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LKK · 2013-05-31, 16:26

Quickie thoughts: I forgot that Nishida & Arata have a history. Arata's parents were hilarious. I don't blame them though. Did the empress say that Taichi won his first match? I assume that he did given how generally happy she seemed, but I don't remember her mentioning him in her status check. My stream was plagued by connection problems so I'm definitely going to give the episode another try later on.

YourIdeas · 2013-05-31, 16:28

Much like last episode, there's a lot going on in episode 21. The difference is that there isn't a giant 5 minute recap in the middle to ruin it.

Chihaya adjusts rather quickly to playing left handed and in the span of this episode, barely takes down Man-girl and beat another A-class easily enough. I'd call bullshit on this but I suppose that's the advantage of being a karuta freak. Either way, her effort landed her in a rematch vs. Shinobu. The final scene in the episode was touching, as she at shows that she understands her boundaries and knows when to give up something, namely, the chance to play against Arata at her best. She's probably going to have a lot of difficulty, so it'll be interesting to see if she presses on with her right hand, switch completely into her left hand, or try a weird ambidextrous deal. To keep with the theme of "Will I reach him?" however, I suspect that she'll lose and won't get her chance until her third year.

All of Mizusawa non-A class takes a break this week (I don't think Taichi was even mentioned though I'm guessing he won his first round) which gives Porky some more development. He's still the only player who seems to be slowing down but now we realize that in many ways, he's a little bit like Amakusa, but much less laid back. Not wanting to play against strong players sounds really opposite of what I imagined him being before but I'm guessing its because much like Chihaya, he plays to play his heart out and likes winning, nothing more.

Arata's pretty much went 11 out of 10 on the "Karuta-God" scale, winning his first match before 25 cards were read, and having enough speed to sweep an entire field in less than a second, much to the dismay of his parents.

(No, really, these parents are hilarious. I wouldn't mind giving them half an episode, unlike the camera otaku....) It's sad how Arata (and Man-girl) can set off Chihaya's heart in less than a tenth of an episode yet Taichi's been trying to do the exact same thing for almost 50 episodes and still ends up getting passed. I hate to say it Taichi, but I think you may have lost.

Kazu-kun · 2013-05-31, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by YourIdeas

I hate to say it Taichi, but I think you may have lost.

It's too early to say that. Just wait and see.

Bern-san · 2013-05-31, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by YourIdeas

I hate to say it Taichi, but I think you may have lost.

I kinda agree with this when I watched the episode, Arata seems to fit Chihaya (I'm going to need Taichi time for the next episode)

mpt37 · 2013-05-31, 17:21

Spoiler for ep 21:

HandofFate · 2013-05-31, 17:26

Shinobu was right.

Team matches blow.

Individual matches are much better. Looking forward to next episode.

ZGMF-X10A · 2013-05-31, 18:00

I feel so bad for Chihaya having to face Shinobu in top 8. I'm pretty sure she's going to lose and the final is going to be Shinobu vs Arata.

Kirarakim · 2013-05-31, 18:16

Arata's parents are awful

Nishida loves his team *tears up*

I don't expect Chihaya to beat Shinobu, so I expect we will be in for an Arata/Shinobu A-Class final. Well that should be fun to watch.

I just wonder how long the Shinobu vs Chihaya match will last.

mistress_kisara · 2013-05-31, 18:22

Yeah, Chihaya will probably lose against the queen but at least she made it in the top 8 and Nishida played well against Arata sadly its not enough. I hope that Chihay's performance next week will at least make Shinobu acknowledge her

Arya · 2013-05-31, 19:25

I also didn't like Chihaya winning with her left hand. Not much believable. And I also don't like the idea of a Chihaya / Shinobu match with that handicap. I'd prefer a fair match. It would be more intense. Without unnecessary step-up moments. And a clear result.
Anyways I can see Chihaya reaching the new frontier of Karuta, the first both-hands player. Even metaphorically speaking, the right hand to reach Arata and the left hand to wait for be reached by Taichi.

Taichi hasn't been mentioned in Empress's list, hasn't he? Probably to leave us with the doubt. Since basically refusing Arata he badmouthed Karuta, so cards could turn against him as punishment. Plus he used all his lucky credits to win the team tournament.

Spectacular_Insanity · 2013-05-31, 20:13

Well... I have a feeling Chihaya is going to put up a decent challenge, but no way she's going to be able to beat Shinobu with a handicap like a sprained finger. There's just no way.

I definitely am looking forward to the end of the season, though. I'm fully expecting an awesome Shinobu vs. Arata matchup for that last couple of episodes.

And I *almost* got sucked into the Chihaya x Arata ship there. Personally, I just like Taichi better as a character because he's surprisingly complex, whereas Arata is pretty much straightforward. Not to say I don't like Arata... he's got a lot of room to grow on me (and as a character). If Taichi just got the courage to tell Chihaya how he feels about her, it would change their dynamic radically. I don't dare make any predictions either way, so I just have to say, "we have to wait and see".

CJ_Walker · 2013-05-31, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spectacular_Insanity

And I *almost* got sucked into the Chihaya x Arata ship there. ".

Don't the continuation of the story hinges on the shipping wars. Neither relationship will happen untill the end of the series

hero147 · 2013-05-31, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandofFate

Shinobu was right.

Team matches blow.

Individual matches are much better. Looking forward to next episode.

I agree. But I think it's just because the pacing is faster and and the fact that nobody in the the team matches has captured my interest as much as Arata this episode.

Sol Falling · 2013-05-31, 23:46

Very engaging episode. I thought the exploration of adapting to left-handed play and some of the advantages that might offer was incredible. A brilliant way of incorporating another technical aspect of karuta into the story, and done so skillfully/naturally.

Arata's multiple attacking style was also a revelation. If a player is fast enough, it may essentially turn multi-syllable cards into single-syllable cards. However, I am indeed somewhat confused as to the legality of it. From what I understand, touching incorrect cards on the same side as the indicated card is legal, meaning you can attack indiscriminately if you are confident that the card being read is on the targeted side. However, I definitely thought that touching cards on both your own and your opponent's side would be illegal/result in a fault, as Arata is shown doing in the gif on the last page. Is the result allowed to stand because Arata nevertheless manages to touch the correct card in his cases, or is this a mistake on the part of the mangaka or animators? Hopefully someone would be able to clarify the rules a bit here.

I didn't nearly get enough of Shinobu during the team final match, so I'm looking forward to her and Chihaya's match together next time. Hopefully it'll last two episodes. I should enjoy it very much.

GundamZZ · 2013-05-31, 23:56

Chihaya is falling for that girl with headband. ^_^
Then, Arata walks to Chihaya. The fairy bubble scene also shows up. The individual match is fast forward.

The former #2 loses to former #1 again. It is kinda sad. It reminds me Shinobu is not the only who has grudge to Arata.

About the referee who scolds Chihaya, he should be there when the smart kids move cards during team match.

Quadratic · 2013-06-01, 01:40

If I had to pick a drama between either a love triangle/"NTR"/jealousy or a big misunderstanding, I would pick the latter every single time, and the proof is how much more I enjoyed this episode over last week's.

Kinda funny (and sad) that his parents wishes for Arata to lose.
Sad how circumstances keep pushing him towards isolation (financially, loss of grandfather, rejection of friendship).

Blaat · 2013-06-01, 03:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ_Walker

Don't the continuation of the story hinges on the shipping wars.

Pretty much it also relies heavily on the ambiguity of Chihaya's Karuto idol affection for the lack of better term. It's a shame we'll most likely never going to see a Chihaya vs Suou match, it would be fun to see the shippers squirm at the "I'm dreaming of Suou" line.

karice67 · 2013-06-01, 04:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanon

Nothing is stopping them from doing that, except the size of their hands lol. It's pretty much what the girl in this episode was trying to do (she hit seven out of thirteen cards...). Why is this allowed? I don't know. Maybe Karuta isn't as much about precision as it is about speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Repelsteeltju

Though, really, if there isn't one there should be a rule against what Arata's doing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanon

Yeah, I can't believe this is legal... I guess this really means Karuta favors speed over precision.

It's a completely legal technique known as "watari-te", i.e., the cross-hand (the translator completely ignored the name of the technique itself

).

Refer back to episode 8 of season one, when Taichi is explaining and demonstrating the rules of karuta. As Sol notes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sol Falling

However, I am indeed somewhat confused as to the legality of it. From what I understand, touching incorrect cards on the same side as the indicated card is legal, meaning you can attack indiscriminately if you are confident that the card being read is on the targeted side.

Hence, when two cards that are similar up to a certain point, e.g. chigiriki & chigirio, are on the same player's half of the field (in which case the are usually split one to each side so that players can't easily sweep them both away), then they can both be taken via the cross-hand before the unique syllable is read. And if the chihayafuru card were again on that same half, then all three could be taken upon hearing just "chi".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sol Falling

However, I definitely thought that touching cards on both your own and your opponent's side would be illegal/result in a fault, as Arata is shown doing in the gif on the last page. Is the result allowed to stand because Arata nevertheless manages to touch the correct card in his cases, or is this a mistake on the part of the mangaka or animators? Hopefully someone would be able to clarify the rules a bit here.

Arata is only ever touching cards on the same side - either his own, or Nishida's.

@Kanon
If you watch again carefully, you'll also note that Arata is being very precise. Most of the time, he only takes that one card from each place. Speed is never enough, as Harada-sensei has taught Chihaya. And from Arata's proficiency at this technique, it would appear that it is one of the techniques he has honed the most.

Anh_Minh · 2013-06-01, 04:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by karice67

Arata is only ever touching cards on the same side - either his own, or Nishida's. You'll also note that Arata is being very precise. Most of the time, he only takes that one card from each place. From Arata's proficiency at this technique, it would appear that it is one of the techniques he has honed the most.

That's not what's shown on the gif posted in this thread - there he swipes two of Nishida's cards, and two of his own.

karice67 · 2013-06-01, 04:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

That's not what's shown on the gif posted in this thread - there he swipes two of Nishida's cards, and two of his own.

Ah, I totally missed that one.

I would think he'd still be penalised for it, so no idea why he did that. Unless it's the animators that made a mistake... In the manga, that card layout was used for the time when Nishida said: "He went from his own lower right to his upper left.", and he definitely did not take cards from opposing sides there.

2013-05-31, 16:26	Link #1161
LKK Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 62	Quickie thoughts: I forgot that Nishida & Arata have a history. Arata's parents were hilarious. I don't blame them though. Did the empress say that Taichi won his first match? I assume that he did given how generally happy she seemed, but I don't remember her mentioning him in her status check. My stream was plagued by connection problems so I'm definitely going to give the episode another try later on. __________________ Avatar: Hazuki of Natsuyuki Rendezvous / Signature: flowers from Natsuyuki Rendezvous

2013-05-31, 16:28	Link #1162
YourIdeas Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013	Much like last episode, there's a lot going on in episode 21. The difference is that there isn't a giant 5 minute recap in the middle to ruin it. Chihaya adjusts rather quickly to playing left handed and in the span of this episode, barely takes down Man-girl and beat another A-class easily enough. I'd call bullshit on this but I suppose that's the advantage of being a karuta freak. Either way, her effort landed her in a rematch vs. Shinobu. The final scene in the episode was touching, as she at shows that she understands her boundaries and knows when to give up something, namely, the chance to play against Arata at her best. She's probably going to have a lot of difficulty, so it'll be interesting to see if she presses on with her right hand, switch completely into her left hand, or try a weird ambidextrous deal. To keep with the theme of "Will I reach him?" however, I suspect that she'll lose and won't get her chance until her third year. All of Mizusawa non-A class takes a break this week (I don't think Taichi was even mentioned though I'm guessing he won his first round) which gives Porky some more development. He's still the only player who seems to be slowing down but now we realize that in many ways, he's a little bit like Amakusa, but much less laid back. Not wanting to play against strong players sounds really opposite of what I imagined him being before but I'm guessing its because much like Chihaya, he plays to play his heart out and likes winning, nothing more. Arata's pretty much went 11 out of 10 on the "Karuta-God" scale, winning his first match before 25 cards were read, and having enough speed to sweep an entire field in less than a second, much to the dismay of his parents. (No, really, these parents are hilarious. I wouldn't mind giving them half an episode, unlike the camera otaku....) It's sad how Arata (and Man-girl) can set off Chihaya's heart in less than a tenth of an episode yet Taichi's been trying to do the exact same thing for almost 50 episodes and still ends up getting passed. I hate to say it Taichi, but I think you may have lost. Last edited by YourIdeas; 2013-05-31 at 19:17.

2013-05-31, 17:21	Link #1165
mpt37 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007	Spoiler for ep 21: Damn Chihaya was so bad ass in that last scene. "I won't use my right hand until Arata..." Draws Shinobu, bandage instantly comes off. I'm curious to see what the other match ups are since the top 8 are all known characters. But I assume that Chihaya will lose and it will be Arata Vs. Shinobu in the finals. __________________

2013-05-31, 17:26	Link #1166
HandofFate Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006	Shinobu was right. Team matches blow. Individual matches are much better. Looking forward to next episode. __________________ ...

2013-05-31, 18:00	Link #1167
ZGMF-X10A Tsukiyomi -Moon Phase- Join Date: Jun 2003	I feel so bad for Chihaya having to face Shinobu in top 8. I'm pretty sure she's going to lose and the final is going to be Shinobu vs Arata. __________________

2013-05-31, 18:16	Link #1168
Kirarakim Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007	Arata's parents are awful Nishida loves his team tears up I don't expect Chihaya to beat Shinobu, so I expect we will be in for an Arata/Shinobu A-Class final. Well that should be fun to watch. I just wonder how long the Shinobu vs Chihaya match will last. __________________ Twitter MAL Last edited by Kirarakim; 2013-05-31 at 18:46.

2013-05-31, 18:22	Link #1169
mistress_kisara Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Yeah, Chihaya will probably lose against the queen but at least she made it in the top 8 and Nishida played well against Arata sadly its not enough. I hope that Chihay's performance next week will at least make Shinobu acknowledge her

2013-05-31, 19:25	Link #1170
Arya Senior Member Join Date: May 2004	I also didn't like Chihaya winning with her left hand. Not much believable. And I also don't like the idea of a Chihaya / Shinobu match with that handicap. I'd prefer a fair match. It would be more intense. Without unnecessary step-up moments. And a clear result. Anyways I can see Chihaya reaching the new frontier of Karuta, the first both-hands player. Even metaphorically speaking, the right hand to reach Arata and the left hand to wait for be reached by Taichi. Taichi hasn't been mentioned in Empress's list, hasn't he? Probably to leave us with the doubt. Since basically refusing Arata he badmouthed Karuta, so cards could turn against him as punishment. Plus he used all his lucky credits to win the team tournament. __________________ *The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them.*

2013-05-31, 20:13	Link #1171
Spectacular_Insanity Ha ha ha ha ha... Graphic Designer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Right behind you. Age: 35	Well... I have a feeling Chihaya is going to put up a decent challenge, but no way she's going to be able to beat Shinobu with a handicap like a sprained finger. There's just no way. I definitely am looking forward to the end of the season, though. I'm fully expecting an awesome Shinobu vs. Arata matchup for that last couple of episodes. And I almost got sucked into the Chihaya x Arata ship there. Personally, I just like Taichi better as a character because he's surprisingly complex, whereas Arata is pretty much straightforward. Not to say I don't like Arata... he's got a lot of room to grow on me (and as a character). If Taichi just got the courage to tell Chihaya how he feels about her, it would change their dynamic radically. I don't dare make any predictions either way, so I just have to say, "we have to wait and see". __________________

2013-05-31, 23:46	Link #1174
Sol Falling Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 35	Very engaging episode. I thought the exploration of adapting to left-handed play and some of the advantages that might offer was incredible. A brilliant way of incorporating another technical aspect of karuta into the story, and done so skillfully/naturally. Arata's multiple attacking style was also a revelation. If a player is fast enough, it may essentially turn multi-syllable cards into single-syllable cards. However, I am indeed somewhat confused as to the legality of it. From what I understand, touching incorrect cards on the same side as the indicated card is legal, meaning you can attack indiscriminately if you are confident that the card being read is on the targeted side. However, I definitely thought that touching cards on both your own and your opponent's side would be illegal/result in a fault, as Arata is shown doing in the gif on the last page. Is the result allowed to stand because Arata nevertheless manages to touch the correct card in his cases, or is this a mistake on the part of the mangaka or animators? Hopefully someone would be able to clarify the rules a bit here. I didn't nearly get enough of Shinobu during the team final match, so I'm looking forward to her and Chihaya's match together next time. Hopefully it'll last two episodes. I should enjoy it very much.

2013-05-31, 23:56	Link #1175
GundamZZ 残念美人 Join Date: Oct 2004	Chihaya is falling for that girl with headband. ^_^ Then, Arata walks to Chihaya. The fairy bubble scene also shows up. The individual match is fast forward. The former #2 loses to former #1 again. It is kinda sad. It reminds me Shinobu is not the only who has grudge to Arata. About the referee who scolds Chihaya, he should be there when the smart kids move cards during team match. __________________ 流麗のヒステリア Hysteria of flowing beautifully 三つ腕のリヒティ Lichty of three arms 重剣のクロエ Chloe of giant sword 天啓のシスティーナ Sistina of Apocalypse 愛憎のロクサーヌ Roxanne of distinguished love and hate 万有のルテーシア Lutécia of everything 塵喰いのカサンドラ Cassandra of eating dust Last edited by GundamZZ; 2013-06-01 at 13:56.

2013-06-01, 01:40	Link #1176
Quadratic SIBYL salesman Join Date: Feb 2011	If I had to pick a drama between either a love triangle/"NTR"/jealousy or a big misunderstanding, I would pick the latter every single time, and the proof is how much more I enjoyed this episode over last week's. Kinda funny (and sad) that his parents wishes for Arata to lose. Sad how circumstances keep pushing him towards isolation (financially, loss of grandfather, rejection of friendship).