I wonder what it is that’s caused the sharp decline in interest in Chihayafuru. I’m going by the metrics directly available to me – views and comments here (and at RC, where I covered the first two seasons) have dropped off a ton. When it’s something like Madoka Magica or even Steins;Gate it’s easier to understand – those are sequels that clearly paled compared to the originals, and seemed to offer little new to the franchise. But Chihayafuru (and I’m just being honest here) hasn’t reached the point where I think the manga sort of jumps the shark – this is canon material and still in my view pretty classic Chihayafuru.
Maybe it’s just a matter of time – while not as long as S;G or MM we did have a long gap between seasons, and maybe some fans have just moved on. Maybe the groundhog day effect is already bad enough that it’s driven some folks away (which I understand, believe me). As mixed as my feelings are about this series – I’ve effectively dropped the manga, which I once would have said could never happen – it still makes me sad to see it fade in relevance in the Western fandom, because it’s a series that’s meant a lot to as a writer as well as a fan.
There’s a lot of important stuff happening here, that’s for sure. And maybe the most important is easy to skate past in favor of flashier developments if you aren’t paying attention (a theme of this season). Having left Chihaya a dazed wreck not with his play but his post-match comments, Suou is ready to blow off Taichi – but Taichi is not going to be dismissed easily. He manages to get a match with the Meijin using Japanese sweets as a bribe. While Suou wins by 14 cards – his target number – he has to do it “legit”, by actually taking 25 cards, which is unheard of for him. In other words, his opponent committed no faults – and no one can seem to remember the last time that happened.
The aftermath of this seemingly innocuous practice match is fascinating on so many levels. Taichi, for his part, ditches Chihaya and secretly goes back to the campus to try and get Suou to analyze their match. He has to bribe him again (by admitting the truth about being Chihaya’s boyfriend) but he’s clearly fascinated by what the Meijin tells him. Chihaya, for her part, seems to believe she’s found a weakness in Suou’s game. And she’s convinced enough that she goes straight to Harada-sensei’s house to tell him about it. He seems a bit dubious, but swears her to secrecy – just in case she’s right, he doesn’t want the info helping anybody else.
After a short interlude featuring a Christmas party and Chihaya dressing up as Santa to fool Tsukuba’s brothers (who frankly seem a bit old to believe in Santa Claus) – which really feels as if was rushed through, especially from Tsutomu’s perspective – the focus turns to the Master/Queen finals. Chihaya convinces everyone to pool their otoshidama to head to Omi Jingu for the matches, Arata comes down with a bad cold, and Shinobu practices by herself (as usual) before bonding with her grandmother (ironically, over persimmons).
The finals, as we know, are not being broadcast on NHK for the first time in these kids’ lifetimes, but instead being streamed. It’s a different world in every sense of the word, but for the four gladiators the routine doesn’t change. A prayer at the shrine, then on to the hall where they march like prize fighters into the main hall. Chihaya calls Arata (right in front of Taichi, naturally) to find out where he is, and her inner monologue makes it pretty clear where she is. But for once this is not all about Chihaya right now – an epic struggle is about to begin, with none of the protagonists directly involved. That hasn’t happed too often in Chihyafuru but the struggle doesn’t feel any less epic for that.
Say
January 30, 2020 at 4:43 amPersonally I don’t feel the urge to comment. I enjoy the reviews though. Long time fans have probably turned to the manga. Plus you covered manga chapters here on LiA, so watching the anime now feels like a revision. I think it is a series where knowing what is coming next or is NOT coming next can greatly effect the fruition. Besides Chihaya going to Harada sensei is one of the few moments I saw her as a normal teenager and not as a airhead karuta baka.
Guardian Enzo
January 30, 2020 at 6:20 amYeah, perhaps the fact that I covered these manga chapters here is part of the deal. Thanks, by the way!
Proto
January 30, 2020 at 11:26 amAt least for me, since I really liked the first couple seasons I ended up binging the manga. Since I already know what happens I do not really feel compelled to follow it week by week. I may start watching once it passes the midpoint which is what I usually do when watching adaptations where I already know the original material.
Kim
January 30, 2020 at 11:55 pmHonestly I don’t usually comment unless I have something to add lol
I still love Chihayafuru even though the story does frustrate me at times. Maybe that’s a measure of my love that’s even when stuff doesn’t happen the way I want it to I still love the series
But yeah I know everything that is going to happen up to this point so it’s not like I can really theorize.
Romy
January 31, 2020 at 12:17 amHi Enzo, just wanted to let you know I read your review every week, being a hard core Chihayafuru fan, I can’t miss out on them! I usually post your link in a little thread where we fans discuss the anime and manga fervently. Btw on Reddit some fans are doing great write ups for the anime as well and many discussions are still going on in the Chihayafuru discord threads. So really, the fandom is still very much alive. And thanks so much for keeping up these reviews!! I’m sad you dropped the manga but maybe you might pick up the thread one day when it’s finished. It’s still as torturous as ever, lol.
Guardian Enzo
January 31, 2020 at 7:42 amThanks. Maybe I will, if my sense of morbid curiosity is strong enough.
romy
January 31, 2020 at 6:31 pmLol, well if it all clicks in the end it might be worthwhile. I admit, I almost flipped the table at a certain chap. It’s all because of the TAT that I keep hanging on. No way to trust Sensei anymore………..but I still need to see this through. Thanks for hanging on with the anime!
yustin
January 31, 2020 at 2:43 amChihayafuru is still interesting. I prefer to watch it rather than neverending and generic plot of some battle shonen anime.
Mi-chan
January 31, 2020 at 4:16 amI am still into it like I ever was and I do comment 😛 except maybe I am invisble as no one ever replies. Maybe i am one of the few who find it hard to read the manga yet, so I am still in anime mode.
I don’t know about the manga, but the Chihaya x Arata vibes are making me uncomfortable the longer Taichi is in the dark. I also like Dr. Harada’s focus and our first interaction with Master Sou, perhaps he is not mysterious after all? I don’t know about that.
I like what he said to Chihaya, it is similar to what he said to Arata, and it brings us back to how -alike- are Chihaya and Arata in their Karuta gameplay. I kind of not a fan of how Taichi fits with the side charecters more these days, so this is where I am at a loss.
In a way the only two people to make an impression on me this season so far are Dr. Harada, Inokuma-san, Sudo, Suo, Kana-chan, Kana chan’s mother and surpsingly Hanako. An award for side charecters here is essential lol xd..
Ok also, what material was (cannon) in the anime? I did not get that point.
M
Guardian Enzo
January 31, 2020 at 7:46 amMy point was that everything we’re seeing in the anime is canon from the manga. So whatever issues might be contributing to a declining interest level, they aren’t the anime’s fault.