Chihayafuru is a word that means balanced and strong, like a top spinning continuously while maintaining perfect balance without ever shaking. Like the meaning behind its title, the story is a beautifully crafted masterpiece that is genuinely rare to see in manga. Sometimes stories tend to loose their pace in either the plot line or in a poorly developed character, but Chihayafuru maintains both and never looses its pace or forgets where it is heading to. It contains a vast array of characters and develops them thoroughly to the frightening point that they don't appear to be on a paper or the screen. The story starts of in an engaging manner - a brief flashback to the time when the characters, as children, first meet and proceeds on to introduce their weaknesses and their strengths. From there on the reader simply gets pulled into the story. When it seems like things are calming down, the plot line twists and turns and binds its cast into the 100 Ogura poems of Karuta.

In general Chihayafuru is an amazing story. The sport, karuta, which makes up the skeletal structure of the story, is simple, but the story writing, character interaction and the way the author ties the poems in with its cast, make it a sport thats far from just memorization and reflexes. It becomes the reason to gain friendship, achieve dreams, discover passion, find faults, improve and step forward.

Rating:

Story:
10/10

Characters:
10

Art:

9.5

Composition (flow of story):
10

Overall:
10

The reason why I love Chihayafuru is because of its slow romance. For once we see a love that is actually realistic. For once we see a story where the only point of the story isn't to get the main characters to fall in love. This is why I love chihayafuru.

... Last updated on September 27th, 2013, 10:36pm

...with likable and flawed characters and an interesting premise. I see that some people point out that since readers may not be familiar with the kurata game, they will miss the nuances that someone who IS familiar with it will catch. I personally haven't found this to affect my appreciation of the manga in the least; I still feel emotionally-invested in the characters' defeats and victories.

Speaking on that, what I like most about Chihayafuru is that there ARE a lot of defeats. I like that it dwells on the struggles the characters face and shows them as opportunities for growth. It makes for an interesting, riveting and realistic read. I wouldn't say that there's very little going on in the plot department, though maybe it may seem that way to some readers who either don't find kurata a terribly exciting subject to begin with, or who are more used to flashier(?) mangas.

Below is mainly in response to blackmokona's review, which I found to be off the mark in its condemnation of a pretty good series.

The manga doesn't "dote" on the "flat genius romantic interest" because Arata only briefly shows up after the chapters in which Chihaya and Taichi go to Fukui. Arata is not a flat character. We see a clear change in him after

If you think that that is a "completely facile approach" to grief and growth, then okay, we all have our opinions.

... Last updated on June 22nd, 2012, 5:51pm

Chihayafuru is really an awesome read but I like the anime most. At first, I was also hesitant to read it because of the plot. I mean I really don't have any idea on what a karuta game looks like since I'm not Japanese--but then I remembered that I actually got hooked with Hikaru no Go before...it's a manga that depicts a Japanese board game and because I got hooked with it I actually started learning how to play Go and then I thought why not give Chihayafuru a try. It might be actually interesting too and then when I started reading it--just WOW! I got hooked with Chihayafuru a lot more than Hikaru no Go. And I still don't get the whole process of the game--but it's actually very interesting especially the poems written in the cards. I really love the poems especially when Kana-chan started giving a background history about it and the deep meaning behind each and every poem and how she connects it with every character or the circumstances in the story. I just love it! Chihayafuru is really informative. It also gives you a chance to discover more of Japanese culture. It's a culture wise manga and it's really a great find.

Another aspect that I like about Chihayafuru is because it's not the typical sappy romance manga that I usually read. Actually when I think about it there's actually not much of a romance thing going on, if I'm going to compare it in the simplistic way of defining what romance is. The romance here is just light--too light actually but at the same time I can't help but feels there's an undeniable deep bond and love between the characters that simply defies the typical meaning of what really love is and maybe that's what makes it really special for me.

It's also not only centered about romance since typically stories about highschoolers are all about romance but it's also about building relationships--it's all about friendships, making great memories together as well as discovering themselves in the process. The character development is just so great. Each character even the supporting role is highlighted with deep care. They all have their own issues in life, they all struggled with it, they all tried to face it with resolve in their own (weird) ways and whether they failed or succeeded they still to continue to grow and I just can't help but think that i want to see more of their growth. And I think that the Karuta with an added bonus of friends are the driving force behind their AWESOME growth.

And that's why I'm really head over heels with Chihayafuru. I can't get enough of it. SUGOI!....=D

I'd given this manga a wide berth simply because, honestly, a manga about flicking cards?

But man, is it GOOD. Even if you're not Japanese and this game is completely alien to you, this manga forces you to care. It's pretty typical, I suppose, of those shonen-type zero-to-hero bildungsromans, except with beautiful art and a much more josei slant and - I'm being honest here - really hawt boys.

At least Chihaya lacks the immaturity and wishiwashiness of shojo heroines, which I ADORE, mostly because her word revolves around karuta (rather than experiencing the *~spring of youth~* or the perfect high school romance!!!1one). Maybe making her beautiful was a little overkill, but meh, who can blame an author for wanting an attractive lead? Makes for pretty for us, too!

I love too that there ARE defeats, and they are many, and they are painful. Chihaya, though not immature in the typical way, IS child-like, and she must grow. And the growth is organic precisely because of the many pitfalls she experiences along the way, where each defeat becomes a moment of revelation and refinement for Chihaya, both as a character and a karuta player. Which is AWESOME. Because you're really there with her, every step of the way.

I actually prefer the anime to the manga art-wise - some deformities here and there, but meh, the PRETTY - but in terms of storytelling, manga can't be beat! ...Until season 2 of the anime comes out, of course. Hee!

I'm trying very hard to suspend judgment until the the series is complete, but this manga is becoming a real chore to read. At first, I loved everything about this series (and its anime adaptation): the art, the poetry, the karuta, the dynamics between the characters, the panelling. But for the last 50 or so chapters, it feels like the quality of the story and the artwork has been declining, with the same tired stuff being dragged out over and over, with little development in plot or characters.

I stopped reading because I am waiting for some of the middle chapters to be scanned, translated and such. I'm holding out hope and I don't want to spoil the story for myself. Please, someone, post from chapter 49!
Scanlation teams, FIGHTING!

Chihayafuru is the only "shoujo/josei sports manga" I've ever read and I loved every chapter.

I didn't ever care about the romance angle. No spoilers, but some people will be unhappy with the resolution of that subplot (but at least there is a resolution). I feel like the rest of the resolution of the series was very satisfying to almost all serious fans.

Tbh, I was going to wait until it's completed but I began reading them two days ago thanks to boring quarantine. I knew this type of manga is best when you read them in one go.
Now that I've read them, I wish to share a few things:
1. The theme is great. I love topics like tradition, sport and art. This manga combined all of those.
2. The characters personalities are fine. They're definitely what you call a true sportman.
3. The flow of the story is okay but for some reason there's no progress. Fl's skill improved in one match, then the next match she forgot everything she learned and back to her clueless self. She's pure and funny but at the same time naive and not bright in the head.
4. I don't mind the lack of romance in sport themed manga. However, the romance in this manga is... Idk how to describe it. Frustrating?

I would love it better if the character development was carefully planned. I loved Chihaya but she always returned to her old self after a match. Additionally, I think it's better of the romance is dropped from the manga or just make it clear already.

I read other people's review after I posted mine. It seems I'm not the only one who found the romance unnecessary and that there's zero progress in the characters development. If you want to read this, prepare your time (yes, time).

... Last updated on June 7th, 2020, 6:57am

This manga makes everyone want to play Karuta. I like the depth of the characters, lots of twists and turns. Lot of competition, overly zealous I must say but I still enjoy it. Enough romance to not over power the story.

The female lead isn't stuck up and is clumsy but still smart when it comes to Karuta. I like the fact she isn't weak or naggy. I feel her determination!!~~ I love the bromance as well 🙂

The art is amazing. LoTSA potential there for the artist. Simply loveable and vibrant. The Story is ALSO amazing. I mean its a boring card game, yet the author was able to play around with the character roles so well that it can be summer up in only one phrase....."AMAZING & BORING"