(L) Chihayafuru [Manga]

[GundamZZ]

Originally Posted by fukarming

btw, it seems the real world of Karuta is always dominated by one player until that player voluntarily retired. The most recent Meijin has won 14 years in a row and I think he will retire and not play next year. So Haruka probably just give up her title without losing.

Some real world Karuta game by Meijin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRm4UB2z7E8

Actually, both meijin and queen have similarity to the real life meijin and queen. The real life meijin started Karuta during his college year. Unlike the meijin in manga, he graduated from college and became a salaryman. The real life queen started Karuta during her middle school. She won her first title during the last year of her middle school. She also graduated from college and became an office lady.
The high school karuta competition has few similarity in real life. However, the champion high school in the real life is losing its edge. Another high school is taking the lead. According to one observer, one high school girl cried after losing the match. It showed that she was passionate about the game.

I hope that anime will close its story loop hole. It skipped the interaction between Shinobu and Suo. It also skipped the interaction between Suo and Taichi.

[karice67]

Originally Posted by Blaat

Spoilers for 105 are out a certain rather illegal manga site (so no link) and it looks like

Spoiler for 105:

Chihaya wins, and she'll skip the Queen match qualifiers and go on the school trip. Taichi on the other hand is skipping the school trip...

More brief spoilers (since raw scans are now available...):

Spoiler for chapter 105 brief summary:

It seems like Chihaya won by 2 cards, the last card being Poem #37

白露を Shiratsuyu wo
風のふきしく Kaze no fukishiku
秋の野は Aki no no wa
つらぬきとめぬ Tsuranuki tomenu
玉ぞちりける Tama zo chiri keru

translated by Joshua S. Mostow as

In the autumn fields where the wind blows repeatedly
on the white dewdrops,
the gems, not strung together,
do scatter about indeed.

The reason that Chihaya chooses to go on the school trip is that she wants to become a school teacher like Miyauchi-sensei and Sakurazawa-sensei. Hence, she really cannot miss her own compulsory school trip.

Taichi and Arata have an interesting exchange after this...where Arata admits that he always thought that Chihaya was Taichi's, because he had always been by her side since they were kids. Taichi starts to reply that he always thought that Chihaya belonged to both of them (but doesn't actually voice this out loud). Arata observes then what they've both realised: that Chihaya doesn't belong to anyone.

And then, on the first day of the school trip, Taichi calls in to report a high fever as the reason he's not going...but then Komano-kun points out to Chihaya that that's probably not quite true...

Originally Posted by Blaat

So with the second season starting in two weeks where do you guys think the second season will end? The first season covered 50 chapters aiming for the end of the school year with (lots of?) skipping and rushing at the end.
Currently there are are no real good cutting off points, do you think they'll include the current fight? It would make for a dramatic conclusion to the series.

Hm...personally, I thought that the end of the summer (#somewhere from chapters #92 to #93), either before or after the karuta camp might be appropriate...though straight after the nationals might be as well. The former would leave viewers with a pretty frustrating cliffhanger re: the triangle, so the latter might be better in some respects...

[Blaat]

Thanks for the spoilers Karice, the conversation between Arata and Taichi sounds a lot different than what the initial spoilers have implied.

Spoilers for 106 are out

Spoiler for 106:

Apparently this will be Taichi's final chance at trying for Mejin title, next year he can't play as he has to fully prepare for medical school and to make matter worse he does have a fever.

Honestly they should rename the manga to Taichi's suffering, a much more accurate description.

Having said that it did made me appreciate Taichi's line "She (Chihaya) doesn't realise how precious time is" in the first episode of the second season. Sounds like they're foreshadowing this.

Anyway after watching the first episode I definitely think they'll include the individual high school tournament. It matches perfectly with Chihaya's desire she proclaimed in the first episode.

[karice67]

Originally Posted by Blaat

Spoilers for 106 are out

Spoiler for 106:

Apparently this will be Taichi's final chance at trying for Mejin title, next year he can't play as he has to fully prepare for medical school and to make matter worse he does have a fever.

Honestly they should rename the manga to Taichi's suffering, a much more accurate description.

Having said that it did made me appreciate Taichi's line "She (Chihaya) doesn't realise how precious time is" in the first episode of the second season. Sounds like they're foreshadowing this.

Wow, that's pretty early. The magazine is meant to be out on Tuesday.

Spoiler for chapter 106 spoilers:

The impression I have from the spoilers is that Taichi really wasn't sick (or at least not that sick), even though that's what he told Chihaya. He's actually registered for the Meijin qualifiers (and he would have had to do this in advance), and his behaviour really sounds to me like he was faking it so that he could take part.

Arata, on the other hand, seems to have a problem that's affecting his concentration...

I'm not great at reading Chinese, though, so I'll be waiting for more spoilers to appear...

[Blaat]

Japanese raw of 107 is out

Spoiler for 107:

Looks like the mejin and shinobu will visit the Western qualifiers. Arata speaks with Suou.
- In the Eastern qualifiers Taichi sees Sudo, we find out that Fujisaki's sensei is competing for the Queen's match and Taichi's mom finds out that Taichi is at the qualifiers, and she is not happy about it, not one bit.'

I don't read a word Japanese so I have no idea what they're actually saying. I'm interested to know what Suou said to Arata and I think Sudo will compete after Taichi says its okay. Hopefully someone who reads Japanese will clarify it for a bit.

@karice67; It looks like you're correct about Taichi not being sick, he doesn't really look sick at all.

[karice67]

I only briefly skimmed over it, but...

Spoiler for chapter 107 spoilers:

the interesting parts of this chapter were raised by Suou, who, upon showing up to the Western prelims with Shinobu, declares that he'll win a fifth straight Meijin title (which would be this year) and then retire.

Whilst there's a great deal of noise from many people present, Arata decides that it doesn't matter to him, because becoming Meijin was a promise he made with his grandfather.

But then, after his first match, which he won quite handily, Suou goes up to him and observes that whilst Arata will become Meijin one day, it won't be this year, because he (Suou) doesn't feel any threat from him.

Just as Tsuboguchi noted the first time they met...

but ouch...

[Blaat]

Karice, as always, thank you for the added translation. I was really curious about the confrontation between Suou and Arata.
I'm guessing Suou doesn't have time to reach the Eastern qualifiers?

[EliteF22]

Hmm, Arata having trouble concentrating in the previous chapter and now him stating that winning the meijin is no longer his goal seems like foreshadowing. Wouldn't be surprised if Arata had some major health issue come up. Taichi striving to become a doctor would tie in with that. Instead of chasing after Arata he would be trying to keep him moving with them. Seems like a logical evolution of their friendship beyond Karuta.

[GundamZZ]

Originally Posted by EliteF22

Hmm, Arata having trouble concentrating in the previous chapter and now him stating that winning the meijin is no longer his goal seems like foreshadowing. Wouldn't be surprised if Arata had some major health issue come up. Taichi striving to become a doctor would tie in with that. Instead of chasing after Arata he would be trying to keep him moving with them. Seems like a logical evolution of their friendship beyond Karuta.

Winning the champion is still Arata's goal. His mind is not stable, because Arata tells Taichi that Chihaya doesn't belong to anyone. Afterward, he regrets about his statement. He is bothered by it.
His health issue is minor. Because the girl next door feeds him too many food, Arata has the bad stomach. He uses the restroom before the qualifying match.
Again, winning is Arata's goal. He makes the statement because of the circumstance. At the match, Suo takes Shinobu to visit the match(on motorcycle). Suo notices that Shinobu is watching Arata. He asks her if Arata is her friend. She says Arata is the river in the way(邪魔な河). So, Suo watches Arata's match. After the match, Suo tells Arata will become meijin someday. Arata is embarrassed. He humbly replies not at all. Then, Suo taunts Arata and tells him that Arata's not good enough. This year, Suo declares that he's retiring. Suo thinks Arata's skill is boring. Is manga playing with their ambiguous relationship?

By the way, Arata is surprised that Taichi is at the qualifier match, too. As other people, Arata thinks Taichi's only reason for playing karuta is Chihaya. Again, Taichi's mother is scary.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by GundamZZ

After the match, Suo tells Arata will become meijin someday. Arata is embarrassed. He humbly replies not at all. Then, Suo taunts Arata and tells him that Arata's not good enough. This year, Suo declares that he's retiring. Suo thinks Arata's skill is boring. Is manga playing with their ambiguous relationship?

The way I understood this is that Suo said Arata's play lacks tension. I think he means Arata's current play is kinda passionless, and that's why she doesn't see him as a threat right now.

Maybe Suo is right, maybe Arata's mind being currently unstable (due to Chihaya and Taichi) is affecting his play negatively.

Originally Posted by GundamZZ

By the way, Arata is surprised that Taichi is at the qualifier match, too. As other people, Arata thinks Taichi's only reason for playing karuta is Chihaya.

And like most people, he's wrong about Taichi.

[karice67]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

The way I understood this is that Suo said Arata's play lacks tension. I think he means Arata's current play is kinda passionless, and that's why she doesn't see him as a threat right now.

I generally agree with your inference that the lack of passion in Arata's play is a hugely important factor, but with regards to what Suou said, the "テンション上がらない" part is more about how Suou reacts rather than Arata's style of play. Basically, "Watching you doesn't make me tense" or "Watching you doesn't get a rise out of me" (lit. "my spirits don't rise") - i.e. although Shinobu and many other players feel threatened by Arata, Suou doesn't.

[hyperborealis]

Huge debate on other websites over

Spoiler for spoiler for #105:

who says "Chihaya doesn't belong to anyone"

Could anyone who knows Japanese comment? Thanks!

[Johnny]

Here's karice's post up above with a brief summary...
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthre...73#post4503773

[GundamZZ]

The voice actor's joke.

Because Arata seldom shows up, the big sisters don't recognize the voice actor for Arata.

Images

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While Chihaya on the highschool graduation trip, the qualifier match is on going. In the eastern qualifier competition, Taichi loses the competition. Harada sensei finally enters the final. His opponent is Sudo! It would be the competition between old generation and young rising player. In the western qualifier, Shinobu thinks Arata is going to win. Also, she's hungry. So, she secretly praises Arata and leaves the building. Arata finally enters the final, but his bad stomach kicks in again. During the match, he has to run to the restroom. When he comes back to the match, he finds that he is on the losing side.

Finally, Arata and Megumu become West Japan's representative. Harada sensei is also near his dream. He finally has the chance to challenge the karuta master...he is almost there. It would be hard for Chihaya. She has to choose the person for cheering.

[GundamZZ]

The qualifier match is near the end.

Spoiler:

Megumu-chan loses the match again. ;_;
Haruka is the new challenger for the queen title. Nevertheless, she has higher chance than other players in term of beating Shinobu.

Chihaya is getting too close with frustrated Arata. Taichi looks helpless. With Chihaya's encouraging words, Arata is becoming like his grandfather: an invincible karuta player.

Then, Chihaya notices Sou eating outside. She approaches him. Maybe she tries to befriends him. Afterall, Sou has same skill as Chihaya and Rion.

[Blaat]

A bump? I thought everyone else moved to the manga fox forums.

Spoilers

Spoiler for 116

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[karice67]

Originally Posted by Blaat

A bump? I thought everyone else moved to the manga fox forums.

Perhaps because there are a variety of threads to have discussion in? There is a lot of discussion there, and people here seem to be trying to avoid reading the manga, so I guess we all drifted over there somehow...

sorry, I can go back to posting spoilers here too if you like...

What someone recently posted in the spoiler thread there is interesting:

Spoiler for Chapters115-116 spoilers:

that someone did indeed forfeit the 2nd match in real life, and went on to become the Meijin challenger, so what if the author intends for Harada to win here to follow that model?

Though I'm with you in that the flow of developments leans towards Arata winning... we're seeing Arata in his element again - the last time we saw that being in the high school final against Shinobu. it'd be kind of weird now if he didn't win through here, though I'd be willing for Suetsugu-sensei to surprise me.

Another reveal at I found interesting was that Harada was the Meijin challenger 31 years before, but lost to Wataya Hajime, Arata's grandfather. 31 years ago, Wataya Meijin would probably have been around 40, yet he was still able to defeat the much younger Harada (around 15 years, give or take, I think) by what seems to have been a decent margin (straight losses)... So, despite all the talk and doubt about older players, there are obviously ways for them to continue winning for a while. Though whether the 57-year-old Harada would be able to win is up for debate...

[Blaat]

Why are you apologizing? As you said that forum is way more useful and active there is also early release of chapters links to baidu, occasionally translation of extra Chihayafuru stuff (omake, guides, the middle school story). Some of the debates particular between you and hyperb. are fun to read.

The only downside is the high amount fan girl gushing over their favourite male character and the shipping debates.

[karice67]

Originally Posted by karice67

Spoiler for Chapters115-116 spoilers:

Another reveal at I found interesting was that Harada was the Meijin challenger 31 years before, but lost to Wataya Hajime, Arata's grandfather. 31 years ago, Wataya Meijin would probably have been around 40, yet he was still able to defeat the much younger Harada (around 15 years, give or take, I think) by what seems to have been a decent margin (straight losses)... So, despite all the talk and doubt about older players, there are obviously ways for them to continue winning for a while. Though whether the 57-year-old Harada would be able to win is up for debate...

Oops...from chapter 117:

Spoiler for brief spoilers:

I'd assumed wrongly that the Meijin that Harada had played against when he was 26 was Arata's grandfather, but it seems like it was when he was 19 and Wataya Meijin was 34.

No idea who the Meijin he played at 26 was...it really looks a little like Wataya-sensei (chapter 115, p6) to me though

Full spoiler here.

[Blaat]

Chihaya x Suou here we come. I'm disappointed that Taichi didn't caught them, I wouldn't mind seeing his jealous face.

Thanks for the translation as always Karice, it looks like Harada is firing up.