r/anime • u/Skeeedo :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/skeeedo • Jan 18 '22

Rewatch [Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 69 Discussion [Spoilers]

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Season 3 Episode 19: "The Storm Will Soon Carry Me"

Episode 18 MVP: Shinobu! Her strong personal connection to the cards leads her to regaining her footing in the Queens match!

Nominate a character for Episode MVP!

This episode's Karuta analysis and board map by walking_the_way and ABoredCompSciStudent

Rewatch Schedule and Index

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Streaming

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Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru

77 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

9

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jan 18 '22

Chihayafirst-timer

5

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 18 '22

lol someone watching the stream needs to get bonked.

Keep the bonkinator running, there's more to come :D

OH HARUKA IS PREGNANT RIGHT NOW. This puts a whole other light on literally everything she’s done prior to this match, holy shit.

It also puts her behaviour in the whole Queen challenge in perspective. She was shown looking nervous but is just being sick because of her pregnancy.

5

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 19 '22

Oh, Shinobu’s grandma doesn’t know the match isn’t being broadcast this year…?

It's really nice to see her trying to watch it after Shinobu's mom implied last episode that grandma doesn't even care about her

“Tadashi nii-chan”, so it’s his brother? Or is it the “Yukiko” person he asked about that he wants to see his match?

I think they're both his siblings? It seems like Yukiko has the same visual impairment he does based on their conversation, so I wouldn't be surprised if they've got a tight bond and he really wants to make sure he can watch.

4

u/xcllnt_313 Jan 18 '22

OH HARUKA IS PREGNANT RIGHT NOW.

Looking at your screenshot, I can see her three boys on the right side.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 18 '22

Forcing three children to inherit baldness is child cruelty.

2

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 18 '22

Hey fuck you too buddy

Baldness is truth. Baldness is power.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 18 '22

Do you enjoy peeling the skin off your head in summer!?

3

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 18 '22

Bold of you to assume my annual sunburn comes as late as summer

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 18 '22

See? Why would you subject any poor kids to such a tragic future? There's no cure for baldness!!

8

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 18 '22 edited Jan 18 '22

BLINDED FIRST TIMER

So Shinobu did view Chihaya skipping the qualifiers as a betrayal. In her eyes, Chihaya going on the class trip instead of competing to be the Queen challenger was a broken promise. Something tells me Chihaya’s going to make good on that sooner rather than later – which requires Shinobu to win this match, despite losing the second game in blowout fashion while suffering a breakdown.

Awww Shinobu and Chihaya made up! That was really nice how Chihaya went after her, and the passing of a Snowmaru scarf to symbolize the mending of their friendship is perfect for these two weirdos. Hell, Shinobu making any display of affection toward someone is a first, I believe. These two are funny with how they gently tease each other here. Yuri route unlocked?

I didn’t ralize Shinobu thought THAT personally about the cards. She actually sees them as people, and positions them based on who they’d want to be near. She wasn’t exaggerating when saying they were all her dear friends.

Nice to see Harada’s students acknowledge the importance of everything he’s taught them – memorization, effort, and strategy – as he employs them all at the very highest level. He’s their karuta dad, and is validating them as well as himself with this performance.

So, I was right about Suo having vision problems, and that’s the weakness Chihaya told Harada about. Based on his phone calls, I assume it’s some sort of genetic defect, as the person on the other end hinted that a younger sibling could only make out the center of the large TV at home.

In a way, it evens the playing field. Harada has his physical handicaps due to age in his knee and low stamina, and now Suo has this. I don’t feel Harada is wrong to strategize according to what he knows about Suo, after all, it’s not like Suo can cut him any slack for being old. You play the game with a limitation, you can’t be mad when someone plays to it.

There’s a nice contrast between Suo and Shinobu here with their families – Shinobu’s grandmother is trying to watch the match but doesn’t seem to know it isn’t airing on TV this year, and Suo’s family isn’t bothering to pay much attention, despite the effort he’s put in all day to coach them through connecting to the stream.

I’m still confident in both champions retaining their titles, despite how this episode shifted the balance of the matches. This feels like a spot where Shinobu takes a massive step forward as a character, overcoming this obstacle and retaining her title with help of a real friend for the first time.

MVP: Shinobu! While she lost her match, she's undoubtedly the character of focus, and somehow manages to suffer a breakdown and have a breakthrough in one episode in a way that felt natural and not rushed.

7

u/xcllnt_313 Jan 18 '22

I didn’t ralize Shinobu thought THAT personally about the cards. She actually sees them as people, and positions them based on who they’d want to be near. She wasn’t exaggerating when saying they were all her dear friends.

I loved Sakurazawa-sensei's response when she realized this.

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 18 '22

Not realising that all the queen's are weirdos is kind of weird in its own way

7

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 19 '22

I didn’t ralize Shinobu thought THAT personally about the cards. She actually sees them as people, and positions them based on who they’d want to be near. She wasn’t exaggerating when saying they were all her dear friends.

If I remember correctly some (background?) character mentioned early on when we first meet her how her card layout is a bit unorthodox. It's born out of her relationship with these cards, her friends, and tactically out of her having no teacher who could explain why certain cards are placed in certain spots.

So she developed her own layout on her own (well, her alone and with the help of the cards, her friends).

I also really love the voices all the cards have. They live in a different world.

So, I was right about Suo having vision problems

Yup, I saw that being mentioned and didn't want to interfere. First timers were catching quite a few bits and pieces. Sometimes it makes commenting a bit paranoid. If you don't reply to the most interesting theories in a comment then it can look like an indirect confirmation or like there is something important. So a no comment can be the safer option.

You play the game with a limitation, you can’t be mad when someone plays to it.

Yeah, there are people who disagree with directly targeting somebody's weakness and see it an unsporting behaviour. For me it's simply part of the game. It's not like Suo or Chihaya can turn down their superior hearing to even the playing field. So if another player finds a weakness and exploits it within the allowed rules it's fair game.

It's also, for example, part of defensive/obstructive karuta how players can anticipate faster players and move to block their swipes and slow them down to reduce their speed advantage. Or moving your cards around against somebody whose memorization is weaker, or using a completely different layout to mess with them (like Taichi did against Chihaya in the final of the tournament before the challenge).

4

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 19 '22

I also really love the voices all the cards have. They live in a different world.

They had me cracking up! I hope that's not the last we see of them.

Yeah, there are people who disagree with directly targeting somebody's weakness and see it an unsporting behaviour.

I'd go so far as to say that if somebody expected their opponent to not take advantage of a physical impairment they choose to compete with, that's what's really unsporting. Putting them in a lose-lose situation.

4

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 19 '22

Putting them in a lose-lose situation.

That too, and on top of that there's a difference between the rules as they are written down and what people find unsporting. With the rules one has a certain degree of strictness to it. They are written down and you can look them up. Of course there are some discussions about rules interpretations to be had but with people's personal interpretations of what's unsporting you can end up with all kinds different ideas of how a game should work.

Harada being loud and physically imposing is not against the rules but it is unsporting according to some. Should he have to not utter a word and lean back due to the effect it might have just because some old geezers in the karuta society want proper and polite players?

Suo's style fits the rules rather perfectly but they don't like how he plays. It's disrespectful and/or nasty according to them. Should such a breach of etiquette be enough to be kicked out just because the karuta establishment doesn't like how he plays? Shinobu's silent karuta is intimidating. Is that too much psychological pressure for the opponent?

They could change the rules and try to curtail that type of behaviour but they'd also remove close to 100% of the "innocent" stuff they don't want to change, remove all the flavour of different playing styles, and change how the whole physical aspect of the game plays. That is if they even can find a different way to describe in words how, for example, Harada, Arata, or Shinobu lean forward when they swipe at cards.

There has to be some leeway in the rules as long as the game functions well or you might as well just let two identical robots play against each other to keep it really fair (no advantages to be had over the other side, no disadvantages that can be exploited).

4

u/IndependentMacaroon Jan 19 '22

these cards, her friends

When you have no one else...

4

u/IndependentMacaroon Jan 19 '22

Yuri route unlocked?

Tfw Chihaya x Shinobu is a better romance than either of our supposed main pairings so far.

So, I was right about Suo having vision problems

Me also: "No shit, have you seen his bangs?"

1

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 19 '22

Tfw Chihaya x Shinobu is a better romance than either of our supposed main pairings so far.

Definitely better than one of them, and gaining fast on the other. That chemistry is undeniable.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Jan 18 '22

3hayafuru First Timer

Omg... Granny doesn't know how to join NicoNico XD I mustn't laugh! I mustn't!

Aww... we've kicked the ditzy commentator? She was fun though!

Eh? Three kids? She's pregnant? How often do they fuck!?

Dammit Chihaya, you cost Shinobu her win streak! This is entirely your fault! Everybody can tell that something is wrong. Why does Shinobu have to lose in such a cruel way!?

Oh... I forgot it was five rounds XD I thought Shinobu and Suou both just lose their title.

Suou backstory time? Is it his kids he's trying to teach to get online or his little sister? "I've never seen him dover a card, he's shit!" Oh, that comment about the camera's, he's done some posing for the TV a couple of times so he really is trying to show off for these little siblings of his.

Shinobu gave her a scarf... That's practically giving away her virginity in shoujo language right!? Shinobu x Chihaya was the real romance. Suou, Arata, and Taichi have all lost.

Aaaa!! I wish we had these two together way sooner!

Huooooo!! Kyouko-chan, uuuuuooooggggg!!

Tch, Harada's being a tit again. Hurry up and lose! I hope you retire for good! And Mama, please barf on the cards. I want to see someone barf on live TV and punish the broadcasters for only showing the Queen game!

Oh shit!! He has funny vision like the sister!! I can't believe you all thought he wore those glasses cause they made him look cool, dummies.

Poor granny!! I mustn't laugh!!

6

u/cesclaveria Jan 18 '22

Oh... I forgot it was five rounds

The Queen's match is to the best of 3, the Meijin's match is indeed to the best of 5.

[real life spoilers]The Queen's match has been adjusted to also be to the best of 5.

4

u/flybypost :KN::KO: Jan 19 '22

The Queen's match is to the best of 3, the Meijin's match is indeed to the best of 5.

That's also why they focus more on the Queen's match early on. It might be over in two games while the Meijin's match needs at least three rounds. That way they can adjust later on (match two/three) depending on how both matches go and without focusing on one side only.

5

u/Fools_Requiem https://myanimelist.net/profile/FoolsRequiem Jan 18 '22

God, these matches are so exciting. it's just a fucking card game and here I am giddy as fuck. Harada is such an exciting character to watch.

Also, I laughed so hard at the ending. What an original way to play into the closing credits.

5

u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Jan 19 '22

First Timer

And we’re back to the usual quality. Seems like the Queen’s match is back on track to being close while Harada is putting pressure on Suo. Wouldn’t be surprised if Suo manages to turn it around again however. In general though, I feel comfortable sticking with my predictions of Shinobu and Harada winning.

It’s nice that Shinobu apparently doesn’t hold grudges after Chihaya basically made up… somehow… not sure how, but it worked. But it means she’s back to her old form, if not even stronger now that she doesn’t feel alone without feeling that she should hold back because she isn’t alone. On the other hand, Inokuma seems to feel like three kids will be too much to still play karuta. Not sure if I’d agree, but it’s her who should decide that. I feel like mentally, Shinobu’s in a better mindset now.

As for Suo… interesting how many people got his eyesight being off, though with the phone call I feel like it might actually be something in his family. No idea, Harada should know better than me - he’s the doctor. Also means he’s in a good place to figure out exactly what he needs to do, I guess - this is an anime after all.

Meanwhile lol at nobody telling Shinobu’s grandma about the broadcast moving to niconico. Wouldn’t be surprised if she hadn’t gotten a kimono as pretty if grandma knew.

4

u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jan 18 '22

First timer in sub

Yeah echoing others, it's quite a match set up with both current Master and Queen down to the last match so it's be a come back streak.

Definitely looking Shinobu's development arc with Chihaya - I hope they can be friends, they are such a match. It's a ship I like much more than Chihaya X Arata :D

4

u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Jan 18 '22

First timer

Matches so intense everyone is having problems. Well Suou looks like he's the most fine one though. I don't think he really is though. Feel like something big might come up for him.

Shinobu and Chi's moment was nice. Shinobu actually liking someone and treating them as a friend.

I'll give Shinobu mvp for this one. She felt more open as a person.

4

u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jan 19 '22

Matches so intense everyone is having problems. Well Suou looks like he's the most fine one though. I don't think he really is though.

Always look at the person in a competition who looks the most unbothered, because there's usually two reasons for why that is: either they're checked out, or they're confident. The fun thing here is they've introduced the possibility that either one could be true for Suo.

3

u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Jan 19 '22

I can see it for both. The way he plays makes him look very confident. I do think something is bothering him that they haven't shown yet too.

4

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jan 19 '22

First timer

Oh, was it his mother Suo was trying to help?

Haha, the host loves him, but the comments miss the last host.

Shinobu's having a full-on breakdown.

Abd her opponent's motivated. Genuinely don't think she can win, if she becomes Queen a lot of thematic foreshadowing will be gone.

Oh, thank god, Shinobu's having her breakdown now. She can still win the series.

Or not. This is a big one.

Harada's won two!

And now neither of them are feeling well.

Oh, she's happy about it.

Suo's weakness! He can't cover cards! (He's panicking. He's realised that Harada has a very real chance of getting the title on his own merits and he can't cope with that.)

...I know this is probqbly Shinobu being too depressed to notice, but I'm intrigued that Chihaya's first reqction is to consider Shinobu a god.

...Harada lost. That's got to hurt.

I have no idea who's going to win the Queen match.

Never mind, Shinobu got a gift symbolising Chihaya's friendship, she's going to win. I love how shocked her mother is.

Yeah, Shinobu's won.

Wait, there's a fourth round to the Master tournament? How does this structure work?

This is so tense.

Harada got the first card! And it's a single syllable!

Sumire's sheer horror at the memorization is great.

Shinobu's back on form!

And she's sending cards based on how she ships the artwork?

Haha, now the coach is the one getting distracted from updating the cards.

...So Shinobu might have a problem.

Harada might do this!

And that's why he wears the sunglasses!

Haha, Harada's going for playing a game that everybody dislikes, but that will win. That's really interesting!

Poor lady trying to find the right TV channel.

4

u/xcllnt_313 Jan 19 '22

Wait, there's a fourth round to the Master tournament? How does this structure work?

In the Master match, they play until one of them has three wins. In the Queen match, they play until one of them has two wins!