The Movie 'Chihayafuru' Was a Better Japanese Film Than I'd Imagined

A guy nearly 28 — an old dude, basically — got moved by a Japanese film for the first time in ages.

By “Chihayafuru,” a movie based on a manga/anime I’d never seen.

I’d been hearing a lot of “the Chihayafuru movie is so good!!” buzz, sure.

But it was even better than I expected.

People who’d read the manga and watched the anime also rated it highly, so the adaptation must be solid.

So I wrote this report because I want everyone to go see it in the theater.

I saw Part 1 (“Kami no Ku”) at Human Trust Cinema Shibuya.

It’s the theater right below Gold’s Gym Shibuya, which I’ve been frequenting lately.

Being Shibuya, the audience was mostly girls in their teens and early 20s, and watching it as a duo of older guys was honestly a bit rough.

The content itself is a textbook coming-of-age drama, and the venue was optimized for the same — peak youth atmosphere. (I ended up seeing Part 2 at TOHO Nihonbashi. The crowd was way more chill.)

And about the actual competitive karuta — honestly, I only knew it as "oh, that hyakunin-isshu thing we did in middle school." I had no real knowledge of it. And as for Suzu Hirose, my only impression was that she was a promising young actress with absurdly good soccer skills.

↑ Dribbling that doesn't look like a beginner's

So with extremely low expectations going in, I was instantly pulled into the world of Chihayafuru by the beauty of the visuals and sound right at the opening.

The vivid red of Chihaya’s kimono (played by Suzu Hirose) against the fresh green of the tatami.

And then that crisp, powerful theme song that also leaves you with a touch of melancholy.

It’s been a while since an opening drew me in this much.

A Beautiful, Delicate Coming-of-Age Sports Drama

When a movie is built around an up-and-coming young actress and actor, it tends to default to a youthful romance (and sure enough, almost every trailer before Chihayafuru was a youth romance…). But Chihayafuru is a pure coming-of-age sports movie.

Sure, there’s a nicely-handled love triangle, but overall it’s kept in good proportion.

You’d think it’s all about the three main characters, but it doesn’t stop there — and that’s part of what makes this movie work so well.

The other characters’ stories are also carefully drawn. Yuma Yamoto as Yusei Nishida is a great character, and Mone Kamishiraishi as Kanade Oe conveys the appeal of poetry handed down for a thousand years — keeping the film from being just “tatami combat.”

[Yuki Morinaga](https://www.google.co.jp/#q=%E6%A3%AE%E6%B0%B8+%E6%82%A0%E5%B8%8C) as Tsutomu Komano (a.k.a. "Tsukue-kun") also turns out to be a great catalyst for the team's growth later on.

And as for Mackenyu playing Arata Wataya — he’s just absurdly good-looking.

Like, unfairly so.

Turns out he’s Sonny Chiba’s son.

Shuhei Nomura, playing main character Taichi Mashima… I kind of wished his acting was a bit stronger, but the casting choice — not just going with a Johnny’s idol — was nice.

And then Suzu Hirose.

I’d never seen her in TV dramas or “Our Little Sister,” so this was my first time seeing her act — and her pure, innocent, single-mindedly karuta-loving character felt so natural that you couldn’t tell she was acting. She’s seriously good.

Her voice especially.

That sobbing “Taichiiii” was just adorable. Also, the updo hairstyle suited her even more than the bob or the long hair.

Elegantly Drawn Contrasts: “Whole” vs. “Individual,” “Stillness” vs. “Motion”

The phrase “Tsunagare!” (“Connect!”) comes up a few times.

The theme song that plays during the OP and key scenes is even called “Tsunagare! Tsunagare!! Tsunagare!!!” — and it captures the worldview of this movie.

Three childhood friends who started karuta as kids, still connected even after life pulls them apart.

Through that same karuta, their world expands, and they connect with new comrades who also love it.

On top of that worldview, Part 1 portrays the team battles and Part 2 emphasizes individual matches. That contrast between “the whole” and “the individual” is handled beautifully.

Here’s the theme song ↓ — that mix of speed and a touch of melancholy hits my sweet spot, and I ended up buying it on iTunes lol.

つながれ つながれ! つながれ!!
カテゴリ: サウンドトラック

And within the constraints of a few tatami mats and being seated, the contrast between “stillness” and “motion” is also expressed beautifully and powerfully.

Apparently, advanced karuta players can identify the poem from the very first consonant of the opening line and reach for the card.

The taut tension and silence before the poem is read aloud.

And then, in stark contrast, that explosive speed and the loud snap of hand on tatami.

That tension comes through vividly thanks to slow-motion and the music — it was overwhelming.

The film rhythmically alternates between this stillness and motion, weaving in the team’s narrative and the inner lives of the players.

The Pure, Burning Feelings We Forget as Adults

Having now watched Part 2 as well, I feel like I’ve met a coming-of-age movie that’s going to stick with me for a long time.

Anyone who did club activities in school can relate — pouring yourself fully and earnestly into something is going to involve setbacks, pain, and frustration.

But the process of growth and the sense of accomplishment? Those are insanely fun.

As you become an adult, it’s easy to forget that feeling.

The Chihayafuru movie shows a coming-of-age drama so dazzling that it’s almost painful for us adults to watch — but the attitude of working hard, aiming high, and fighting alongside good friends is something we adults should learn from.

I want to remember those days and tackle everything with a pure heart and full effort.

Life can seem short, but there’s still plenty of it left.

A sequel has apparently been confirmed, so please go see it before Part 1 finishes its theatrical run. Trailer below ↓

Perfume’s theme song “FLASH” is also incredible.