Chihayafuru

Chihayafuru is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuki Suetsugu. It follows the story of Chihaya Ayase, a high school girl who becomes passionate about the traditional Japanese card game called karuta. The series explores themes of friendship, competition, and personal growth as Chihaya and her friends strive to improve their skills and compete in national tournaments. The title “Chihayafuru” references the traditional waka poem format, with “Chihaya” being a character associated with the card game and “furu” referring to the game’s poetic connections. The narrative combines elements of sports manga with a deep appreciation for Japanese culture, particularly the art of poetry and memory challenges involved in karuta.