Chihayafuru 2 - 5

"Be As Dear Now, Those Were the Good Old Days"

I never seem to be quite as on edge as when I'm watching Chihayafuru.

If there was ever an anime that truly encapsulated the spirit of competition, sportsmanship, and passion, I think that Chihayafuru is closest to that ideal. "Every poem sends you back a thousand years. How many sports are capable of such a feat?" Miyauchi-sensei describes it as something poetic, but it's more than just artistic. Anyone can play karuta, and anyone can come to love it. There's a real fascination with the game that I can understand even though I've never played it, and it comes from the passion that the players themselves bring to the table. There are no enemies in karuta, simply rivals and opponents who are trying their best to win and improve, and everyone has their own way of showing how much they love the sport. It's not just about winning; it's a matter of pride, of dedication, and it's about enjoying yourself and working your hardest at something you care about. That in itself is poetic, but the fact that the very essence of karuta really is an art intensifies the sophistication and passion of the game in a way no other competition really can. These are people who haven't forgotten the culture and history of their country, and whether they take that seriously, like Kana-chan, or as a side-effect, like Chihaya, it doesn't change the fact that the players are all immersed in the worlds of the Hyakunin Isshu during every match.

That passion is especially evident in this week's episode. While Mizusawa is technically guaranteed a spot at nationals regardless of the final match, Chihaya, continuing with her selfish desire to have it all, impresses upon the rest of the team that they have to win if they want to be the best. While Chihaya might be a little intense, she does have a valid point. Getting to nationals doesn't mean anything if the team hasn't given it their best shot, and there's no sense in wasting valuable experience and practice. Hyoro-kun feels the same way, though for a different reason. His motivation is in pride; he wants Hokuo to be the undefeated champion because he wants to try his utmost and restore the team's honor through direct confrontation rather than underhanded or unmotivated methods. Struggling is better than having victory handed to you, and it's also better than sitting hopelessly, waiting for the knife to slit your throat. Whether it be Taichi, Sudo, Kana, or Amakasu, everyone wants to win or die trying, even if they don't want to admit it to themselves.

Of course, the thing about sports is that there must almost always be a winner, and someone thus ends up defeated. The difficult part about Chihayafuru is that you want everyone to win. Of course you want Taichi and Chihaya to win, but their opponents are no less human than they are; they have dreams too, and whenever Mizusawa wins, it means someone else's dream has been crushed. I actually want Hokou to win this just as badly as I want Mizusawa to win because of this; Hyoro's despair at losing the trophy in the first half was heartbreaking, and something I understand very well. In his eyes, Hokuo has been disgraced, and he wants them to win just as much as Sudo does, even though he's an alumni (isn't it against some sort of rule that he's reading for his alma mater?). The fact that Nikuman is down his match (I'd be distracted by my sister's new boyfriend too, if it was Hyoro-kun) puts huge pressure on the rest of the team. At this point the match could favor either side; Chihaya isn't doing very well, (though she has finally found a way to adapt both the current Meiji and Queen's styles to her favor) Taichi has it tough, and while Kana is winning, it's a close match. We hardly even see much of Komano's match, and the result is a wild card. Anyone can win this, and I honestly don't think I know who I want to come out on top at the end.