THE BATTLE CONTINUES. As we return to Chihayafuru, Chihaya and Taichi remain locked in a finals bout that could dictate not just the course of their karuta fortunes, but also their personal relationship, and perhaps even their futures altogether. I don’t expect this battle to outright resolve any elements of this show’s central relationship drama, but it seems almost guaranteed to provoke meaningful changes on that front. Chihaya has never been forced to acknowledge Taichi so directly, and seeing the two of them up there has apparently provoked even Arata to find some small shard of jealousy within himself.

Beyond its emotional consequences, this bout has also been one of Chihayafuru’s most tactically gripping and aesthetically impressive matches so far, and I’m eager to get back to it. I preambled the heck out of this fight last time, so I hope you’ll forgive me if we dive directly into the action this time. LET’S GET TO THE MATCH!

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Dear lord folks, do we ever have a battle ahead of us. After spending two full seasons (and the entirety of their own high school lives) battling together as karuta teammates, today’s pre-Masters finals will see Chihaya and Taichi at last competing against each other. Though they’ve fought in a million practice matches, this time they’ll be competing as equals, and simultaneously representing the new vanguard of karuta champions. Though they’re not truly rivals, they share a closer and more complex bond than any other characters in this show, and are undoubtedly the show’s twin protagonists. And now, at last, they fight.

For Taichi, this battle will serve as the truest testing ground of his fundamental relationship with karuta. Taichi enjoys karuta, but he doesn’t necessarily love it, and he certainly doesn’t possess Chihaya’s overwhelming passion for the sport. What he does love is Chihaya herself – absolutely, unconditionally, overwhelmingly. Taichi’s love for Chihaya has been both a drive and a burden, propelling him to the highest tiers of karuta competition, while simultaneously having a deleterious effect on his scholastic performance, social life, and general sense of self. Taichi often comes under fire for his one-sided obsession, and yeah, it’s not exactly a healthy feeling – but at the same time, his messy and passionate feelings are one of the most human things about him. And now, having at last caught up to Chihaya’s meteoric professional rise, he can meet her as an equal in the field she loves best, and perhaps finally make her truly see him as the man he is.

For Chihaya, the meaning of this match is far more ambiguous. Taichi has always been an assumed variable in her relationship with karuta, but never the goal, and never the source of her passion. In professional terms, Chihaya only has eyes for Shinobu; she is absolutely committed to becoming the queen, and her lack of concern for anyone aside from the current queen actually ended up aiding her in her battle with Haruka. In personal terms, she’s always seemed more preoccupied with Arata than Taichi, as the lost friend who actually inspired her love of the sport. Chihaya is frankly pretty oblivious when it comes to Taichi, but now that he’s actually sitting across from her in a professional match, they might get a chance to honestly communicate in her most comfortable language.

Personal stakes aside, this matchup also promises to be a thrilling contrast of styles, as Chihaya’s classic speed and newfound strategic weapons clash with Taichi’s hyper-analytical play and hard-earned confidence. I’ve been awaiting this battle ever since we started Chihayafuru, and I could not be more excited. LET’S GET TO THE FINALS!

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Hello all, and welcome back to Chihayafuru’s pre-Masters tournament! We return in the midst of the top eight, to a field that serves as the ultimate validation of Harada’s teaching style. While this tournament opened with all of the karuta societies’ various leaders bragging about their students, at this point, Harada has emerged as the clear victor. All four quarterfinal matches feature a member of his Shiranami Society, and even Harada himself is still in the running. After years of serving as Chihaya and Taichi’s most reliable ally and confidante, it’s wonderful to see his dedication to karuta and his students pay off in such stunning fashion.

This is no time to sit and celebrate, though! All four of Shiranami’s contenders are facing down tough opponents here, as Taichi squares off against long-time rival and admitted sadist Sudo, while Chihaya battles the actual former queen for a spot in the semis. Here in the third season, Chihaya’s ultimate dream no longer feels all that far away; Haruka might be rusty, but she’s still one of the best karuta players in the world. In a tournament that could very well serve as the ascension of a new karuta generation, Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata are all battling for themselves, for their friends, and for the dreams that have carried them this far. Let’s get to it!

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Alright folks, let’s settle in for one more episode of Chihayafuru! When last we left off, Chihayafuru and Taichi had each fought their way through the preliminary rounds of the pre-Masters qualifier tournament, securing two spots in the quarterfinals. For each of them, their route to this moment has involved stepping up their pro karuta game in major, demonstrable ways. On Chihaya’s side, her time spent focusing on her left arm, and increasing awareness of her own tactical choices, has led to her mastering a style somewhat near to Shinobu’s “silent karuta.” In contrast with her dramatic swings early in the series, she’s now embracing precision to use only just as much force is necessary. As a result, she was able to overcome last year’s Master challenger, who was admittedly out of practice, but still far from a pushover of an opponent.

On Taichi’s side, his often painful self-awareness seems to actually be reaping some positive dividends, as he now seems far better able to acknowledge his unproductive mental cycles, and attempt to rise above them. Of course, telling yourself not to be anxious isn’t necessarily a sure-fire way to end your own anxiety; fortunately, Taichi is also benefiting from the emotional support of his many trainers and teammates. As a result, Taichi has bolted to the top eight of his first-ever Class A tournament, a ridiculous feat that only underlines how long he’s actually belonged at this tier. And with Arata, Harada, and various other heavyweights in the mix, I’m sure we’ve got a pile of thrilling matches ahead of us. Let’s get back to Chihayafuru!

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