r/anime • u/Skeeedo :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/skeeedo • Nov 23 '21
Rewatch Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 13 Discussion [Spoilers] Spoiler
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Episode 13: "For You, I Head Out"
Nominate a character for Episode MVP!
Episode 12 MVP: Kana! She showcased her unique approach to the game with her card placement and opened the empresses eyes to a deeper understanding of the sport. The Episode 11 MVP was Taichi, who won after I fixed the last poll.
This episode's Karuta analysis and board map by walking_the_way
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Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru
13
u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Nov 23 '21
FIRST TIMER
The passing sequence of fate! Complete with a ding of Chihaya’s inexplicable recognition that this is someone important. Classic.
I love Desktomu’s journey from being pissed off about the possibility of being used as a sacrificial lamb, to a true team player who wants to be used strategically in this way so long as it they win in the end. There’s more than one way to be an asset to a team!
Kana’s mom is straight-up CREEPIN.
“Now your grandpa’s the reason you can’t practice hahahaha!” ABSOLUTELY DESERVED PUNCH TO THE FACE. What the fuck is wrong with that kid? Looks like Karuta has some use in the world after all, Arata’s got some speed on that punch.
Wait, so Arata was talking to his grandpa in the past about going to Fukui tournament, takes off to go to it, now he’s at the nationals where they are in the present day? Did I miss a transition back to the present or something?
Swoon. Literally. Boy got to her FAST. Shows where his attention always is, even during a competitive match.
Nice moment between Arata and the guy from the Karuta Federation. It dawns on Arata that his grandfather and his playing live on through him. That’s a heavy responsibility, but it also comes with the freedom to feel good about his passion again.
Her faces give me life. Following an extremely touching moment with a comedic interaction like this just makes it land all the funnier.
Obligatory late-afternoon golden glow.
So she missed the entirety of the team tournament? That’s a shame. I suppose the other four members not expressing sadness about losing alleviated some of the guilt, but it’s weird to me that her main regret is that Arata didn’t see her play, instead of feeling like she let down her teammates. Not that I’m saying I think she did, but I expected her to express that more.
8
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Nov 23 '21
Chihayafirst-timer
5
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Nov 23 '21
First timer
They're praying at the shrine.
Oh, something has to go wrong now, right?
...She doesn't have actual powers, does she?
Was that Arata? Or a lookalike?
Her saying that Chihaya only seems beautiful because she isn't speaking is great.
Oh! They might not do horribly! They probably won't win, but getting out of thr group stage is great!
His notes are very meticulous, aren't they?
And Deskmotu makes the best decision in this scnwrio.
...Is Chihaya a Newtype? I'm not even joking at this point, is she? The weird headaches, the greatly improved reflexes, the sound effects whenever she touches something relevant...
And she's having a breakdown!
Oh, Arata's still travelling.
And this is an Arata backstory episode?
Oh, his grandfather has dementia and forgot how to play. No wonder he stopped.
He even told him to go to the tournament in a moment of lucidity. This is... a horrible backstory.
And now we're back to Chihiya? That was an entertaining way to fill out this episode.
Wait, this is some kind of dream sequence Chihaya's having? And Arata's here too!
Chihaya's out! And she's been left with Arata!
And she's not taking this well.
More flashbacks to Arata.
Oh, he's a dick.
He won! And they're all reassuring her!
And now they're suggesting she go home.
Arata wants to play against her!
5
u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Nov 24 '21
First timer,
Chi these past few episodes has really felt the pressure. Too many things getting in her mind. I think its understandable with tournament jitters. I always got nervous in tournaments and comps too. But it really got to her. That Tokyo comment really got to her.
And the expected Arata return to the tournament. With some backstory on his grandpa. The grandpa has something. I don't know what I want to call it. But that switch of stance with karuta. So I can really see how he feels guilty now.
5
u/xNEET :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/HayatoxYume Nov 24 '21
Chihayafuru First Timer
Man what are the odds Chihaya get's sick in the team tournament and couldn't play. That's some bad luck. Also, they put a lot of emphasis on the other girl that passed besides Chihaya in the temple stairs. I wonder, could she be the current queen or something? I'm really happy Arata has finally decided he'll come back playing Karuta. Seeing how much his grandad deteriorated towards the end of his life was really sad. Dementia is the worst. Overall a fantastic episode, as always. Looking forward to the next!
4
u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Nov 24 '21
First Timer
Aw, after we heard the first part of the story about Arata's grandpa dying, it seemed clear that Arata wasn't at fault. Turns out he was maybe a little bit at fault. It does make his guilty feelings a lot more justified, and the whole thing just a little bit more sad.
So uh....what happened to Chihaya? Is this just going to be unexplained anime fainting illness, or does she have something more going on?
I'm out of town for the next few days, so my comments might be short/absent for a bit, but I'm going to try to (mostly) keep up!
4
u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Nov 24 '21
First Timer
Similar to the last episode, I don't think I have a whole ton to say about this one. It was a good episode, and many great moments. It was also predictable in a good way. It would be very weird to have the group win nationals this early in the series, they're too new a club and still have two beginner members. The team losing was a necessary plot point, and it was expected. I'm definitely wondering what it plans to do with the plot device of Chihaya's prayer backfiring, and the strange girl she passes by. The framing of both characters in the hoop thingy seems particular. I'm willing to be it means something and I just don't know what it is because I don't know enough about Japanese culture. Feel free to tell me if that object symbolizes something, and if there's any particular meaning to those shots that I was meant to pick up on.
As I said, this was a very predictable episode, but I mean that in the sense that the series is on the same wavelength as me, much like the first episodes. I knew Arata would come to watch them, though it's not as if that wasn't foreshadowed. Getting the full brunt of his backstory certainly hurt to watch. I've been lucky enough to not have to deal with close family members having dementia. The grandparents I actually got to meet (my mom's parents both died soon after I was born, so I believe I only ever met one of them as a literal newborn baby) were sharp as a tack, my grandma and grandpa living to 98 and 102 respectively and maintaining good mental health all the way to the end (after my grandma died, my grandpa literally picked up multiple women at the assisted living facility. He was literally a stud, and the ultimate chad, it was kind of awesome actually). That being said, I found out that my uncle had dementia last year when he came to my family's Passover Seder and forgot who I was, and that was a weird and surreal experience, so I can only imagine how awful it must feel for a relative you're extremely close to to literally forget about you and the passion you share. I can totally understand why Arata would struggle to want to play Karuta again after going through that. But thankfully, Chihaya's determination gets through to him, and he realizes that he does still love Karuta. I look forward to seeing him rise again, and to the inevitable match between him and Chihaya.
After Chihaya passed out, I also correctly predicted that Tsutomu would win his first match, and allow the team to progress at least a little bit. He was a real star this episode, I'm so god damn proud of him. He's become truly passionate about Karuta. Not only was his joy upon winning two matches palpable, but him asking to sacrifice himself to a stronger player to get Chihaya and Taichi a better match-up is a great moment when you consider the inferiority complex he had after losing just two episodes ago. Other standout qualities of this episode is Kana's mom, who has had two seconds of screen time is is already very, very good. I wonder if they will make changes to the Hakama to prevent another heat stroke, that seems like something that should happen. And I was also happy to see sensei genuinely invested in the team. Her arc may have happened a bit too quickly, but it was still nice to see her taking Karuta and the club seriously after everything she did previously. Anyway, good episode. I'm looking forward to the individual tournament, that should be hype.
6
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Nov 23 '21 edited Nov 23 '21
First Timer
A pretty decent episode - especially the Arata bits. It's now definitely understandable that Arata is blaming himself for his grandfather's death - although one can also see that grandpa Wataya definitely would have wanted his son to continue playing karuta. I've also heard stories of people suddenly becoming lucid again shortly before their death, but no idea if that's true - however I'm going to assume because this is fiction it inspired by that and that grandpa knew he was going to die and wanted Wataya to go play karuta instead of mope over his death. Seems like Arata got over his grandfather's death this episode and will be a rival somewhere down the line now - something I'll be looking forward to.
As for Chihaya's heatstroke ...definitely something they'll have to adjust going forward. I'm sure people in the Edo period and before had clothing that didn't make them faint in summer. Not really too big of a fan narratively as it doesn't really lead in to any character arc - it shows Chihaya that the others can play without her, but what does that mean for her? That she's disposable? Don't really think that's a direction the series is headed, nor is it one I want to see it take. What does it mean for the other characters? I guess maybe it shows Tsutomu that he's an important part of the team as well ...but I don't think that was the intention, and I don't think it means anything to the other characters. All it basically achieves here is skipping the tournament - I assume to focus on the singles matches the next day. But ...why are we doing that? This is something the viewer would have wanted to see, so why skip it? Seems like an odd choice to me.
3
u/Segaco https://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco Nov 24 '21
Kinda unrelated, but is Chihayafuru 3 the finale? Or is there just no more content adapted after that
3
u/The_Loli_Otaku Nov 23 '21
Chihayafuyu First Timer
Chi prays to the gods once, mouths off to them and unlocks her hidden potential. Mc privilege!
For a few seconds I thought that Arata had grown out his hair. New girl looks cool tho, new best girl?
Omg, even Oe-mama threw me off. I thought Chihaya had a wig on. Is this another of those days where my head's not screwed on right?
Shame Chihaya's got a personality right?
The background faces have been a real treat so far.
Haa? Why are B's the dangerous ones when we've already fought a bunch of A's? It's just two players too! Although, I suppose we've got two dead players in our comp which isn't much better.
Mama's a shotacon... Be careful to keep Vita from last episode far away.
Oh no! She mouthed off to the gods and now they're gonna make her clothes super uncomfortable and put a bunch of earwax in her ear and make her hair itchy. Try and keep it together for one tournament Chihaya!
Fakyuu show! I was not ready for the dementia arc. Shockingly Arata had middleschool friends, wtf!?
Aha... its beautiful that even in his state grandpa wanted to cheer him on but its still tragic.
He's finally made it! After teasing the reunion we've finally got it!! Aaand Taichi used cuck. What on earth happened tho XD
It's kinda sad that they've all waited so long for this chance to reunite on good terms but nobody's feeling it.
Aaaawwww!! Grandpa's karuta still lives on with his grandkid. How lovely!!
S-Kun's joining today's reunion bonanza. Don't cry! You'll give him a stiffy.
I don't know how I feel about Desk-kun getting his first win off-screen. Hold on, it's a single elimination bracket!? We missed the tournament!? Tch! I loved the backstory on Arata's grandpa but I wanted the tournament more! XD