Chihayafuru

Chihayafuru follows Chihaya Ayase, a high school girl whose life shifts after meeting a childhood friend who introduces her to Hyakunin Isshu karuta. This competitive card game based on classical Japanese poetry becomes the driving force behind her journey as she forms a team with two boys from her past. The series explores themes of friendship, ambition, and the beauty of literature through intense tournament matches and personal growth. Yuki Suetsugu wrote and illustrated the work, serializing it in Kodansha's Be Love magazine from December 2007 until August 2022. The story spans 50 collected volumes and runs over 3,000 pages. The manga has achieved massive commercial success, selling more than 29 million copies by February 2025. Critics recognized its quality with the second Manga Taishō award and the 35th Kodansha Manga Award. Its impact extended beyond print into other media, including three anime seasons that aired between 2011 and 2020, along with live-action films released from 2016 to 2018. The series played a significant role in reviving interest in traditional karuta competitions across Japan.[edit]