The manga scanlation does an okay job of it, at a very general level of detail. But I am hoping to take the opportunity to get out my copy of the Hyakunin Isshu ("One Poem of 100 Poets") poetry collection on which the game is based and try to learn something, too. There are several translations of that book into English, so the subbers at least have that to work with.

In looking around for sites about the card game, I found a site about the book it is based on, with text/transliteration/translation for all 100 poems. Poem #17 starts "Chihayaburu."

The site also explains the game a bit: "In Japan a traditional card game, often played at New Year's, is based on Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. There are two sets of 100 cards. On one set the complete five-line poems are printed. On the other set only the last two lines ("shimo-no-ku") of each poem appear. Usually there are two players or sides. Each player takes 25 of the shimo-no-ku cards and spreads them in front of him or her. A third person, acting as reader, reads from the cards with the whole poems on them. As the reader reads the first lines of a poem, each of the two players tries to find the card with the corresponding final two lines. The first player to find the right shimo-no-ku card removes it from the playing area. If the card is in the opponent's area, the player gives one of the cards from his or her own area to the opponent. The first player to get rid of all the cards in his or her own area is the winner."

Chihayafuru simulcast on Crunchyroll.

http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011...-to-fall-lineup

Well at least we can expect Quarkboy's anwer for every question regarding the content in anime anyway, :p

Best first episode so far, for me. A step ahead of Kimi to Boku, Fate/Zero, and C cubed. Then again, I'm biased, since this is a show I had a lot of hope for. We'll see how it evolves.

That's a good question. A question that I can't fairly answer but would like to know others' answers. I haven't read any of this particular manga, but I have read manga that involved the game so like you, I knew about it ahead of time.

Hmm ... atm it only looks like CR is doing this one.... :\

Well, at least SOMEone is doing it. :D

Bah, got trolled so much. Chihaya/Taichi looked so sweet together and I was squeeing like a fangirl... until Taichi reveals he already has a girlfriend, even though Taichi looks like he still likes Chihaya. And I went even more WTF when during the flashback it's already shown Taichi was jealous of Arata even back then, and you got yourself a girlfriend? You sonofa... :mad:

No, sorry Taichi, you've got your chance. Shipping for Arata now (aka. osananajimi #2), even though he's nowhere to be seen in the present. Chihaya's shocked face really wrenched my heart, and it's all because of you Taichi. >_>



As for the card game, it's easy enough to understand. They say the first part of the poem and you have to get the second part? Not knowing the actual poems itself doesn't seem to be a detriment, as I don't have any poems memorized (native to English or not) that it wouldn't have mattered if the translator made the poems on the spot lols.

I hadn't heard of this game before but I thought the first episode explained it really nicely and made it seem like an interesting game, abeit one that I don't think I'll ever be able to play.
Tried this series out expecting to be bored (was only trying it because it's josei and I like josei) but I love Chihaya as a main character and I'm interested to see what happens next.

Pretty obvious that Asaka Morio is directing this series. Looking back at all of his works, they all have pretty much some of the best first episodes you'll find in a series. Of course the source material plays a huge part in this, though it's a good director who can adapt such perfect tension and pacing.

Can't say i'm surprised DragoonKain3 has already appeared with a post containing shipping material. :p

If this game is what I think it is I have seen it showcased fairly often in anime - most recent that jumps to mind is in the Kore wa Zombie Desu ka anime and in the Maria-sama ga Miteru anime (beginning of s2 ep1 I think?) ....

I actually liked the story ... although Taichi (the young man Chihaya has a crush on) seems to have a nasty streak in him when he was younger.... Pity.

Arata was outright amazing....

I think I am going to enjoy this series! :)

Anime-only viewer. I had no idea what the card game was supposed to be until they actually started playing, but I got the gist of it from that scene. The visuals were strong, as expected for this studio. The voice cast so far is also a thumbs-up. The premise is what sells it, though. Red flags were going off for me at the mention of "card game", but I completely turned the corner in the second half.

If Chihaya can maintain a strong presence without becoming obnoxiously perfect then this could turn out to be my dark hose of the season.

Great first episode and my favorite of the fall so far. I want to get to know these characters and that's the best praise I can give.

Atm I still prefer Tamayura Hitotose, but Chihayafuru is excellent and unexpected. :)

Actually no, I'm not involved with the translation.

tomboy chihaya was pretty cute.
getting kind of hikaru no go vibes from it, where it takes a game and attempts to dramatize it up a bit.

Absolutely my #1 premiere so far this season. Solid all around, and beautiful to look at. Great characters, interesting premise. What's not to like?

Though it's obviously quite different, there are a few Hikaru no Go vibes for sure. You have a 12th Century Fujiwara connection, struggling to get club members... I needlessly missed out on the greatness of HnG for years, so I'm never falling victim to that kind of prejudice again.

So, when you play this game, how...rambunctious can you get when reaching for a card? My understanding is it goes to whoever reaches it first, so unless there's an unspoken etiquette involved, I can see people keenly watching each other as well as the cards to try to shoot for a card the other person seems to be shooting for. Of course, maybe you're psyching them out and want them to reach for that card because it's not the correct card. :p Seems like it could get real chaotic.

I do enjoy playing Hanafuda, so my interest is definitely piqued for what could be called an advanced form of the game. :p Plus, it'll be the mellow counterpart to all the action filled shows that will likely make up my viewing palette this fall.

This show is not really up my alley but the first ep was good enough to get me to watch the second one, even though I don't really get the poem game at all.