Chihayafuru cover art

Chihayafuru

ちはやふるChihayafull

2011 · TV · 25 eps Finished

AniList average score
80%
On AniList users' lists
124,377

What is Chihayafuru about?

Chihayafuru is a TV anime series of 25 episodes animated by MADHOUSE, adapted from a manga. It aired from October 5, 2011 to March 28, 2012. AniList classifies it as drama, romance, slice of life and sports.

Chihaya Ayase has spent most of her life supporting her sister’s model career. When she meets a boy named Arata Wataya, he thinks Chihaya has potential to become a great karuta player. As Chihaya dreams of becoming Japan's best karuta player, she is soon separated from her karuta playing friends. Now in high school, Chihaya still plays karuta in the hope that she will one day meet her friends again.

Synopsis from AniList, which credits Crunchyroll. The summary above it is written by FreeAnime.xyz from AniList's data.

Themes AniList users associate with it: Karuta, Female Protagonist, School Club, Josei, Coming of Age, Love Triangle, School, Heterosexual, Ensemble Cast, Primarily Teen Cast.

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Streaming rights differ by country and change over time. A listed title page means AniList records it for this entry; it does not confirm the title is available in your region today.

Other official links listed on AniList

Official trailer on YouTube

Main characters

Characters AniList lists in a main role, with spoiler-free notes.

  • Chihaya Ayase 綾瀬千早

    Main character

    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".

    Japanese voice: Asami Seto

  • Taichi Mashima 真島太一

    Main character

    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 excells at nearly everything he does which makes him the voice of reason in the Misusawa Karuta Club.

    Japanese voice: Mamoru Miyano

Supporting characters

  • Arata Wataya 綿谷新

    Supporting character

    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.

    Japanese voice: Yoshimasa Hosoya

  • Kanade Ooe 大江奏

    Supporting character

    A girl with a taste for the classics, Kanade is a quiet girl who works in a kimono store and loves all kinds of traditional clothing. She is quite knowledgeable about the true meanings behind the One Hundred Poems and joins the karuta club on the condition that they start wearing hakama. (Source: Wikipedia)

    Japanese voice: Ai Kayano

  • Yuusei Nishida 西田優征

    Supporting character

    A rather tubby boy who is reluctantly often called 'Porky' by Chihaya. Once a top karuta player who had previously played against Chihaya, Arata and Taichi in an elementary school tournament, Yusei quit karuta after suffering a defeat against Arata and took up tennis as a refuge.

    Japanese voice: Tooru Nara

  • Tsutomu Komano 駒野勉

    Supporting character

    An intelligent boy in Chihaya's class who is second only to Taichi in test scores. Often tied to his desk and anti-social, he feels that nothing is worth doing unless it makes you smarter. However, Chihaya and Taichi help to convince him that karuta involves a lot of strategies and he joins the club.

    Japanese voice: Tsubasa Yonaga

  • Hiro Kinashi 木梨浩

    Supporting character

    An eccentric member of the Hokuou Academy Karuta Club. His rank is Class B.

    Japanese voice: Kazuya Nakai

  • Hideo Harada 原田秀雄

    Supporting character

    Hideo Harada is the head of the Shiranami Society for karuta that Chihaya and Taichi are part of. He used to teach Arata as well, while Arata was in primary school with Chihaya and Taichi. He taught Chihaya throughout Junior High School and is currently mentor to both Chihaya and Taichi.

    Japanese voice: Unshou Ishizuka

  • Chitose Ayase 綾瀬千歳

    Supporting character

    Chihaya's older sister. She's a model and the complete opposite of Chihaya's tomboyish personality.

    Japanese voice: Aya Endou

  • Yuu Ashino 芦野由宇

    Supporting character

    Arata's neighbor.

    Japanese voice: Chika Anzai

  • Mari Wataya 綿谷麻里

    Supporting character

    Arata's mother.

    Japanese voice: Houko Kuwashima

  • Akira Wataya 綿谷彰

    Supporting character

    Arata's father.

    Japanese voice: Jin Horikawa

  • Hajime Wataya 綿谷始

    Supporting character

    Arata's grandfather, a karuta master.

    Japanese voice: Kinryuu Arimoto

  • Chieko Ayase 綾瀬千恵子

    Supporting character

    Chihaya's mother.

    Japanese voice: Satsuki Yukino

Full cast list

Related works

Prequels, sequels, side stories and source material, as linked on AniList.

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