Let’s get back to more Chihayafuru! We are now perilously close to the current end of Chihayafuru’s anime adaptation, but given the show’s been such a profoundly joyful addition to both my personal and professional life over the past year or so, I’m trying to avoid thinking about that. Instead, we’ve got the singles tournament to discuss, where Chihaya just finished besting two opponents left-handed only to run into a Shinobu-shaped wall. With the last episode having ended on Chihaya methodically unwrapping her right hand, it’s clear she knows this is her last round in the tournament – or at least, that without going full strength against Shinobu, she has no chance of fighting Arata. But Chihaya beating Shinobu with a broken finger would be totally absurd in a viewer sense, so regardless of whether or not Chihaya thinks she can win this, her journey ends here.
That’s fine, though – just because Chihaya’s not beating Shinobu doesn’t mean this won’t be an exciting fight (pardon the triple negative). Chihaya played well enough to catch Shinobu’s attention a year ago, and injury or no, her fundamental skills and understanding of the game have improved so significantly over this past year that I can’t imagine Shinobu will be waltzing through this one. Chihaya’s second nationals are leading towards their climax, and I’m thrilled to see it. Let’s hope Chihaya doesn’t hurt herself too badly!
Episode 22
“Long Last We Meet.” Breaking out the genuinely episode-appropriate card titles for this climactic reunion
Well jeez, that’s a pretty stacked round of eight. We’ve got Amakasu from Mizusawa, Chihaya, Megumu, Shinobu, Arata, and then the three remaining competitors from the team finals against Fujisaki (minus the Class B Rion and the one Nishida beat). It kinda feels like those Fujisaki players are gonna get swept aside, though – Amakasu’s paired against the guy whose gimmick was “I like my instructor’s boobs,” and Megumu and Arata are just far more important characters than their opponents as well. Still, it’s awesome that the show can stack an A rank tournament with all known faces, even if it means leaning somewhat on the most recent team match
I don’t recognize this reader, something this fiendish show has already taught me to find very important
Oh, this is very smart. Having all three of the non-Chihaya matches star members of Fujisaki means we get the highest-quality commentary voice: their coach. Her equal focus on all these matches means they can act as a unified dramatic counterpoint to Chihaya’s material, and she’s also an incredibly practiced tactician of the sport
Ah, Suzuki Manata – he was the member of the twins who was actually kicked off the team for Rion, and now fights like a man with something to prove. But he’s facing Arata, so good luck champ
Arata is very much the dark horse competitor, having disappeared from the professional circuit for years
“This will be a battle of willpower.” Not likely. Obviously his coach should believe in him, but I can’t imagine “I have a crush on Rion” dude beating friggin’ Megumu
Hah, it’s so wonderful how well built up all these competitors are. It turns out that even as the team tournament was acting as an action-packed payoff in its own right, it was also laying the groundwork to make a great part of the Class A tier into people we can invest in
“I don’t want any regrets.” Chihaya, I imagine you’d regret permanently misaligning your finger over missing a match with Shinobu. Then again, you are Chihaya, so what are a few fingers in pursuit of glory
Ahaha yes Mammy Bear reprise. Shinobu disses Chihaya’s team shirt and then Chihaya dazzles her with the awful branded tank top she’s wearing underneath. First point: Chihaya
Shinobu offers to play with her right hand. COLD, SHINOBU. You know just as well as I do that both of you are entirely committed to absurd ideals of anything-goes competitiveness
“Show me your true strength. The strength of the number one player in Japan.” Yep, there it is
Apparently Shinobu moving her arms is one of the last things she does in preparation for taking a card, so she looks even faster than she actually plays
Chihaya’s down two cards, but that’s not important. The important thing is she can actually parse Shinobu’s movements as she makes them now – they’re a clear series of tactical steps, not just lightning-speed magic
The grace of Shinobu’s movements is conveyed nicely through the mix of blue-toned slow pans across her final pose and the chiming noise that accompanies them. She basically moves directly from reaching to retrieving in one graceful slash
“Not a sound. That’s how light and sharp her movements are.” Yep. That exact intended effect
“There’s a position for multi-syllable cards that’s difficult for left-handed players to reach.” Aw shit. Her injury actually led her to find a crack in Shinobu’s armor. You hear that, kids? Hurt yourselves, you’ll probably learn something
Chihaya decides she’s studied enough, and it’s time to destroy her right hand. Her resolution is accompanied by some thrilling spanish guitar, because why not
Shinobu gets up to grab another card, and then notices Chihaya slumping – an unspoken callback to her complaint from the first season, about how she could never really engage equally with anyone, and she always feared that moment when her opponents just decided to stop trying. But then Chihaya lifts herself back up, and oh goddamnit she’s removing the gauze Chihaya STOP
I probably haven’t watched enough sports shows to be genuinely frustrated with the base concept of “hurt your body permanently for immediate gains” as a dramatic instrument, but it sure makes this hard to watch
And yeah, if my tone here seems inappropriately flippant, let me make clear: don’t ruin your body for immediate gains in some match. Unlike in Chihayafuru, our lives contain far more richness than the immediate aftermath of whatever sport we’re currently invested in, and crippling ourselves for momentary glory in a game is a tragic waste. Don’t let hot-blooded sports heroes fool you with their thick-headedness!
Chihaya’s a damn mess. She tries to pick up a card, and basically has to freeze in place to avoid revealing how much pain it causes
Yeah, she’s basically in “I can’t sit down in my corner or I won’t get back up” mode now. Meanwhile, Shinobu is enjoying pleasant memories of childhood karuta
I’m not sure Chihaya’s injury really adds to this match – it just makes me feel like it’d be kinda improbable that this would be the match which makes Shinobu remember how fun it is playing karuta with friends. That’s obviously an important turn for her, but when I imagine “the joy of karuta with friends,” I don’t imagine Chihaya gasping for air as her whole body shakes with the pain of her shattered finger
On the other hand, playing out a full and close match here wouldn’t be realistic or really appropriate for the narrative’s progression so far, and “Shinobu rediscovers the communal joy of karuta” is much further along its road than “Chihaya actually beats Shinobu.” Stories are a series of compromises, and this might be a necessary one
It’s a little funny to me when people describe narratives as if they were perfectly or “naturally” formed in any way. Nope, that’s not it at all, writers are always just hot-gluing shit together and hoping the structure holds. Obviously there’s an insane amount of craft and creativity that goes into both plotting and aesthetic execution, but very often story decisions are made for reasons like “this character absolutely needs to have convincingly hit this point in their arc by this point in the narrative.” You only realize how often you either need to scrap everything or accept that your hands are tied in certain ways when you actually start trying to plot this crap yourself
Alright, Shinobu takes the win with two lost cards. A fine result
Shinobu begins to rationalize her enjoyment of the game as weakness, but Chihaya catches her and thanks her for not going easy on her. Only Chihaya can let her express herself without speaking down to her opponent
Shinobu and Chihaya become closer! Chihaya will now be able to create stronger personae of the Empress arcana!
Unfortunately, given this is a fated rivalry, they can’t just meet up to play a casual match once Chihaya’s finger heals. It’s gotta be the Queen match or nothing
Oh shit, wait, that’s not actually that far away, is it? We’re through the national tournament, but the Master and Queen qualifiers are a separate event coming in the fall. WE’RE SEEIN’ MEGUMU AND YUMIN AGAIN!
Shinobu demonstrates her joy by curling up in a ball and muttering ominously about what she’ll do to Chihaya next time
Hanano gets to the third round!
“It was hard to tell since I’m always surrounded by karuta freaks, but I’m actually pretty good!” Oh my god, her expression of surprise at her own awesomeness. Give us a Hanano episode please
Nope, failed. And so ends Hanano’s grand adventure. Alright, time to check in on Taichi
What, is he fighting against Rion or something?
No, it’s just Retro. Thank god. Er, sorry Retro
And Done
Whew, that was a painful episode to watch. I wasn’t exactly thrilled watching Chihaya double down on her injury for glory, but it seems like she ultimately got what she was hoping for with minimal sacrifice – she was only able to take two cards off Shinobu, but those two cards were enough to rekindle Shinobu’s memories of playing someone you genuinely want to share karuta with. Losing so quickly and definitively was ultimately great for Chihaya, since she didn’t have to screw up her finger any more than necessary. And now, with Chihaya’s bone-crushing struggle out of the way, we can all relax with… oh god, it’s time for a Taichi match. Well, grab your stress balls, everyone – we’ve got a long episode ahead of us.
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