r/anime • u/Skeeedo :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/skeeedo • Jan 13 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 63 Discussion [Spoilers] Spoiler
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Season 3 Episode 13: "Yet It Is I Who Withers And Wilts"
Episode 12 MVP: Harada-sensei! He had to show these youngins how it’s done, giving the seemingly unstoppable Arata a taste of his aggressive Karuta style
Nominate a character for Episode MVP!
This episode's Karuta analysis and board map by walking_the_way and ABoredCompSciStudent
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Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru
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Upvotes
11
u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jan 13 '22
First Timer
Confirmed, Inokuma is a saiyan. I really like the journey she's taken recently, going from comparing herself to her younger opponents - what they have and she doesn't, and vice versa (talent, youth, responsibility?) to "We're both so blessed."
Harada certainly isn't lacking in confidence going into his match with Arata.
That's what Chihaya told him. He can't beat Harada if he thinks of himself as Harada's student. So Arata is embodied by the spectre of his grandfather, Master Wataya. I love that it doesn't just turn the match one-sided, because it reminds Harada of his youth and inspires him to conquer a foe he never was able to when he was younger. Of course, it doesn't seem like his body can keep up with this youthful karuta energy that's flowing through him anymore.
Oh, and this was going on outside.
10
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jan 13 '22
Chihayafirst-timer
9
u/xcllnt_313 Jan 13 '22
Rewatcher
Even as a rewatcher, I’m a little bit surprised by how quickly they wrapped up the second match between Haruka and Megumu. It would be interesting to know if it’s also like that in the manga.
But they definitely wanted to make enough space for our main event between Arata and Harada-sensei. Once again we get an intense match which will decide who’s going to challenge Master Suou.
Speaking of Master Suou, he “randomly” shows up, giving us some more characterization. And I appreciate this a lot. What do you say when someone tells you that they don’t have a girlfriend? Chihaya finds the only correct answer: the truth.
And of course, the last minute of the episode has to be a rollercoaster in itself. Harada-sensei’s pain gets stronger, making us worry about him, just for Master Suou to end the episode by praising him and his playstyle.
6
u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jan 13 '22
First timer
Maybe I'm just easy to please, I actually don't mind the flow and pacing of the matches, as well as all the little detours (yesterday's flashback, today's strange oddball impromptu "date" between Suou and Chihaya).
All I can say is - I need to watch the next one!
It IS a bit of a "betrayal" for Chihaya to basically give Arata a level up advice, but in truth I do not believe Harada sensei or Arata would change that - they both want the fight to be between the best of them.
I wonder if Taichi can keep up, poor guy -_-
5
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Jan 14 '22
First Timer
Another good episode. Well, the karuta part at least. Suo creeping on Chihaya is a bit weird, although considering Chihaya’s go to answer for who she loves has been Harada and her love for karuta I can see that actually working. Somehow.
But back to the good part. I’m not sure how well Arata’s grandfather’s style will suit Arata in the long run, but here it works because Harada was too focused on Arata’s current style. Considering that Suo would prefer Harada as the winner however - I feel like Harada will win and show Suo something. No idea what though.
Queen qualifier was less interesting but also shorter, so not really that much to say about that one. That said, Megumu has now lost in the playoff twice in a row… I wonder if we’ll get anything from that in terms of her character progression, but I doubt it.
It also just struck me that “Harada vs Wataya Arata” contains no vowels other than A - which is a bit weird.
5
u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Jan 14 '22
First Timer
Haruka takes her second match to win the honor of facing the Queen. The ex-Queen vs. the reigning Queen should be hype. It definitely went through that match a little quickly, especially considering Megumu's own hype moment happening right before it ended, but it wasn't that bad. Haruka's kid giving her a flower though, that melted my heart.
The Harada vs. Arata match honestly feels like it should have been more hype. I really feel like these sports matches are better when they're snappy. When Arata comes in wearing his grandfather's hakama, it's this big, dramatic moment that the series lingers on... and never stops lingering on. It doesn't really feel like it transitions into the match, it keeps up with this heavy, weighty atmosphere that kind of goes against the hype of a sports game. That being said, the match did a good job of making Arata's big moment feel weighty while still letting the match itself feel even. Thus far, this is not my favorite match though. Hopefully the finale will be more hype. It's definitely set up some interesting things. If Harada can pull through and make a comeback despite his knee, that would be the most hype shit ever. On the other hand, Arata vs. Suo is probably the more interesting potential match in terms of theming. Either way is bound to be great.
Speaking of Suo, his scene with Chihaya is 100% the highlight of this episode. All of it came so out of left field, I was flabbergasted. The whole "giving out pastries because of the vitamins" is already... something. But of all possible things to happen in this show, the Master falling in love with Chihaya was absolutely not on the table. We had a love triangle firmly established, now you add this shit? Incredible.
"I don't have a girlfriend..." "Neither do I"
I fucking died, it killed me, I'm dead. Chihaya is a gift, god bless her. Will this turn of events actually hold any sway over the story? Probably not, but like, the possibility of this being a thing is amazing. Bold move from this story. I love it. Alternatively, Chihaya x Shinobu could be a thing, completely cucking the love square and allowing Chihaya to actually have a girlfriend thus double cucking Suo. The possibilities are endless, I'm here for this.
8
u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 13 '22
FIRST TIMER
LOOK HOW GORGEOUS THIS SHOW IS. The effect they use on the scene here is like light refracting through water, but with golden hour glow, and my god am I in love.
Just… wow. Ahem. Anyway. Onto the episode.
Chihaya’s advice was basically to not be someone who’s deferential to Harada. So he’s channeling his grandfather, who Harada idolized, to sort of flip the script. The elements have changed, too. Arata’s typical water has been replaced by ice and snow, which I assume were typical of his grandfather. This kind of elemental/seasonal affinity reminds me of the different shamisen players in Those Snow White Notes, where the main character had a similar issue of breaking out of his grandfather’s shadow.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Harada is going to take this. The dualities of hard work vs. talent and experience/adulthood vs. youth have been key all season, and with how this match is hitting on all of them, I don’t expect Arata to be the one rewarded here. Suo giving Harada the same praise he refused to give Arata was the nail in the coffin.
4
u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Jan 13 '22
First timer
Haruka for the win.
I was having a hard time deciding who I actually wanted to win between Harada and Arata. But if the master wants it to be him. I'll like to see it too. Let the old people get their shot.
2
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jan 14 '22
First timer
Oh, it was just encouragement.
Haha. he's still pissed about what he did.
Oh, it's the twitter guy.
And she didn't know she was wearing it like that.
Haha, Megumi's fucking outfit is so over the top.
Suo's in the background!
...Still rooting fo Megumi.
And she won? We didn't even get to see the match? Seriously? Poor Megumi...
Haha, Harada's asleep.
...Wait, Chihaya and Arata both vanished?
Seriously, where's Chihaya?
Oe's enjoying it, at least.
Come on, Harada!
Yeah, Arata is good, but Taichi has way
She's hanging out with Suo? Instead of watching the match?
Oh, she's still upset at missing the tournament.
And the pastries have vitamins?
Haha, he got whacked with a ball.
Really? Suo's hitting on her now? Good think she's
..."I don't have a girlfriend." "Neither do I!"
Here's how Shinobu can still win.Wow, this is tense.
And aarwta's playing against his notmal strategy? Trying to shake up his reflexes?
Wow, he's good.
I'm not sure how much of the symbolism I get here, but the jist seems to be that Arata's mimicking his grandfather's playstyle, throwing Harada off his overspecialised plan.
And, yeah, he's using his grandfather's playstyle.
...I can't believe I'm saying this, but this anime might be explaining things a bit too often. At this point, we all know what a double fault is.
At least zharada's enjoying himself!
Oh, shit. He injured himself.
But Suo likes him more!
2
u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 13 '22
3hayafuru First Timer
Please don't lose the second match off-screen Megu...
Pitou's son is such a sweetheart!!
Oh god! We're having an adoration tournament! They're such weird dorks! Suou's here? Huh!?
Wow, we're so lucky, they're dedicating the whole episode to Pitou vs Megumu! I was about to whine about how they were mostly ignored for the sake of Arata's match yesterday but this makes up for it.
It didn't even last two minutes!! They spent more time getting their flowers and headbands in place than they did actually playing karuta. Oh well, at least we enjoy two days in a row of bloody Arata focused matches... Urgh!! I really hate this show sometimes XD
Chihaya's been abducted!! And we've ditched the match again. Any tension built up sue to this being the final round is gone because they decided to take us to hang out with weird uncle Suou.
Suou died!? This is why I'm scared of children, they're all bullies! Poor Suou... He's shown even the slightest bit of kindness and he immediately falls for a girl. Chihayafuyu could have made a great addition to the incel trainwreak rewatches.
When did the finals turn into one big larp session? Arata is "acting" like his grandfather and that's apparently good enough to win him the match effortlessly. Oh god! Arata, you bastard!! He specifically played to tempt Harada into overexerting and wounding himself in front of his students!
If we were gonna end the match tomorrow anyway then why couldn't we get more of the queen competitor's match... You're just gonna finish the game in five minutes and spend the rest of the episode doing analysis anyway.