Every time I try to take notes on this series, I get sucked into its rhythm and hit the end of the episode before I know it. The show arranges bursts of competition, moments of inner monologue, and diverse crowd reactions for maximum effect. In wondering how it manages to cast that spell so consistently, I checked director Morio Asaka’s ANN page, and he’s got a ton of storyboard credits to his name. Almost all of his non-directorial work, in fact, has been in that capacity, and the team he’s got working on Chihayafuru right now has done storyboards for Utena, Monster, and HxH 2011, among other classics. That last one makes sense, as it’s also a Madhouse production, but even if the studios hadn’t matched, I could have identified the link between both shows. Chihayafuru often surrounds its characters with the sort of auras that Hunter x Hunter did, to the point that I got Meruem vibes from some of Inokuma’s scenes last week. Maybe that’s why I get so wrapped up in this series – the episode planners know exactly when to push the “camera” in, and how to make the characters pop when they do.
Alright, that’s enough playing at industry expertise. The question on everyone’s mind is, “Who’s gonna win: Chihaya or Taichi?” For most of this episode, it seemed like Taichi had firm control of the match, using an unorthodox placement system that put his cards outside of Chihaya’s comfort zone. I really liked the 3D view of the field that we got before the match officially began – dramatically swooping across his packed front row gave Taichi the air of a Light Yagami-tier mastermind. There was an over-the-shoulder shot that put in a lot of work, as well, showcasing Chihaya’s confusion at her friend’s card placement by placing the tatami mat at an odd angle. Taichi jumped out to an early lead, getting closer to his promise of beating Chihaya in an official match with each card he grabbed. Just as significant, though, was the impression he made on both his friends and the match’s older spectators. This match acts as the culmination of all the support he’s received from his teammates, but it also establishes him as a serious threat for the Meijin qualifier in the eyes of karuta’s old guard (who were probably disappointed when Arata failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals).
Let’s talk about Arata for a second – we might as well seize the opportunity, since he sometimes disappears from the show for long stretches of time. He takes a step towards acknowledging his feelings for Chihaya near the very end of the episode, enviously wishing that he were the one playing against her in the finals. Putting aside the impossibility of that scenario (he and Chihaya were on the same side of the bracket), it’s not like Arata to make such a passionate declaration, even within the confines of his head. No matter how strongly he covets Taichi’s position, though, his rival earned his spot in the finals. As a result, Taichi and Chihaya share a cute moment when Miyauchi-sensei reminds them to put on their tasuki, and they accuse each other of forgetting such an important detail. I’m sure that shippers had a field day with this scene, but any fan of Taichi’s ought to be concerned by Chihaya’s growing comfort during their match. Her realization that he’s the same opponent as ever, despite his unfamiliar playstyle, seems like fertile ground for a comeback. As for me, I’d be fine with either outcome, so long as the conclusion would hurry up and air already!
