List of Chihayafuru episodes

Chihayafuru is an anime series adapted from the manga of the same title by Yuki Suetsugu, produced by Madhouse and directed by Morio Asaka.^[1][2] The story follows Chihaya Ayase, a girl who is inspired by a classmate to take up competitive karuta, with the dream of forming a club and reaching the national tournament. The series aired on Nippon Television between October 4, 2011, and March 27, 2012,^{[note 1]} and was also simulcast by Crunchyroll.^[4] The opening theme is "Youthful", performed by 99RadioService, and the ending theme is "Soshite Ima" (そしていま), performed by Asami Seto.^[3] The series was released in 9 volumes on DVD and Blu-ray Disc between December 21, 2011,^[5][6] and August 22, 2012,^[7][8] and as a complete set on Blu-ray Disc on July 18, 2013.^[9] Animax Asia aired their English adaptation of the first series from February 13 to March 18, 2013.^[10] A second season, Chihayafuru 2, aired in Japan between January 11 and June 28, 2013,^{[note 2]} and was also simulcast by Crunchyroll. The opening theme is "Star" by 99RadioService whilst the ending theme is "Akane Sora" (茜空) by Seto. Episode 26 did not air on television and instead was released as an original animation DVD on September 13, 2013, together with the limited edition of the 22nd volume of the manga.^[12][13]

Episode list

Chihayafuru (2011)

Episode no.	Title	Original airdate[note 1]	English airdate
1	"Now the Flower Blooms[14]" "Saku ya Kono Hana" (さくやこのはな[15])	October 4, 2011[16]	February 13, 2013
First-year Mizusawa high school student Chihaya Ayase tries to form a karuta club, but no one takes the club seriously. When she is reunited with Taichi Mashima, her friend from East Ōsato elementary school, she remembers when she met Arata Wataya in sixth grade. In an extended flashback, the other elementary school students, led by Taichi, make fun of Arata and his Fukui accent. Chihaya stands up for Arata and discovers his amazing proficiency at competitive karuta. He tells her that his dream is to become a karuta master, the top-ranked male player.
2	"The Red That Is[17]" "Karakurenai ni" (からくれなゐに)	October 11, 2011[18]	February 14, 2013
In the annual elementary school karuta tournament, the final match is between Taichi and Arata. Feeling threatened by Arata's skill, Taichi steals Arata's glasses before the match. Chihaya substitutes for Arata and defeats Taichi. Her mother and her older sister, Chitose, a beauty pageant contestant and aspiring model, are indifferent to the accomplishment, because a talent scout is recruiting Chitose. Taichi's mother scolds him for losing and tells him to attempt only things at which he is guaranteed to win, but Chihaya tells him there is nothing wrong with losing a fair fight. When Taichi returns Arata's glasses and admits to stealing them, he asks Arata not to tell Chihaya, because he doesn't want her to hate him. Arata calls him a coward for stealing the glasses, but he says he understands why Taichi doesn't want Chihaya to hate him.
3	"From the Crystal White Snow" "Fureru Shirayuki" (ふれるしらゆき)	October 18, 2011[18]	February 15, 2013
Chihaya, Arata, and Taichi visit a Shiranami Karuta Society practice session. There they meet Dr. Harada, the society's director, and the oddball Hiro Kinashi, known as Retro (ひょろ Hyoro), a sixth-grader like them. Chihaya, Arata, and Taichi play Retro and his friends in a three-on-three Genpei match. Taichi tells Arata he should just play alone against Retro and his friends, but Arata says he wants to play as a team. At Chihaya's urging, they decide to compete in an upcoming tournament for teams of three. In the meantime, Taichi is accepted into a prestigious middle school, and Arata learns he will move back to Fukui when the school year is over. In the tournament, Chihaya is matched against Yūsei Nishida, whom she quickly nicknames Porky (肉まん Nikuman), in the first round and loses. Taichi also loses his match, so the team is eliminated. After the last day of school, Chihaya says that, as long as they have karuta, they will see each other again.
4	"A Whirlwind of Flower Petals Descends" "Shizukokoro Naku Hana no Chiru ramu" (しつこころなくはなのちるらむ)	October 25, 2011[18]	February 18, 2013
As Chihaya and Taichi say good-bye to Arata, Chihaya declares she will become a karuta queen, the top-ranked female player, and Taichi declares he will become a master. Back in the present, Chihaya tells Taichi that she made Class B over spring break and that, if she wins a tournament that Sunday and makes Class A, he has to help her form a karuta club at school. When Taichi goes to watch Chihaya play, Harada recognizes him immediately. Taichi tells him that he played karuta in middle school with a club, but it is no longer his dream to become a master. Harada tells him that Chihaya never gave up on karuta, often playing karuta alone in middle school, even though she joined the track team. Chihaya wins and makes Class A. When Chihaya calls Arata to tell him, the first time they have talked since elementary school, he tells her not to call anymore, because he has stopped playing karuta.
5	"The Sight of a Midnight Moon" "Yowa no Tsuki Kana" (よはのつきかな)	November 1, 2011[18]	February 19, 2013
Chihaya and Taichi travel to Fukui to see Arata. Once at his house, Arata tells them to leave. Chihaya takes out a deck of cards and tries to get him to play karuta, but Arata kicks the deck, scattering the cards. Taichi drags Chihaya away to leave. Yuu, the girl who lives next door to Arata, runs after them with the cards and tells them to take the cards away. She tells them that on a day when Arata was supposed to have been nursing his grandfather, who had had multiple strokes previously, his grandfather had another stroke and died while Arata was at a tournament making Class A. Arata realizes he still wants to be Chihaya's friend and runs after her and Taichi, who see him as their train pulls away. Taichi tells Chihaya that he will help her to form a club and to wait for Arata's return to karuta.
6	"Now Bloom Inside the Nine-fold Palace" "Kyō Kokonoe ni Nioi nuru kana" (けふここのへににほひぬるかな)	November 8, 2011[18]	February 20, 2013
Chihaya has convinced Taeko Miyauchi, the science teacher and tennis coach, to allocate a storage room in one of the school's out-buildings as a clubroom. Kanade Ōe, who currently belongs to the archery club so she can wear a hakama, considers joining the karuta club instead, because she thinks they love the classical poems and also wear hakama. She is shocked that competitive karuta is not the refined love of poetry that she thought it was. She is further disappointed that the karuta club does not wear hakama. Chihaya is determined to recruit Kana, nevertheless, and visits her at the traditional clothing store that her family owns. When Chihaya learns that the poems have symbolic meanings and rich historical contexts, she asks Kana to explain all 100 of them. Kana agrees to join the club on the condition that Chihaya models kimonos for the store's catalog and that the club members wear hakama for tournaments.
7	"But For Autumn's Coming" "Hito koso Mie ne Aki wa Ki ni keri" (ひとこそみえねあきはきにけり)	November 15, 2011[19]	February 21, 2013
Taichi assesses his karuta skills. His advantages are memorization and adaptation based on what cards have been read. Chihaya has enough speed, however, to take cards even if Taichi reacts first. Chihaya attempts to recruit the second-ranked first-year student, Tsutomu Komano, nicknamed Desk-tomu (机くん Tsukue-kun) by his classmates because he is always studying. Komano is not interested. When Chihaya says that players memorize the positions of all the cards, he does not believe her, but he pauses when he realizes that Taichi, the first-ranked first-year student, is in the club. He challenges Chihaya and Taichi to play a game with the cards turned over. Taichi has the advantage with better memorization and wins. After the match, Komano still leaves, saying he has no talent for karuta. Taichi says he also has no talent and keeps losing, but he would rather have someone who works hard and loses than someone who just has talent. Komano decides to join the karuta club.
8	"The Sounds of the Waterfall" "Taete Hisashiku Nari nure do" (たえてひさしくなりぬれど)	November 22, 2011[19]	February 22, 2013
At school, Chihaya encounters Nishida, who refuses to join the karuta club because he is now in the tennis club. Chihaya realizes that he is using karuta timing to play tennis and tells him that that is not fair to tennis. Nishida thinks the karuta club is at an elementary school level, so Taichi challenges him to play Chihaya. As Nishida plays, he remembers how much he enjoyed karuta. Although Chihaya wins, Nishida insists that he is still not coming back to karuta, because he can never be as good as Arata. Miyauchi passes the clubroom and sees Nishida there. When she demands that he explain why he was skipping tennis practice, he realizes he still loves karuta and decides to quit the tennis club to join the karuta club. As Chihaya draws up the list of members to request official recognition for the club, she rejoices that she is no longer alone.
9	"But I Cannot Hide" "Shinobure do" (しのぶれど)	November 29, 2011[19]	February 25, 2013
Miyauchi grants the club official status, with herself as provisional advisor, if the members select someone other than Chihaya as president. When the other members select Taichi, Chihaya declares herself captain. Chihaya sets a goal of winning the Tokyo regional high school team tournament, so the club decides to hold a camp at Taichi's house over a long holiday weekend while his family is away. Chihaya sets an exhausting schedule, especially for Kana and Komano. When Taichi's mother and younger sister come home early, Chihaya and Kana hide, then go to Chihaya's house to sleep. At midnight Kana drags Chihaya to a park where the guys are waiting for a surprise birthday party for Chihaya. Chihya apologizes for the hard practice, but the others thank her for helping them improve. Arata texts Taichi a happy birthday wish to relay to Chihaya. Chihaya decides it is the best birthday ever.
10	"Exchange Hellos and Goodbyes" "Yuku mo Kaeru mo Wakarete wa" (ゆくもかへるもわかれては)	December 6, 2011[19]	February 26, 2013
Chihaya sends texts to Arata throughout the regional tournament, but he never responds. She asks Taichi why Arata only sends texts to him. Taichi says nothing, but thinks that it is because he and Arata think of Chihaya as belonging to both of them. Komano, frustrated that he cannot win any matches, declares that he is going home. Taichi allows him to skip the semi-finals, but orders him to compete in the finals. When Nishida says they should forget about Komano, Taichi faults everyone for not playing together as a team. The conflict affects Chihaya, and she plays poorly. In the meantime, Retro, who now attends Hokuō Academy, uses retrot (ひょろっと hyorotto) tarot cards to divine what order Hokuō should use for the finals. Akito Sudō, the Hokuō captain, wants to toy with Chihaya if Mizusawa wins the semi-finals. Taichi realizes he has not been a good leader and encourages the team. Chihaya sees Komano, who has returned to support her, and recovers. Mizusawa wins and advances to the finals.
11	"The Sky is the Road Home" "Amatsukaze" (あまつかぜ)	December 13, 2011	February 27, 2013
Harada and Hiroshi Tsuboguchi, the Shiranami ace, go to cheer for Chihaya and Taichi. Chihaya suggests an order that brings out the best in themselves rather than worrying about Hokuō's order. Using Retro's cards, Hokuō matches Sudō against Chihaya, Retro against Taichi, and the rest randomly, since they are confident of an easy win. Mochida, the Hokuō coach, warns them they may be over-confident. Arata finally checks his email and sees all the texts from Chihaya. When Mochida tells Harada that the tournament has only one reader, Harada realizes Chihaya has an advantage, because she has already learned the reader's quirks. Kana and Komano lose their matches. Taichi defeats Retro, and Nishida defeats Nayuta Amakasu. Sudō, unable to pull ahead of Chihaya, reflects that Mochida taught him that karuta is fun, even if the match is going poorly. Chihaya defeats Sudō. Chihaya sends Arata a picture of the team and says he should come to watch them at the nationals at Ōmi Jingū.
12	"Sets These Forbidden Fields Aglow" "Murasakino Yuki Shimeno Yuki" (むらさきのゆきしめのゆき)	December 20, 2011	February 28, 2013
At home, Chihaya tries to tell her parents about the tournament, but they are preoccupied with Chitose's appearance on a quiz show. At school, Miyauchi minimizes the importance of karuta and says another teacher will accompany the club to Ōmi Jingū. When Chihaya loses a game to Harada at the Shirinami Society, she feels the pressure of representing Tokyo at the nationals, but Taichi tells her that Retro gave him all of Hokuō's intelligence on their competitors. Chihaya returns home and is touched when she finds that her father has started a scrapbook of clippings of her accomplishments. At the end of a day, Miyauchi passes by the clubroom and realizes karuta is not as trivial as she had thought it was. She decides to learn about karuta and to accompany the club to Ōmi Jingū.
13	"For You, I Head Out" "Kimi ga Tame" (きみがため)	January 3, 2012	March 1, 2013
In the first round of the national tournament, Chihaya has alternating sweats and chills. Meanwhile, Arata makes his way there and thinks of his grandfather, who continued to coach him even after he had suffered a stroke. After a subsequent stroke, he lost lucidity and even forgot what kuruta was. On the day of a tournament when Arata was nursing him alone, he regained his lucidity and commanded Arata to compete. As Arata won and made Class A, his grandfather suffered another stroke and died. Arata arrives at Ōmi Jingū just as Chihaya passes out. The team forfeits Chihaya's match, but continues the round. Praised by one of the officials who thinks he is there to compete, Arata imagines telling his grandfather that he still loves karuta. Afterwards, the team tells Chihaya how Komano won two matches in a row and how they advanced to the playoffs before losing to Fujisaki.
14	"For There Is No One Else Out There" "Hana yori Hoka ni Shiru Hito mo Nashi" (はなよりほかにしるひともなし)	January 10, 2012	March 4, 2013
The next day is the individual tournament. Taichi thinks about how he needs to be in Class A to play Arata in a match. Sudō tells Chihaya that Shinobu Wakamiya, the youngest karuta queen in history and a first-year high school student, is playing Amakasu in the first round. Shinobu defeats him by 24 cards. Chihaya faces her in the second round. Taichi gets a bye in the Class B tournament and goes to watch their match. He sees that Chihaya reacts first, but Shinobu is faster and moves more accurately to take all the cards. As Chihaya falls behind, she stops playing aggressively. Shinobu is disappointed that Chihaya has given up already. Chihaya remembers not being able to take any cards against Arata and resolves not to be weaker now than she was then. Chihaya starts taking cards.
15	"As Though Pearls Have Been Strung Across the Autumn Plain" "Tsuranukitome nu Tama zo Chiri keru" (つらぬきとめぬたまそちりける)	January 17, 2012	March 5, 2013
Shinobu defeats Chihaya by 20 cards and resolves not to let Chihaya take any cards if they ever meet again, but she is disarmed when Chihaya compliments her Snowmaru t-shirt. Chihaya resolves to improve her accuracy. Eventually Shinobu defeats Sudō in the Class A final. Chihaya goes to watch Taichi in the Class B final, where his fatigue and lack of physical speed lead to his loss. After reflecting on their weaknesses in the tournament, Taichi says the one thing everyone in the club lacks is stamina. They use the rest of the summer to train physically. Arata visits Kuriyama, the Fukui Nagumo Karuta Society director, and asks to join the society. Shinobu trains alone.
16	"The Autumn Leaves of Mount Ogura" "Ogura Yama" (をぐらやま)	January 24, 2012	March 6, 2013
A recap of the events so far, interspersed with various omake segments.
17	"World Offers No Escape" "Michi koso Nakere" (みちこそなけれ)	January 31, 2012	March 7, 2013
Taichi researches the schedule of upcoming karuta tournaments so the club can use them to meet their individual goals. Chihaya needs to train for the eastern queen qualifier. Taichi and Nishida need to make Class A. Taichi also secretly desires to compete in the eastern master qualifier. Komano and Kana need to make Class C. Komano reflects on how much happier he is since joining the club. Taichi frequently travels to tournaments to try to make Class A, discovering Nishida and Retro are also at many of them for the same purpose. None of them succeed. Meanwhile, Harada tells Chihaya to stop relying on her speed. Komano explains the statistics he keeps and how he uses them to form strategies. Kana points out that Chihaya's reliance on sound and speed leads to a lot of faults, but Kana differentiates poems by meanings, so she commits fewer faults.
18	"The Plum Blossoms Still Smell the Same" "Hana zo Mukashi no Ka ni Nioi keru" (はなぞむかしのかににほひける)	February 7, 2012	March 8, 2013
The club members compete in a regular individual tournament. Chihaya tries to play a balanced style that doesn't rely on speed, but she is unable to restrain herself and commits a lot of faults. She also recognizes that her opponent, Sakura Kanai, is using the strategy against her that Komano described. She loses the match, but learns from watching Kanai that what she lacks is timing. Afterwards, she and Retro watch the Class B final between Taichi and Nishda and the Class D final between Komano and Kana. Chihaya realizes that she should watch them to learn from them rather than to support them. She is drawn to the match between Komano and Kana.
19	"As the Years Pass" "Nagarae ba" (ながらへば)	February 14, 2012	March 11, 2013
Chihaya reflects that faults are costing Komano his match against Kana, just like her faults cost her the match against Kanai earlier. Komano realizes he isn't losing to Kana so much as to himself. Kana defeats Komano, and both make Class C. When the match between Taichi and Nishida comes down to luck of the draw, Taichi tries to increase his chances of winning by trying to push Nishida into a fault, but he fails. Nishida defeats Taichi and makes Class A. On the way home, everyone comments that the team is much stronger now. Chihaya expresses her desire to play as a team again. When Arata sees Taichi's and Nishida's rank in the results of the tournament, he decides to enter the western master qualifier.
20	"The Cresting Waves Almost Look Like Clouds in the Skies" "Kumoi ni Magō Oki tsu Shiranami" (くもゐにまがふおきつしらなみ)	February 21, 2012	March 12, 2013
Komano tutors Chihaya and Nishida for exams while Taichi enters a tournament, his last opportunity to make Class A before the eastern master qualifier. Arata, also there, gives him a note with his contact details to give to Chihaya. Chihaya ditches studying, but arrives after Taichi loses. She watches Arata, who loses to Tsuboguchi. Taichi gives him the note back, saying Arata should give Chihaya his information himself. Arata responds that he wasn't sure if Taichi and Chihaya were a couple or not. As Kana drags Chihaya back to studying, Chihaya laments that she only gets to see Arata at tournaments. On the way home, Harada offers Taichi a promotion to Class A, even though it would break a Shiranami rule. Taichi declines, saying he wants to focus on becoming a person who doesn't run away.
21	"As My Sleeves Are Wet With Dew" "Waga Koromode ni Yuki wa Furi tsutsu" (わがころもでにゆきはふりつつ)	February 28, 2012	March 13, 2013
Nishida points out that Taichi's strength and weakness is seeing karuta only as a mental contest. He says Taichi needs to start taking practice swings, so he can learn the distance to the cards. At the eastern qualifier, Sudō tells Chihaya that colleges give scholarships to students who place first or second in national tournaments. Chihaya inadvertently bets Sudō that the first one of them to lose must shave their head. In the first round, Chihaya faces Ririka Tachikawa, a child prodigy hailed as the next Shinobu. Chihaya focuses on timing before switching back to speed and winning the round. Harada tells Tsuboguchi that he wants Chihaya to have more weapons than just her talent. At the western qualifier, Shinichi Murao, Arata's usual karuta partner, loses in the first round and tells Arata that no one can beat Hisashi Suō, the current master, anyway. Taichi texts Arata saying that Chihaya won the first round and that he expects Arata to be the western finalist.
22	"Just as My Beauty Has Faded" "Utsuri ni keri na Itadura ni" (うつりにけりないたづらに)	March 6, 2012	March 14, 2013
In the second round, Chihaya faces the former queen, Yumi Yamamoto, who lost the title to Shinobu a year ago. Yumi has a history of contesting every card she loses, but this year she is unenthusiastic. Watching through the window, Kana is impressed with the clear voice of the reader. As Chihaya dominates the match, Kitano, the Suihoku Karuta Society director, forces open the window and tells Yumi to play her own karuta. She contests cards, which Chihaya is unprepared to handle, and defeats Chihaya.
23	"The Night is Nearly Past" "Shiroki o Mire ba Yo zo Fuke ni keru" (しろきをみればよぞふけにける)	March 13, 2012	March 15, 2013
Depressed by her loss, Chihaya hides inside a locker. Harada takes up the defense of Chihaya's hair against Sudō. When Taichi says she needs to come out to cheer for Harada, she comes out but says Taichi needs to watch them because they will be his rivals when he makes Class A. Harada defeats Sudō, but loses in the semi-finals. Tsuboguchi and Yumi become the eastern finalists. Arata loses in the fourth round of the western qualifier. Arata tries to convince Murao to come back to karuta to help him train to become master. Murao says the point of karuta isn't to become master, but he'll play sometime if Arata wants to have fun. Tsuboguchi loses the master challenger match. Yumi wins the queen challenger match. On Christmas Eve, the club members attend parties held by their respective classes. Taichi has given Arata's cell number to Chihaya, so following her party, she calls Arata.
24	"Nobody Wishes to See the Beautiful Cherry Blossoms" "Onoe no Sakura Saki ni keri" (をのへのさくらさきにけり)	March 20, 2012	March 18, 2013
The club members watch the master and queen matches on TV at Taichi's house. They are shocked to see that Shinobu is now pudgy, which affects her speed and accuracy. Shinobu, wearing her grandmother's kimono, remembers when her mother divorced her father. She and her mother went to live with her grandmother, who took Shinobu to the Myojo Karuta Society when Shinobu became interested in karuta. As Yumi takes several cards in a row, Shinobu apologizes to them in her mind that she wasn't able to save them. She remembers how her classmates in elementary school stole her cards and hid them. Shinobu defeats Yumi and retains her title. Chihaya realizes she needs to become attached to the cards the way Shinobu and Kana are. Attention shifts to the master match. Nishida tells Chihaya that her style is more like Suō's than Shinobu's. The commentator recounts that Suō said that he has 28 one-syllable cards.
25	"Moonlight, Clear and Bright" "Moreizuru Tsuki no Kage no Sayakesa" (もれいづるつきのかげのさやけさ)	March 27, 2012	March 19, 2013[20]
Suō reflects that other players may not appreciate how Kyoko Yamashiro, the reader for the match, loves the Japanese language. Watching on TV, Murao thinks about how he has left Arata alone. Arata, also watching on TV, visualizes playing Suō, but knows that he needs to play strong opponents. Suō wins and retains his title. Ise, the Myojo director, invites Shinobu to visit the society, but she politely declines. Komano amazes Chihaya by using his statistics to figure out that she has 20 one-syllable cards. Discouraged that he doesn't have talent like Chihaya and Suō, Taichi calls Arata, who tells him that his grandfather once said that there are plenty of ways to take cards that don't rely on talent. Murao helps Arata train. Kana decides her dream is to become a certified reader, but is daunted when she learns she must first be Class A. Taichi begins training with practice swings. As the new school year begins, the faculty decides to turn over the clubroom to the concert band if the karuta club cannot recruit at least five new members.

Chihayafuru 2 (2013)

Episode no.	Title	Original airdate[note 2]
1	"So The Flower Has Wilted" "Hana no Iro wa" (はなのいろは)	January 11, 2013
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.
2	"As My Love First Came" "Koisuchō" (こひすてふ)	January 18, 2013
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.
3	"Feel Love Deepen" "Tsukubane no" (つくばねの)	January 25, 2013
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.
4	"To Tell the People in the Capitals That I Make for the Islands" "Hito ni wa Tsugeyo Ama no Tsuribune" (ひとにはつげよ あまのつりぶね)	February 1, 2013
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.
5	"Be As Dear Now, Those Were the Good Old Days" "Nao Amari Aru Mukashi Nari Keri" (なほあまりある むかしなりけり)	February 8, 2013
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.
6	"To Set the Tatsuta River Ablaze" "Tatsuta no Kawa no Nishiki Nari Keri" (たつたのかはの にしきなりけり)	February 15, 2013
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.
7	"They All Exchange Hellos and Goodbyes at the Gates of Ōsaka" "Shiru mo Shiranu mo Ōsaka no Seki" (しるもしらぬも あふさかのせき)	February 22, 2013
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.
8	"Which Shines over Mount Mikasa" "Mikasa no Yama ni Ideshi Tsukikamo" (みかさのやまに いでしつきかも)	March 1, 2013
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.
9	"My Only Thought" "Wata no Hara" (わたのはら)	March 8, 2013
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.
10	"Rain Takes Longer to Dry" "Murasame no" (むらさめの)	March 15, 2013
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.
11	"I Feel As Though My Body is on Fire with Ibuki Mugwort" "Sa shi mo Shiraji na Moyuru Omoi o" (さしもしらじな もゆるおもひを)	March 22, 2013
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.
12	"The Only Sign of Summer" "Misogizo Natsu no Shiru Shinarikeru" (みそぎぞなつの しるしなりける)	March 29, 2013
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.
13	"In My Dreams, I Creep Closer to You" "Yume no Kayohiza Hitome Yokuramu" (ゆめのかよひざ ひとめよくらむ)	April 5, 2013
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.
14	"People Would Always Ask If I Was Pining for Someone" "Mono Yaomofuto Hito no Tofumade" (ものやおもふと　ひとのとふまで)	April 12, 2013
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.
15	"No Matter Where I Stand" "Tago no Ura ni" (たごのうらに)	April 19, 2013
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.
16	"Wait for the Emperor's Return" "Miyu Kimatanamu" (みゆきまたなむ)	April 26, 2013
Recap episode with omake segments.
17	"Gust of Wind" "Fukukara ni" (ふくからに)	May 3, 2013
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.
18	"My Fear is That You Will Forget" "Wasureji no" (わすれじの)	May 10, 2013
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.
19	"I Do Not Know Where This Love Will Take Me" "Yuku e Moshiranu Kohi no Michi kana" (ゆくへもしらぬ こひのみちかな)	May 17, 2013
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.
20	"Of the Autumn Rice Field" "Aki no Ta no" (あきのたの)	May 24, 2013
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.
21	"But Its Legacy Continues to Spread" "Nakoso Nagarete Naho Kikoerkere" (なこそながれて　なほきこえけれ)	May 31, 2013
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.
22	"Long Last We Meet" "Meguri Ahite" (めぐりあひて)	June 7, 2013
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.
23	"To See The Beautiful Cherry Blossoms" "Sono e no Sakura Sakinikeri" (そのへのさくらさきにけり)	June 14, 2013
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.
24	"When I Must Hide..." "Kakutoda ni" (かくとだに)	June 21, 2013
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.
25	"I Can Look Up and See the Snowy Cap of Mt. Fuji" "Fuji no Takare ni Yuki wa Furitsu" (ふじのたかねにゆきはふりつ)	June 28, 2013
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.
26	"During My Forlorn Years in This World[note 3]" "Waga Mi Yo ni Furu Nagame Seshi Ma ni" (わがみよにふる ながめせしまに)	September 13, 2013 (OVA)
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.

Notes

1. As Chihayafuru's first season aired in Nippon Television's Tuesday 25:59 (1:59 JST) time slot, the episodes technically aired the days following the ones listed.^[3]
2. As Chihayafuru's second season aired in Nippon Television's Friday 25:53 (1:53 JST) time slot, the episodes technically aired the days following the ones listed.^[11]
3. In Episode 1 of the Crunchyroll simulcast of Chihayafuru 2, the full translation of poem 9 is "So the flower has wilted during the long spring rains, Just as my beauty has faded / During my forlorn years in this world."

References

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2. "Chihayafuru Anime's Staff, Premiere Date Announced". Anime News Network. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
3. "TVアニメ『ちはやふる』のキャストが決定！綾瀬千早役は現役高校生の瀬戸麻沙美さんに決定！EDテーマも担当。：最新アニメ情報" [TV anime "Chihayafuru" cast decisions! The Chihaya Ayase role, the dedicated high school student, will be Asami Seto! Also responsible for the ending theme.] (in Japanese). Saiani.net. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
4. "Crunchyroll Adds "Chihayafuru" to Fall Lineup". Crunchyroll. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
5. "ちはやふる Vol.1 [DVD]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
6. "ちはやふる Vol.1 [Blu-ray]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
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12. ＤＶＤ付き　ちはやふる（２２）限定版 [Chihayafuru (22) limited edition, bundled with DVD] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
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