Ep 15. As Though Pearls Have Been Strung Across the Autumn Plain
- January 17, 2012
- 22 min
As Though Pearls Have Been Strung Across the Autumn Plain is the 15th episode of the first season of the anime series Chihayafuru. In this episode, the focus is on Chihaya's passion for karuta, as she becomes more determined to achieve her goal of becoming the Queen of karuta.
The episode starts with Chihaya, Taichi, and their karuta club teammates practicing their skills for the upcoming regional tournament. Chihaya is highly motivated and determined to win, despite her injury. She wants to win the championship to impress the scouts and become a professional karuta player.
As the day of the tournament approaches, the team goes camping to practice, with Kana helping them to improve their reading skills. Chihaya is also able to learn some new moves from her mentor, Master Harada. She practices her card selection and shuffling technique with a fervor, hoping to gain an edge against her opponents.
On the day of the tournament, Chihaya faces off against her former friend and archrival, Yumi Yamamoto. The two have a competitive match, with Chihaya using her newfound techniques to gain an advantage. However, Yumi is no slouch and puts Chihaya to the test, pushing her to her limits.
Meanwhile, Taichi is also competing in the tournament, but his mind is not fully on the game. He keeps thinking about his personal life and is unable to focus on winning. He loses to his opponent and is left feeling disappointed. However, Chihaya is determined to win for both of them and puts all her energy into her match.
The final scene of the episode is a stunning moment, as Chihaya experiences what can only be described as a karuta high. She becomes completely engrossed in the game, lost in the rhythm of the cards and the sound of her own heartbeat. It's a beautiful scene that perfectly captures the passion and intensity of the game.
Overall, As Though Pearls Have Been Strung Across the Autumn Plain is a strong episode of Chihayafuru. It showcases the characters' love of karuta and their desire to succeed. The animation, music, and voice performances are all top-notch, making for a gripping and emotional viewing experience.
