Episodes
New first-year student Sumire Hanano, who is dumped by her boyfriend on the first day of school, takes an interest in Taichi as ...read more New first-year student Sumire Hanano, who is dumped by her boyfriend on the first day of school, takes an interest in Taichi as the karuta club appeals for new members. Twenty first-years, Sumire included, apply to join the club, although most are inexperienced and intimidated by the effort the game requires. Chihaya soon realizes the club members all have different priorities for the club. Chihaya's priority is to make the club stronger, by Taichi making Class A and by Chihaya training the new members, so the club can win the national high school tournament, both team and individual in every class. Sumire tails Taichi as he goes to train at the Shiranami society. show less
At the Shiranami Society, Taichi plays Tsuboguchi, who has graduated from college and is now a high school teacher. Harada ...read more At the Shiranami Society, Taichi plays Tsuboguchi, who has graduated from college and is now a high school teacher. Harada catches Sumire spying on the players through the door. At the next meeting, nearly all of the applicants leave the club. Only a boy named Akihiro Tsukuba remains, but Sumire returns when she becomes bored with her new friends. During practice, Tsukuba expresses an inflated opinion of his karuta skills. Chihaya urges Sumire to clip her nails, because she will start moving faster to take cards, but Sumire blurts that she is only in the club to pursue Taichi. Embarrassed, she runs away. When Chihaya says she always wonders what would have happened if the team had someone to substitute for her when she collapsed the previous year, Nishida takes training the new members seriously. Kana catches up to Sumire and brings her back to the clubroom. Sumire realizes that pursuing Taichi means getting better at karuta, so she clips her nails. show less
Murao and Arata place first and second, respectively, in a Fukui tournament. Arata states that his current goal is to compete in ...read more Murao and Arata place first and second, respectively, in a Fukui tournament. Arata states that his current goal is to compete in the national high school championship, not the master qualifier. Meanwhile, the Mizusawa club competes in the Tokyo regional team tournament. Taichi and Nishida learn that two schools get to advance to the national tournament from Tokyo this year. When Nishida catches Tsukuba attempting to replace Komano with himself in the line-up in order to impress his little brothers, Komano suggests they include Sumire in the first round and Tsukuba in the second round. Chihaya wins her matches in both rounds by 25 cards. Sumire is impressed that Chihaya was not belittled because she was a girl playing against boys. Ise telephones Shinobu to tell her that he will register her in the high school individual tournament and that Arata is going to compete as well. show less
Harada and two women from the Shiranami Society go to watch the regional tournament. In the semi-final, Mizusawa is matched ...read more Harada and two women from the Shiranami Society go to watch the regional tournament. In the semi-final, Mizusawa is matched against Homei, whose advisor is Tsugobuchi. Tsuboguchi gives his team insight to get inside Taichi's head to distract him. Mochida points out to Harada that, unlike last year, the tournament is using a different reader every round this year. Taichi struggles against his opponent, making him think he lacks the skill to win. Miyauchi also goes to watch the tournament. The air conditioner over the Mizusawa match malfunctions. When Taichi asks for a towel, the Shiranami women, Miyauchi, Sumire, Kana, Kana's mother, and Chihaya all provide him with towels. Sumire realizes Chihaya watches Taichi as much as Taichi watches Chihaya. Sumire goes to scout the Hokuō match. Taichi recovers and wins the match. Mizusawa wins the round. show less
Nishida learns that his older sister has become Retro's girlfriend. Sumire reports that Amakasu plans to target Taichi, ...read more Nishida learns that his older sister has become Retro's girlfriend. Sumire reports that Amakasu plans to target Taichi, thinking that defeating Komano and Kana will be easy, to secure three wins for Hokuō with minimal effort. Nishida catches Tsukuba trying to substitute himself for Komano again. To the surprise of both sides, Retro arranges Hokuō's order to have a fair match. Sudō is the reader for the final, putting pressure on Hokuō to perform. Miyauchi brings Mizusawa some tasuki to help them move more easily in kimonos. Komano and Kana perform well against their opponents, but Chihaya, trying to focus more on accuracy than speed, struggles against Amakasu. Nishida loses his match. Chihaya switches to speed. show less
Chihaya catches up to Amakasu. The four Mizusawa players all have matches that are luck of the draw, but Hokuō manages to split ...read more Chihaya catches up to Amakasu. The four Mizusawa players all have matches that are luck of the draw, but Hokuō manages to split their cards guaranteeing two wins, for three wins overall. Chihaya and Taichi go on the attack to increase their chances of winning by trying to push their opponents into a fault. Taichi succeeds in pushing Retro into a fault, giving Mizusawa an even chance. For the final card, Chihaya and Amakasu touch the card on Amakasu's side at the same time, so Hokuō still wins. Amakasu tells Sudō that he only moved because he felt Chihaya move. Tsukuba, his brothers, and Sumire join the Shiranami Society. Chihaya texts Arata that the final was both the most fun match and the most frustrating loss. show less
Unrelated to Chihaya's dejection about the karuta club's loss, Chitose decides to give up acting. After begging to keep ...read more Unrelated to Chihaya's dejection about the karuta club's loss, Chitose decides to give up acting. After begging to keep the clubroom despite recruiting fewer than five new members, Chihaya allows the concert band to use the room above the clubroom as storage. Chihaya's mother buys Chihaya her own kimono and hakama to support Chihaya's karuta. Noticing Chihaya is enthusiastic about karuta again, Chitose calls her agent to arrange for more auditions. In the clubroom, Kana explains the difference between impassioned (千早振る chihayafuru) and frenzied (荒振る arafuru) using imagery of a stable and wobbly spinning top. The concert band performs the school anthem for the karuta club as thanks for letting them use the second floor. At the hotel the night before the national team competition, Chihaya calls Arata, but Arata says he's not interested in team tournaments. show less
Komano and Taichi chose Tsukuba as a starter for the first round against Chiba International High School of Information ...read more Komano and Taichi chose Tsukuba as a starter for the first round against Chiba International High School of Information Sciences, whose team members are all ethnically non-Japanese. Komano and Sumire gather intelligence on Fujisaki, last year's national team champion, and First Akashi Girls' School, including Megumu Ōsaka, last year's western queen finalist. When Taichi notices that the Chiba members are not using correct English and are, in fact, native Japanese, he calls them out on it. The Chiba team is also all beginners, so Mizusawa defeats Chiba easily. Despite their loss, the Chiba team says they learned a lot and promise to return a better team for next year's tournament. Meanwhile, as Arata arrives at Ōmi Jingū to watch Chihaya and Taichi, Shinobu intercepts him. show less
Shinobu, back to her previous weight, believes Arata's extended absence from karuta means he can never again defeat her. She ...read more Shinobu, back to her previous weight, believes Arata's extended absence from karuta means he can never again defeat her. She intends to see the Birdman Rally on Lake Biwa, expressing the opinion that teams are for those who don't love karuta. Komano and Sumire continue scouting opponents during the second round. Trying to find the right time to approach Chihaya, Arata hides when he sees Retro and Chihaya trash talking each other. Arata's friend Shoji Kawauchi, who attends Fukui West and whose team is short a member due to traffic delays, convinces Arata to substitute for them, so they can play at least one round. Although Arata makes sure his play doesn't affect the outcome, Kuriyama spots him, saying he may be barred from playing in the individual tournament, since substitution is against the rules. The Birdman Rally is rained out. show less
As Mizusawa begins a match against Yamaguchi Mioka, a distinguished school, the tournament officials discuss what to do ...read more As Mizusawa begins a match against Yamaguchi Mioka, a distinguished school, the tournament officials discuss what to do concerning Arata's violation. Although Chihaya is able to defend her cards, she struggles to attack her opponent's. All the Mioka members place their cards randomly and move them frequently. Shinobu, drenched from the rain, arrives back at Ōmi Jingū and learns of Arata's situation. She threatens to forfeit the tournament if the officials don't let him play. Except for Chihaya and Tsukuba, the other Mizusawa members do well against Mioka. As the number of cards remaining decreases, Chihaya improves. Mizusawa wins. Sumire tells the team about Shinobu telling the officials she wants to compete against someone from Fukui. Chihaya deduces that it was Arata. As the team considers including Komano in the next match, Nishida suggests they leave him out. show less
Komano's easy agreement to skip the next round angers Nishida, who says Komano has lost the drive to compete and abruptly ...read more Komano's easy agreement to skip the next round angers Nishida, who says Komano has lost the drive to compete and abruptly leaves to have lunch at the cafeteria. Chihaya recalls that Harada once told her that watching a match closely is more tiring than playing. The team decides to let Komano rest for a round. Mizusawa's next match is against Shoyo High School from Kyoto. As Mizusawa effectively uses the information Komano gathered, Chihaya reflects that his data is just as important as their skill. Mizusawa wins. Meanwhile, Arata is allowed to compete on the condition that he write an essay of apology and that he is forbidden to watch his friends from Tokyo in the team tournament. Mizusawa prepares for the semi-final match against Akashi using the data Sumire collected. Chihaya reluctantly agrees not to be matched against one of Akashi's Class A players, but Taichi sets their order for a straight match, including Chihaya against Megumu. show less
The semi-final round matches Mizusawa against Akashi and Hokuō against Fujisaki. Seeing Mizusawa and Hokuō, the officials ...read more The semi-final round matches Mizusawa against Akashi and Hokuō against Fujisaki. Seeing Mizusawa and Hokuō, the officials think Arata's friends from Tokyo are Hokuō. Chihaya assesses Megumu's play compared to her play in the queen challenger match against Yumi the previous fall, concluding Megumu has improved. Sudō, who has arrived to support Hokuō, begins watching the match between Chihaya and Megumu. Chihaya struggles, but believes it is going to be a fun match. show less
Chihaya continues to struggle against Megumu, who has no interest in becoming queen, even though she was the previous year's ...read more Chihaya continues to struggle against Megumu, who has no interest in becoming queen, even though she was the previous year's western finalist. Chihaya manages to take a few cards, including some of Megumu's favorites. Megumu realizes Chihaya wants to become queen, stiffening her resolve to defeat Chihaya. Soon everyone is watching the Mizusawa match. The Akashi coach reflects that the whole team has improved, because they want to help Megumu become queen. Focusing on accuracy, Chihaya begins to catch up. show less
Arata hears about Mizusawa's progress from the late-arriving Fukui West team member and coach. Shinobu challenges Arata to a ...read more Arata hears about Mizusawa's progress from the late-arriving Fukui West team member and coach. Shinobu challenges Arata to a game, but he declines, stating it is a day for team matches. Meanwhile, not even Sudō notices that Fujisaki has defeated Hokuō. One of the officials wonders if Arata came to watch Mizusawa, not Hokuō. Keiko Yuube defeats Nishida, but Kana wins her match immediately afterward. Taichi wins his match, but Chihaya loses to Megumu. Komano's match comes down to luck of the draw. Komano wins by taking his opponent's card. Tsukuba, worried about Kana's stamina, asks to replace her in the final, but Miyauchi thinks he just wants attention. Kana asks him to substitute for her. show less
Kana reveals that she jammed her finger during the match, and it is painfully swollen. One of the officials tells Retro that ...read more Kana reveals that she jammed her finger during the match, and it is painfully swollen. One of the officials tells Retro that Arata came to support Hokuō and is in a back room. Meanwhile, Midori Sakurazawa, the Fujisaki coach, removes one of third-year Class A players from the line-up and replaces him with Rion Yamashiro, a second-year Class B player who is Kyoko Yamashiro's granddaughter. Kyoko Yamashiro is the reader for the final. Chihaya is matched against Rion. Taichi is matched against Emoru Ryoga, the Fujisaki captain. Before play begins, Retro informs Arata of Mizusawa reaching the final. Shinobu laughs when Retro refers to the eventual team tournament winner as the best in Japan, but Arata asks her to watch the match. On her way there, she passes the Fujisaki team in the hall during memorization time. She is disgusted that they spend their time having fun away from the cards. The final round begins. show less
Recap episode with omake segments.
Fujisaki takes an early lead over Mizusawa, including Rion, who has game sense rivaling Chihaya's and familiarity with her ...read more Fujisaki takes an early lead over Mizusawa, including Rion, who has game sense rivaling Chihaya's and familiarity with her grandmother's voice. Chihaya listens carefully to Kyoko's reading and begins to catch up, but she injures her index finger. When Chihaya sends a card and takes it, Shinobu remembers Chihaya doing the same thing to her the previous year. Noticing Chihaya fight through her pain, the others become more determined. show less
Komano loses his match to the Fujisaki ace. While Chihaya endures the pain of her injury, she notices Shinobu watching and gives ...read more Komano loses his match to the Fujisaki ace. While Chihaya endures the pain of her injury, she notices Shinobu watching and gives her teammates encouragement. As Shinobu begins to feel ill, she recalls Ise isolating her from the other children at the Myoji Society when she was small to make her strong. Listening outside, Arata reflects that it is teams that recruit and teach new players. Tsukuba loses his match. show less
Taichi catches up to Emoru using Komano's data, even pushing Emoru into a fault. Chihaya wins her match against Rion. ...read more Taichi catches up to Emoru using Komano's data, even pushing Emoru into a fault. Chihaya wins her match against Rion. Taichi's and Nishida's matches come down to luck of the draw, but they manage to synchronize their cards, giving them a chance for two more wins. Taichi and Nishida attack the Fujisaki side while dead cards are read to try to increase their chances. Eventually, the card on the Mizusawa side is read. Mizusawa wins the tournament. When Chihaya steps out into the hall, she sees Arata and tells him that she has become the best in Japan without becoming queen, because the team played together, and that he should never say that he's not interested in teams. show less
After the team tournament award ceremony, Miyauchi takes Chihaya to a clinic to attend to her injury. Meanwhile, Arata tells ...read more After the team tournament award ceremony, Miyauchi takes Chihaya to a clinic to attend to her injury. Meanwhile, Arata tells Taichi that the only team for him is one with Chihaya and Taichi. He also says he will win the individual tournament and attend a college in Tokyo. The doctor tells Chihaya that she should refrain from intense activity with a weakened finger bone, although she is referred to a larger hospital for a better diagnosis. The next day, Nishida's sister gives the team t-shirts. Chihaya wants to wear them and to compete in the individual tournament, anyway. Chihaya's goal for the club is still to win every class. When Nishida asks her how she can play, Chihaya sees Shinobu and decides to use her left hand. Arata's parents spectate the Class A tournament. Chihaya, matched against Akashi's Yuube in the first round, finds she is unable to take any cards with her left hand. show less
Arata and Shinobu effortlessly win their first matches. Chihaya, able to take cards from Yuube, but unable to defend her own, ...read more Arata and Shinobu effortlessly win their first matches. Chihaya, able to take cards from Yuube, but unable to defend her own, realizes her card placement is right-handed. She also realizes how a right-handed defense is weak against a left-handed player. She mirror reflects her card positions and wins the round, amazing Arata, although it requires much more concentration. In the second round, Nishida is matched against Arata. Ararta's parents cheer silently for Nishida, because they want Arata to attend a local Fukui college. Arata defeats Nishida, but Nishida's technique and determination impress Arata. Chihaya also wins her match. For the third round, Chihaya is matched against Shinobu, so she decides to use her right hand and takes the splint off her finger. show less
When Sakurazawa sees the tape on Chihaya's finger, she is stunned to learn that Chihaya has been using her left hand. ...read more When Sakurazawa sees the tape on Chihaya's finger, she is stunned to learn that Chihaya has been using her left hand. Shinobu mutters that Chihaya's Mizusawa t-shirt is lame, so Chihaya dazzles her with the Mammy Bear tank top she has underneath. Shinobu then jokingly offers to play with her right hand to allow for Chihaya's injury, but Chihaya responds sharply that she should not joke about that. As Shinobu dominates the match, Chihaya takes the tape off her finger to move faster, but Shinobu still wins. Shinobu remembers playing a girl her own age when she was small and going easy on her, because she valued her friendship, prompting Ise to isolate her. Just as she is wondering how easy she should have gone on Chihaya, Chihaya thanks her for not going easy on her and says that they will play again in the queen match. Shinobu again promises herself that she will not let Chihaya take a single card. Meanwhile, in the Class B tournament, Taichi is crushing Retro. show less
In the Class A semi-finals, Arata easily defeats Emoru, and Shinobu easily defeats Megumu. Meanwhile Sakurazawa finds Chihaya ...read more In the Class A semi-finals, Arata easily defeats Emoru, and Shinobu easily defeats Megumu. Meanwhile Sakurazawa finds Chihaya sleeping in the hallway. The Class A final is between Arata and Shinobu. The Class B final is between Taichi and Rion in the same room where Komano is in the Class C final. Chihaya is torn between supporting Taichi and Komano or watching Arata and Shinobu. Taichi is dumbfounded when Chihaya comes to watch him play, but remembers that Chihaya cares most about having him make Class A. Shinobu begins the Class A final by taking all the cards, but Arata recalls how he used to beat her and catches up. Meanwhile, Taichi tries to win his final quickly so Chihaya can watch Arata and Shinobu, but realizes he cannot beat Rion with speed. Focusing on accuracy as if he were playing Chihaya, Taichi wins the Class B tournament and makes Class A. show less
The Class A final is packed with spectators, but Sakurazawa sneaks Chihaya and Taichi into the room through a side door. Arata ...read more The Class A final is packed with spectators, but Sakurazawa sneaks Chihaya and Taichi into the room through a side door. Arata is defeating Shinobu, but Shinobu manages to close the gap between them by taking risks. Watching him play, Chihaya is reminded of Kana's image of a stable spinning top for "impassioned," a word used to describe gods. Murao wonders what brought Arata back to karuta, but reflects that Arata developed his level of skill through hard work and practice, not talent. Arata wins the Class A final. The spectators are not as stunned by Arata's win as much as by Shinobu's loss. Arata tells Shinobu that he is amazed she made it through the match with a fever. Shinobu reflects that she always wanted to play strong opponents who put up a fight. show less
Arata's parents face the reality that Arata will go to college in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Komano and Tsukuba have won the Class C ...read more Arata's parents face the reality that Arata will go to college in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Komano and Tsukuba have won the Class C and Class D tournaments. As they leave Ōmi Jingū, Sakurazawa offers to send Chihaya a video of the Class A final. Later, a hospital examination reveals Chihaya has enchondromatosis in her index finger, so she decides to undergo an operation. While hospitalized, Chihaya borrows Chitose's laptop to watch the DVD of the Class A final. She calls Arata, who tells her that, whenever he plays, he thinks back to the apartment in Tokyo when they used to play karuta together. Hearing that, she thinks about how she will always love karuta and Arata. She spends the next week recovering from her operation and doing her summer homework, writing poems. Reading the poems, Kana realizes Arata is Taichi's rival for Chihaya. Chihaya calls Sakurazawa, who invites the whole Mizusawa club to a Fujisaki karuta camp. Chihaya and Taichi go to the camp. show less
During the time Chihaya is in the hospital, the karuta club discusses what to do for the upcoming cultural festival. Attempting ...read more During the time Chihaya is in the hospital, the karuta club discusses what to do for the upcoming cultural festival. Attempting to use the opportunity to get closer to Taichi, Sumire suggests putting on a Heian era-themed play based on The Tale of Genji, with herself as the female lead and Taichi as Genji. Kana, however, seeing an opportunity to get Chihaya and Taichi together, suggests Chihaya for the female lead. Ultimately Sumire settles for all the other club members playing Genji's many lovers, including Nishida, Komano, and Tsukuba dressed in drag. The club spends the rest of their meager annual budget on two flats for the play, but a typhoon destroys them. Sumire and Chihaya end up doing a short karuta-themed comedy piece with Nishida as Genji on the proscenium without a set. Arata laments that he continues not to get any screen time. show less