Here in Australia, we have been able to purchase and watch the shoujo anime series Chihayafuru for some time – kudos of our local anime publisher Siren Visual. Both seasons are what I have considered to be “Australian Exclusive English Releases” – namely because it has only been possible to buy English-localised editions Down Under. But like other series such as Dennou Coil and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai – the regional exclusivity of Chihayafuru is coming to an end. And given how great the series is… this is fantastic news!
In an announcement made earlier today by North American anime publisher Sentai Filmworks, it was confirmed that the company have acquired the North American rights to both seasons. These seasons will be available through select video-on-demand services soon, and will be followed by a home video release at a later date. Given this is an older series, I assume the series could be arriving on store shelves sometime in Early-2017.
Chihayafuru is an anime adaptation of the original manga written by Yuki Suetsugu – which in Japan currently spans an impressive 33 volumes. Befitting the volume count, this adaptation consists of 50 episodes spread across two 25-episode seasons. The series itself was directed by Morio Asaka (Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, My Love Story!!), with animation production by Madhouse (My Love Story!!, No Game, No Life, One-Punch Man).
Haven’t heard of Chihayafuru? Check out its official synopsis below:
Chihaya Ayase is a beautiful and headstrong young woman with a passion for karuta, a card game inspired by classical Japanese poetry. As a child, Chihaya was introduced to the game by a quiet, gifted transfer student named Arata, and she was instantly drawn to it. Now in high school and reunited with her childhood friend Taichi, Chihaya dreams of finding Arata and the three resuming their love of karuta, only to discover that Arata has quit the game due to personal reasons. Determined not to let Arata’s passion go to waste, Chihaya and Taichi form the Mizusawa High School Karuta Club, where they learn that in karuta – as in life – working toward your dreams is the key to winning, even when what you want seems just out of reach.
