I’m so happy to see this finally come out. I’ve always said that Chihayafuru is one of my favorite manga I’ve read in the last decade, so having a video like this come out and explain so eloquently why this series is a masterpiece is so special. Great job Colleen.
waaiit i came from the twitter and i didn't know chihayafuru fans are alive 😭😭😭 im literally so happy like it's been almost 7 years since i first saw the anime and i thought there was no one besides me 😭 I'm so glad to see people out there 🥺🥺💖💖
The authors tweet about your video came across my feed via retweet so I watched the whole anime series in the last three days just so I could watch the video even though I’d never seen your videos or heard of the author. Both of your respect for each other and the sincerity of the interaction made me really want to share that passion for the series. I’m so glad I ran across that tweet so randomly this has to be one of my all time favorites now and I might read the manga some day. Thank you for the video it was the push I needed to give the show a shot!
I just finished Chihayafuru myself, I knew it would be good but I didn't expect it to completely take over my brain. Genuinely one of the most beautiful stories I've ever experienced
You can tell so much love and passion went into this, even if we didn't know your love for the series beforehand. I can only hope someday we finally get physical releases. I also can't believe the author noticed the video, what an amazing surprise!
30 mins in and I'm already crying. This was so beautiful Colleen, thank you for creating. Chihayafuru is absolutely beautiful, connection is the perfect way to describe this series.
I never, NEVER, leave a comment on a video but I MUST write my feelings right now on here. This video right here is a masterpiece, a love letter, an ode, or maybe it's more appropriate to call it a poem, to one of the best series I've ever had the pleasure of watching and reading (even though, as of now, I've yet to finish reading the manga). Thank you for presenting so eloquently and sincerely what makes Chihayafuru such a wonderful and special story of competition, hardships, friendship, love, and just, the importance of all the connections in one's own life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Now if you excuse me, I'll continue crying on bed. I'm just overflowing with emotions :')
Just read this series in the span of a week, one of my all time favorites. Taichi spoke to me in a way very view fictional characters can, but there are a myriad characters that spoke to me enough to make me cry. Sudo, Suou, Shinobu, Nishida, Hyoro, Inokuma. Incredible stuff and incredible video, made me want to reread the whole series immediately
I'm so excited to watch this video finally! I just finished the manga series and sobbed through the last 10 or so volumes. It's my first 10-star rated manga series, and I'm so glad I took your recommendation on TikTok like a year ago!
After seeing you talk so much about Chihayafuru in your other videos, I finally watched it/read it, and thank you so much for recommending it! I'm not usually into sports series, but the way Suetsugu crafts her story truly made me invested in every single match, as well as in every one of the characters stories, minor or major. In particular, as an autistic person I related so much to Chihaya and Shinobu characters, they mean so much to me. This is now one of my favorite animangas.
I finished the anime and manga 2 days ago, and I AM UNWELL. I am praying for season 4, and official English prints for manga. Thank you for the video, made me cry multiple times. Chihayafuru is a really special story, and I am amazed at the talent of Yuki Suetsugu, just so much love put into it
I won't watch this video because even though I love the anime, I have not read the manga yet. Thank you for the spoiler warning. I'm so happy you love Chihayafuru so much, before you brought it up in your channel I felt like no one would talk about it. There's already so many people who have watched or read Chihayafuru because of you. Your love for Chihayafuru is so cute, I'm glad the author noticed your video.
I really love this video! Chihayafuru was probably one of the first, if not the first shojo/josei series that I ever got into and seeing a long-form analysis on what makes it great put a smile on my face (I even teared up a bit at points). I really love your channel, as it gave me a greater appreciation for shojo than I had before. Also, thank you for seeing Taichi the way I do, as I related to Taichi hard, more than any other fictional character before or even since. His self-loathing, his fear of being left behind, diving full force into karuta even though he didn't love it the way Chihaya and Arata did because he loved his friends that much, it all resonated with me and I'm grateful that someone else sees what I do, as I've felt so alone in seeing Taichi that way. Also, I appreciate your take on the romance, as I wasn't too sure how to feel about Chihaya ending up with Taichi at the end, even as someone who shipped them hard during the anime's run. I felt that the author didn't quite stick the landing with them, but your analysis gave me an insight that I didn't think about. I still have mixed feelings about it, but I feel I can understand the authorial intent more. Again, thanks for this analysis, and you've got another subscriber in me!
I just can`t help smiling and crying at the same time while watching your video. Chihayafuru is such a complex story where many different aspects are being considered. I totally agree that karuta is important to the story not only as a sport but also as a tool for characters to find themselves or understand each other deeper and better. Perfect video full of love for such a masterpiece. Thank you so much for this video!
It's taken me over a year since you released it, but I finally finished the manga and almost immediately came to watch this video! thank you Colleen for sharing your love so passionately, of not only Chihayafuru, but manga in general!
I had to stop this vid at 15mins in. As the things you where say was hitting me hard in my own trauma around disconnection and losing what matters to you, that’s the 3rd time a video of yours about a manga has left me in tears. I will come back to this video when in a better head space. Thank you for doing what you do. Helping those find manga that they can find a home in.
Tell me why I started tearing up just from the intro omg your love for this manga is getting to me! I watched the first 2 seasons of chihayafuru back in 2014-2015 but I was still a little tween back then with average english comprehension skills so a lot of its themes went over my head, but just seeing you talking about this series so passionately makes me want to rewatch it all again and check the manga. Thank you for this heartfelt video
As audiophile(probably) I loved every aspect of anime ( and maybe the reason I am slowly going through manga). I loved the poem recitations, background music and specially how all voice actors were perfect. Both of the first confession scenes wouldn’t have that impact if they weren’t voiced by those people. One was happy and joyful, with hint of relief. Second one was painful and heartbreaking, the great mamoru miyano delivered more than seemed possible.
I am shy and feel embarrassed commenting on videos but i need to comment on this one! Your passion and love for the series ignited a spark in me (well I'm in between anime seasons and need something new to watch lol.) I ended up watching all three seasons in like nine days and then speeding through the manga in maybe two. (I will go back and savour it more slowly) I was utterly captivated by this series. How is pretty much every single character in this series so complex and so likeable? And the relationships between everyone are equally enjoyable and complex?? As a woman in my 30s I think especially seeing the friendships/rivalries between the older women (sakurazawa and inokuma, yamashiro and kuzuryu) will hold a special place in my heart. Many tears were shed when they had moments together.
Absolute masterpiece of a video! The flood of emotions came rushing back as if I was reading Chihayafuru for the first time again 😭😭😭 Everytime I rewatch the show of reread the series I’ll come back to this video just so I can process my emotions lol
I only discovered your channel last month, and I was surprised by how little I know about sho-josei mangas despite being a female anime/manga lover. After your Chihayafuary announcement, I binge-read the complete Chihayafuru manga and wanted to compare notes. I am happy to learn about things I missed while reading Chihayafuru, like how you connected the main characters' background story to their character development, pointing out the parallels of the romance stories, and highlighting how Chihaya was also there for Taichi. As for myself, three animes came to mind while reading the manga-Run with the Wind, March Comes in Like a Lion, and Haikyuu!! First, Run with the Wind centers around one question, "Why do you run?" and I can sense how this question echoed in Chihayafuru though it transforms to "Why do you play karuta?" Like the Run with the Wind characters, the Chihayafuru characters also have varied reasons for playing their sport, and I love how the mangaka validates all their reasons for playing. Second, Chihayafuru reminds me of March Comes in like a Lion because it humanizes its characters. As a reader, you get a sneak peek into their background, inspirations, and goals. There are matches where you do not know who to root for because, understanding their stories, you want everyone to win. Lastly, the Chihayafuru characters support one another to grow just as much as the characters in Haikyuu!! even though they compete with each other. In a reality where people commonly tear each other down to get on top, I love seeing an environment where players seek out each other for training and learn from one another. Thank you so much for giving me the final push to read Chihayafuru. I cannot help but get sucked in by every character's story, specifically Taichi. Aside from seeing him finally enjoy karuta, his conversation with Kanade about roles and duty made him think about his life outside karuta. His identity revolves around supporting others in the community-Suou, Chihaya, and the Mizusawa karuta club-so studying at Kyoto University would give him independence to figure out aspects of his life outside karuta.
When you first released this, I paused the video right at the spoiler warning and went to go and buy the digital Kodansha releases. I love your videos and I couldn't stand not being able to watch this one! I spent the next year reading it, finally finishing it last night. Not only could I now watch this video, I had just finished an undisputable masterpiece. It brought me so much comfort during the worst year of my life and helped me feel more connected to my loved ones, living and passed. Its just like you said at the start of this video that got me so interested: Chihayafuru is about connection. Thank you so much for urging your viewers to read this series. I only finished it six hours ago and i feel like I'm still stunned and walking on air. Thank you for this video.
So in love with this video, the content, the analysis, the editing (the soundtrack at the back brought me close to tears), the sheer love it expresses: it so brilliantly verbalized why this is one of my favorite series. I was just rereading parts of the series and by chance right after this video, I was reading chapter 152 after Mizusawa qualifies for the third nationals and Taichi thinks "I still wish for a companion with whom I could keep working hard on the tatami" and I felt...wow...that sentence is so many ways exemplifies everything this video talks about in terms of connection and journeys. Special thanks to the Kana section 💗 I'm glad she had space to be praised on her own as she so well deserves
Outstanding video. Ive always made excuses for myself not accepting that chihayafuru is my favorite manga of all time thinking that there are more other shonen or seinen series better, but nothing compares to how much impact chihayafuru has given me growing up. Ive reread this series so much and has helped me grow and given me courage and passion for things i enjoy. Now i dont have to feel ashamed to call chihayafuru my all time fav thanks to this video
2:20 Giiirl, I just finished reading the extra chapter, and you just convinced me to read it from start again with just one phrase! I love these characters so much aaaah
I haven't read the manga but I've watched most of the anime and am not averse to spoilers so I couldn't help myself but watch the entire video. It's amazing just how much meaning and depth can come from something seemingly simple like a card game. As an autistic woman, I see aspects of myself in Chihaya and absolutely love how karuta becomes so important to her on so many levels. I've been slow to continue the series but this video made me want to watch and read the whole thing.
OH MY GOD YES ANOTHER CHIHAYAFURU FAN!!! I'm so so happy to see you expressing your love for this wonderful series! Chihayafuru hands down is one of my absolute favorites and I cannot recommend this series enough to people whenever I have the chance! You truly took the words right out of my mouth and explained it in such a beautiful manner! Thank you for showcasing your love for this amazing series also CONGRATS on the author seeing this video, you absolutely deserve it!
I got into Chihayafuru back when it started airing and I immediately fell with the story, the art, the characters, even the music. As I watched all 3 seasons of the anime, I decided to give the manga a try. Since its been years when Season 1 came out, I'd have to start at the very beginning. After getting caught up, I wanna see what happens next but since there was no legal way to read the latest chapter, the schedule release can be weird. I just hope Kodansha releases in physical form. Until then, I'm just gonna keep buying it in digital format. And I'm still waiting for Sentai Filmworks to release a collectors edition of Season 3. This is one of the best video essay I've ever watched and not many TH-camrs talk about Chihayafuru
You ooze passion. I'm not interested in shojo at all but after watching some of your vids I started reading 7seeds. You are amazing. Keep it up! Thank you for your work.
I discovered this manga recently and it became one of my faves immediately, I can't talk about taichi's character development without wanting to cry because it's just so relatable and well written...
i am so sad and happy after having watched this!! i had an insane love for chihayafuru when i was in middle school and chihaya, taichi, and arata's relationship and development really hit hard for me! i never read the manga but i am so happy to see how the series came to an end and what everyone achieved for themselves. i don't think I'll ever get over them
Two minutes in and i was already feeling so emotional. It’s been such a journey. What a wonderful analysis of this beloved story (i thought an hour was too long and planned to watch this in halves but said hour flashed by before i knew it??), thank you for making it! It makes me soft that this series is so special to many like it is to me. This really was our chihayafuru
As crazy as it may seem both chihayafuru and karuta were able to give me many, MANY new friends, new passion and ikigai - a reason to live in japanese. The caruta club in our city brings me so much joy and happiness that sometimes i think i do not deserve. Do not deserve to experience this amazing game that Chihaya, Taichi and Arata play. That's why i sincerely thank you for uploading this video, almost making me cry and spreading the love for the favourite series, truly beautiful poetry and unbelievably great game. Also, it sounded like you were about to cry during the video yourself 😅 Thus, i strongly appreciate your level of commitment and thank you for being attached to Chihayafuru as much as i do. Best wishes!
I’ve wanted to play Karuta so bad since starting to read this! I write TTRPGs but Chihayafuru made me want to come up with an English language version of the game
oh god. i am, like, 15 minutes in and already crying. started reading chihayafuru in 2013 and it's sooo special and dear to me. thank you so much for this! incredibly sharp writing and editing (as usual!) so far. just... clearly a labor of love. what a blessed video.
thank you so much 😭😭 this was definitely one of the biggest tasks I've taken on but it was so worth it in the end, just wanna spread the love for this manga.
girl I love you! I'm reading the manga and debating whether I want to see the end animated instead because I really enjoy how the show paces the games. I'll come back once I'm finished w the series!
thank you for this video.. I watched chihayafuru a long time ago.. this reminded me of my love for the anime.. I cheated and look for the ending of the manga.. and I'm so glad that the ending is the way it is.. now I need to start reading the manga.. 😊
Bravo Colleen 👏 This was a wonderful and very thoughtful love letter to a series that means so much to so many. When the ost played after the intro I got chills. You should be proud of this one and I'm definitely rewatching again 🙏 And to this day when I think of Shinobu's story and relationship with both her mother and grandmother it hits me like a ton of bricks 😭
Colleen, I know you may not see this given that I'm a bit late to the party, but this video really made me want to get into Chihayafuru in any campacity.
Chihayafuru is such an amazing manga!! it somehow managed to keep me invested in karuta and kept me guessing who Chihaya would end up with, truly a gem
Your video made me tear up so many times my god ;; I love chihayafuru sm when I first started it and the finale was sincerely amazing so it makes me immensely happy to watch your essay and all the effort you poured in it
I just started reading Chihayafuru because you recommended it so often. I loved the first volume! Looking forward to reading all of it and then coming back and watching this video.
chihayafuru has been my favourite anime/manga since i saw the first episode of the anime 8years ago. i have been hoping for someone to write a video essay like this for years and see this beautiful piece of art celebrated like it deserves. i remember tearing up at every episode the first 2 times i watched it because of the power of chihayas passion for karuta and for her friends, and at both taichi and arata’s story arcs. the way i feel like we can all relate to different traits of the three main characters is just unrivalled in any other work. i LOVE how the poetry is integrated into the story in the most perfect of places. i love the art style, and i think it really adds to the characters too. honestly to me, it’s perfect in every way, and it will always hold a big space in my heart.
This was beautiful, Colleen! Your love for the series is clear to anyone who watches this 💖💖💖 Thank you for getting me and many other folks into Chihayafuru, I'm so glad I checked out the anime because of your recommendation!!
I've literally just finished this manga and I love it so much. I'm so satisfied with the ending. If it ever comes to print I'll definitely be buying it. Glad I waited to watch this video until I completed the manga so I avoided some of these spoilers.
So excited for this vid just because of how much I know you love this series, I can already tell this is going to be one you really put your all into and give that extra seasoning (that seasoning is love and tears)
Man, what a beautiful piece of art. I really need to read this manga because, wow, does all of this speak to the experience of growing up with autism and adhd, feeling this overwhelming passion for things that in turn makes you feel so alone. The emotion of wanting someone who loves the things you do as deeply as you, the euphoria that comes from being understood in a meaningful way amidst your isolation when anyone can nearly match your energy, speaks to me so loudly. Sometimes all you want, more than anything, is even just one other person who feels so strongly about the thing you've come to understand as important to who you are, someone who will look past the imperfections of passion and see you, in entirety, for all you really are. This video made me so emotional not even having read or watched this series because of that deeply relatable undertone of, sometimes you just need someone to see you. Sometimes the ultimate fantasy, is just someone who can match our pace and understand us when we are messy people just trying to survive Thank you for your hard work as always, your effort and investment genuinely show so much
I want to thank you so much for introducing me to this series! I would never have watched it without your recommendation. Also thank you for helping me fall in love with manga again. I'm 30 years old this year and read a lot of manga when I was 12-20 but uni life, marriage and having a kid put a stop to it for a while. It's been a wonderful journey back in manga world and I give you all the credit for helping me find loads of manga to read. Hope you continue making videos for a very long time ☺️
Oh thank you so much Colleen for making this video...I feel you expressed the love we all have for this manga is an excellent way. It really deserves this attention!!! 🤗💓💓💓
Colleen, your videos and tweets convinced me to read Chihayafuru last year, and I'm really grateful that you did. What a wonderful series, and what a great homage you created here with this. Thanks for sharing your passion the past year, I'm so happy I discovered you!
I’m not the biggest card series fan, I have my favorites yugi-oh and maybe highcard once the current season is over but hearing your passion about Chihayafuru I have to give it a shot.Besides your recommendations haven’t failed me so far
This is a great video! You sound so incredibly happy when talking about this series!! The series is a masterpiece and I love listening to you talking about it so passionately. Beautiful manga, beautiful video. Thanks!
I waited to watch this video until finished the manga and i finally did last night! And wow you did such a phenomenal job capturing what i felt when reading the manga. Thank you for introducing me to one of my favorite mangas!!
I love everything about the series, the anime the books, I still need to finish a lot of the book series. Thank you though for making a video on Chihayafuru though.
Uuuurrrrggghhh! I still haven’t re-rewatched the anime, which is one of my favourite things in the world, because I’m trying to interest my son in it so we can watch it together. But your essay on the manga will be the first thing I watch after I get that settled. I have little doubt that it will be worth waiting for.
Colleen, the love and passion you put into this video made me smile and cry at the same time ✨ You made me pick up Chihayafuru again and everything you talked about in this video hit everything why Chihayafuru is one of those enduring stories. 💛 Thank u very much!!! 💛💛💛
It took me some time to finally watch this video, and I am so glad I finally did. It is incredibly heartfelt, beautiful, and warm, full of your love and passion for Chihayafuru. It make me also realize how important Taichi and Arata are in Chihaya's life, but also, who loved her the most in the end. It is a story full of relationships, connections, and the joys of seeing happiness at its highs, the sorrows at its lows, and the perseverance to keep moving forward for what you love and care about the most. It also is incredibly poetic, as everything falls into place beautifully. I have only recently finished Chihayafuru after starting it for the first time years ago with its final chapter, and man, was it a worthy ride. I hope to sometime reread it again to experience again the ups and downs of this series. Aha. And in a way, this series reminds me of Hikaru no Go, which is fundamentally similar and different to Chihayafuru and is interesting in its own way. Aha. But that's besides the point. Thank you so much for your video and love letter to Chihayafuru. It was a pleasure to listen to and watch from start to finish.
Colleen you did an amazing job! I only watched this anime bc you had said you were doing a video on it and I wanted to be able to understand and I’m so glad I did. I have never heard of Chihayafuru until I came across your channel. I had no idea what I was gonna get pulled into, I finished watching the three seasons of it in one week (that’s a lot of anime for me) but I was just SO hooked. I loved the growth and complicated aspects of relationships the anime tells, they were some moments that were funny that actually made me laugh out loud and I didn’t know I could be so obsessed w high schoolers playing a card game 🥲 tbh I’m glad I kinda find out what happens thru your video bc idk how long it will be until they release season 4. Taichi was my favorite character bc he was the one I related the most too and never really understand all the hate towards him (ppl on crunchyroll were not a fan of him) so it made me happy that I wasn’t the only one who understood him Thank you so much for this in depth video of one your favorites
Great essay, Colleen! It's understandable your deep love for this manga. I'll give it a shot just because of the passion you put in this video. I know you're still mourning the end of this manga, but when you are ready, please try reading Kono oto tomare! I won't claim it's at Chihayafuru level, because I haven't read Chihaya, but I can tell you it's also a masterpiece in storytelling and character development. And also, you'll find out how beautiful the sound of koto is. Believe me, it's worth it. Thank you so much
refusing to watch this video bc i’m only just now finishing season one but you’re the ONLY person i’ve seen talk about this show and i need to know where i can read the manga once i’m finished with it or else i’ll cry 😭
I came across this video after Yuki sensei tweeted about it..And i absolutely loved your video Colleen..I hope that more chihayafuru lovers will watch this video.
Bravissimo! Excellent work! I haven't read the manga and seen only a few episodes of the anime, however I have played the Karuta game, when I was in high school. It is one of those games that gets you. Though I am more of a shogi person. Your exposition does rouse curiosity and portrays a compelling story, I think all expectations for this essay have been met! At least I know, I have a new item to my must read list. Perhaps it can help me in my quest to write something satisfying for my cat's standard -- he is a harsh critic. lol. Once again, great presentation!
I won't be watching because I don't wanna get spoiled. I'm still holding on to hope that it will be released in English so I can buy it and read it then. But I'm dropping a like and a comment for the engagement, may the algorithm gods bless your hard work. 🙏
I watched the season one dub and wasn't grabbed. But I am here ready to be persuaded to give it another go. A bunch of reviewer I love talk about how great it is! In short I'm super excited for this video! And ready to be spoiled!
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I am very happy to see your huge love for Chihayafuru has reached to the author!
Congratulations 🎉
Chihayafuru is such a masterful series. Madhouse please season 4!
SECONDED
THIRDED!
I’m so happy to see this finally come out. I’ve always said that Chihayafuru is one of my favorite manga I’ve read in the last decade, so having a video like this come out and explain so eloquently why this series is a masterpiece is so special. Great job Colleen.
Thank you so much Mac!!!
waaiit i came from the twitter and i didn't know chihayafuru fans are alive 😭😭😭 im literally so happy like it's been almost 7 years since i first saw the anime and i thought there was no one besides me 😭 I'm so glad to see people out there 🥺🥺💖💖
I really hope kodansha eventually releases English physicals of Chihayafuru so people who don’t read digitally can discover the series as well!
Same 😭
The authors tweet about your video came across my feed via retweet so I watched the whole anime series in the last three days just so I could watch the video even though I’d never seen your videos or heard of the author. Both of your respect for each other and the sincerity of the interaction made me really want to share that passion for the series. I’m so glad I ran across that tweet so randomly this has to be one of my all time favorites now and I might read the manga some day. Thank you for the video it was the push I needed to give the show a shot!
Wow, I mean that in itself is really cool.
Omg sensei posted you on Twitter
No spoilers but the ending was perfect for this series ❤
I just finished Chihayafuru myself, I knew it would be good but I didn't expect it to completely take over my brain. Genuinely one of the most beautiful stories I've ever experienced
there's something about it that won't let you think about anything else 😭
It’s a beautiful work of art. Sports, romance, slice of life, coming of age, shonen, josei. Able to be so many things and be great at all of them
You can tell so much love and passion went into this, even if we didn't know your love for the series beforehand. I can only hope someday we finally get physical releases.
I also can't believe the author noticed the video, what an amazing surprise!
30 mins in and I'm already crying. This was so beautiful Colleen, thank you for creating. Chihayafuru is absolutely beautiful, connection is the perfect way to describe this series.
thank you so much Kay (*/ω＼*)
I never, NEVER, leave a comment on a video but I MUST write my feelings right now on here. This video right here is a masterpiece, a love letter, an ode, or maybe it's more appropriate to call it a poem, to one of the best series I've ever had the pleasure of watching and reading (even though, as of now, I've yet to finish reading the manga). Thank you for presenting so eloquently and sincerely what makes Chihayafuru such a wonderful and special story of competition, hardships, friendship, love, and just, the importance of all the connections in one's own life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Now if you excuse me, I'll continue crying on bed. I'm just overflowing with emotions :')
this made my day, thank you so much
I’M not crying are YOU crying!?
The best gift a fan can get from a creator, their acknowledgment and gratitude, I was so proud to see that and happy for you 🎉❤
Just read this series in the span of a week, one of my all time favorites. Taichi spoke to me in a way very view fictional characters can, but there are a myriad characters that spoke to me enough to make me cry. Sudo, Suou, Shinobu, Nishida, Hyoro, Inokuma. Incredible stuff and incredible video, made me want to reread the whole series immediately
I'm so excited to watch this video finally! I just finished the manga series and sobbed through the last 10 or so volumes. It's my first 10-star rated manga series, and I'm so glad I took your recommendation on TikTok like a year ago!
After seeing you talk so much about Chihayafuru in your other videos, I finally watched it/read it, and thank you so much for recommending it! I'm not usually into sports series, but the way Suetsugu crafts her story truly made me invested in every single match, as well as in every one of the characters stories, minor or major. In particular, as an autistic person I related so much to Chihaya and Shinobu characters, they mean so much to me. This is now one of my favorite animangas.
I finished the anime and manga 2 days ago, and I AM UNWELL. I am praying for season 4, and official English prints for manga. Thank you for the video, made me cry multiple times. Chihayafuru is a really special story, and I am amazed at the talent of Yuki Suetsugu, just so much love put into it
It feels like a bad breakup when you finish but somehow your heart is still so full at the end 😭
I won't watch this video because even though I love the anime, I have not read the manga yet. Thank you for the spoiler warning. I'm so happy you love Chihayafuru so much, before you brought it up in your channel I felt like no one would talk about it. There's already so many people who have watched or read Chihayafuru because of you. Your love for Chihayafuru is so cute, I'm glad the author noticed your video.
there's a video coming out next week about the anime! 🥰
I really love this video! Chihayafuru was probably one of the first, if not the first shojo/josei series that I ever got into and seeing a long-form analysis on what makes it great put a smile on my face (I even teared up a bit at points). I really love your channel, as it gave me a greater appreciation for shojo than I had before.
Also, thank you for seeing Taichi the way I do, as I related to Taichi hard, more than any other fictional character before or even since. His self-loathing, his fear of being left behind, diving full force into karuta even though he didn't love it the way Chihaya and Arata did because he loved his friends that much, it all resonated with me and I'm grateful that someone else sees what I do, as I've felt so alone in seeing Taichi that way.
Also, I appreciate your take on the romance, as I wasn't too sure how to feel about Chihaya ending up with Taichi at the end, even as someone who shipped them hard during the anime's run. I felt that the author didn't quite stick the landing with them, but your analysis gave me an insight that I didn't think about. I still have mixed feelings about it, but I feel I can understand the authorial intent more.
Again, thanks for this analysis, and you've got another subscriber in me!
I just can`t help smiling and crying at the same time while watching your video. Chihayafuru is such a complex story where many different aspects are being considered. I totally agree that karuta is important to the story not only as a sport but also as a tool for characters to find themselves or understand each other deeper and better. Perfect video full of love for such a masterpiece. Thank you so much for this video!
Karuta Association must see this
Love me a bigass bomb-drop of a video essay
hell yeah, lessgetit
It's taken me over a year since you released it, but I finally finished the manga and almost immediately came to watch this video! thank you Colleen for sharing your love so passionately, of not only Chihayafuru, but manga in general!
I had to stop this vid at 15mins in. As the things you where say was hitting me hard in my own trauma around disconnection and losing what matters to you, that’s the 3rd time a video of yours about a manga has left me in tears. I will come back to this video when in a better head space. Thank you for doing what you do. Helping those find manga that they can find a home in.
I'm so sorry for making you cry that much 😭 gotta put more goofy sketches in to lighten the mood lol
@@ColleensMangaRecs no! Your videos are perfect.
Tell me why I started tearing up just from the intro omg your love for this manga is getting to me!
I watched the first 2 seasons of chihayafuru back in 2014-2015 but I was still a little tween back then with average english comprehension skills so a lot of its themes went over my head, but just seeing you talking about this series so passionately makes me want to rewatch it all again and check the manga.
Thank you for this heartfelt video
thank you so much!!! ❤❤
As audiophile(probably) I loved every aspect of anime ( and maybe the reason I am slowly going through manga). I loved the poem recitations, background music and specially how all voice actors were perfect. Both of the first confession scenes wouldn’t have that impact if they weren’t voiced by those people. One was happy and joyful, with hint of relief. Second one was painful and heartbreaking, the great mamoru miyano delivered more than seemed possible.
I am shy and feel embarrassed commenting on videos but i need to comment on this one! Your passion and love for the series ignited a spark in me (well I'm in between anime seasons and need something new to watch lol.)
I ended up watching all three seasons in like nine days and then speeding through the manga in maybe two. (I will go back and savour it more slowly) I was utterly captivated by this series. How is pretty much every single character in this series so complex and so likeable? And the relationships between everyone are equally enjoyable and complex??
As a woman in my 30s I think especially seeing the friendships/rivalries between the older women (sakurazawa and inokuma, yamashiro and kuzuryu) will hold a special place in my heart. Many tears were shed when they had moments together.
Absolute masterpiece of a video! The flood of emotions came rushing back as if I was reading Chihayafuru for the first time again 😭😭😭 Everytime I rewatch the show of reread the series I’ll come back to this video just so I can process my emotions lol
I loved watching chihayafuru, seeing this video in my recommended made me so happy. I'm so glad you're covering it
I only discovered your channel last month, and I was surprised by how little I know about sho-josei mangas despite being a female anime/manga lover. After your Chihayafuary announcement, I binge-read the complete Chihayafuru manga and wanted to compare notes. I am happy to learn about things I missed while reading Chihayafuru, like how you connected the main characters' background story to their character development, pointing out the parallels of the romance stories, and highlighting how Chihaya was also there for Taichi.
As for myself, three animes came to mind while reading the manga-Run with the Wind, March Comes in Like a Lion, and Haikyuu!! First, Run with the Wind centers around one question, "Why do you run?" and I can sense how this question echoed in Chihayafuru though it transforms to "Why do you play karuta?" Like the Run with the Wind characters, the Chihayafuru characters also have varied reasons for playing their sport, and I love how the mangaka validates all their reasons for playing. Second, Chihayafuru reminds me of March Comes in like a Lion because it humanizes its characters. As a reader, you get a sneak peek into their background, inspirations, and goals. There are matches where you do not know who to root for because, understanding their stories, you want everyone to win. Lastly, the Chihayafuru characters support one another to grow just as much as the characters in Haikyuu!! even though they compete with each other. In a reality where people commonly tear each other down to get on top, I love seeing an environment where players seek out each other for training and learn from one another.
Thank you so much for giving me the final push to read Chihayafuru. I cannot help but get sucked in by every character's story, specifically Taichi. Aside from seeing him finally enjoy karuta, his conversation with Kanade about roles and duty made him think about his life outside karuta. His identity revolves around supporting others in the community-Suou, Chihaya, and the Mizusawa karuta club-so studying at Kyoto University would give him independence to figure out aspects of his life outside karuta.
When you first released this, I paused the video right at the spoiler warning and went to go and buy the digital Kodansha releases. I love your videos and I couldn't stand not being able to watch this one!
I spent the next year reading it, finally finishing it last night. Not only could I now watch this video, I had just finished an undisputable masterpiece. It brought me so much comfort during the worst year of my life and helped me feel more connected to my loved ones, living and passed. Its just like you said at the start of this video that got me so interested: Chihayafuru is about connection.
Thank you so much for urging your viewers to read this series. I only finished it six hours ago and i feel like I'm still stunned and walking on air. Thank you for this video.
I'm so happy to know that this series has effected you the same way it has for me!!
So in love with this video, the content, the analysis, the editing (the soundtrack at the back brought me close to tears), the sheer love it expresses: it so brilliantly verbalized why this is one of my favorite series. I was just rereading parts of the series and by chance right after this video, I was reading chapter 152 after Mizusawa qualifies for the third nationals and Taichi thinks "I still wish for a companion with whom I could keep working hard on the tatami" and I felt...wow...that sentence is so many ways exemplifies everything this video talks about in terms of connection and journeys.
Special thanks to the Kana section 💗 I'm glad she had space to be praised on her own as she so well deserves
Outstanding video. Ive always made excuses for myself not accepting that chihayafuru is my favorite manga of all time thinking that there are more other shonen or seinen series better, but nothing compares to how much impact chihayafuru has given me growing up. Ive reread this series so much and has helped me grow and given me courage and passion for things i enjoy. Now i dont have to feel ashamed to call chihayafuru my all time fav thanks to this video
2:20 Giiirl, I just finished reading the extra chapter, and you just convinced me to read it from start again with just one phrase! I love these characters so much aaaah
I haven't read the manga but I've watched most of the anime and am not averse to spoilers so I couldn't help myself but watch the entire video. It's amazing just how much meaning and depth can come from something seemingly simple like a card game. As an autistic woman, I see aspects of myself in Chihaya and absolutely love how karuta becomes so important to her on so many levels. I've been slow to continue the series but this video made me want to watch and read the whole thing.
OH MY GOD YES ANOTHER CHIHAYAFURU FAN!!! I'm so so happy to see you expressing your love for this wonderful series! Chihayafuru hands down is one of my absolute favorites and I cannot recommend this series enough to people whenever I have the chance! You truly took the words right out of my mouth and explained it in such a beautiful manner! Thank you for showcasing your love for this amazing series also CONGRATS on the author seeing this video, you absolutely deserve it!
I got into Chihayafuru back when it started airing and I immediately fell with the story, the art, the characters, even the music. As I watched all 3 seasons of the anime, I decided to give the manga a try. Since its been years when Season 1 came out, I'd have to start at the very beginning. After getting caught up, I wanna see what happens next but since there was no legal way to read the latest chapter, the schedule release can be weird. I just hope Kodansha releases in physical form. Until then, I'm just gonna keep buying it in digital format. And I'm still waiting for Sentai Filmworks to release a collectors edition of Season 3. This is one of the best video essay I've ever watched and not many TH-camrs talk about Chihayafuru
You ooze passion. I'm not interested in shojo at all but after watching some of your vids I started reading 7seeds. You are amazing. Keep it up! Thank you for your work.
I discovered this manga recently and it became one of my faves immediately, I can't talk about taichi's character development without wanting to cry because it's just so relatable and well written...
i am so sad and happy after having watched this!! i had an insane love for chihayafuru when i was in middle school and chihaya, taichi, and arata's relationship and development really hit hard for me! i never read the manga but i am so happy to see how the series came to an end and what everyone achieved for themselves. i don't think I'll ever get over them
Two minutes in and i was already feeling so emotional. It’s been such a journey. What a wonderful analysis of this beloved story (i thought an hour was too long and planned to watch this in halves but said hour flashed by before i knew it??), thank you for making it! It makes me soft that this series is so special to many like it is to me. This really was our chihayafuru
As crazy as it may seem both chihayafuru and karuta were able to give me many, MANY new friends, new passion and ikigai - a reason to live in japanese. The caruta club in our city brings me so much joy and happiness that sometimes i think i do not deserve. Do not deserve to experience this amazing game that Chihaya, Taichi and Arata play. That's why i sincerely thank you for uploading this video, almost making me cry and spreading the love for the favourite series, truly beautiful poetry and unbelievably great game.
Also, it sounded like you were about to cry during the video yourself 😅 Thus, i strongly appreciate your level of commitment and thank you for being attached to Chihayafuru as much as i do.
Best wishes!
I’ve wanted to play Karuta so bad since starting to read this! I write TTRPGs but Chihayafuru made me want to come up with an English language version of the game
oh god. i am, like, 15 minutes in and already crying. started reading chihayafuru in 2013 and it's sooo special and dear to me. thank you so much for this! incredibly sharp writing and editing (as usual!) so far. just... clearly a labor of love. what a blessed video.
thank you so much 😭😭 this was definitely one of the biggest tasks I've taken on but it was so worth it in the end, just wanna spread the love for this manga.
girl I love you! I'm reading the manga and debating whether I want to see the end animated instead because I really enjoy how the show paces the games. I'll come back once I'm finished w the series!
thank you for this video.. I watched chihayafuru a long time ago.. this reminded me of my love for the anime.. I cheated and look for the ending of the manga.. and I'm so glad that the ending is the way it is.. now I need to start reading the manga.. 😊
Bravo Colleen 👏 This was a wonderful and very thoughtful love letter to a series that means so much to so many. When the ost played after the intro I got chills. You should be proud of this one and I'm definitely rewatching again 🙏
And to this day when I think of Shinobu's story and relationship with both her mother and grandmother it hits me like a ton of bricks 😭
Thank you so much for the appreciation!! Shinobu is truly one of the best rival characters in manga ❤❤
Colleen, I know you may not see this given that I'm a bit late to the party, but this video really made me want to get into Chihayafuru in any campacity.
What a beautiful homage... so lovingly produced and tenderly expressed. You should be immensely proud of this and yourself!
Chihayafuru is such an amazing manga!! it somehow managed to keep me invested in karuta and kept me guessing who Chihaya would end up with, truly a gem
Chefs kiss 💖
Your video made me tear up so many times my god ;; I love chihayafuru sm when I first started it and the finale was sincerely amazing so it makes me immensely happy to watch your essay and all the effort you poured in it
Suo makes me cry so much every time! Such an amazing character!!
Your intro really sold me on it.
I had this feeling when I finished 3-gatsu no Lion
Awww I'll definitely have to come back when I finish the series!!! I was already hooked on the video before I got to the spoiler warnings LOL
I just started reading Chihayafuru because you recommended it so often. I loved the first volume! Looking forward to reading all of it and then coming back and watching this video.
chihayafuru has been my favourite anime/manga since i saw the first episode of the anime 8years ago. i have been hoping for someone to write a video essay like this for years and see this beautiful piece of art celebrated like it deserves. i remember tearing up at every episode the first 2 times i watched it because of the power of chihayas passion for karuta and for her friends, and at both taichi and arata’s story arcs. the way i feel like we can all relate to different traits of the three main characters is just unrivalled in any other work. i LOVE how the poetry is integrated into the story in the most perfect of places. i love the art style, and i think it really adds to the characters too. honestly to me, it’s perfect in every way, and it will always hold a big space in my heart.
This was beautiful, Colleen! Your love for the series is clear to anyone who watches this 💖💖💖 Thank you for getting me and many other folks into Chihayafuru, I'm so glad I checked out the anime because of your recommendation!!
I've literally just finished this manga and I love it so much. I'm so satisfied with the ending. If it ever comes to print I'll definitely be buying it. Glad I waited to watch this video until I completed the manga so I avoided some of these spoilers.
So excited for this vid just because of how much I know you love this series, I can already tell this is going to be one you really put your all into and give that extra seasoning (that seasoning is love and tears)
Man, what a beautiful piece of art. I really need to read this manga because, wow, does all of this speak to the experience of growing up with autism and adhd, feeling this overwhelming passion for things that in turn makes you feel so alone. The emotion of wanting someone who loves the things you do as deeply as you, the euphoria that comes from being understood in a meaningful way amidst your isolation when anyone can nearly match your energy, speaks to me so loudly. Sometimes all you want, more than anything, is even just one other person who feels so strongly about the thing you've come to understand as important to who you are, someone who will look past the imperfections of passion and see you, in entirety, for all you really are. This video made me so emotional not even having read or watched this series because of that deeply relatable undertone of, sometimes you just need someone to see you. Sometimes the ultimate fantasy, is just someone who can match our pace and understand us when we are messy people just trying to survive
Thank you for your hard work as always, your effort and investment genuinely show so much
Thank you colleen for this phenomenal video. I love this series with all of my heart ❤❤❤
I want to thank you so much for introducing me to this amazing show❤
the way i cried for two days straight just from finishing the anime... i still have yet to catch up on the manga
Here to like and comment to appease the algorithm gods and show support! ❤️
(But will watch once I'm caught up on ChihayaFuru!! ❤️)
I want to thank you so much for introducing me to this series! I would never have watched it without your recommendation. Also thank you for helping me fall in love with manga again. I'm 30 years old this year and read a lot of manga when I was 12-20 but uni life, marriage and having a kid put a stop to it for a while. It's been a wonderful journey back in manga world and I give you all the credit for helping me find loads of manga to read. Hope you continue making videos for a very long time ☺️
So looks like I finally need to pick this up. Fantastic video and I really look forward to reading this !
OH M YGOD A CHIHAYAFURU VIDEO YES LETS GOOO
Oh thank you so much Colleen for making this video...I feel you expressed the love we all have for this manga is an excellent way. It really deserves this attention!!! 🤗💓💓💓
So glad this manga is getting the recognition it deserves. ❤
Colleen, your videos and tweets convinced me to read Chihayafuru last year, and I'm really grateful that you did. What a wonderful series, and what a great homage you created here with this. Thanks for sharing your passion the past year, I'm so happy I discovered you!
I’m not the biggest card series fan, I have my favorites yugi-oh and maybe highcard once the current season is over but hearing your passion about Chihayafuru I have to give it a shot.Besides your recommendations haven’t failed me so far
Had to comment on first 5 seconds. Starting with that phrase, it never fails to send chills down my spine. “ Naniwa bay…” ❤
Saving this for after I finish reading the manga ✌🏽
This is a great video! You sound so incredibly happy when talking about this series!! The series is a masterpiece and I love listening to you talking about it so passionately. Beautiful manga, beautiful video. Thanks!
I love chihayafuru, really happy can watch this video. I still waiting season 4.
aaah such a perfect video ;-;
Excellent work! This is really amazing! Your love and passion shines through! Got me teary eyed by the end there ^_^
you and me both lol
I waited to watch this video until finished the manga and i finally did last night! And wow you did such a phenomenal job capturing what i felt when reading the manga. Thank you for introducing me to one of my favorite mangas!!
I love everything about the series, the anime the books, I still need to finish a lot of the book series. Thank you though for making a video on Chihayafuru though.
Uuuurrrrggghhh! I still haven’t re-rewatched the anime, which is one of my favourite things in the world, because I’m trying to interest my son in it so we can watch it together. But your essay on the manga will be the first thing I watch after I get that settled. I have little doubt that it will be worth waiting for.
Colleen, the love and passion you put into this video made me smile and cry at the same time ✨ You made me pick up Chihayafuru again and everything you talked about in this video hit everything why Chihayafuru is one of those enduring stories. 💛 Thank u very much!!! 💛💛💛
saw your tiktok and decided to watch this. one of the best video essays i've ever watched
thank you very much 😘
It took me some time to finally watch this video, and I am so glad I finally did. It is incredibly heartfelt, beautiful, and warm, full of your love and passion for Chihayafuru. It make me also realize how important Taichi and Arata are in Chihaya's life, but also, who loved her the most in the end. It is a story full of relationships, connections, and the joys of seeing happiness at its highs, the sorrows at its lows, and the perseverance to keep moving forward for what you love and care about the most. It also is incredibly poetic, as everything falls into place beautifully.
I have only recently finished Chihayafuru after starting it for the first time years ago with its final chapter, and man, was it a worthy ride. I hope to sometime reread it again to experience again the ups and downs of this series. Aha.
And in a way, this series reminds me of Hikaru no Go, which is fundamentally similar and different to Chihayafuru and is interesting in its own way. Aha. But that's besides the point.
Thank you so much for your video and love letter to Chihayafuru. It was a pleasure to listen to and watch from start to finish.
Colleen you did an amazing job! I only watched this anime bc you had said you were doing a video on it and I wanted to be able to understand and I’m so glad I did. I have never heard of Chihayafuru until I came across your channel. I had no idea what I was gonna get pulled into, I finished watching the three seasons of it in one week (that’s a lot of anime for me) but I was just SO hooked. I loved the growth and complicated aspects of relationships the anime tells, they were some moments that were funny that actually made me laugh out loud and I didn’t know I could be so obsessed w high schoolers playing a card game 🥲 tbh I’m glad I kinda find out what happens thru your video bc idk how long it will be until they release season 4. Taichi was my favorite character bc he was the one I related the most too and never really understand all the hate towards him (ppl on crunchyroll were not a fan of him) so it made me happy that I wasn’t the only one who understood him
Thank you so much for this in depth video of one your favorites
AHHHHH i always wanted to get into this series, this must be a sign to do it asap T_T wonderful video as always!!!
Great essay, Colleen! It's understandable your deep love for this manga. I'll give it a shot just because of the passion you put in this video. I know you're still mourning the end of this manga, but when you are ready, please try reading Kono oto tomare! I won't claim it's at Chihayafuru level, because I haven't read Chihaya, but I can tell you it's also a masterpiece in storytelling and character development. And also, you'll find out how beautiful the sound of koto is. Believe me, it's worth it. Thank you so much
Just want to give engagement to the video❤
thanks for introducing me to the series! its very well written, and really fun and easy to be invested in
This video almost got me tearing up at work today, wonderful vid
the copious amount of tears is so real
oh this is brilliant thank u colleen!
Lovely video and a really great show that means a lot to me also. Great job!
refusing to watch this video bc i’m only just now finishing season one but you’re the ONLY person i’ve seen talk about this show and i need to know where i can read the manga once i’m finished with it or else i’ll cry 😭
Kodansha has it available digitally up to volume 42!! Once you end season 3 you can start around chapter 138 or volume 27-28
I came across this video after Yuki sensei tweeted about it..And i absolutely loved your video Colleen..I hope that more chihayafuru lovers will watch this video.
Thank you so much!
I'll be back after I finish reading it. You are doing a great job keep it up
Such a good video. And chihayafuru is goated
amazing video! time to rewatch and reread i think!
Thanks for the heads up, I’ll go read it first 👍🏼 Watched the anime when it aired, so going in basically blind ❤
Bravissimo! Excellent work! I haven't read the manga and seen only a few episodes of the anime, however I have played the Karuta game, when I was in high school. It is one of those games that gets you. Though I am more of a shogi person. Your exposition does rouse curiosity and portrays a compelling story, I think all expectations for this essay have been met! At least I know, I have a new item to my must read list. Perhaps it can help me in my quest to write something satisfying for my cat's standard -- he is a harsh critic. lol. Once again, great presentation!
I won't be watching because I don't wanna get spoiled. I'm still holding on to hope that it will be released in English so I can buy it and read it then. But I'm dropping a like and a comment for the engagement, may the algorithm gods bless your hard work. 🙏
appreciate the thought! if you're anime only, I got a video for you coming soon 🤗
I watched the season one dub and wasn't grabbed. But I am here ready to be persuaded to give it another go. A bunch of reviewer I love talk about how great it is! In short I'm super excited for this video! And ready to be spoiled!