Chihaya Ayase
High school karuta idiot
The protagonist of this work, captain of the Mizusawa High School karuta club who burns with passion for competitive karuta, and a leading player in the East Japan women's division.
Quotes
- Arata is the person I'll like for the rest of my life.
- The goodness of feel is the secret to my strength.
- Karuta is everything to me.
- I can't lose, I bet everything on that one moment.
- I'll do both what I want to do and what I don't want to do with all my effort.
Trivia
- Features competitive karuta as the theme and contributed to increasing its player base.
- The title derives from a waka in the Hyakunin Isshu.
- Suzu Hirose stars in the live-action films.
- Voiced by Asami Seto.
- Locations include Fuchu City in Tokyo, Awara City in Fukui Prefecture, and Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture as model sites.
Alternate names
Chihaya
Chihaya-chan
Useless Beauty
Profile
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Female
- Birthday
- June 1
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Beautiful in appearance but called a 'useless beauty' since her first year of high school. Height 167cm, slim build. Her looks are often ruined by her movements.
- Height
- Approximately 167cm
- Eye color
- Brown
- Hair color
- Black
- Distinguishing features
-
- Beautiful appearance
- Long black hair
- Large eyes
- Iconic items
-
- Hakama
- Daddy Bear (mascot character)
- Excellent hearing
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Passionate
- Detailed personality
- A hot-blooded and pure girl who stakes her life on competitive karuta. Cares deeply for her friends and tackles things seriously. Clueless about romance and somewhat clumsy.
- Keywords
-
- Hot-blooded
- Pure
- Competitive
- Reckless
- Kind
- Sensitive
- Hardworking
- Curious
- Motto
- ''The more I want something, the more I let it go, and I definitely go to take it.''
- Talents
-
- Innate hearing
- Concentration
- Card memory
- Competitive karuta technique
- Decisiveness
- Skills
-
- Accurate card taking
- Speed control
- Strategy formulation
- Team captaincy
- Multitasking (balancing etiquette and studies)
- Motivation
- To become the world's best in competitive karuta (Queen). To achieve national victory for the high school karuta club. In the future, to become an advisor and coach for the high school karuta club.
- Habits
- During matches, she cannot hear surrounding voices and often falls asleep immediately after. She often eats chocolate after matches.
- Favorite foods
- Chocolate
- Hobbies
- Competitive karuta, Studying
- Favorite places
- Omi Shrine
- Favorite colors
- Blue
- Disliked situations
- Quarrels, Arguments about mistakes
History
- Backstory
- In elementary school, she met Arata Wataya who transferred from Fukui Prefecture to Tokyo, and was drawn into the world of karuta. Upon entering Mizusawa High School, she founded the karuta club and became captain. She grows while competing with rivals like her childhood friend Taichi Mashima and Arata. Overcoming trials such as an injury to her right hand's inner cartilage tumor, she continues to fight aiming for the top of the competitive karuta world.
- Debut date
- 2008-02
- Work title
- Chihayafuru
- Media type
- Manga
- Episode or chapter
- Chapter 1
Encounter with karuta
- Significant event
- Encounter with karuta
- Description
- Triggered by meeting Arata Wataya, she becomes obsessed with competitive karuta.
Founding of Mizusawa High School Karuta Club
- Significant event
- Founding of Mizusawa High School Karuta Club
- Description
- Found the club together with Taichi and becomes captain.
National High School Championship Team Victory
- Significant event
- National High School Championship Team Victory
- Description
- In the first year since founding, wins through the Tokyo preliminaries and takes the national championship.
Right finger injury
- Significant event
- Right finger injury
- Description
- Injures right index finger due to inner cartilage tumor during the national tournament.
Queen Match Challenger East Japan Representative
- Significant event
- Queen Match Challenger East Japan Representative
- Description
- Becomes the challenger representative for the Queen Match.
Relationships
Chitose Ayase
Sister
Elder sister, 1 year older. Aspiring model and actress. A strong supporter and fan of Chihaya.
Chieko Ayase
Mother
Gentle mother. Initially unsupportive of Chihaya's interest in karuta while cheering for Chitose, but gradually becomes supportive.
Kenji Ayase
Father
Chihaya's father. Family pillar. Sometimes scatterbrained.
Taichi Mashima
Best friend
Childhood friend and rival. Taichi's sudden departure from the club causes emotional turmoil for Chihaya.
Arata Wataya
Rival
Childhood friend with a strong bond through karuta. Complex relationship intertwined with romantic feelings.
Kanade Oe
Teammate
Important member of the karuta club, friendly relationship.
Shinobu Wakamiya
Rival
Formidable rival in the Queen Match. They sharpen each other.
Mizusawa High School Karuta Club
Mizusawa High School Karuta Club: leader
Media appearances
Chihayafuru
Manga / Protagonist
December 2007 - August 2022
Chihayafuru
Anime / Protagonist
TV Anime Season 1 (October 2011 - March 2012), etc.
Chihayafuru 2
Anime / Protagonist
January - June 2013
Chihayafuru 3
Anime / Protagonist
October 2019 - March 2020
Chihayafuru -Upper Phrase-/ -Lower Phrase-
Movie / Protagonist
March 19, 2016 / April 29, 2016
Chihayafuru -Conclusion-
Movie / Protagonist
March 17, 2018
Chihayafuru -Meguri-
Television drama / Protagonist
Scheduled for July 2025
Voice cast and creators
Asami Seto
- Voice actor
- Asami Seto
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- TV Anime
- Notes
- First
Suzu Hirose
- Voice actor
- Suzu Hirose
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Live-action movie
Ami Tōma
- Voice actor
- Ami Tōma
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- TV Drama (2025)
Yuki Suekane
- Creator name
- Yuki Suekane
- Role
- Original author
Kunihiko Hamada
- Creator name
- Kunihiko Hamada
- Role
- Character designer
Madhouse
- Creator name
- Madhouse
- Role
- Animation studio
Kodansha
- Creator name
- Kodansha
- Role
- Publisher
Related goods
Chihayafuru Wrapped Train (Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line)
- Item name
- Chihayafuru Wrapped Train (Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line)
- Category
- unknown
- Availability
- Limited
Chihayafuru Curry
- Item name
- Chihayafuru Curry
- Category
- Food
- Availability
- Limited
Chihayafuru Blu-ray & DVD
- Item name
- Chihayafuru Blu-ray & DVD
- Category
- Digital
- Availability
- Regular
Chihayafuru Figures
- Item name
- Chihayafuru Figures
- Category
- Figure
- Availability
- Limited