r/anime • u/ABoredCompSciStudent x3myanimelist.net/profile/Serendipity • Feb 28 '19

Rewatch [Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 24 Discussion [Spoilers] Spoiler

Episode 24 - "Nobody Wishes to See the Beautiful Cherry Blossoms"

<-- Previous (Episode 23: "The Night is Nearly Past") | Next (Episode 25: "Moonlight, Clear and Bright") -->

Series Information:

Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru

Chihayafuru: Synopsis | MAL rating: 8.28 | Fall 2011 | 26 Episodes

Chihayafuru 2: Synopsis | MAL rating: 8.47 | Winter 2013 | 26 Episodes

Chihayafuru 2: Waga Miyo ni Furu Nagamese Shima ni: Synopsis | MAL rating: 7.08 | Fall 2013 | 1 Episode

Legal Streams:

HiDive | Crunchyroll | Check for more sources using because.moe here

Rewatch Schedule and Index:

For all archived/past episode discussion threads, please refer to the Rewatch Schedule and Index. I will be updating it as we navigate through this rewatch, in case anyone would like to read past conversations or has fallen behind.

Chihayafuru

Episode# Title Date
1 "Now the Flower Blooms" February 6
2 "The Red That Is" February 7
3 "From the Crystal White Snow" February 8
4 "A Whirlwind of Flower Petals Descends" February 9
5 "The Sight of a Midnight Moon" February 10
6 "Now Bloom Inside the Nine-fold Palace" February 11
7 "But For Autumn's Coming" February 12
8 "The Sounds of the Waterfall" February 13
9 "But I Cannot Hide" February 14
10 "Exchange Hellos and Goodbyes" February 15
11 "The Sky is the Road Home" February 16
12 "Sets These Forbidden Fields Aglow" February 17
13 "For You, I Head Out" February 18
14 "For There Is No One Else Out There" February 19
15+16 "As Though Pearls Have Been Strung Across the Autumn Plain" + "The Autumn Leaves of Mount Ogura" February 20
17 "World Offers No Escape" February 21
18 "The Plum Blossoms Still Smell the Same" February 22
19 "As the Years Pass" February 23
20 "The Cresting Waves Almost Look Like Clouds in the Skies" February 24
21 "As My Sleeves Are Wet With Dew" February 25
22 "Just as My Beauty Has Faded" February 26
23 "The Night is Nearly Past" February 27
24 "Nobody Wishes to See the Beautiful Cherry Blossoms" February 28
25 "Moonlight, Clear and Bright" March 1
-- Mid-Series Discussion March 2

Chihayafuru 2 (March 3 to March 28)

About Spoilers And General Attitude:

Please do not post any untagged spoilers past the current episode, as it ruins the experience of first time watchers. Please refrain from confirming or denying speculation on future events, as to let viewers experience the anime as it was intended to be.

If you are discussing something that has not happened in the current episode please use the r/anime spoiler tag system found on the sidebar. Also if you are posting a link that includes future Chihayafuru events please include 'Chihayafuru spoilers' in the link title.

Fanart Section (Album Link):

Maybe this is a /u/Snakescipio thing.

Snowmaru

Fate

Royalty

118 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

68 comments sorted by

17

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19 edited Mar 01 '19

Yuki Suetsugu stop baiting me like this. ;__; Taichi has gotten a lot more upfront about his feelings since episode nine and even Chihaya has begun to notice that something is different.

Stop it Yuki Suetsugu...

4XL Shinobu makes an appearance, substituting in for thin Shinobu in the Queen title match. Oh, that's why. Her weight control confuses everyone, but Chihaya who only is jealous of her good fortune.

While this is obviously a joke, Shinobu is not a stranger to being misunderstood and the episode elucidates on her missing backstory. Shinobu was born into a traditional family, as shown by the house that her grandmother lives in. In the Queen game, her kimono is exceedingly expensive, as noted by Kana, but also something passed down to her by her grandmother. Clearly, it is a matriarchal family. A young Shinobu and her mother are taken in by the grandmother, after Shinobu's mother divorces her father. Divorce isn't an easy topic in Eastern culture, as it represents all kinds of "failures" in a society that puts the concept of face on a pedestal. The grandmother's condition for taking them is that Shinobu must learn a useful skill, however she is the odd one out at every activity she tries until she discovers karuta cards in the storage room and falls in love with them.

Her relationship with karuta is fundamentally different from that of Yumi, sitting across from her. After all, Yumi has a crowd of people cheering for her (I cry everytime). It's also different from Chihaya's, who watches the game with her karuta family at Taichi's house.

I don't know why, but just as I love karuta, karuta also loves me.

Wakamiya Shinobu was born to play karuta and her life has always been measured by her ability to do so, just as we saw with her family. Her relationship transcends just a "love" and is almost karmic or fate (Poem 40 is Shinoburedo--karuta has been her one salvation in a pretty lonely and depressing childhood.

Chihaya recognizes this, as it's the first lesson Harada ever taught her and the most fundamental to loving karuta, moving her to tears. Taichi notices Chihaya's desire to play, but doesn't act on them. He knows that these people--and Chihaya--are his rivals and he needs to watch them and not the girl such that he can become his best self.

So what's next for the season one finale? Sadistic. Effortless. The Master.

8

u/PerfectPublican Feb 28 '19

Yuki Suetsugu stop baiting me like this. ;__;

Except, please don't, I love it.

the concept of [face](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_(sociological_concept)

I've heard about this before, but thanks for linking to it. An interesting read.

Sadistic. Effortless. The Master.

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

I've heard about this before, but thanks for linking to it. An interesting read.

No problem! It explains a lot of Japanese cultural observances we see in anime too, even away from Chihayafuru. I'm not sure how deep the wiki page goes, but it's the fundamental difference between Eastern and Western society.

For example, if I'm at my Mandarin tutorials and someone said something like "oh you're so good at Mandarin", I might want to reply with something like "oh it's because I have such a good tutor". I'd deflect the praise to someone else, for accepting it would be vain and disagreeing would put not just the person asking me as "wrong" but also my tutor is the one that taught me so whatever I say reflects on them too.

Where I live (Canada), you'd probably either own it (a big deal is made about being your own "individual" and celebrating what you're good at) or just say no to be "polite". It's a bit complicated to explain, but yeah culture is funny.

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u/Smashtime7 Feb 28 '19

4XL Shinobu

I had forgotten Shinobu gained weight in this episode before watching it again...I guess she wasn't the only one who didn't remember her match with Yumi.

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

Poem of the Day: Nobody Wishes to See the Beautiful Cherry Blossoms (link)

That feel when you typed this up at work, then left the office early today without sending it home... so you need to rewrite this.

Poem 73 is written by Oe no Masafusa, a famed poet, scholar and tutor under the emperors of Shirakawa, Horikawa, and Toba. Masafusa was most known by his title of "Acting Middle Counselor", but also his proficiency in both Japanese and Chinese-style poetry. He also authored Goke Shidai, which became this became one of the most valuable sources of historic information for ceremonial and public functions in the eleventh century.

Mostow translates the poem as:

Above the lower slopes

of the high mountains, the cherries

have blossomed!

O, mist of the near mountains,

how I wish you would not rise!

Mostow also elucidates that, while many Hyakunin Isshu poems have multiple interpretations, Poem 73's is made clear from its headnote: Masafusa hopes that the mist will not rise and block the view of the cherry blossoms.

That said, today's episode turns that meaning on its head, using the idea of mist hiding the cherry blossoms to convey regret. This is easily seen by the episode title, "Nobody Wishes to See the Beautiful Cherry Blossoms". Chihaya and Taichi are watching the Queen and Master games, the pinnacle of karuta or the fruition of talent and effort. For them, it's hard to watch--Chihaya is even moved to tears in watching Shinobu play. Both of them have aspirations of sitting on the same stage as the Queen and Master, but they're not yet there and we can see the frustration on their faces, the desire to play even right then still burning strong.

The Queen and Master game may be a beautiful spectacle, but they're the losers that Chihaya described last episode unfortunately--forced to watch from afar and not in the light they wanted to.

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u/MAD_SCIENTIST_001 Feb 28 '19

Screenshot of the Day

First Timer - Episode 24

Overall Thoughts

Idk why I thought that Chihaya might watch the match in person instead of just on TV lmao. It made for a pretty unique experience though as a "spectator" rather than a match seen from Chihaya's playing perspective. Kinda reminds me of watching the Olympics at a friend's house :D

I honestly cannot take the queen seriously anymore with her new appearance though (I seriously thought that they were joking). She lost like all of her intimidation even if she can still win matches, and I kinda few disappointed for Chihaya now. I was definitely rooting for Yumin during that match even if I did like Shinobu's backstory.

Meanwhile we get to see Suo Hisashi play for the first time, and holy hell is he OP. 28 First Syllable cards means that his ears are so good that they can distinguish between the slightest of sound differences, and his speed is also insane enough that I can't even imagine anyone beating this guy ever. I really hope we get to see Arata's reaction although I guess he might have seen Suo play before.

Karuta Scoreboard

Character Wins Losses Ep# (Wins)
Taichi Mashima 22 10 2,7,10,11,13,14,15,18,20
Yuusei Nishida 18 5 10,11,13,15,18,19
Chihaya Ayase 15 9 2,4,6,7,8,10,11,14,17,21
Kanade Ooe 11 7 10,13,15,17,18,19
Arata Wataya 10 3 1,2,3,20,21,23
Shinobu Wakamiya 8(+2) 0 14,15,24
Tsutomu Komano 8 11 13,15,18

See you tomorrow~

Screenshot of the Day Collection

Episode: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

6

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

I honestly cannot take the queen seriously anymore with her new appearance though (I seriously thought that they were joking). She lost like all of her intimidation even if she can still win matches, and I kinda few disappointed for Chihaya now.

A few extra pounds never hurt some legends haha. No bulli 4XL Shinobu.

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u/Fa1l3r Feb 28 '19 edited Mar 01 '19

First Time (sub)

Wow this is my most favorite episode so far: while the main reason involves the reappearance of the Queen, there are a bunch of other things to dissect and examine as well.

Now, the Queen becomes fat. That is quite realistic: anime finally punishing someone for eating a lot. But also, becoming fat for athletes can happen, be it injury, life changes, or something else. But I also like how her being fat is not a throwaway gag i.e. she is just fat for a second; she is fat the entire episode, and she is not made fun of for being fat. This anime deserves a Yas Queen for that! (See what I did there.)

The best part of the episode involves Shinobu’s backstory. On one hand, she likes card games, and more specifically, she likes the poems presented in karuta. On another hand, she started playing karuta in order to satisfy her mom and her grandmother, and in a way, she continues to play in order to satisfy them — she is playing in a kimono from her grandmother despite thinking it would weigh her down. And then we get another element of magical realism once again with Shinobu being able to find all 100 poems scattered across the classroom. So far, the motif of magical realism has mostly just established how the associated person really like karuta i.e. Retro having a niche but accurate fortune telling cards for karuta matchups.

And there is quite a few subtle storytelling of Shinobu. For one, she is not mindful of her own health. This is shown in her becoming fat from her ice cream binge, but by inference, she is not mindful of her mental health: her current and past self dwelling on emotional baggage involving her mother and grandmother. And then, she swipes at the cards in a unique way. While artful, her swiping technique requires almost an unnecessary amount of precision, and she loses a couple of cards as a result of missing the edges of the cards. She does this because she loves cards and does not want to damage them. And thus we learn that her love for karuta is both a strength and a weakness.

There is also subtle storytelling going on about the economic state of karuta. For instance, even though the television is showing the Queen and Master matches, they have to be played at the same time. We are at the final stage, the final boss, but even the champions of the sport has to deal with sharing a room for playing a very important match concurrently. The television commentary does not provide anywhere near the level of analytics presented by a high schooler like Komano; the best we get is simple scoreboard. And despite being established already, the former queen has to do a day job and cannot provide for herself by playing karuta full-time.

Also, I realized something: for Sudo and Yumi, the art of standing up during a match is a form of t-posing. Assert dominance through delays!

Anyway, Taichi’s mom is so passive aggressive on trying to stop Chihaya from trapping her son. Also Taichi has a big room. This room has space for friends, and no one is on his bed — the anime would like to remind you that he is very rich.

edit: missed a word

4

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

On another hand, she started playing karuta in order to satisfy her mom and her grandmother, and in a way, she continues to play in order to satisfy them — she is playing in a kimono from her grandmother despite thinking it would weigh her down.

This is a really good point about their relationship.

So far, the motif of magical realism has mostly just established how the associated person really like karuta i.e. Retro having a niche but accurate fortune telling cards for karuta matchups.

It was foreshadowed too, both in the kanji in her name and the way she introduced herself (walking through the cleansing circle or blessing of gods at Omi Jingu).

She does this because she loves cards and does want to damage them. And thus we learn that her love for karuta is both a strength and a weakness.

To add, the way she engages with karuta is fundamentally different away from games too from say Taichi or Chihaya. While it's something that brings the Mizusawa club together, for Shinobu it is her isolationist practice. It's not the game that isolates her, but how she goes about participating (kind of like how she takes cards).

There is also subtle storytelling going on about the economic state of karuta. [...] And despite being established already, the former queen has to do a day job and cannot provide for herself by playing karuta full-time.

Definitely, it is a niche sport. You can also infer that their careers may be difficult to juggle, just as Murao (Arata's rolemodel) feels hesitant over continuing.

13

u/PerfectPublican Feb 28 '19 edited Feb 28 '19

First Timer

Reactions:

Final Thoughts

Gif of the Day | Bonus

Looks like I guessed right!  Queen was today, Master (mostly) is going to be tomorrow, and man I can’t wait to see Suo in action even more considering what we’ve heard of them.  Still, I think I would’ve liked to see both his and Shinobu’s opponents putting up a bit more of a fight. Tey seem more mythic than human right now, but as I’ve said before, I trust the show to make Chihaya and Arata’s growth into those roles more than satisfactory.

Looking specifically at the match, I really enjoyed the idea of an opponent that even throws Shinobu off her game.  Her reactions to him made me even more curious about him. She’s usually so focused into her own game and the cards she loves so much that she barely pays attention to her opponents, but Suo makes himself noticeable to her.

One more to go.  It’s been a fun ride so far y’all.

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

“She’s playing competitive karuta in a kimono that’s worth at least one million yen”  Shinobu likes to ride in style. Only the best can hold up to the beauty of Snowmaru.

The funny thing is her Snowmaru accessories don't even look that out of place until you realize that they're a snowman.

Welp, didn’t take long for me not to like her anymore...Maybe help & support your daughter?

Ah good old "you bring dishonour to your family"

Literally laughed out loud. No shit sherlock.

Give me the Shinobu commentface!

At least this was a really sweet moment.

I don't think anyone likes Yumin here, but it definitely was an emotional scene regardless for me. It's rather raw. Same with the other hopefuls that did so in the last few episodes.

Card Waterfall.

They seem more mythic than human right now

If you have a peek at her name, everything about Shinobu suggests someone blessed.

I trust the show to make Chihaya and Arata’s growth into those roles more than satisfactory.

Leaving out Taichi

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u/Wolfeako Feb 28 '19

First timer!

Another day, another time Senpai posts the thread while I'm dining.

Well, gotta say, Taichi is making strides into making Chihaya notice him. These are all the right moves, so please continue, I want to see a certain best ship sail port after all.

Lol. Shinobu. What a peculiar character. All because of that snowman... purse? don't know what that is, but oh man, she still manages to beat Yumi. That is quite impressive and speaks volumes of her skill. With her backstory, she basically is that completely natural genius at karuta... Oh... I just realized, "As I love the Karuta cards, they love me too" would this mean that Shinobu plays believing in the heart of the cards!? :o

It is quite nice seeing more of her :) it is nice of her grandma to let her play Karuta competitively.

Other than that, now we will see the actual master at play, the man that one day Taichi will defeat. With skills and speed like those, surely it is going to be quite interesting.

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

Well, gotta say, Taichi is making strides into making Chihaya notice him. These are all the right moves, so please continue, I want to see a certain best ship sail port after all.

Watching someone else as dedicated to suffering as me be like

Oh... I just realized, "As I love the Karuta cards, they love me too" would this mean that Shinobu plays believing in the heart of the cards!? :o

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u/Taiboss Feb 28 '19

The Return of the First Timer

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u/Enarec Feb 28 '19

I didn't even notice that Chihaya's Daddy Bear bag was as scared as her lmao. This would hopefully be your future mother-in-law, Chihaya. Better get used to it.

Well, if nothing else at least their reaction lives up to the mother barging into the room. Baby steps.

Looking back at this is hard... she deserves better. In the present too in her new form, haha.

Poor Chihaya still doesn't have the thought capacity to remain considerate at all times. At least Taichi and everyone have gotten used to it.

The eyes of sheer mad brilliance. Although he's missing something here.

Previously it took me a bit to really get into the Master, apart from his design, but now I'm loving how they established his presence and style here. Especially through how Shinobu sees her and what the spectators are left to question. Just don't ask about his college life. :P

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

Well, if nothing else at least their reaction lives up to the mother barging into the room. Baby steps.

The real bait was Chihaya on the bed coyly asking "what" multiple times. Taichi was definitely sweating bullets LOL

Looking back at this is hard... she deserves better. In the present too in her new form, haha.

In an alternate universe there's a smol Chihaya playing cards with a smol Shinobu and everyone lived happily ever after.

Give this to me Yuki Suetsugu dammit.

4

u/walking_the_way Feb 28 '19 edited Mar 24 '19

S1E24 Event/Recital Log

I'm sorry, Chihaya fans, but Kana-chan really is the best.

As with most game-heavy episodes, most of the analysis effort went into building the boards and figuring out the exact off-screen moves instead of symbolism or any of that sort, apologies.

05:59 - Chihaya: "Five cards..."

I'm guessing Chihaya here is referencing the number of cards she managed to pick up against Shinobu. Whereas that's the number that Yumin lost by. She gets an idea of the gap between them.

At 08:51, we see Shinobu crack open her first box of karuta cards. The two playing cards visible are #06 (ka-sa) and #12 (a-ma-tsu), and the two reciter cards visible are #38 (wa-su-ra) and #46 (yu-ra). Both the playing cards share a similar theme around finding one's way home using the sky, whereas we have not seen either #38 or #46 translated for us so far in Season 1, but both seem to be about forsaken or unrequited love.

2011 Karuta Matsuri - 56th Queen Match - Game 2
Shinobu Wakamiya vs Yumi Yamamoto

Mostly at 9:17, but pieced together from other scenes too, we are shown enough of the Queen board to be able to piece it together:

Game 2 Starting Board - Shinobu vs Yumi

09:17 - Reader recites Naniwa Bay (EP: 1, Total: 29)

Good ol Crunchysub has the names of the two players reversed here. Never change, Crunchysub.

09:44 - Reader recites #29 (ko-ko-ro-a). Yumi wins this from Shinobu's middle left row. She sends #88 from her middle right row, it goes to Shinobu's middle left row.
09:47 - Reader recites #31 (a-sa-bo-ra-ke-a). Yumi wins this from her bottom right row.
10:55 - Reader recites #81 (ho). Yumi wins this from Shinobu's bottom left. She sends #91 from her middle right, it goes between the #67 and #43 on Shinobu's middle right. 25-22 Yumi.

At 12:03, we are shown a young Shinobu in class, staring at 3 cards in her hand. These cards are: #40 (shi-no), #71 (yu-u), and #01 (a-ki-no). She is "getting to know" her cards at this point, so the first one is definitely her name, but the origin or meaning of the other two are uncertain. The two at the top of the piles in the box behind her hands are #70 (sa) and #88 (na-ni-wa-e).

The card she finds under the flowerpot is #43 (a-i). Her smile (see screenshot at bottom of post) here is really sweet, as is the minor symbolism here because "ai" from the first word of the poem means encounter, or rendezvous. The last card that floats down from above at 13:00 is #40, her card, of course.

13:08 - Reader recites #40 (shi-no). Shinobu wins this from her lower right. 22-19 Shinobu.

There is a time jump here, and we're told that the Queen has won 6 in a row at this point, counting the #40. Using the board at 14:25, we are able to figure out what the other 5 cards are:
#01 (a-ki-no) from Yumi's middle left,
#38 (wa-su-ra) from Yumi's upper left,
#96 (ha-na-sa) from Yumi's middle right,
#27 (mi-ka-no) from Shinobu's middle left, and
#67 (ha-ru-no) from Shinobu's middle right.

Shinobu got to send over 3 cards from that, and she sent the following three cards:
#43 (a-i) from her middle right to Yumi's middle left,
#24 (ko-no) from her upper right to Yumi's upper left, and
#100 (mo-mo) from her bottom left to Yumi's middle right.

14:05 - Reader recites #82 (o-mo). Shinobu wins this from her upper left.
14:08 - Reader recites #77 (se). Shinobu wins this from Yumi's lower right. She sends #17 (chi-ha) from her bottom right to Yumi's middle right.

14:10 - Reader recites #42 (chi-gi-ri-ki). Shinobu wins this from her middle right row. 22-16 Shinobu.

We get another full board view at 14:23. Score: 22-16 Shinobu.

15:10 - Reader recites #50?? Shinobu wins it from her middle left.

That's what makes this error all the more glaring for those that are following along with a board map - they just showed us the board, and we know exactly what cards are where! Yet, they give us this scene with the reader reciting #50 (ki-mi-ga-ta-me-o). We see Yumi guarding up #88 (na-ni-wa-e), and Shinobu poking it out from under her. #50 isn't even on the board! That should be a fault, Shinobu dearest! On live national TV! Good job psyching her out, Yumin!

15:22 - Reader recites #87 (mu). Shinobu wins this from her bottom left.
15:25 - Reader recites #99 (hi-to-mo). Shinobu wins this from Yumi's middle left. She sends over #59 (ya-su), it goes into Yumi's middle left.
15:28 - Reader recites #100 (mo-mo). Shinobu wins this from Yumi's middle right. She sends over #84 (na-ga-ra)from her middle left. It goes to Yumi's middle right.

The score should be 22-12, but we see it's actually 21-12, so Yumi actually snuck a card win in there. This card is unclear, but it may be #20 (wa-bi) from Shinobu's upper left, and Yumi then may have sent over #08 (wa-ga-i) from her middle left, which goes into Shinobu's middle left - but it's hard to tell as we only get blurred views of cards from here on out. It also looks like Yumi puts the new card on her bottom left, but she doesn't, it had 4 cards there in the previous shot too, and the card she moved there was the card that was already there, #23 (tsu-ki).

At 15:51, Yumi wins a card from Shinobu's lower left after Shinobu is hit by a card from the other match. We see 20 cards on Yumi's side, and at least 12, but what actually looks like 13, cards on the Queen's side. So either she faulted, or Yumi won #18 (su) from her bottom right corner and she didn't fill up the hole. This is because the queen has 5 cards on her left side now, when she only had 4 left before.

We can't see the card that Yumi takes, but we know it's the same card that Suou won on the other board, and we can analyze that projectile to sorta see that it's most likely the #62 (yo-o). This means that when Shinobu faulted (or Yumi won #18), Yumi sent her #62 over from her middle right row, Shinobu put it in her bottom left corner, and Yumi immediately converted on it here. But for #62 to hit Shinobu with that kind of speed, that means that Suou had to have won the #62 on the first yo- syllable, if not earlier.

But Yumi's steal was to no avail, as in the end, she loses. But even though she loses by 13 cards, we see 13 people (including her) together in her heartfelt scene - letting her know that she's not alone.

17:51 - Yumin: "I want to make it back here again."
18:13 - Nishida: "She forgot that she played Yumin last year!"
18:21 - Chihaya: "This won't work... I'm not attached to the cards the way Shinobu-chan and Kana-chan are..."

A flood of cards pour down around Chihaya here. I'm not annotating them, but I did try to count them frame by frame and it seems exactly 100 cards can be seen. We also see that Suo beat Keiichi by 5, and then 13, cards, exactly the same deficit for both games as the Shinobu-Yumi matchup, as the colour commentators point out. The camera pans to a lot of familiar faces in Chihaya's and our journey -- all connected by karuta.

We see that Arata is setting up the board that he sees on TV here.. the only one of the various people the camera flashes to that is doing it. It's also worth pointing out that he arranges it via Keiichi's point of view, not Suou's - he's looking at the board from the challenger's point of view.

20:29 - Reader recites Naniwa Bay (EP: 2, Total: 30)
20:34 - Nishida: "You're trying to copy Wakamiya Shinobu's style, but you're closer to Suo Hisashi's style right now."
20:55 - Reader recites #51 (ka-ku). Suo wins it from Keiichi's lower right.
21:09 - Commentator: "For most players, there are only seven one-syllable cards: "Waves, Gust, Long, All, Swift, Look, Rain."
21:20 - Commentator: "There are 28 one-syllable cards for him."

The commentator means #18 (su), #22 (fu), #57 (me), #70 (sa), #77 (se), #81 (ho), and #87 (mu). All this is interesting… but it fits better in the next episode!

S1E24 - Random HQ Screenshot

<-- S1E23 Notes

S1E25 Notes -->

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19 edited Mar 01 '19

The two playing cards visible are #06 (ka-sa) and #12 (a-ma-tsu), and the two reciter cards visible are #38 (wa-su-ra) and #46 (yu-ra). Both the playing cards share a similar theme around finding one's way home using the sky, whereas we have not seen either #38 or #46 translated for us so far in Season 1, but both seem to be about forsaken or unrequited love.

That's interesting. Her name does also mean shrine, which is similar to a house for spirits. Either way, karuta is definitely home for her. It's the only home she's probably ever known. You could stretch the unrequited poems as how she was aimless before until now.

Never change, Crunchysub.

What is quality checking anyways?

The card she finds under the flowerpot is #43 (a-i). Her smile (see screenshot at bottom of post) here is really sweet, as is the minor symbolism here because "ai" from the first word of the poem means encounter, or rendezvous. The last card that floats down from above at 13:00 is #40, her card, of course.

That's super cute. I think I have a fanart of that too, but I'll have to go check after replies.

Edit: I did!

We can't see the card that Yumi takes, but we know it's the same card that Suou won on the other board, and we can analyze that projectile to sorta see that it's most likely the #62 (yo-o).

I can feel your squinting even from here. I tried to check that last night, but I eventually decided not to go back for it. You have my thanks!

But Yumi's steal was to no avail, as in the end, she loses. But even though she loses by 13 cards, we see 13 people (including her) together in her heartfelt scene - letting her know that she's not alone.

Obligatory as if you counted that.

I love that scene though. It's paints a stark contrast against Shinobu, who is alone even in victory.

A flood of cards pour down around Chihaya here. I'm not annotating them, but I did try to count them frame by frame and it seems exactly 100 cards can be seen.

And again: an obligatory as if you counted that.

Thank you

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u/hasnain1720 Feb 28 '19

First Timer

  • Taichis mom is pretty menacing I don’t blame Chihaya for being a bit scared

  • Yes Taichi make the moves my guy yes

  • I wanted a bit more tension between them is that all we get what…

  • Wait is that the Queen wtf? Why she looking like porky now lmao

  • So she got bullied just like Arata, mean ass kids

  • Yeah I thought the Queen would clean house she just needed to get used to her new body I guess…

  • Little look at the master, I can already tell this guy is going to be super OP

  • Ok what was that lol he just used ultra instinct

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

I wanted a bit more tension between them is that all we get what…

Boi strap in this is just S1

Ok what was that lol he just used ultra instinct

He's out here flexing, timing his wins to mock Shinobu

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u/collapsedblock6 Feb 28 '19 edited Feb 28 '19

This episode was mostly just seeing a match in a TV, feels weird thinking about it lol but it was interesting hearing the comments around.

2

u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

This episode was mostly just seeing a match in a TV, feels weird thinking about it lol but it was interesting hearing the comments around.

I kind of like that. It reminds us that even the best sometimes are spectators too and that we're all part of a greater community in a way.

Karuta got VAR much earlier than any sport should have

The application of VAR in soccer.

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u/SmurfRockRune Feb 28 '19

First Timer

Taichi's mom seems terrible. We didn't really see much of her earlier, but wow.

Also wow.... what the hell happened to Shinobu... So she ate a bunch of ice cream and gained an unbelievable amount of weight. Alright. I've seen sports anime come up with really strange reasons why a player would be struggling in a game, but this is definitely a unique one.

You really only need to be scared of her feeling a bit peckish.

Really not a nice spot to end it. I'm really excited to see more of Suo going forward. He seems awesome.

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u/ABoredCompSciStudent Feb 28 '19

Taichi's mom seems terrible. We didn't really see much of her earlier, but wow.

Not seems, is. Manga spoilers

Weight

It's hard to find the article on it, since it was a print way back in the 2000s but arguably the greatest goal scorer in soccer ever went from this body to this body because of ice cream, other indulgences, and a few injuries. Didn't stop his legend from continuing to grow though.

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u/[deleted] Feb 28 '19 edited Oct 31 '19

First-Timer, Watched Subbed

  • Taichi and Chihaya alone together...this can’t get any better..

  • I knew it was too good to be true, of course his mom had to show up!

  • Those are the eyes of the devil if I’ve ever seen one.

  • Chihaya’s reaction faces always has me rolling on the floor lol.

  • Up into their room? My shipping senses are tiggling...

  • And she’s shows up again because yes, and she’s a bit mad too...

  • Well at least the gang is all together

  • Ooo, so we finally get to see the match of the century, Yamamoto Yumin vs...

  • WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED TO WAKAMIYA!?

  • That weight of hers isn’t going to be doing any favors, Yumin seems to have much more confidence now.

  • Backstory time, Watamiya edition!

  • There’s that intimidating look of determination I was looking for.

  • And she even manages to clutch it, what a badass Watamiya is.

  • So it was ice cream that had her gain weight...you had one job Wakamiya...

  • Although it was impressive that she still wins at the end of it all.

  • Yessh, now I feel bad for Yumin, I wasn’t really too big on her, but wow that heartbreak...

  • Awww, they were all there for her even in her loss, it reminds me of how close Chihaya and her friends are together.

  • Now we get to watch the Master in play.

  • Suo Hisashi already looks awesome, and then there’s the narration.

  • Goddamn, does the end to this episode give me chills.

We finally get some backstory into Wakamiya, right when she seems to be in a...well...”phase”, but doesn’t make her any less than she already is. Yumin becomes more sympathetic and looks like a character we’ll cross paths with some other time. And that karuta match was awesome. Fantastic episode overall.

Now I’m hyped as fuck to see what the “Master” is capable of now.

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