President: Taichi Mashima ]
By the way.
What was Oe's condition for joining?
What are you doing?
I've decided.
I'll call him right now.
Call?
I can't...
But I'll do it.
Call who?
Arata.
I've decided that I'll call
him when I make a karuta club.
Okay.
Yes? Wataya residence.
Hello?
Arata...
It's you, Arata!
Chihaya?.
How are you, Arata?
I'm doing good.
Same as always.
You see.
I made a karuta club now
that I entered high school.
Taichi is in it too.
I see. That's wonderful Chihaya.
We will be the Tokyo winners and
will definitely go to the nationals.
So come see us in Oumi Jinguu.
Everyone at our karuta
club will be waiting.
I'm sure you'll get along with them.
Hey.
Hey!
~Though a swift stream is ~
~Divided by a boulder
In its headlong flow, ~
~Though divided, on it rushes,
And at last unites again. ~
~What withers and falls away
In this place is I myself. ~
~Is there any way Except by a
messenger To send these words to you?~
Arata. I'm off.
I'll leave grandpa to you.
Okay.
That Akira is such a worrywart.
I'll be fine alone.
Just in case something happens.
If the doctor said that one's
head suffers like that of a bomb,
anyone would worry.
Get the nail clippers.
Even if the water stream
come across a boulder and be divided,
it will once again be
united in one stream.
"Se o hayami"?
I'm sorry about this, Arata.
To think I would be the boulder.
There's nothing to be sorry about.
As long as we play karuta,
we'll meet them again for sure.
We made that pact.
In karuta, there are
only a hundred poems.
So there's a "beginning character".
If you listen to the first
verse's first characters,
you will know its
corresponding second verse.
And these are the beginner's cards.
There are one to six characters
to be the beginning character.
There's a play in words to help.
The first verse's, "Ukari keru /
It was not for this" is paired with
"Hageshikare / As pitiless"
So the wordplay would be:
Ukkari Hage / Carelessly Bald.
That startled me. What's wrong?
The poem, "Ukari keru", is an
excellent poem within an excellent poem.
It's a poem where the one
cannot profess his love.
It's really a painful
poem of unrequited love.
To think that it would be made into...
Carelessly bald?
Stop it!
That unrequited love will
surely not bear fruit!
Wow. Kana here is funny.
In competitive karuta, the one who hears
and knows the beginning character wins.
In order to measure the timing,
the reader will surely read
out the second verse once first
before reading the next first verse.
Like this.
~And neither have I beheld Nor
crossed its bridge of heaven.~
~It was not for this I prayed at the
holy shrine: That she would become~
If a card is taken from
the opponent's territory,
a card will be given
from your territory.
That would be repeated over again.
And you win when all of the
cards in your territory are gone.
Desk?
If I don't leave in 11 seconds,
I won't make it into cram school.
But you should practice more.
Have you forgotten?
I was just free and joined the club.
I didn't join because I'm
serious in playing karuta.
What should we do with Desk?
Maybe we should find other members?
Even if you say that...
It was only Komano who
hasn't joined any clubs.
Desk!
I don't want another member besides you!
You can be the only one, Desk!
Come at the training camp!
Be sure to come!
I wonder if Desk will come.
He's alright.
I'm sure he'll come.
Here, here.
Everyone at Shiranami Society!
We will be participating
the training camp this time.
We are Mizusawa High School
Competitive Karuta Club.
Thank you for having us.
Please treat us well.
Welcome.
He is my and Taichi's
karuta mentor, Sir Harada.
Pleased to meet you.
For 40 years, I'm still
aiming to be the Meijin.
He is also the chief
priest of this Bubai shrine.
And this is...!
With the help of Sir Harada,
our special menu!
However you look at
it, that's impossible.
A match will at least
take an hour and a half.
But to win tournaments, you'll have
to enter a lot of matches per day.
That's why we will build
stamina for better matches.
Then the first one would be...
Kana!.
Let's do it.
Let's do it, Komano.
Okay. Let's start a match.
Everyone get ready.
Understood.
I thought you won't come.
I told you I'm free.
You're right.
Besides.
It's the first time.
What?
That I've been said
I can be the only one.
You can do it!
You can do it!
Hey, watch it.
I'm fine, I'm fine.
Come on, I'll do it.
I told you, I'm fine!
You're cutting like a cat's paw.
Then, Chihaya, can you prepare the eggs?
Okay.
Sorry! You okay?
Sorry! Sorry!
It's your fault, Taichi.
Is that you, Chihaya?
Yeah, yeah.
So besides her is Mashima.
Huh? Then who is the other one?
That's Wataya.
That's Arata Wataya, right?
Yup.
Who is that?
He's the grandson of what is said to be the best
in competitive karuta's history, Wataya Meijin.
Didn't they transferred to
Tokyo because of money concerns?
That's right.
But they were only here for only a year.
Is Arata strong?
Of course he is. He's the
grandson of an eternal Meijin.
He's annually the winner
during elementary school.
And guess who's the annual runner up?
You were so strong even then, Meat Bun.
Guess so. I've been told
I'm a karuta prodigy.
But you're always second.
I'm told to be the
"capital's lightning"!
But you're still second.
But to win against Meat Bun,
Arata must be something.
Um, Kana.
Stop calling me Meat Bun!
Taichi can't even lose to him
when Arata's not wearing glasses.
To think Arata has really bad eyesight.
Did he?
What the? He gave you a handicap?
No, no, no.
When we were doing karuta
in Japanese language class,
the finalists were Taichi and Arata.
During that time, Arata's
glasses went missing.
Maybe Mashima hid it.
Taichi won't do something that low.
Right, Taichi?
Yeah.
Really? I'm pretty sure it's his doing!
No he didn't! Why don't you believe me.
No way, no way. I'm
pretty sure he'll do it.
He looks like it.
No he won't do that.
15 card difference.
Don't worry about it.
You've become a lot stronger.
But you see.
There's nothing wrong with
your reactions, Eyelashes.
You just don't put out
during the essential moments.
The separated cards have
been removed altogether.
What do you mean?
Hmm. It's like this.
You don't have luck.
Does that mean
the karuta's gods are not with him?
Hey. That's not it, Oe.
No, no. I won't go that far.
Right, Sir?
Maybe he has a bad habit.
Right? To think he's
popular with the ladies.
No, I'm not like that.
You've been attacking
"Chihayaburu" all out.
I think that's the main cause of it.
I see.
Speaking of "Chihayaburu",
you now go with the same
high school with Chihaya.
It's a good thing you two are together.
Hey, wait, wait.
What do you mean?
I think it was autumn of last year.
I stumbled with Taichi at the station,
I told him that Chihaya
will go to Mizusawa.
Mr Tsuboguchi!
That's why you chose Mizusawa, right?
Hey!
Oh my!
I told him to keep it a secret!
Dammit Mr Tsuboguchi!
A long time ago,
Taichi and Arata used
to spend the night here.
I see.
Taichi's sleep-talking was so noisy.
I can't sleep at all.
But Arata was sound asleep.
Um...
Could it be that the one who told
you that "Chihayaburu" is your poem
is Arata?
Yes.
What kind of person is he?
Passionate.
~Here comes spring,
now the flower blooms.~
~Made white~
Wait!
Oh no!
I stuck a card again.
What are you?! You're so strong!
I've been practicing
alone all this time.
Alone?
My dream is to be a Karuta Meijin.
Dream?
Why? Why Meijin?
That's because if you become
the best in karuta in Japan,
that means you become the
best in the world, right?
The world's...
...best.
To be the best in the world
is something I haven't thought about.
Somehow,
my heart thumped,
and squeezed.
Carelessly bald.
It's the first time I felt like that.
President.
On this 3rd day of training
camp, to test their abilities,
I sent Eyelashes and
Meat Bun to a tournament.
That sounds so good! I also want to go!
You're running out of money, Chihaya.
That's right!
Even if I should sell this Daddy Bear towel
Harajuku limited edition at Yahoo! Auctions!
No, no, no.
There is a reason I
left you here, Chihaya.
Look.
Akihito Sudo..
The Hokuo Academy competive
karuta club he's a member of
had always been participating
in the national tournaments.
Champion of the champions.
I wonder what Dad is doing?
Even though he said
he'll be back by 8AM.
He's at night shift. He
probably got his hands full.
Grandpa.
Maybe I should not attend this time.
It's alright.
I'll just be fine over here.
But...
You want to be strong, right?
So that you can meet your friends
at Tokyo with your head up high.
Go on. There's nothing to worry about.
I'll finish it quick and come back.
Arata..
Don't forget the image.
Let's have a good match.
Ouch.
Excuse me.
Where's your "sorry"?
Where's your "sorry"?
Um.
But I already said "excuse me".
If you don't apologize,
I'll make you cry.
There you have it!
The S in Sudo means super sadist.
Got that?
Go away.
Understood.
Let's have a good match.
Super sadist?
This is the place but...
There.
Okay.
Are you nervous?
I'm not.
Ouch.
Arata?.
Taichi?.
That Arata?
Arata Wataya?.
Um, if I remember correctly.
Ni..
Ni!.
Ni?.
Ni, ni!.
Niku / Meat.
Niku / Meat?
It's Nishida!
Mi-meat?
You came.
Give my thanks to Chihaya.
When I got the call from her,
I thought of participating here.
You should say that to her personally.
Well, you see...
I thought you two are dating.
Well, how should I
know that I'm far away.
No, no, no, no. We're not dating.
I see.
We will soon begin the opening ceremony!
Here.
Here's my mobile number.
Thank you.
Please tell that Chihaya too.
~In the early dawn When
the mists on Uji River~
I'm sorry, Mashima.
So fast.
Here.
He's good.
Right?
It's that time.
That time...
I've been abandoned...
When there is only one left,
this is the "fatal game".
If that happens, whichever
card is read first,
the outcome will be decided.
That's because anyone can put weight
at the cards near them.
~Like Michinoku prints Of
the tangled leaves of ferns,~
And like what it's called,
you only have to test your luck.
Come on.
Come on, "Chihayaburu"!
~That I have become confused~
~But my love for you remains.~
You really are no good with fatal games.
You should have yourself
exorcised by Sir Harada.
Shut up.
There are still trains
running. You can go ahead.
I still have to face
Arata Wataya in the finals.
Last time I fought him
was in elementary school.
I'll show him how much
I've gotten strong.
If you're gonna cry, cry.
~At the break of day, Just as though the
morning moon Lightened the dim scene, ~
That's because you didn't say "sorry".
Isn't Sudo's covering hand incredible?
But.
Do you even have time
to worry about her?
~The rooster's crowing In
the middle of the night~
The highlight is Arata Wataya.
He really is the grandson of the Meijin.
Even if his opponent is
enough to be an A level player.
But his current opponent
is no match for him.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
You just formed because
of liking \karuta.
To think you're aiming to be
champions with these kind of members,
you are just underestimating us.
Sudo has a girlfriend.
So don't be hasty.
There you are, Desk!
Desk! Everyone is acting strange!
Wa-wait! Hold it!
Hold on! Wait! Wait!
What's wrong guys?
Won't you practice?
You see...
I don't know what
should we practice for.
That's true.
What? What?
What're you all saying?
Did you think that there won't
be players better than you?
Ayase!.
Yes!
Whenever you dive fast,
you thrust too much.
The hand thrust is unconditional
and is twice the difference.
There are matches you can win but won't!
Understood!
Mashima!.
Yes!
You don't practice
swinging at all, do you?
It's not the time to be shy.
You should drive your body to
have more sense of distance!
Understood!
Meat Bun!
Yes!
Whenever your opponent is a girl, your
percentage of winning is lowered tremendously!
There is no distinction between
girls and boys in karuta!
Before you stretch your upper
lip, stretch your hand first!
Desk, what is this?
I made a karuta app.
Wow!
What is this?
This is awesome, Desk!
Hey, tell me more about myself!
That's what I told you, Mashima!
Desk fits playing karuta!
That tickles! That tickles!
Wait, wait!
Lemme see, lemme see.
Here's Ayase's.
[ Days before Tokyo Tournament ]
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Mizusawa! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Keep!
Gotcha!
"Se o hayami".
"Sumi no e no".
"Ura", "Kaze wo", "Nagara",
"Kimi ga tame wo ", "Harasu".
Here. Here. Here.
No! Here.
Got it!
Sorry.
Okay, Ms Ayase.
Okay!
Come on.
Let's go.
What?
One, two...!
One more time!
Let's go!
Come on, just a bit more.
I'm done.
Meat Bun.
This is so cool!
It's so beautiful!
Kana! Kana!.
Hey!.
Let's go!
"When I take the path"
"To Tago's coast, I see"
"Perfect whiteness laid"
"On Mount Fuji's lofty peak
By the drift of falling snow."
Mt Fuji must have been there
a thousand years ago too.
It has always been there all this time.
You're crying, Oe.
Am I weird?
No, no.
I'm weird, aren't I?
But...
I'm deeply moved.
You really love poems.
Whenever I think about
the Hundred Poems,
I'm always overwhelmed by the writers'
sentiments no matter how long time goes by.
Oe..
I came to realize this.
I know when the gods abandoned me.
President.
If you realized it, I
think that's well enough.
Also,
I think love is superior
when you are closer.
I'll be cheering for you.
~On Mount Fuji's lofty peak
By the drift of falling snow.~
~On a mountain slope,~
~Solitary, uncompanioned,
Stands a cherry tree.~
You strained too much at the
last covering hand's escape.
You should loosen a bit.
With a snap of your wrist.
It's easy if it's your territory but
if it's in the opponent's territory,
you should thrust more
or you won't reach it.
You should move more with your body.
What's wrong, Kana?
It's so quiet.
It seems like we are the
only people here at school.
Well, it's already this late.
"Morotomo ni" is about a monk
who read the poem when he
endured solitary training.
There was only one cherry tree
that bloom in the mountains,
and he call out to it to be a
friend since they're both alone.
Isn't it a lonely poem?
"On a mountain slope, Solitary,
uncompanioned, Stands a cherry tree."
"Except for you, lonely friend,
To others I am unknown. "
I don't feel lonely at all.
I...
I hear a poem of strong bond.
As long as you're here,
I can endure.
That's why...
I want to know...
...more about you.
Let's win this.
Tomorrow's competition.
Yeah!
Taichi..
Thank you.
About what?
Because you become to love karuta.
Yeah. That makes me
happy the most.
See you tomorrow then.
See you.
Yeah.
Chihaya..
Let's do our best.
Yeah.
Bye bye.
Last prayer?
No way.
Nothing I prayed came true to me.
That's because of my bad habit.
Tomorrow's the day. I'll be
going too to cheer you on.
Sir?
Yes?
The poem "Chihayaburu / held sway in the
ancient days" is about the gods, right?
Yeah. You can say that.
If it's held sway in the ancient days,
the gods will surely be there too.
If it's a mobile suit,
then it's like Gundam.
What's with that example?
Why do you ask?
I met Arata at the last tournament.
So you've met Glasses.
He was so incredible.
That's when I realized it.
No matter how much I spend all my
adolescent life, I can't beat him.
Are you talking about karuta?
There's also that.
Arata
probably thinks that Chihaya
and me are meant for each other.
But despite it all,
I followed Chihaya and
enrolled at Mizusawa.
Even making the karuta club is
only an excuse to be with Chihaya more.
It's not that I really like karuta.
I'm sorry to say that loud
to a karuta instructor.
No, it's alright. I have
somewhat realized it.
I'm like that.
Outwitted.
Tricked.
Snatched.
Hid.
No matter how much I begged,
compared to him, the gods would not
make the poem, Chihayaburu, turn my way.
Eyelashes.
You know the the poem,
"Kono tabi wa", right?
Since he wasn't able
to prepare the offering,
autumn leaves were given as tribute.
A poem where the judgment would
be left to the gods' decision.
"At the present time,"
"Since I could bring no
offering, See Mount Tamuke!"
"Here are brocades of red
leaves, As a tribute to the gods."
You can chant to the gods or to luck.
I think it's the special privilege
to the people who give their best.
You can't win spending
all your adolescence?
Eyelashes.
Say that after you spent it.
We will soon begin the opening ceremony.
Players and officers,
please proceed to the grounds.
As for the operations staff, please
proceed to the designated locations.
I repeat.
We will soon begin the opening ceremony.
Players and officers,
please proceed to the grounds.
[ Oe Traditional Clothing Shop ]
So this is Oe's condition in joining?
[ Oe Traditional Clothing Shop ]
So this is Oe's condition in joining?
They're too excited wearing hakama.
I really feel so restless.
Please help everyone.
It's just what I thought.
Oe Traditional Clothing Shop.
Returning the championship
pennant, Hokuo Academy.
It's him.
Is he the one who beat you out?
Shut up.
Everyone looks so strong.
Please do not let us fight Hokuo!
Please do not let us fight Hokuo!
Game starts in two minutes.
We will now start the first match.
The reader is Joumori, a
licensed A class reader.
Let's have a good match.
Let's have a good match.
~Naniwa Bay, now the flower
blooms, but for winter.~
~Here comes spring,
now the flower blooms.~
Eikou Academy, fight!
Wait for me.
~Here comes spring,
now the flower blooms.~
I'll be sure to get you.
~From Mount Yoshino~
~Like the salt sea-weed,~
~In the peaceful light~
~In this dire distress~
~Let the winds of heaven~
~Let me show him these!~
Kana, nice!
Thank you.
You're good.
I'm glad.
Just a bit more.
~Just because she said,~
~On a mountain slope,~
~When I turned my look~
Mizusawa, first win!
Mizusawa, 2nd win!
Mizusawa, 3rd win!
With three wins and two loses,
Mizusawa High wins this match.
Thank you very much.
Alright.
I'm having so much fun.
Team matches are so much fun after all!
Okay! Time to eat chocolates!
Your opponent was the strongest.
Don't worry about it.
~If I should go near that shore.
I would only wet my sleeves.~
~In the autumn fields~
Alright!
~Better to have slept~
I've won here.
Komano..
Komano!.
One at a time. One.
Okay.
~Winter loneliness~
Thank you very much.
~In this ancient house,~
~Oh, the foot-drawn trail~
Alright!
~Even when your hate Makes me
stain my sleeves with tears~
Lucky!
Thank you very much.
There's still next year.
[ Mizusawa High School ]
Congratulations on your first win, Kana!
Thank you very much.
Calm down. I think it's
good topping the league.
But looks like our next opponent,
Tomihara West High has one A class player.
A class?
Yeah.
Me, me, me!
I want to fight strong players!
What I'm saying is, so that
we would ultimately win,
we should think more
about the order of lineup.
We will start the semi-finals shortly.
Each school should hand
over the order table please.
Yes, sir!
The key players, me, Ayase,
and Mashima should win.
So that A class player
should be matched with Desk.
That should match with
the opponent's order.
But.
If we do that, we'll have
more chance of winning.
This is how strategy
works in team competition.
Everyone does this when
they reach this level.
Alright!
I was right on correct.
~Lying all alone,~
Got it!
Gotcha!
Got it!
Eight streaks!
Hey, hey. The streaks doesn't stop.
This is an easy win!
Komano! Let's take the next one!
~Can you realize at all The
emptiness of that night?~
~Even when the gods,~
I got the "Chi"!
Alright!
We got the "Chi"!
I also got it.
Alright!
9th streak!
President, that's nice!
What can you guys say
about my order prediction!
Hit the bull's eye.
Next is finally the finals.
That's right.
I can't believe it.
Desk's opponent was really strong.
Right, Desk?
I'll be leaving.
If three members win, that's
enough to have an overall win.
Tests are near too. Truth is,
I don't have time for this.
Desk!
Isn't it to balance out?!
To say such kind words
as I can be the only one!
The truth is anyone is okay, right?!
I didn't say it like that.
I really want you to play karuta.
That's true, Desk.
It's better if I didn't play karuta.
If I was alone like I was before,
I won't feel like this.
I don't
have talent in karuta.
I'm sure that
I won't be of use later too.
I don't have talent too.
I still do it even if it hurts.
I still do it even
if I want to ran away.
I still do it so that one of these days,
I have a feeling I
can surpass myself now.
We will surely win
so please cheer us on.
Oh, there you are.
My, my. How are you?
He is Shiranami Society's...
We are Hokuo!
Yeah!
We are strong!
Yeah!
Aim for the nationals!
Yeah!
We were probably
playing the team competition as
if it's individual competition.
We are not a team yet.
We will now announce the
players' order for the finals.
Mizusawa High, #1
- Yusei Nishida.
Here.
Hokuo Academy, #1
- Nayuta Amakasu.
Here.
Mizusawa High, #2
- Tsutomu Komano.
Hokuo Academy, #2
- Haruto Takuma.
Here.
Mizusawa High, #3
- Taichi Mashima.
Here.
Hokuo Academy, #3
- Hiro Kinashi.
Here.
Mizusawa High, #4
- Chihaya Ayase.
Here.
Hokuo Academy, #4
- Akihito Sudo.
Here.
Mizusawa High, #5
- Kanade Oe.
Here.
Hokuo Academy, #5
- Yuuta Ryugasaki.
Here.
You can now line up the cards.
Let's have a good match.
Can you say it now?
Apologizing with "sorry".
We will now begin the finals.
Let's have a good match.
Let's have a good match.
~Naniwa Bay, now the flower
blooms, but for winter.~
Hokuo! Let's win all five matches!
Yeah!
~Here comes spring,
now the flower blooms.~
Mi-
-zu
-sa
-wa! Fight!
~Here comes spring,
now the flower blooms.~
~For your precious sake, ~
Wow!
They are a prestigious school of karuta.
Nice!
I got mine here, Sudo.
Of course, we're the top.
Of course we are!
Sudo, nice.
Nice.
Let's get the next one too.
Yeah!
~To the dim cottage~
~The spring has passed~
~Like a string of gems~
Okay, chance!
It's false touch.
Let's keep this up.
~Though he forsook me,~
~Over the wide sea Towards
its many distant isles~
I have kept mine.
Nice!
What's wrong with everyone.
They feel like losing.
Also...
Why doesn't he pick up the cards?
He doesn't even move.
He doesn't even give stance to prepare.
Maybe he lost interest.
Are you underestimating me?
You've been checking
others for awhile now.
~It would be well this very
day That I should end my life.~
~On a mountain slope, Solitary,
uncompanioned, Stands a cherry tree.~
"Except for you, lonely friend,"
"To others I am unknown."
I don't feel lonely at all.
I...
I hear a poem of strong bond.
As long as you're here,
I can endure.
That's why...
I want to know...
...more about you.
Chihaya..
It's alright now.
Just believe in us and go all out.
Mizusawa! This is it!
Yeah!
Yeah.
~Except for you, lonely
friend, To others I am unknown.~
~It was not for this I prayed at the
holy shrine: That she would become~
Alright.
I got it!
Nice, Nishida!
Here they come.
~When I take the path To Tago's
coast, I see Perfect whiteness laid~
Nice!
I got the "Tago no Ura".
Hokuo, focus!
Yeah!
~On Mount Fuji's lofty peak
By the drift of falling snow.~
~Surely there is none~
~Like a mariner~
Alright!
Thank you very much.
Hokuo, one win!
~Coarse the rush-mat roof Sheltering
the harvest-hut Of the autumn rice-field~
Thank you very much.
Hokuo, two wins!
Nice!
Hokuo, only one more
win and we're champions!
We'll get three wins.
Let's get three wins guys!
~From Tsukuba's peak~
I got it!
Chihaya, nice!
~The waves are gathered~
Yes!
Nice!
I got it!
Mizusawa, one win!
Nice fight, Meat Bun!
Yes!
~Let me show him these~
Got it! ~Let me show him these~
Got it!
Nice, Chihaya!
Got it!
Chihaya's hearing has started
catching up to the reader's habit.
~Truly, this is where~
Yes!
I still got it!
Alright!
Go, Ayase!
~If it were my wish To pick the white
chrysanthemums, Puzzled by the frost~
Yes!
Alright! Yes!
She did it.
Ouch!
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
To think there are still void cards.
You take cards in lousy ways.
She's dead!
She's dead! Dead...
It's alright. She's just sleeping.
She's dead!
Anyway, we still have one more.
She's sleeping?
It's a fatal game there.
A fatal game.
Oh my. A fatal game.
Fatal game?
That's right.
I have never seen
Eyelashes' card being
read in a fatal game ever.
What I have is "Kono tabi wa".
My opponent has "Chihayaburu".
There are six more cards
that haven't been read.
If "Chigiri okishi" has been read, I have
to be careful to not get a false touch.
~Of the early autumn time, I by
chance might pluck the flower. ~
~Though I do not want To live on in
this floating world, If I remain here,~
Focus!
Yes!
It'll come next!
Yes!
Gods, I beg you.
I'm fine having bad
luck the rest of my life.
Just please, for now.
Just now.
Just this once!
~Let me remember only This
midnight and this moonrise.~
Come on! Come on! Come on!
~Eight-fold cherry flowers That at
Nara-ancient seat Of our state-have bloomed,~
No.
Excuse me.
That's not it.
Thank you.
Mashima is practicing swinging
when he doesn't used to.
He's trying to pull out from
the opponent's territory.
In a fatal game?
Taichi..
That's it.
If you know it won't come,
you should come get it.
I'll get it! I'll get it!
I'll get "Chiha"!
Chihaya..
Please watch it.
President's fate.
~In our nine-fold palace court
Shed their sweet perfume today.~
~As dew promises~
Void card.
False touch.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Mizusawa are the champions!
Taichi!.
Mashima!.
President!
A thousand years ago,
Ariwara no Narihira read
a passionate poem of love.
It was fun, isn't it, Taichi?!
It was so much fun!
But...
All I can see now is...
Look at the characters, "Chiha".
Chihaya..
Here.
Arata's mobile number.
I met him at the last
tournament I was in.
You met Arata?
You should let him know.
It should be coming from you.
Hello?
Arata?.
Chihaya?.
Our team
won and are the champions, Arata.
We'll be going there.
We'll be going to the nationals.
Hey, hey, hey. Here, here!
You should say something, Taichi!
Hey, hey, hey..
I've been thinking we should go eat
something delicious. What do you want?
I wanna go! I wanna go!
Let's eat! What should we eat?
Arata?.
Hm?
I...
have something I have to
tell you no matter what.
What is it?
That time.
I was the one who hid your glasses.
That time, you mean that time?
Yeah. I took it.
I see.
You're a mean guy.
Yeah.
I know.
I didn't want her to see
that I would have badly beaten by you.
I don't want to be hated
by Chihaya.
I see.
I kinda understand
where you're coming from.
Arata..
I...
still don't want to be
hated by Chihaya until now.
That's because I love her.
That's why, one day, I will defeat you.
I will surpass you in karuta.
Taichi..
As for me...
I quit playing karuta.
What?
I quit karuta.
End
[ Chihayafuru
- 2nd Verse ]