Chihayafuru Vol. 1

Never knew about Karuta before. The story seems very interesting ! I’ll keep reading and see how this goes. So far it’s been good! I like how there are nuances that are actually deep.

First I want to thank the staff for helping to make an English version available!If you're a fan of interesting characters and subtle but genius writing, this is it! It's also just a fun story!

Cannot recomend this series enough!Do you like poetry? Do you enjoy seeing determined protagonists who work hard at what they love? Are you a fan of strong friendships and one track minded females? If so, check out this series!At 30+ volumes, it might seem like a bit of a stretch, but it is well worth it. The karuta poems are really beautiful, and it's really nice to see how the author has tied some of the poems to a particular character's development. Chihayafuru is a real gem of a manga, can't wait to keep reading!

I have absolutely no idea how I even overcame my extreme ambivalence over Chihayafuru's premise and gave it a shot, but I'm so glad I did. This is one of my absolute favorite series (both manga and anime). My advice for those wondering if they should try it is actually to start watching the anime on Crunchyroll now, and then switch to the manga once you've exhausted all 50 episodes. The manga is excellent, but it's one of those that you have to read a volume or two to really get into it, and seeing the characters move in the anime really helps someone who has no idea what karuta is about to get a better feel for the action sequences in the manga.But either way, you're in for a treat. Chihayafuru is basically a mix of josei/shoujo quality character development with sports manga quality action, and is one of those series that takes you from completely ambivalent about a particular activity (karuta) to weirdly loving it too much simply because the characters do. Highly recommended.

Really good story. Was recommended by a friend in Japan and I'm really happy I read it. Now, on to Vol. 2

I absolutely adore this series and like any good sports manga, it’ll make you want to get into the sport. Karuta is a little daunting but it really looks enjoyable! Can’t wait to read all... 43 volumes... that are out so far... Hmmm

This is one I read the first volume of years ago and then didn't have the chance to continue. Since it finished last month, I am so glad that I picked it up again by chance. 50 volumes is a lot, but this did so well with each chapter. There were a couple of moments that I lost interest a little bit, I think from frustration with the characters/story, but overall, it was so so good.I would also classify this as more of a sports manga rather than a romance. The romance aspect is definitely on the backburner aside from like, 3 scenes. I also really wanted -insert fav- to be the one in the end, but I felt like the whole ending was an afterthought. I wanted MORE after 50 volumes of hoping she would open her eyes.This is now in maybe my top 5 manga that I have gotten to read. It was so different from anything else that I have read and I truly loved the poems and how much they were incorporated into every thread of the story. I also loved seeing side characters developed and getting to see their stories unfold.

I've been reading this manga for a long, long time and it gets better as it goes (there are over 30 volumes now). Thankfully, this manga now has an English translation available for Kindle. Here's hoping for an English physical edition.The art isn't the best but it's still really good. The story might be hard for readers that are unfamiliar with Japanese culture or customs to get into, as the story revolves around karuta, an athletic card game centered around poetry. I know it sounds odd, but it's an amazing game. The poems used in karuta, the Hyakun Isshu, are one hundred poems chosen by one of the greatest poets in Japanese history, written by various historical figures (including emperors) dating as far back to the first century. The poems are written on the cards, with the two verses of each poem being divided across two cards. The two players facing off against each other will have cards with the second verse written on them that they lay out (after dividing them evenly), which they must find and touch first after a professional reader reads the first verse. It requires timing, accuracy, speed, endurance, and passion, and is quite exciting to watch.The characters in Chihayafuru all play karuta for various reasons, and their passion for the game is occasionally rivaled by their personal struggle and growth. The characters are extremely well-written and you'll even remember one-off characters from karuta matches as the author does a fantastic job of developing her main and supporting cast. Chihayafuru is lovingly crafted and will evoke a wide spectrum of emotions from the reader.This first volume introduces the trio of main characters through the formation of Mizusawa High's karuta club, flashbacks to their childhood years when they first met, and reveals why and how they include karuta in their lives. Chihaya, after whom the series is named (as well as her name appearing in one of the Hyakunin Isshu poems), is an endearing character that you can't help but root for. She appears simple at first (you'll hear the phrase "karuta freak" a time or two), but over time she gains complexity as the reader slowly gets to know her better.Chihayafuru is serialized in BeLove magazine (a manga magazine for the adult female demographic, but don't let that dissuade you, gentlemen) and is still currently being published.

Me enamoré de Chihayafuru por el anime, estuve leyendo un poco el manga de manera no legal y ahora que esta disponible en formato digital es excelente para poder leerla de nuevo, seguir disfrutando y apoyar esta gran historia :D

I've been a big fan of this manga for years now and am ecstatic to see it available officially in English.The story begins with Chihaya as a young girl, falling in love with the game of Karuta, alongside her two friends Wataya Arata and Mashima Taichi. The first volume masterfully establishes the bond between the three of them, which is the foundation upon which the story as a whole is built. The artwork is beautiful, and though only a few characters are introduced in this volume, there are so many fantastic characters to look forward to as the story progresses. The characters are, I feel, Chihayafuru's strongest point. There are no true antagonists, only rivals who receive the same care and development as the main characters. Even the most periphery characters have a story, and Suetsugu is fantastic at imbuing them with the sense that their lives continue outside of the brief times we see them.Kodansha have stated that, if there is enough interest/sales are decent enough, Chihayafuru will receive a physical release too. And for those that enjoy this first volume, there is also a two season anime adaptation that really does justice to this beautiful manga!