Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY

I would!

When I'm around her,

I can't help but be reminded

that I'm one of the losers.

So you play karuta, then?

Let's…

have a game sometime.

If I could beat her at just one thing,

then maybe I would cry

like the girls from the karuta club.

Miss Oe.

Who is this Chihaya?

KARUTA QUEEN! CHIHAYA AYASE

Chihaya is this person right here.

I've seen her somewhere…

2020

COMPETITIVE KARUTA EXPERIENCE

So pretty.

Hey! You two young ladies over there!

Could it be

that you're interested in karuta?

Oh, no.

-Huh? -We just thought the kimono was pretty.

Huh?

I see.

If you start competitive karuta, you'll be legally…

"Legal" is an odd word.

Basically, you'll get to wear lots of kimonos.

My friend can help you with the kimono dressing.

Anyway, it's happening next month,

so be sure to come along if you're interested.

Here you are. Invite your friends too.

It's in the public hall just down there. Okay?

All right.

Hope to see you there. Bye!

-Sounds fun. -Yeah!

-Wanna go together? -Let's!

The entrance exams will be over by then.

I thought that too.

Okay, let's go.

-I can't wait. -Me neither.

I wonder what'd suit me.

What color kimono would look good?

Maybe white's my color.

Yeah. Maybe pink for me.

The shallows run swift

And so even if they part As they hit the rocks

It shall not be very long

Until they meet once again

Let's leave it there for today.

All right.

IT SHALL NOT BE VERY LONG UNTIL THEY MEET ONCE AGAIN

A river's current…

even if split in two by a rock,

is destined to be one again.

They're on your mind, aren't they? The people you left back in Tokyo.

No.

Ding-ding! Nakanishi quiz time.

What do you think the most important thing for a reader is?

Let's see.

I suppose

it's to enunciate each syllable well,

especially the identifying part, so players can hear you well.

Uh-uh! Incorrect.

That's important, but not the most important.

So what is, then?

Impartiality.

Impartiality?

Competitive karuta is a small world.

You're likely to read at friends' and students' games sometimes.

When that happens, letting your emotions come to the fore

and giving one side an advantage

is the most shameful thing a reader can do.

Be as invisible as possible

and continue to be impartial in each and every situation.

That is our greatest duty as readers.

To put it another way,

It is at such times that a reader's worth is truly challenged.

Well, that's it for lunch. Let's head back to the office.

Yes, Ms. Nakanishi.

CHIHAYAFURU: FULL CIRCLE

MIZUSAWA HIGH SCHOOL

POEM SEVEN: THE SHALLOWS RUN SWIFT

KARUTA CLUB

All right!

Take a look, freshmen.

BATTLE OF FATE

When each player has one card left in their territory like so,

it's called a "battle of fate."

Who knows why it's called that?

-Me! -Go ahead.

-It's the person you're fated to be with. -How romantic! But incorrect.

-Me! -Go ahead.

Because it's down to luck.

And why do we say it's down to luck?

The answer is

because whoever has the card that's read out almost always wins.

It's always easier to cover your own card than reach for your opponent's, right?

Anyway, it'll be quicker to show you.

Let's give it a try.

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

The waterfall's sound

Yay!

I'm kind of bummed out, even though it's just practice.

As you just saw, guarding your own card in a battle of fate is the standard tactic,

but, of course, it's also fine to go for your opponent's, like so.

It reveals its full glory

The waterfall's sound

Yes!

In most cases like this, the player moves without listening,

so it's an all-or-nothing gamble.

This could determine the result of an entire team game,

so it takes serious guts.

Right on this corner here…

That's a no-no.

Pretend the camera isn't there.

We want natural footage.

Right. Sorry.

You got told off!

Shut up, Oto. Or I'll stop fixing your blazer buttons.

-No! -Huh? Where did that former member go?

-Huh? -What?

I agreed to look after Mizusawa while Miss Ayase's away

because I heard Mr. Mashima would be helping out, too,

but he never shows up at all!

This isn't what I signed up for.

What am I even here for?

I wish they would've told me about the film crew.

I came in a dang tracksuit since Mr. Mashima's never here!

Miss Hanano!

The director's looking for you.

At last, my time to shine.

Coming! Hanano here!

I'd like to start shooting the interviews.

Yes, certainly.

Oh…

I didn't mean you.

Please tell us why you joined the karuta club.

I saw Miss Nagi's videos, and it looked really cool.

I was also invited by Miss Nagi.

She gave me the hard sell as well.

Me too. Miss Nagi gave me a flyer, and before I knew it…

Stop it, all of you! You're making me sound like a weirdo!

You're not a weirdo. Just karuta crazy.

I was also bewildered by your pushiness at first.

Hey! You're both meanies, Oto and Kota!

Sorry.

Are you coming in?

Now there are two of us!

Just like Miss Ayase.

Okay, next person.

Well, as for me,

I wanted to wear a kimono,

and I couldn't decide between archery club and tea ceremony club,

but I settled on karuta club!

Was he here before?

We have so many new members, I don't know everyone's faces yet.

There's something familiar about him.

If you're going to wear one, you want it to be a pretty one, right?

I like karuta too, of course.

Cute kimonos and karuta…

It's a match made in heaven!

-Okay. -It's like it's made for me.

That's plenty now. Thanks. Right.

Okay, shall we move on to the next group?

The way teachers looked at me was so…

Hey, you there.

It sounds like you've got more to say, so let's hear the rest of it.

Thank you.

What was she like?

Solid karuta with few mistakes, as expected.

Mine was like that too.

Maybe it's the advisor's policy.

We should report this to Sota.

Still, though, I never expected Sota to come out with that.

I'm going to stop competing

and focus on management.

Stop competing?

Do you mean that?

You can play now, Haru Bun.

You all got promoted.

A freshman we can count on joined.

We're so much stronger than we were back at the start.

But we're still nowhere near a match

for the best schools in Tokyo.

If we're going to win the Tokyo qualifier,

taking them head-on with our skill alone isn't viable.

What should we do, then?

Gather intelligence and consider our strategy.

Now that Miss Oe's gone,

I'm the only one who can do that.

I'll keep training as a reserve player, of course.

That way, I can step in if necessary.

Firstly, I want to get more data on other schools.

I'd like you to split up and train with other schools.

Whether it's players to look out for or their overall play style,

tell me anything you find out.

We need to live up to Sota's decision.

Yeah.

Save me, guys!

I've been arrested on suspicion of espionage. Boo-hoo.

It sounds like Mr. Yakumo snuck into Mizusawa.

The last place we should go, and the one person who should never go.

That's Yaku Moku for you.

He probably just wanted to make himself useful somehow.

But it backfired.

The situation's bad,

but they look oddly relaxed.

Maybe we should go apologize.

Good session.

It should really be me who goes, but…

Mr. Yono and I still have matches to play after this.

Me and Chieri too.

Meaning… me, right?

You're kidding me.

I did my best to argue against it.

"I don't want to go to such underhanded lengths," I said.

But the older members yelled at me.

"You get your butt to Mizusawa first," they said.

What?

"Don't think you can run away."

"Losing isn't an option for our ace."

Oh, and also,

"Watch yourself when you're out at night."

Umezono's scary!

You've had such a hard time, Yakumon!

Whatever happened to law and order?

Death?

No! Don't film this.

I don't know what it is, but I don't think you should film.

This is power harassment, 100%!

All right! Let's report this to someone. The courts!

I have a relative who's a lawyer.

Okay! Let's fight them together!

Right!

What is going on here?

Mr. Shirano!

You came to pick me up?

Yeah.

Please accept our sincere apologies for our younger member's behavior.

You're leaving? Are you sure?

They'll beat him up if he doesn't take our intel back.

-Here. I made him myself. -Beat him up?

Take him with you.

Thank you so much!

I only have these for you right now.

This is like a home away from home!

What is this?

Come back anytime if anything happens. Here.

Thank you.

If you bully our Yakumon,

you'll pay for it.

Right.

We'll be more careful.

By the way,

is Mr. Orie not here today?

Kenshin? He's out training somewhere else.

Something about us not being good enough practice.

He's training with someone Miss Ayase introduced him to, apparently.

Is there anyone who could teach Mr. Kenshin anything?

And we told him we wanted to do some team game practice today.

I know.

Who's not here?

Kenshin!

Oh? What are you doing here?

Hello. We were just leaving.

Yakumo.

Well, then.

Huh?

Huh?

Leaving so soon, after coming all this way?

You did come here to gather intelligence, didn't you?

In Naniwa Bay Behold how the flower blooms

After winter's sleep

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

Hear how the waves crash…

Are you for real?

Wow.

Just as I thought.

You're good.

I was wondering though, Mr. Yono. Is this really what you want?

What?

To be the manager.

At that last tournament,

I became sure of it.

Sure? Of what?

Miss Aizawa and Miss Murata's potential.

They're both C-class now, like me.

But they're going to get even better.

Besides, Fuki's no slouch either.

Mr. Shirano?

You saw it too, Haru Bun.

How he swept that card away in the Adore game.

Just as fast as Mr. Orie.

Right. Last year, he was only a beginner, and he already sweeps like that.

He's a real natural.

Fuki may well turn out to be Umezono's secret weapon.

And of Tatsuta's river

It makes a colored brocade

Oh yeah! This is when the concert band club have practice.

We let them have this time slot for this month.

Too bad.

Well, let's all go for a picnic. It can double as a welcome party.

Isn't that a bit much?

Not at all. I can't let anything happen to Umezono's player.

There. All done.

This is amazing. It's so easy to move in.

Right? It's a common taping method for karuta.

I never knew about that.

One of our former members is studying to be a doctor. He showed me it.

You have all sorts of ex-members, huh?

Um…

Where's Meguru today?

Aizawa's out scouting someplace…

So you are here scouting! I knew something seemed off.

-You didn't hear that. -Got it.

Huh? Do you two know each other?

Yeah.

Childhood friends, I guess.

We lived next door to each other from birth and always got along great.

We went to kindergarten, school, everywhere together.

We even wore the same clothes. People said we were like real sisters.

-Our families vacationed together too. -Wow. That's quite the bond.

I thought we'd stay that way right into adulthood.

But then my family moved away, and we got separated.

So it's a coincidence that you both play karuta now?

I guess so.

I don't know.

It's karuta that brought you back together in high school,

so it must be fate.

Fate…

Right.

Maybe it is fate.

Pop by our alumni's clinic on your way home

and get it looked at properly.

-I'll call him. -Will do. Thanks.

See you later.

Or not yet. Yakumon's still here.

He looked like he was having fun. Can he stay a little longer?

If that's not a problem.

Not for us.

-Could you tell him I left? -Sure thing.

-See you at the Tokyo qualifier, then. -See you.

MEGURU: CAPTAIN MARUYAMA IS TOUGH!! BUT I THINK WE CAN WIN!

CHIERI: I'LL SEND MY NOTES TOO!

20 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO QUALIFIER

LET'S WIN THIS THING!

How's your stamina holding up?

I'm A-class, so just fine, thanks.

-Let's up the pace, guys! -Okay!

19 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO QUALIFIER

16 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO QUALIFIER

Thank you.

14 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO QUALIFIER

How do we handle a player like this?

Don't shy away. Take the fight to them.

10 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO QUALIFIER

7 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO QUALIFIER!

YANAKA HIGH SCHOOL

Thanks to your work, we've gathered a lot of data.

Additionally, I've come up with a strategy with Mr. Komano's help.

In a nutshell, it's about predicting playing order.

-Predicting playing order? -Yes.

The order in which a team deploys players changes the odds drastically.

Shall we simulate a game against Mizusawa as an example?

We'll begin by considering Umezono's ability.

Umezono's strongest player is A-class Yakumo,

followed by B-class Shirano

and Okuyama.

Then there's C-class Yono, Miss Aizawa, and Miss Murata.

There's your form on the day and stylistic matchups, too,

but this is just for reference.

As for Mizusawa,

A-class Orie is their strongest player.

After him, it's A-class Miss Yoshino.

Followed by B-class Miss Tsukiura,

Shinohara, and Niwano.

If we pit our strongest players against theirs in descending order…

We'll probably all lose, right?

Right.

But if Yakumo's opponent

is Mizusawa's Shinohara…

A B-class.

I could probably win.

Yes. There's a high chance of us taking a win.

And if Fuki faces Niwano…

there's a fifty-fifty chance that we get another win.

By the same logic, Orie--

Should be made to play a C-class like me or Chieri.

A sacrificial lamb, huh?

Don't take it personally.

Yeah, we get it!

So the same for A-class Miss Yoshino, right?

And the remaining match between me and Miss Tsukiura is a toss-up.

So then what happens?

Incredible!

We'd have a chance!

If we can predict their playing order,

we can put up a good fight against even the toughest opposition.

It's a legit strategy for team games.

You actually won the All Japan using this method, didn't you?

That's right.

I remember arguing with my teammates when they asked me to be the sacrifice.

We don't talk about that.

I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

We can do it. We can do it, guys!

Yes.

Okay, shall we try simulations for other schools?

Me! I want to predict their playing order!

Let me do it.

Okay, next up is…

3 DAYS UNTIL THE TOKYO QUALIFIER!

I came across karuta when I was a grade-schooler.

B-CLASS CHAMPION NAGI TSUKIURA

There was a karuta taster at the local public hall,

so a good friend and I went together.

Hello--

Oh?

What's the matter?

Coming in?

Then let's take this card, shall we?

The same person is now Mizusawa's club advisor.

Three, two, one…

Then I fell in love with karuta…

FEATURE: TOP COMPETITIVE KARUTA CLUB'S DREAM OF CONSECUTIVE ALL JAPAN VICTORY

…and met my teammates at Mizusawa's karuta club.

Right now, my biggest dream is for us to win the All Japan Championship.

NAGI TSUKIURA THIRD-YEAR, MIZUSAWA HIGH SCHOOL

NEW FRIENDS

And with those new friends who share that dream…

It's me!

-Why are you in the uniform? -A friend lent me it.

-Impressive! -I'm thorough.

Mizusawa High School's campaign goes on.

Awesome.

So they do news stories on you if you win the All Japan.

Yes.

And I suppose Mr. Yakumo's a Mizusawa freshman.

-Yep! -It was seriously hairy.

Mizusawa just keep taking it to the next level.

Oh yeah, seeing that reminded me of something.

Yeah?

I met Miss Tsukiura.

What? Where?

That day I went to collect Yakumo.

She said you were always close? Next-door neighbors too.

Yeah.

That friend she talked about going to the karuta taster with on TV…

It was you, wasn't it?

Probably.

Probably?

Yeah.

I… didn't go.

What?

I didn't go.

We'd arranged to go together,

but then I flunked the entrance exam.

Who'd have thought all that time and money would just go down the drain?

COMPETITIVE KARUTA EXPERIENCE

Morning!

I'm so excited for the karuta taster.

Right.

Apparently, the teacher is the Queen of Karuta.

What's up, Meguru?

Meguru! Wait, Meguru.

Wait.

The public hall's that way.

Congrats on passing the exam, Nagi.

You're moving away, right?

Yeah.

But we'll still be friends, won't we?

Is there really such a thing

as being friends forever?

We're fated to be apart now.

Why did you push her away like that?

The two of us did absolutely everything together.

Kindergarten. Grade school.

Cram school. Swimming. English.

Gymnastics. Abacus and piano too.

Whatever we did, Nagi was always better than me.

FIRST: NAGI TSUKIURA

"Nagi, you're amazing," they'd say.

When we were little, I could live with that.

But as we got older,

people started comparing us.

It was so little.

The gap between us was so small.

But I just couldn't close it.

At some point,

something inside of me

couldn't handle it anymore when they called Nagi amazing.

I got in!

It really hurt me

to be next to Nagi.

When I heard she was moving away,

I was relieved, to be honest.

Even when I'm around Nagi now,

it makes me feel so pathetic somehow.

It's like a Pavlovian response or something.

I see.

Sorry. This got a little weird.

I'll stop now.

I'm glad I got to hear it.

Yeah.

Thanks.

Let's win the Tokyo qualifier.

Yeah.

It's our last shot in high school.

TOKYO QUALIFIER TODAY!

46TH ALL JAPAN HIGH SCHOOL KARUTA CHAMPIONSHIP

TOKYO QUALIFIER

We'll give it our all!

You okay, Fuki?

Calm down.

-Calm down and keep your cool. -Yeah. It's you who needs to calm down.

I am calm.

-You calm down. -Mr. Shirano.

I'm clueless about this, so you'll have to fill me in.

I got you, buddy!

Hey, Chieri!

Yuki! What are you doing here?

Oh, I just happened to be passing by.

Here.

What is it?

I heard this stuff was good for karuta. Since you'll have no time to eat.

So you weren't just passing by.

Shut up.

See you around.

You won't stay and watch?

We've got practice.

Guys.

I'm sorry.

Sota!

-I'm sorry. -We're sorry.

We're sorry we didn't win.

Here we are again, huh?

Yep.

I never imagined

that I'd be standing here again.

Thank you, Miss Aizawa.

Maybe it's a little early for that.

We're just getting started.

Right.

2025 A-CLASS OFFICIAL READERS' SCREENING VENUE

YOU: I'M SORRY I COULDN'T GO TO THE QUALIFIER WITH YOU!

MEGURU: IT'S OKAY! YOU JUST FOCUS ON YOUR OWN THING TODAY!

CHIERI: WE'RE SURE TO WIN, SO YOU GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT TOO!

YOU: THANK YOU. LET'S ALL DO OUR VERY BEST!

Will those taking part in the screening please step inside for a briefing?

Yes.

Was it two schools from Tokyo that can go to the All Japan?

That's right, since Tokyo has a high number of competing schools.

The winner of the first qualifier today will be Tokyo's first team.

TOKYO PREFECTURE'S FIRST TEAM

The losers go into a repechage to decide the second team.

LEAGUE OF FOUR TO DETERMINE TOKYO PREFECTURE'S SECOND TEAM

It's Hokuoh.

So you play karuta, then?

Let's…

have a game sometime.

Guys!

Let's all wear these today.

I made them.

-Headbands? -Here.

Thank you.

UMEZONO

Totes adorbs, no?

You want us to wear these in our matches today?

Yes.

Shall we save them till we've checked out the other schools?

Yes.

-And now the opening ceremony. -Let's go.

-Let's go. -Please line up.

That's cold.

On behalf of all the players here,

I vow to play fairly and play hard for every last card,

in the spirit of karuta.

Kenshin Orie of Mizusawa High School,

players' representative, May 24, 2025.

And to conclude, the declaration from the tournament president.

Over to you, President.

That's the Meijin!

As in the Master?

My name is Arata Wataya…

and I have the honor of presiding over this tournament.

I… still have much to learn both as a person

and a human…

Aren't they the same thing?

The Meijin's nervous.

Anyway, never mind that.

I also entered this very tournament for the first time

in my last year of high school…

and lost spectacularly.

I regretted that I didn't take team games more seriously

and sooner.

That's why

I want to tell all of you…

that though regret might not fix your past choices…

you can still turn them

into the right choices.

Use all the tools at your disposal today

to make them the right choices.

I now declare the Tokyo qualifier

of the 46th All Japan High School Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Karuta Championship

underway.

The lots will now be drawn,

if representatives from each school will please gather round.

Hokuoh High School, number 7.

All right.

Get us a good one, Mr. Yono.

Please let my investment in virtue pay off.

Thank you.

Umezono High School, number 6.

That's…

It can't be…

You're kidding me.

5: MIZUSAWA HIGH SCHOOL 6: UMEZONO HIGH SCHOOL

Huh? What is it? What does this mean?

We've drawn the favorites in the first round.

What?!

Sorry, guys.

I drew us the final boss.

No, Sota.

We have to face them sooner or later to go to Omi Shrine.

-What? -She's right.

-Yes. It's true -We just have to win.

So, Sota,

we're gonna need some darn good predictions, please.

Right.

I'll try.

Miss Tsukiura being A-class is unexpected.

Now Mizusawa have even fewer vulnerabilities.

They'll probably shake up their usual order.

If only we had some kind of clue…

Sota.

-Huh? -I might have got one.

A hint.

We got a bye in the first round,

but let's watch the teams we could face later.

All right. Heads in the game, guys.

Right!

Here you are. Thank you.

We will now hold the first round. All teams in place, please.

Okay.

-This is ours to win, guys. -Right.

-Here we go, Umezono! -Yeah!

-Go get 'em. -Okay.

We're counting on you, Yaku Moku.

What's up?

I've… never played

a competitive team game before.

Huh?

Oh boy, talk about bad luck,

drawing the favorites right off the bat.

Absolutely. I hope they're all doing okay.

They acted like it's nothing, but…

Getting Mizusawa right off the bat

is a raw deal for sure.

But those guys…

No, Sota.

We have to face them sooner or later to go to Omi Shrine.

They acted like it was no big deal, just for my sake.

So at the very least,

I want to get the order right.

Please!

Let my investment pay off!

Announcing the order.

Number 1. Umezono High School, Miss Aizawa.

Yes.

Mizusawa High School, Orie.

What the…?

You thought we'd fall for that?

Number 2. Umezono High School, Okuyama.

Yes.

Mizusawa High School, Shinohara.

Yes.

All right.

Number 3. Umezono High School, Miss Murata.

Yes.

-Mizusawa High School, Miss Yoshino. -Yes.

Yes! Just as I predicted.

Number 4. Umezono High School, Shirano.

Yes.

-Mizusawa High School, Niwano. -Yes.

Sick!

Number 5. Umezono High School, Yakumo.

Yes.

Mizusawa High School, Miss Tsukiura.

Yes.

It's perfect!

What do you mean?

Now that Mizusawa has three A-class players,

we have to beat at least one A-class.

The only one of us who can do that is Yakumo, who's also A-class.

After that, our only way to victory was to pair Fuki and Haru Bun

with their B-class players in two fifty-fifty matches.

And it worked out that way?

Yes!

Incredible, Yono!

I just did what I could.

All we can do now is pray.

Now please deal the cards.

Let's have a good game.

Let's have a good game.

Let's have a good game.

In Naniwa Bay

Behold how the flower blooms

After winter's sleep

Let's go, Umezono!

Right!

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

And now, with spring's arrival

It reveals its full glory

Subtitle translation by: Lewis Williams