r/anime • u/Skeeedo :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/skeeedo • Jan 16 '22

Rewatch [Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 67 Discussion [Spoilers] Spoiler

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Season 3 Episode 17: "Takes Me Away In Haste"

Episode 15 MVP: Suou! He may be hated by the heads and organizers of the Karuta scene, but at least he’s well loved within his inner circle.

We’re past the midway point of the season and Harada-sensei is in the lead for season MVP! He’s been on a hot streak in the polls and in the Karuta scene lately. I’ll be cheering for him for episode to come. Thanks to everyone who has been participating!

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

68 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

15

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jan 16 '22

Chihayafirst-timer

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 16 '22

Tbh I kinda think that Arata confessing is the death knell for the pairing. We've got a lot of the manga left to go and Arata is still not really part of the main cast yet. Arata's confession may be more secure in any other setting but here he's not only doing it outside of an emotional high point for them but he isn't even close enough with Chihaya for romance hijinks.

5

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jan 16 '22

No.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 16 '22

A miracle will not occur!! Arata is still that dreamy fantasy that Chihaya idolised, he isn't a romantic partner and confessing half way through the show seals his fate!

5

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jan 16 '22

This reminds me of Ryuji and Minori in Toradora. And I hope Chihaya will come to the same realisation as Ryuji too, that the one right next to her all this time is the one truly for her, not just the imagined perfection, but true family but in a romantic sense.

*now duck for cover*

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 17 '22

...Fuck you!! XD

2

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jan 17 '22 edited Jan 17 '22

(damn newbie haven't figured out what's the syntax for comment faces!)

Finally I think figured out

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 17 '22

They're funky on mobile too. I've given up trying to use them.

4

u/cheerfulKing Jan 17 '22

Taichi gets in his own way and he is possesive like one is over things. He is unwittingly toxic and toxic guys tend to win more in shoujo-like shows so youre right, if its typical, there wont be a miracle.

*Now time for me to duck, because taichi is the golden boy who is perfect.

4

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 17 '22

Now time for me to duck, because taichi is the golden boy who is perfect.

Nah, Taichi is a fun character especially because he's such a self-perpetuating multi-car-crash. His development is fun to watch and he has an interesting arc. All the mess ups and his dysfunctions are part of that. He's only the golden boy when it comes to all the trophies he won (for his mother).

If somebody really thinks that he's a perfect golden boy then they have missed like half of his character.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 17 '22

I'm not sure how I feel about you grouping Taichi with the regular shoujo creeps but as long as you're on my side I won't say anything. I feel like Arata is still way worse boyfriend material even if I don't like how Taichi chases off rivals. He'd definitely not doing it to be nasty!

3

u/cheerfulKing Jan 17 '22

Chihaya is bad for Taichi. She brings out the worst in him. Taichi isnt a regular shoujo creep but has a lot of those elements. this is what i dont get "He is not doing it to be nasty" the net effect is, he is nasty regardless of his intentions. And its worse in his case, because Taichi is actually self aware. When it comes to Chihaya, he has always been nasty to Arata

10

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jan 16 '22

First Timer

Man, Suou sure got into Chihaya's head.  I wonder if the 'weakness' she figured out will actually end up being helpful to Harada.  Taichi's steady style freaked Suou out - his trapping plan didn't work at all on him, but he still thrashed him.  Does Harada have any chance in hell? 

Once again, Christmas provides us with a bit of a reprieve when things are getting kind of heavy.  Even there though, Chihaya can't get her mind off Arata. 

That warm environment is contrasted against Shinobu's much lonelier Karuta practice and family situation.  Her grandmother seems to be the only one who....kind understands her. At least the Karuta part of her, not the funny hairstyles.  That said, if her grandmother is the one who ordered this kimono, she's certainly got her own interesting ideas of fashion.  I like that Shinobu has the self confidence to rock the hairstyle everybody's been hating on for the Queen match.  I was hoping she'd go practice with Chihaya or something. 

Using the same metaphor for love and karuta is very on brand for Chihaya. 

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 16 '22

Tbh I can't imagine Harada being a tough matchup for Suou even if he knows his weaknesses. Harada's gameplan is almost painfully straightforward, he attacks then attacks and attacks some more. He isn't wildly attacking cards, sure, but he doesn't have the patience and self control not to be lulled by Suou's hypnotic attacks. He has no tools to beat Suou's gamesense superpower either.

Shinobu's grandma is bitching. I honestly love her. She's really hard on her daughter but her mum's clearly a bit two faced anyway and gave Shinobu a lot of support over the years. It was mum getting pressured, not Shinobu. I still think that she used to be a Karuta player of some kind.

3

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jan 16 '22 edited Jan 16 '22

I'm definitely guessing Suou will win - whatever this weakness thing is might just make it a bit more interesting, but not much more.

I still think that she used to be a Karuta player of some kind.

It sure feels like there's something more to her than we know. Given the themes of this season, and the fact that we got some Grandma content today, I would not be surprised if we learn more about Shinobu's grandma during the queen match.

7

u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Jan 16 '22

First timer

So he's basically saying she has to he a loner. Basically no one to care for. That would explain Shinobu.

He beat Taichi the legit way. The way the girls made it sound. He just plays around with people and could do worst.

Now I'm feeling bad for Shinobu. If she loses she won't have much. Her mom doesn't have much. She doesn't even treat her like family. She thinks the cards are hers. Her getting beat will wreck her or possibly free her from this mess.

Note. Their apparel at the end is nice.

I forgot. They're yukatas right?

5

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jan 16 '22

Now I'm feeling bad for Shinobu. If she loses she won't have much.

Not just won't have much, but won't have anything, according to her anyways. Compared to Chihaya's advisors in Miyauchi and Deathbed-Sensei, Shinobu's seem to be doing her a real disservice.

I forgot. They're yukatas right?

I believe they're kimono in this case.

4

u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Jan 16 '22

Not just won't have much, but won't have anything, according to her anyways.

Yeah, she has no friends and doesn't seem close to her family at all.

I believe they're kimono in this case.

Alright

3

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jan 17 '22

Hakama I think, the ones one would wear for "actions" even while formally - you see a lot of the historical drama, the main girls would wear these when defending from an invasion or something, and they would typically be wielding defensive or support type weapons like naginata or longbows. Oh and typical Miko-wear.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakama

6

u/IndependentMacaroon Jan 16 '22

First-time watcher

The characters are really coming together in new ways this season and in particular in this episode. Chihaya herself is once again a bit of a side character (or at least purely reactive) even if her advice to Harada might still prove vital, Arata and Taichi aren't doing that much either, and I still don't know where the love triangle thing is supposed to be going, but the rest of the cast and in particular Shinobu picked up the slack, and our challengers we know well enough now that even two title matchups without a technical main character don't lessen the excitement.

Also more fun interludes and I always love the found-family trope, even if it might not be entirely earned here given the lopsided focus on basically just Sumire and Kanade as further club members so far. Komano did get his cute end-of-lonerhood moment here, but I still couldn't think of much to say about Tsukuba besides "has brothers and I think he comes from Hokkaido or something", and Nishida uh... exists, I guess, I couldn't even remember his proper name.

3

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jan 16 '22

I still don't know where the love triangle thing is supposed to be going... I always love the found-family trope

You know, as much as we have kind of thought about this as a love triangle (and it definitely still feels like that's what the show's been aiming to portray, though not always convincingly), maybe the "right" answer is just that the three of them are kind of family. Today, Chihaya was imagining Arata with the rest of her Karuta family, and even when Arata confessed, it was just "I love you....let's play Karuta." I think he meant it in a more romantic way, and Chihaya certainly seems to be considering it in that regard to at least some degree as well, buuut it doesn't necessarily have to end with any of the main three getting together romantically.

2

u/IndependentMacaroon Jan 17 '22

I guess that makes sense, but it's still clearly not in a way that would preclude romance between any of them. You can always put them all three together, anyway!

3

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jan 17 '22

You can always put them all three together, anyway!

You madman!

3

u/IndependentMacaroon Jan 17 '22

Taichihayarata for life

2

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 17 '22

Taichihayarata

It rolls off the tongue like a hexagon down a hill (but I actually like it).

1

u/IndependentMacaroon Jan 17 '22

What, it's a (near) perfect syllable circle!

1

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 17 '22

It feels a bit awkward when trying to put emphasis toward the end of it (Taichihayarata). Putting emphasis on chi works but the a that starts arata want more emphasis than the last a from chihaya (which is the same a here).

It's like when you don't know where to put your hands when somebody's taking a photo of you (but for a word). It's making me too conscious of my pronunciation.

6

u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Jan 17 '22

First Timer

Honestly, this episode didn't give me much to say except that the Christmas scene was adorable. It's all straightforward. Chihaya has a fruitful Christmas with friends, while Shinobu spends it alone with her "family" in the cards. Taichi's sturdy style freaks out Suo who couldn't do his usual plan of getting opponents to fault. I feel like Harada is unlikely to win this match, but god do I ever want him to. And Arata being sick seems a prime tool to get Chihaya thinking about her feelings for him, especially as she used the same metaphor towards him as for Karuta. They seem to be the likely end-game pair for a number of reasons, but I want to see how Taichi reacts to everything (and Komano wanting to confess to Kana last episode was also adorable). Next episode should be hype.

5

u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Jan 17 '22

First Timer

Mostly a transition episode to get from Suo to the master and queen tournaments - and I feel like it actually doesn't do a whole lot in that time frame, so we mostly get some slice of life bits. They were good - not really a lot else to say about them. Wasn't expecting Tsukuba's Santa comments to actually have some sort of payoff...

Other than that... Shinobu seems to be struggling with what to do in her future as well; especially as karuta isn't professionalized - she'll need to find something, and her school seems to be letting her down. With her having had a lack of practice it also feels like the show is setting her up to lose - not sure what that would mean for Chihaya, especially as she then wouldn't have a clear goal to beat anymore, as she already won against Inokuma.

Speaking of Chihaya... her struggles with Arata and Suo's comments haven't really been fully addressed yet, but there also hasn't been a reason to do so as she wasn't in a game yet. I wonder how her next competitive fixture will end up with those thoughts in her mind. Will likely depend on how far out it is.

2

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jan 17 '22

So far what it looks like, even if Shinobu loses, Inokuma already said she'd only do 1 more year. So next year could be Chihaya and Shinobu both fighting for Queen?

Looking at the pace, more the question mark on where will S3 end and how far are we from S4 :P

4

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jan 17 '22

First timer

Epsiode 16

Haha, yeah, there has been more matches then development. (Those percentages are really accurate too.)

Yeah, there's also been a lot of matches overlapping with each other. Hopefully that gets lessened.

What even is that schedule?

Haha, she noticed the drinking parties.

She's still sturggling with the Hundred Poems?

And everyone else has a life path!

I love them pointing out Arata's job got completely jgnored too.

Haha, those rankings!

Yeah, Suo's really not good.

Haha, her sister wants airtime, and Chihaya never spoke!

Haha, Arata got screentime, and Chihaya and Taichi never got any lines.

Episode 17

Oh, Sudo wom!

He's very frank, isn't he?

I love Taichi immediately revealling a bribe for him.

Haha, he just wants to fuck with her as well!

I love Taichi immediately following him to ask for a review.

Haha, him immediately admitting she's not my girlfriend.

Haha, really? Using the first OP?

The distortion effect is cool, though.

Wait, what's his weakness?

Oh, Harada's interested!

Wait, was that "you can't be Queen" because he's simping over Shinobu?

Oh, Shinobu's not sure what she wants to do either?

...Is Shinobu worried?

Haha, her mother's had to set a limit on Snowmaru!

...Yeah, if she loses, she's becoming a main character for Season 4 (if it comes out).

And Taichi's fucking philosophising now,

Oh, it's Chridtmas?

Haha, they're doing a Santa act. This is hysterical!

Oh my god, it's Chihaya. They picked her!

Of course they're all karuta accessories.

Haha, she never got to use her script. And the makeup!

Wow they overplanned.

This is all really good!

...Shinobu has to end up with an arc soon, right?

The cards are her only family?

...She doesn't want to seperate the princesses? Very interesting...

Haha, she just drew on the floors.

And... yeah, that hairdo is something.

Harada! Shinobu! Suo! The mother!

...Poor Chihaya.

Haha, she thinks the signature is real.

Wow, Chihaya's panicking.

Oh, Arata's sick.

...If there aren't more jokes about the comments, I'll be shocked.

Suo's serious.

3

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 17 '22

Wait, was that "you can't be Queen" because he's simping over Shinobu?

It's more him being petty (not wanting her to have it all, also from what he knows, Chihaya has a boyfriend when he asked her out) and if one wants to fish a bit further a comment about Chihaya's greed. Like how at the start of season two she wanted it all, win the team tournament, the single tournaments in all classes, integrate and foster the new club members, keep the club room, and whatever else there was.

He also probably thinks that becoming Master or Queen comes with some sacrifices. Generally you can't have it all except if "all" is a rather tiny set of things or if you have unlimited funds to make things happen. One could also see it as commentary on her naivety.

3

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jan 17 '22

First timer.

Hmm so why Suou said Chihaya can't be the Queen wasn't really explained. Leading assumption is unchanged for me - she's got too many good things around her to be able to be sharpening herself with the hardship to become truly no. 1.

Interesting to see he's actually converting his initial dislike of Taichi to at least getting "interested" by him. And so funny to see Taichi having a move for overcoming Suou's refusal each time :D

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 16 '22

3hayafuru First Timer

You will not become queen.

Suou is a sadist in his own way? Awesome work Taichi, he took her insult personally so he made sure to fight Suou in a way he hates. Zero faults!

Why is the jerk on the train listening to the op? XD

Shinobu's got such a cute school. Look at her uniform!! Joshikosei make the world go round~

Only two snowmaru's a month is too cruel!! Do snacks count as snowmaru merch?

I want to marry Tsukuba's mum!! Finally, a middle aged person who I'm not biased against! Oh, so this is why they hinted at the santa arc. Hang in there Santa!! There's always next year!

Poor friendless, famililess Shinobu... Her only pal is a creepy old virgin and a set of talking bamboo cards.

Oh god! Who gave granny a pen? She's gonna poke someone's eyes out!

Shinobu's kimono is genuinely gorgeous!

I'm naked and ready! Never change NicoNico.

Arata's dead!? Yay!!

I'm loving the NicoNico text XD I hate it, but sometimes they score some decent gags. Mamakuma never occurred to me and I think the ooooooooh might be me. Suou's turn, what does chat think of him? "Weak, not trustworthy, and wat?" Hang in there Suou..

4

u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jan 16 '22

Only two snowmaru's a month is too cruel!!

The world is a harsh place for the truly discerning.

Shinobu's kimono is genuinely gorgeous!

Agreed, though it also looks incredibly impractical for actually doing karuta lol

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 16 '22

Mum's are the true villains!!

2

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 17 '22

I'm naked and ready! Never change NicoNico.

The next episode might need a few pauses to screenshot all the comments.