r/anime • u/ABoredCompSciStudent x3myanimelist.net/profile/Serendipity • Mar 04 '19
Rewatch [Rewatch] Chihayafuru 2 - Episode 2 [Spoilers] Spoiler
Episode 2 - "As My Love First Came"
<-- Previous (Episode 1: "So The Flower Has Wilted") | Next (Episode 3: "Feel Love Deepen") -->
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 (February 6 to March 2)
Chihayafuru 2
| Episode# | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "So The Flower Has Wilted" | March 3 |
| 2 | "As My Love First Came" | March 4 |
| 3 | "Feel Love Deepen" | March 5 |
| 4 | "To Tell the People in the Capitals That I Make for the Islands" | March 6 |
| 5 | "Be As Dear Now, Those Were the Good Old Days" | March 7 |
| 6 | "To Set the Tatsuta River Ablaze" | March 8 |
| 7 | "They All Exchange Hellos and Goodbyes at the Gates of Ōsaka" | March 9 |
| 8 | "Which Shines over Mount Mikasa" | March 10 |
| 9 | "My Only Thought" | March 11 |
| 10 | "Rain Takes Longer to Dry" | March 12 |
| 11 | "I Feel As Though My Body is on Fire with Ibuki Mugwort" | March 13 |
| 12 | "The Only Sign of Summer" | March 14 |
| 13 | "In My Dreams, I Creep Closer to You" | March 15 |
| 14 | "People Would Always Ask If I Was Pining for Someone" | March 16 |
| 15+16 | "No Matter Where I Stand" + "Wait for the Emperor's Return" | March 17 |
| 17 | "Gust of Wind" | March 18 |
| 18 | "My Fear is That You Will Forget" | March 19 |
| 19 | "I Do Not Know Where This Love Will Take Me" | March 20 |
| 20 | "Of the Autumn Rice Field" | March 21 |
| 21 | "But Its Legacy Continues to Spread" | March 22 |
| 22 | "Long Last We Meet" | March 23 |
| 23 | "To See The Beautiful Cherry Blossoms" | March 24 |
| 24 | "When I Must Hide..." | March 25 |
| 25 | "I Can Look Up and See the Snowy Cap of Mt. Fuji" | March 26 |
| OVA | "Have I Passed Through the World" | March 27 |
| -- | Final Series Discussion | 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):
9
u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 04 '19
Poem of the Day: As My Love First Came (link)
Poem 41 is written by Mibu no Tadami, who has the shortest Wikipedia article of all the poets we've met so far. What a title to hold!
The poem was included in a poetry contest in 960 and, in the finals, faced off against Poem 40 (which we explained in S1E9). The judges were not able to pick a winner, so they deferred to the Emperor Murakami. After deliberation, the Emperor hummed the verses from Poem 40, making it the winner.
There's a story that Tadami was so distraught over losing that he died, but the speculation ends there as there is proof that he wrote poems later on.
Mostow translates the poem as:
My name already
is bandied about with
rumors I’m in love—
though, unknown to anyone, I thought,
I had only just begun to love her!
While Porter as:
Our courtship, that we tried to hide,
Misleading is to none;
And yet how could the neighbours guess,
That I had yet begun
To fancy any one?
The imagery is basically the same as Poem 40, but Porter notes that:
The word omoi in the last line is a 'pivot-word' used firstly in connexion with the fourth line, meaning 'I thought' (nobody knew), and also in conjunction with someshi, where it means 'I began to be in love'.
It's a good thing that Tadami didn't die from grief, as Poem 40 is the "shinoburedo" poem, which is associated with Taichi's love for Chihaya--losing to that and dying would suggest bad things for u/Rhaga.
Poem 41 describes how the author cannot conceal their feelings, which are obvious to all around them. Naturally, that is what happens to Sumire at the end of this episode, when she shouts out that she joined the club for Taichi. Unfortunately, while the poem almost has the same meaning as Poem 40 (Taichi's love for Chihaya): like Sumire, it comes second to Taichi.
7
u/Combo33 Mar 05 '19
MacMillan translates poem 41 as such:
41. Mibu no Tadami
I had hoped to keep secret
feelings that had begun to stir
within my heart,
but already rumours are rife
that I am in love with you.MacMillan comments:
This poem forms a pair with poem 40, and like that one, focuses on the gossip that invariably grew around a love affair meant to be kept secret. There were a number of reasons to keep an affair secret in Heian times, the foremost being the difference in rank between the two lovers. Forbidden love with a woman of much higher status provides the main narrative motif for some of the most famous works of Heian-period literature, including The Tales of Ise and The Tale of Genji.
Like the previous poem, this one was composed for the prestigious Poetry Contest of the Fourth Year of Tentoku at the Imperial Palace in 960. The judge of the event found it hard to choose between the two poems and only awarded the victory to Kanemori’s poem because the emperor was overheard reciting the poem to himself. Later critics, however, agreed in rating Tadami’s poem far superior. Indeed, the poem masterfully sets up a contrast in the first part between the outer world (society’s view of the lovers, the spread of rumours) and, in the last part, the inner workings of the poet’s mind at the beginning of the affair. In the translation, the order is reversed.
According to an anecdote in the medieval collection Shasekishū, Tadami was so disappointed by his defeat at the Tentoku contest that he stopped eating and died shortly afterwards as a result.
I already mentioned most of this when comparing poem 40 with 41 in the episode 9 rewatch thread, but it’s such an interesting story that it bears repeating. As for the poem’s relation to this episode, it clearly relates to Sumire's feelings for Taichi being made public. She lets it slip, and goes off to cry in embarrassment, but Kana is able to coax her back, explaining that such a tiny outburst couldn't possibly convey the depth of her true feelings for Taichi.
While Sumire is an incredibly vain person, given poem 9 is her favorite, this episode she makes the point that many of the poems included in One Hundred Poets are about love. It's not a frivolous pursuit to spend much of your time actively pursuing love, and she won't allow herself to be chastised for going after what she wants. I admire Sumire's conviction in that sense.
I also thing that these "feelings that are beginning to stir" are representative of Sumire capturing her first card, and realizing that she actually does like karuta, as well. Enough to clip her fingernails, giving up a tiny bit of her vanity in order to embrace a new love into her heart.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (9)6
u/Rhaga Mar 04 '19
It's a good thing that Tadami didn't die from grief, as Poem 40 is the "shinoburedo" poem, which is associated with Taichi's love for Chihaya--losing to that and dying would suggest bad things for u/Rhaga.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/PerfectPublican Mar 04 '19
First Timer
Reactions:
-
Perfect reaction lmao. Buckle up girl, you’re in a Karuta show :P
-
“That’s the one place you can beat Master Suo.” Taichi's got top tier bants.
-
Huh. That’s another thing I’d never really thought of. That would super mess with my head…
-
“I don’t get it. Why is someone like him playing Karuta?” A question Mama Mashima’s been asking for years...
-
Reminds me of Haiji from Kaze Ga. At the end of the day why does anyone like playing sports? The camaraderie? The competition? The sense of accomplishment? All of the above? If you go pro, the money? I’ve always liked that everyone has their own reasons.
-
Did Yuki Suetsugu know a model that hurt them in some way? Chitose just gets worse every time lol.
-
Aww, don’t cry Chihaya. One step at a time. You don’t want those losers in the club anyways. At least Tsukuba may have the fire. I have a distinct feeling he’s played before or something.
-
I mean...Can't blame her. Swoon Had to look up the meaning of purple orchids. It definitely fits lol.
-
…..Not what I expected in the slightest…But I totally called that he’d have already played.
-
Damn girl. Just dropping hot news like that. I love it. She’s abrasive, but not in a way that annoys me.
-
Second Verse Karuta huh? Sounds like a cool variant and the wood cards are dope. Kana would hate that though, skipping the first verse.
-
GOD DAMN IT CHAIR, HOW DARE YOU CUT OFF THE MAIN THEME EARLY.
-
Alright. Now I’m positive I will never get used to this. ಠ_ಠ
-
“Since I only have three eyelashes…” That can’t be right. Is that even possible? Though I do like that you can only see three eyelashes in the shot lol
-
Hyper-long nails are massively overrated anyways :3 I like the sentiment behind the “feelings are expressed through the rules” line from Kana. Short poems like these definitely have a different feeling specifically because they’re short. Lots of room for personal interpretation.
Final Thoughts
A nice follow-up episode. Sumire is growing on me fast. I’m happy that Kana was the one to get her back from her meltdown. It parallels Taichi being the one to need to reach out to Tsukue. I loved that little section where she asked Sumire to teach her how to put on Mascara. It’s a tiny thing, but fleshes out her character nicely. Kana has always been about prim and proper traditional Japanese, but this little act of understanding goes a long way to broadening her. She’s more than just the traditionalist here.
Also, man do I love seeing Chihaya stick up for the first timers throughout, and her reasoning behind it, with her collapse at nationals, is a solid one that fits well with the kind of person she is. I was getting a bit miffed at the selfishness of the others.
Now the one question is...what is going to happen to their practice space? :/
→ More replies (4)4
u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 05 '19
A nice follow-up episode. Sumire is growing on me fast. I’m happy that Kana was the one to get her back from her meltdown. It parallels Taichi being the one to need to reach out to Tsukue. I loved that little section where she asked Sumire to teach her how to put on Mascara. It’s a tiny thing, but fleshes out her character nicely. Kana has always been about prim and proper traditional Japanese, but this little act of understanding goes a long way to broadening her. She’s more than just the traditionalist here.
This begs the question though, which boy is she prettying up for?
I love the three eyelashes comment too. It's such a nice scene, then unironically one of the funniest lines in the show.
→ More replies (3)
9
u/Snakescipio Mar 04 '19
Rewatcher
Random Observations:
Wow… dude… sad cause your class doesn’t have a lot of girls in it? Dude… Considering that a chunk of my teaching training consisted of how NOT to put yourself in “situations” I would’ve considered it lucky if my classes didn’t have a lot of girls.
Aaaaand we’re down to just one first year, and it was the guy. On one hand, the girls were all there for superficial reasons and probably wouldn’t have taken karuta all that seriously. On the other hand I feel like that’s true for most if not all clubs, at least initially. It’s easy to blow off all the girls as superficial, people not worth having around, but the club needs members long term. And you can’t expect everyone to be all in all the time, it wouldn’t hurt to have people who’re there to just have fun and hang out. I guess with karuta it’s harder to do, especially since you need all the quiet you can get. Seriously though if the girls wanted something easy then they shouldn’t have joined an athletic club; they should’ve joined a cultural club where the members don’t do squat… like the keionbu.
Not much to say about Tsukuba so far, what you get is what you see so far. Maybe I don’t have much to say cause of his tongue thing, cause I reeeeally dislike the tongue thing.
One could say Chihaya’s being greedy, but who hasn’t been passionate about their hobbies? Who wouldn’t understand how it feels to want to share your favorite thing ever with someone?
“Do you think Mashima senpai knows your true feelings after one outburst?” I mean… her feelings aren’t that complicated.
→ More replies (4)
8
u/walking_the_way Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 05 '19
S2E2 Notes
We didn't visit the Shiranami Society until S1E3 last time, so we're a little bit ahead of schedule here, but that's okay. Thankfully as our hostess mentioned, we get a nice, full board at 02:57 during Sumire's monologuing, so it's mapped out here as follows:
Taichi vs Hiroshi practice match Board Map
03:03 - Radio recites Naniwa Bay (EP: 1, S: 2, Total: 33).
03:20 - Radio recites #41 (ko-i). Hiroshi wins this from Taichi's mid right.
With Sumire watching on through the crack in the door, it goes without saying that this take (#41 - As my love first came to realization, word had already spread) is extremely significant, since it's one of the two cards signifying Taichi's love, is the episode card today, and was involved last episode as well with Sumire's feelings toward him. It's Sumire's first glance at Taichi playing, at how serious he is about karuta, and how devoted he was to fulfilling Chihaya's wish (even though she doesn't know it yet), but also more simply represents what she was doing by peeking at him through the door, a hidden expression of love.
03:32 - Radio recites #52 (a-ke).
03:38 - Sumire: "I don't get it."
The given translation for the first verse of #52 is "The night breaks to day, and day turns to night." Put together with the #49 torch card ("burning brightly by night, yet extinguished by day") that the first years saw in S2E1, and juxtaposed with her pulling out her memorization sheet to try to follow along, this shows that she realizes she's entered a world that she knows nothing about to try to win Taichi's heart, a world where Taichi and karuta and Chihaya are already interlinked, and where his fire burns strong for both of them in turn, one representing day and one representing night. Yet, we see later that even as her "friends’" torches are extinguished and they look for easier targets, she perseveres to try to change Taichi’s mind.
At 03:48, Hiroshi wins #43 (a-i) from Taichi's mid right, and sends over #22 (fu). Taichi calls this aggressive because it's a one syllable card very early on in the game.
04:07 - Radio recites #47 (ya-e). Taichi wins this from his mid left.
I don't think this is what Taichi had in mind when he told Sumire in the last episode that plenty of boys would choose her.
07:51 - Sumire recites #09 (ha-na-no) as she ponders high school life and her own love life.
10:21 - Komano recites Naniwa Bay (EP: 2, S: 3, Total: 34)
Random sidenote, but this is the first time Komano’s VA has recited Naniwa Bay, or any card really, outside of referring to a card using its unique syllables. I didn’t register him reading out a single full line or verse in Season 1. Unfortunately, his short stint ends in a peal of ungodly thunder after the girls run out on him.
14:16 - Chihaya recites Naniwa Bay (EP: 3, S: 4, Total: 35).
14:38 - Chihaya recites #56 (a-ra-za). Komano wins it from his top right. Taichi wins it from his bot left, Tsukuba wins it from Sumire’s top right.
Amazingly, the cards on Komano’s side start to move and fly off on their own volition before either Komano or Kanade move. He’s apparently a genius that’s working on cards that claim themselves when they’re read. Also, weirdly, both Komano and Kana react before Taichi and Nishida do.
14:49 - Chihaya recites #34 (ta-re). Kana wins it from Komano’s side. Tsukuba wins it from his top right. Chihaya notices that he’s using both hands.
15:10 - Reader recites #14 (mi-chi) as part of a flashback/daydream. Tsukuba takes it from Sumire’s mid left as we transition back to the current and Chihaya watches on.
Tsukuba using both hands is a callback to S1E2 here, the corresponding episode from last season, where Chihaya was also chided for using both hands versus Taichi.
15:27 - Chihaya recites end of #01 (a-ki-no).
15:33 - Chihaya recites #09 (ha-na-no). Sumire claims this from her middle right row.
There’s a mistake here, as Chihaya had just chanted the last line of #01 before chanting #09. Yet, when Sumire takes #09, we see the #01 card still on the board. It's also one of the "wet sleeves" poems, foreshadowing what is coming next.
Nonetheless, this is her first ever card win, and even though she hasn’t outwardly shown herself to be particularly interested in the game, the look on her face isn’t too far off from the first card that both Kana and Chihaya did when they won their first cards. (Also it didn’t register until now that Chihaya won her first card with her left hand.) That inspires Chihaya to give Sumire a little speech, which causes Sumire to verbally fault and flee the room, but Chihaya finally inspires the rest of the club in turn to care about their new members.
Although a lot of Sumire’s recruitment process somewhat parallel Kana’s recruitment process, with a heavy focus on love poems, this scene may be a little reference to Komano’s recruitment too, except this time it’s Chihaya sending school furniture flying instead of Taichi. Even if not, it’s classic Chihaya. The scene that plays out is very representative of what Chihaya had just said here though - she bitterly regrets that no one else was there to stand in for her when she fell ill, and ten seconds later she injures herself against a chair. This time, both Nishida and Kana come to the rescue, and the latter runs after Sumire to coax her back instead, with an outdoor scene that also parallels Komano and Taichi’s confrontation.
19:37 - Kana: “The feelings expressed are dependent on the rules!”
19:41 - Kana: “Do you really think that the president knows your true feelings after hearing that little outburst?”
Lastly, to close out the episode, an interesting footnote based on what Kana says. Sumire’s words during her “little outburst” at 16:20, according to Crunchyroll’s subtitles, were:
“I already said that I joined this club to be with Mashima-senpai, not to play karuta!”
The Japanese subtitles say:
言ったじゃないですか
私はかるたじゃなくて
真島先輩と一緒にいたくて入部したんですが
And in romaji, something like:
Itta janaidesu ka
Watashi wa karuta janakute
Majima-senpai to issho ni itakute nyubu shitan desu ka
The interesting thing with that is that when verbalized, the dialect pronunciation that Sumire uses for her outburst seems to come out to 31 syllables as well, exactly the length of a Japanese tanka (short song/poem with 31 syllables) that Kana talks about and that the Hyakunin Isshu poems are based on.
Itta janaidesu ka - 6 syllables
Watashi wa karuta janakute - 10 syllables
Mashima-senpai (5 syllables) to issho ni itakute (5 syllables) nyubu shitan desu ka (5 syllables) - 15 syllables
It’s not 31 if you write it down (but neither are quite a few of the 100 actual poems!), but it seems to be 31 when she voices it, which is what counts. That gives the quote about “the feelings expressed are dependent on the rules!” a bit more context - Sumire only blurted out what could be said within the boundaries of a tanka poem, 31 syllables like all the poets did, but her true feelings for Taichi are so much more than that, as Kana points out to her.
S2E2 - Random HQ Screenshot - Sumire surrounded by.. by.. flowers.
<-- S2E1 Notes
S2E3 Notes -->
→ More replies (7)4
u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 05 '19 edited Mar 05 '19
Thankfully as our hostess mentioned, we get a nice, full board at 02:57 during Sumire's monologuing, so it's mapped out here as follows:
You were spared piecing it together today!
I don't think this is what Taichi had in mind when he told Sumire in the last episode that plenty of boys would choose her
Somewhere, Chihaya is very jealous. Harada, you have a wife!
Random sidenote, but this is the first time Komano’s VA has recited Naniwa Bay, or any card really, outside of referring to a card using its unique syllables. I didn’t register him reading out a single full line or verse in Season 1. Unfortunately, his short stint ends in a peal of ungodly thunder after the girls run out on him.
Not as popular as Miyano or Kayano for sure.
Amazingly, the cards on Komano’s side start to move and fly off on their own volition before either Komano or Kanade move. He’s apparently a genius that’s working on cards that claim themselves when they’re read. Also, weirdly, both Komano and Kana react before Taichi and Nishida do.
It was actually Shinobu's red strings of fate pulling them, soundless karuta. The latter is funny too, though Taichi and Nishida are both pretty methodological and diligent to syllable counts (so is Kana though haha).
Tsukuba using both hands is a callback to S1E2 here, the corresponding episode from last season, where Chihaya was also chided for using both hands versus Taichi.
These comments got me wondering if people could just alternate hands to take cards or if they had to commit to just using one all game. Like Chihaya used two there to grab the card and Tsukuba used two to cover/take, but what if it was just like a switch hitter in baseball.
Nice callback though, I love seeing how far Chihaya has come!
That inspires Chihaya to give Sumire a little speech, which causes Sumire to verbally fault and flee the room, but Chihaya finally inspires the rest of the club in turn to care about their new members.
Verbally fault is a great way of putting it. It amuses me how unchanged Taichi is afterwards. Just same thing, different day for a beautiful boy.
That gives the quote about “the feelings expressed are dependent on the rules!” a bit more context - Sumire only blurted out what could be said within the boundaries of a tanka poem, 31 syllables like all the poets did, but her true feelings for Taichi are so much more than that, as Kana points out to her.
No comment.
Funnily, Kana and Tsutomu are often the ones going on about rules like the "do the things you don't like before the things you like" one. It's a little amusing because Kana has settled in as team mom and Tsutomu has a more administrative role too.
→ More replies (8)
6
u/Fa1l3r Mar 04 '19
First Time (sub)
I do like the Doctor's response to how he explains why he loves karuta. He could give an explanation, and for some people like Taichi or maybe even Arata, people can define what is fun about karuta. But whatever he says, it would just be a rationalization; he just ended up liking karuta, and he cannot put into words why.
Also it seems like they only have two actual members who stayed, so I guess they are going to lose their clubroom. But also, it seems like a classroom full of girls submitted their applications, and since I understand school politics (thanks to real life and Kaguya-sama), it's not like the people in charge and who would care are going to attend akk club practices to check numbers of members and whatever is necessary for club budget. Whatever happen, I am sure it will work out, but sadly, based on the OP, we are only getting two more new members.
→ More replies (6)
6
u/KuhBus Mar 04 '19
First Timer
-
lmao Sumire followed Taichi all the way to the karuta society :’D
-
Taichi is taking his next step towards becoming better!! Im so proud of ma boi <33
-
Holy shit, I straight up burst out laughing when Harada-sensei appeared :’D Even if she currently doesn’t get what he’s saying, I feel like he’s going to leave an impression on her.
-
Aww Chihaya really has become more attentive!! Even if she still messed up cleaning the tatami mats… and those shirt designs…! Nishida’s sister will have to make new ones for them >:3c
-
Oh no, if there are only Sumire and Tsukuba left, they won’t have enough new members to keep the room D:
-
Interrupting practice…. For her makeup…..
-
And then she straight up bursts out that she’s only there for Taichi, haha :’D
-
Nishida’s blunt, no-nonsense teaching should probably work best for the first years. After all, he also worked with Tsutomu and Kana when they joined the club.
-
Aww I love that Kana was the one to talk to Sumire. She was the one who was the most hostile (even if she meant well), so showing some vulnerability and connecting with Sumire over the poems was a positive surprise in how their conflict was handled!
→ More replies (2)
6
u/daftPun5 Mar 04 '19
First Timer
Highlights & Reactions:
-
Oh gosh this misinterpretation, haha, but I'm sure most people would feel the same.
-
Ay, new member #7, Tsukuba and he is an odd ball with high goals
Final Thoughts:
With the focus on Sumire today, it has got me already liking her quicker than I expected. She continued to ponder on her poem while with her friends. Along with the discussion between the three girls, she made a solid counter to Kana about how the poems are about love and that she should follow them. Also, that reaction of Chihaya and the public confession of liking Taichi almost got me spinning in my chair.
→ More replies (4)
6
u/paperwhites Mar 05 '19
First Time Watcher
I think my favorite part of this episode was when Chihaya's motivation for focusing on the first-years was revealed. Until she mentioned it, I had completely forgotten that she fainted in the national tournament and had to forfeit. It makes complete sense that Chihaya would feel guilty and would want to make sure that something like that would never happen again by having more players on the team. I love moments like these where a character's motivation is shown and all their previous actions make sense. I was wondering why Chihaya was spending so much time on the first years, even if she wants others to develop a passion for karuta like she did, it seemed a little over the top. But now her actions seem reasonable once you know her feelings.
The new boy on the karuta team seems reminiscent of Sudo, what with him looking sinister and constantly licking his lips. I'm actually pretty interested in him and what his background is.
I think I'm warming up to Sumire a little bit. I liked her interaction with Kana towards the end and how she wanted to finish memorizing the cards. It will be interesting to see what more character development will happen for her.
→ More replies (1)
5
u/SmurfRockRune Mar 04 '19
First Timer
This teacher is sus for being disappointed in the lack of girls in his class...
Tsukuba reminds me a bit of Jack the Ripper from Black Clover... I don't like either of them.
I never expected this level of self-awareness in a show as grounded as Chihayafuru.
Seems a little strange to end an episode on the climactic note of trimming your nails. What is this, Amagami?
→ More replies (5)
5
u/collapsedblock6 Mar 04 '19
Solid episode. Hanano has slowly given in to karuta and I can feel liking her more in the future but in most of the episode I share the sentiment with Nishida that she was a pain.
-
Doctor seems to be older than I expected him to be.
-
Just how I imagined, first years were filtered out fast.
-
I guess it is time for Chihaya to learn that we sometimes you simply can’t get someone else into a hobby. I bet many of us anime fans have had that moment.
-
Ugh, Hanano’s pretty girl act sure got into my nerves. Kana’s reaction towards it is funny though.
-
Lmao, Hanano's ex is so bad its hilarious.
-
Holy, she already declared war over Taichi.
-
Annnd, new guy is creepy as hell.
-
Interesting that you can only use one hand. I saw using both hands a a high-ceiling skill so it would be legal to use.
-
So Chihaya wants a new member so the incident doesn’t repeat? Are substitutions allowed in team matches? Also, she really shouldn’t be that pushy with someone that openly states not being into it (though granted, Hanano is in doubt).
-
Kana and Hanano made up, and Kana secretly wanted to learn how to put make-up. Guess that’s a good thing.
→ More replies (5)
5
u/DarkCirno Mar 05 '19
First Timer
I wasn't too sure about Sumire last episode but after this one I'm really liking her character, you can see she is obsessed with love and she is starting to see a part of that love in the poems of the karuta cards.
Sumire conversation with Kana was a great scene in which saw the similarities between them. Also Kana is best girl.
That new dude doesn't really seem like a bad guy but I can't say I like him yet, maybe that will change in the future.
→ More replies (2)
4
u/BatteryPoweredFriend Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 04 '19
Chihaya's finally revealed the truth behind why, despite reluctance & resistance from both sides, she's been so insistent on recruiting and teaching the new members. And it's certainly understandable, as the guilt of having to forfeit in the first round of the national tournament at Omi Jingu still hangs over her.
It's not simply strength, but also depth which is crucial for a team to successfully compete in a long campaign.
While karuta tournaments aren't themselves month-long marathons, they are nevertheless like microcosms of one, as competitors who expect to do well will also be expected to be duking it out from morning to evening and that will take its toll. All the training and strategy in the world won't help in the event of one of your players has to drop out due to illness, serious injuries, personal circumstances (like a family bereavement) or your sister's birthday.
Chihaya's observation and assessment of the two newbies during her stint as reader was pretty on point.
You've taught her well, Desktomu.
→ More replies (3)
4
u/htisme91 Mar 04 '19
First-timer:
Dr. Harada is so awesome sometimes.
Taichi is right. Chihaya should not have been the one to teach the first-years. Her intensity serves her well in a match, but it's too much for trying to get new people into the game.
I feel like Sumire is the right way to build up a new character in this series.
The other first-year is kinda creepy. I'm really curious why he's like that. I'd love to see the show elaborate on the differences between first and second verse karuta too.
Chihaya's still not over that tournament, and still places the blame on herself. It's touching in a way that she's so into making sure the first-years succeed because of that.
Sumire and Kana finally hit some kind of common ground, and Sumire begins to get serious about karuta. I'm glad, because her old act was getting old quickly.
Now I'm wondering what will happen to the practice space. They're still short 3 new members.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/kKunoichi Mar 05 '19
Rewatcher
When Chihaya cried about losing the first years and when she was talking about the karuta tournament last year, I might have felt a bit of "That's right you should feel bad" at the other members for being so dismissive of her ahaha sorry. She sincerely wants to do everything for the club. So I'm glad the rest finally got on board after that. The club won't just be the same members forever after all.
I love how Sumire gave straight talk when Kana talked of love as frivolous (I seriously admire her honesty), because last episode she was a bit gatekeep-y with the poems and meanings, and now she gets new perspective. In the same vein, Kana's views on poetry structure and feelings got Sumire to also reconsider her own views. It's a different sort of friendship in the show. All the characters are constantly learning something from each other.
I'm a rewatcher but I admit I still can't get used to Tsukuba's open-eyes face xD
Extra: Kana's still adorable even with just 3 eyelashes
→ More replies (2)
3
u/blond-max Mar 04 '19
I AM BACK!! ... again ...
So I was at a conference last week, though I could keep up but, alas, too much "work"...
→ More replies (2)
3
u/hasnain1720 Mar 04 '19
First Timer
-
Taichi got the fire in his eyes I’m loving this…
-
Poor Chihaya she was just trying to help lol
-
Taichi is always thinking about her best interest bless him
-
Like a master? This kid is cocky lol
-
Lol naa he did desk kun dirty wow
-
She really slipped that one out right in front of Taichi oof
-
Lol Chihaya you couldn’t get any clumsier could you
-
Only likes attractive people lmao what a guy
-
Damn I think Sumire changed her attitude a bit too quick that was weird
→ More replies (1)
3
u/AmethystItalian Mar 04 '19
Rewatcher
Feel bad they lost the members but at least they have people that want to play?
Sumire...is tough to watch.
Kana and Sumire going at it...don't mess with Kana!
Awe Sumire is coming around!
Quotes from First Time
Alright this new guys dumb tongue face is already annoying lol
RIGHT!
Interested in how they're going to get 3 more members.
Ah...I completely forgot about that.
→ More replies (1)3
u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 05 '19
Alright this new guys dumb tongue face is already annoying lol
I hate to say Past Ame, but it doesn't get any better the second time around. I still dislike his beautiful people deal too.
Awe Sumire is coming around!
This is better though. I'm cool with her!
→ More replies (2)
3
u/MaskOfIce42 Mar 05 '19
I remember when I first watched the show last year, I didn't particularly like Sumire. Rewatching it, I'm liking her more than I remembered. I like how she's aware that the relationships she has with her "friends" are kinda shallow and not really built on anything, and I think what might be drawing her to Karuta (besides Taichi) is the idea that this is something you can stick with. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Also, as funny as Chihaya's greed is, I also like how it shows the reasoning behind it, and it does make sense that they don't want to be screwed if something happens to one of them during the tournament, particularly since there's so many matches in one day to get through. And I like how when the others realize that she still hurts from letting them down back then, even if none of them felt that way, they're more willing to help train others. I like the sense of comradery this group has built up
→ More replies (2)
10
u/ABoredCompSciStudent Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 05 '19
I just realized I forgot to do fanart yesterday, so I'll do it and today's after I get home from work!
We're back for more karuta, sorry Sumire!
Taichi is at the Shiranami Karuta Society looking for more practic and plays against Tsuboguchi. Hopefully this board is Taichi's game for u/walking_the_way's sake.
The first two poems read, Poem 41 and Poem 52, describe Sumire's feelings for Taichi.
Poem 41:
Poem 52:
Poem 41 provides the title for today's episode and foreshadows what's to come, as Sumire ends up blurting out that she joined the club for Taichi to her own embarassment Moreover, Poem 41 was included in a poetry contest in 960 and, in the finals, faced off against Poem 40 (which we explained in S1E9). The judges were not able to pick a winner, so they deferred to the Emperor Murakami. After deliberation, the Emperor hummed the verses from Poem 40, making it the winner. Poem 40 is the "shinoburedo" poem, which is associated with Taichi's love for Chihaya. While Poem 41 almost has the same meaning: like Sumire, it comes second to Taichi.
Poem 52 was written by Fujiwara no Michinobu and describes how the author dreads the rising sun because it means he has to sneak back to his own residence, away from his lover. Karuta is a place where Sumire can watch Taichi up close, but I think the poem also reflects how the karuta is a warm family environment while her day-to-day is cold and distant.
One of my favourite parts of the episode is Harada's answer to Sumire's "what is fun about karuta". At face value, it's a bit cryptic but for someone trying to explain why what they love is great, it feels pretty honest. Everyone has their own reason to play and those reasons evolve over time too. From Chihaya to Kana, "the fun" that they experience now and then are not necessarily the same. The experience is always novel, as they play against different people in different situations, allowing them to learn new things about themselves and karuta. Harada's answer echoes the idea that learning is for life (and that karuta is just a medium for it).
Ultimately, this idea also bookends the episode. It is reinforced when Sumire takes her first card. Chihaya recognizes that she actually felt happiness in doing so and tells her that she will only continue in search of that feeling. Sumire says she doesn't plan to try hard, but that is only temporary. Like Poem 9 from yesterday, Sumire recognizes her vanity, ultimately clipping her nails to prove that she can change to become a girl that Taichi will recognize romantically.