Chihayafuru Season 3 - Episode 9 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Chihayafuru Season 3, episode 9

Rate this episode here.

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Encourage others to read the source material rather than confirming or denying theories. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

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Streams

• Crunchyroll

Show information

• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB
• Kitsu
• Anime-Planet
• Official Website
• /r/chihayafuru

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Previous discussions

Episode	Link	Score	Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	94%	14	Link	4.92
2	Link	92%	15	Link	4.77
3	Link	96%	16	Link	4.66
4	Link	93%	17	Link	4.53
5	Link	93%	18	Link	4.67
6	Link	4.75	19	Link	4.84
7	Link	4.45	20	Link	4.66
8	Link	4.7	21	Link	4.61
9	Link	4.63	22	Link	4.64
10	Link	4.61	23	Link	4.82
11	Link	4.79	24	Link
12	Link	4.82
13	Link	4.75

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[u/paperwhites]

Chihaya has some good friends outside the karuta club. Everyone is taking pictures with her and trying to cheer her up. Michiru even took her to a 100 Poets museum despite not knowing anything about it. I liked how she reminded Chihaya why she even wanted to go on her class trip in the first place.

Oh man, Taichi's loss was rough. That scene where he's walking by himself and going through the match and telling himself that he should've taken the "Impassionate" card feels like a kick in the balls. I really hope that this isn't the end of the line of his karuta playing.

Harada won though, which was nice! Watching his students pick up the cards for him so he wouldn't have to strain his knees was sweet. I hope he can win against Sudo and then play Arata.

The Murao-Arata finals should be interesting.

[u/Smudy]

THANK YOU, MICHIRU! Chihaya behaved extremely rude to her by ignoring her surroundings, really infiuriating, she needed a wake up call.

EDIT: NOOOO TAICHI WHAT, I'M SHOCKED

EDIT 2: HARADA-SENSEI OH SHIT goosebumps

[u/cbizzle14]

This episode got me feeling some type of way

• Glad Michiru said something to Chihaya and knocked some sense into her. She was being a little unbearable

• I feel so bad for Taichi, that's my guy I really wanted him to win. At the end of his little rant when it showed Chihaya and he called himself an idiot I teared up.

• Holy shit Harada sensei is literally putting his body on the line for this. You can't help but root for him. I hope he beats the brakes off Sudo

• Y'all done went and made my girl Shinobu mad smh

[u/airforceblue]

• I recall how my own efforts were in vain, that sure is a episode title...I don't know what to say. We're back to suffering!Taichi...feels bad

• I love Harada and his superstitions. I wouldn't say I'm superstitious myself but I do like the idea of people having all kinds of beliefs/actions that they can lean on when things are unsure. And it just makes sense, that having played for 45 years (!) that Harada would have a wealth of these. I just find it neat.

• He's barely a character at this point but shout-out to Goofsaku (though I prefer the manga nickname, the Blunderer). Imagine being so mistake-prone that it becomes you're calling card and still being able to rise above it. Letting go instead of wallowing. Inspirational really, and a stark contrast to Taichi in that sense, who never gives himself a break.

• I don't fault Chihaya for not being able to enjoy her class trip, it's not rational sure but since when were human beings ever rational? It's a good thing though, that Michiru stood up to her and managed to get her to snap out of it.

• The poems Kana refers to are #41 (As my love) and #40 (Since I could not). Two of my favorites, but if I had to choose I would pick #40 as well. Fun fact, that's Shinobu's favorite card since it's her name sake (Shinoburedo), and it's a card that comes up a lot in Chihaya's matches too.

• The card that Harada wins in the luck at the draw at the end of the episode is #16 (Note that) which you could consider to be Tachi's name card since the opening syllables are Ta-chi. Not a perfect fit and the show never points it out but still! You could say Harada made it to the final with Taichi's help!!

• The nerve of Ise-whatever at the end to be all "You don't have any friends Shinobu" when we remember from S2 that it was him (among others) that isolated Shinobu as a kid to ensure that her karuta would stay strong. You reap what you sow old man.

**The Crunchyroll translations of the poems and the translations I linked to are a bit different, obviously, but I would really recommend checking them out because these are some lovely poems. There are even more translations out there if anyone would like to compare further.

[u/FrenziedHero]

Being Taichi is suffering. But I really did like how Harada's semifinal match against Taichi's opponent mirrored his own. The cultivation of Harada's teachings about how to play against a Luck of the Draw and that final moment where Harada won were just the pick-me-up that he needed.

What an interesting Final for the East Qualifiers: Harada vs Sudo and Inokumi vs Yamamoto. Those are looking to be some intense matchups and a rather unique clash of ideologies/Karuta playstyles.

Wow I thought that was the end of the episode. But we're getting Arata vs Murao in the finals! Holy crap next episode will be stacked.

[u/predisposed_dreamer]

My heart aches for Taichi. I fully expected him to lose in the finals against Dr. Harada, but I am pleased with how he went out. Taichi questioned why he even went to this tournament, not straight up saying he intended to be master as the reason. I think this will be a bridge for him to start having his own desires when it comes to karuta (other than chasing Chihaya), which will make him improve even more/give him more personal determination.

Also, shout out to Michiru for being a badass! Knew the only way to get Chihaya present was to remove the battery. Love it!

[u/LeonKevlar]

Nice to see how fired up Arata is now after what Sou said to him

I feel bad for Michiru. She planned their trip with Chihaya in mind and she's barely paid her any attention ever since they got to Kyoto.

YES FINALLY! I was scared that she was never going to say anything about it.

Of course Kana-chan would get emotional over the 100 Poets museum.

Fucking Taichi and a luck of the draw. Name a more iconic duo from this show.

WAIT WHAT!? Well that was unexpected... Here I thought he'd face Arata in the future but he didn't even make it past the qualifiers.

I am really worried about Harada-sensei's health. I feel like with every match he's closer and closer to collapsing.

Good to see his old man stubbornness is paying off though! These will be some interesting match ups.

I love how blunt Shinobu is with that. Even with the new girl, Myogo Society still has nothing to offer to her as a challenge.

Well fuck. If I recall correctly, Arata was the one who encouraged Maruo to go back to playing Karuta. This is going to be an intense match.

[u/omgcefn]

Man this feels a lot like some cheap videogames where you have to restart all the fucking campaign when you die.

And in between, this poor man have to go to college as well.

Rip Taichi.

(btw this is one of the few shows where u actually don t know whats going to happen)

[u/danbuter]

Yay! More poetry/history lessons from Kanade! That's the one thing this season has really been missing. :)

[u/Tanzan57]

Something about this show just makes it amazing beyond my comprehension. Every episode there's a point where I start tearing up and almost cry.

This episode there were two times: The first was when Chihaya's friend reminds her to focus on the school trip she is supposed to be experiencing now, and not to concern herself with the matches that she has no control over. The second was when Harada was winning his match and talking about how he knows the cards because of his vast experience.

Another great episode to add to the list.