Wakamiya Shinobu
Current Queen's left-handed powerhouse competitive karuta player
A current Queen who stands at the top of the competitive karuta women's world, armed with extraordinary memory and precise, beautiful card-taking techniques despite being a high school student. She is left-handed and excels in a unique defensive karuta style.
Quotes
- “Stop taking cards so quickly”――The importance of precise taking that Chihaya learned from Hideo Harada's guidance.
- “I don't hold back even against a 5-year-old”――Arata Wataya's determination in competitive karuta.
- “Good sense”――The ability symbolizing Wakamiya Shinobu, also the foundation of the competition.
- “I will love Arata forever”――Ayase Chihaya's realized love for Arata.
- “Fate matches rely on luck”――The extreme tension born at the critical juncture of victory in competitive karuta.
Trivia
- Wakamiya Shinobu's model is Saki Kuwaki, who became Queen at the youngest age in history.
- Employs a unique strategy of personifying cards and dialoguing with them in competitive karuta matches.
- Began activities as a YouTuber in 2021 but temporarily suspended due to the appearance of antis.
- Shinobu's mascot character is the Kansai-limited 'Snowmaru'.
- The trigger for the Queen match becoming a 5-match system was Chihaya's proposal from Fujiue High School.
- Has the unusual habit of preferring warm drinks even in midsummer.
Alternate names
Wakamiya Shinobu
Shinobu Wakamiya
Queen
Snowmaru
Profile
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Female
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- A beautiful girl with black hair and refined features. Her fashion sense is questionable, but she has a dignified atmosphere during matches and a refreshing smile. Left-handed.
- Height
- Approximately 162cm (estimated from original work settings)
- Eye color
- Brown
- Hair color
- Black
- Distinguishing features
-
- Left-handed
- A refined beauty who is not flashy
- Tear mole near the left eye
- Iconic items
-
- Snowmaru plush
- Queen's tasuki (rare "Daddy Bear" pattern)
- Snowman character with bucket on head "Snowmaru goods"
- Hats (multiple types)
- Match hakama (when worn)
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Cool
- Detailed personality
- Obsessed with strength and seems lonely, but essentially a hard worker who is delicate. Not impulsive, she has a calm and composed style of dialoguing with cards as cards. Internally tsundere-like, harboring complex feelings toward Chihaya.
- Keywords
-
- Cool
- Genius
- Lonely
- Thorough
- Hard worker
- Tsundere
- Left-handed
- Delicate
- Beautiful girl
- Motto
- Does not fear loneliness to become stronger
- Talents
-
- Extraordinary memory
- Excellent hearing (reaction speed to recitations)
- Delicate surrounding hand techniques
- Precise differentiation of one-character finishes
- Good sense (deep connection to cards)
- Calm judgment
- Cool situational awareness
- Precise card-taking
- Strong resistance to luck or interference
- Skills
-
- Defensive karuta style
- Unique card personification for movement analysis
- Negotiation skills (handles media exposure, etc.)
- Long-term concentration
- Motivation
- To continue reigning as the reigning strongest Queen in competitive karuta. Furthermore, aims to establish her status as a professional competitive karuta player.
- Habits
- Prefers warm drinks even in midsummer. Indifferent to hairstyle or clothing, with a unique fashion sense that is pitied by those around her, but she doesn't mind.
- Hobbies
- Karuta, Personifying cards thinking, Snowmaru (character), Media appearances
History
- Backstory
- A competitive karuta player trained from childhood at the Kyoto Meisei-kai. Became the youngest Queen ever in 4th grade elementary school, and since then has dominated the competitive world with her high skill and beauty. Boasts overwhelming accuracy with her unique recitation dialogue style. She is clumsy in fields outside karuta and sometimes struggles, but her passion for competitive karuta is unparalleled. She has defended her title undefeated for a long time, reigning at the top without leaving her hometown Kyoto. Despite being a high school student, she handles media strategies and contributes to raising awareness of competitive karuta.
- Debut date
- 2008-02
- Work title
- Chihayafuru
- Media type
- Manga
Youngest Queen ascension in history
- Significant event
- Youngest Queen ascension in history
- Description
- Obtained the Queen title in 4th grade elementary school, shocking the competitive karuta world
High school championship Queen consecutive victories
- Significant event
- High school championship Queen consecutive victories
- Description
- Achieved consecutive victories with overwhelming win rate despite being a high school student
Media exposure begins
- Significant event
- Media exposure begins
- Description
- Actively engages in TV appearances, YouTube activities, etc., for the popularization of competitive karuta
Collaboration with anime voice actor Asami Seto
- Significant event
- Collaboration with anime voice actor Asami Seto
- Description
- Contributes to expanding the character's appeal through voice acting in the anime "Chihayafuru" series
Linkage with live-action cast Mayu Matsuoka and Miyuki Matsuda
- Significant event
- Linkage with live-action cast Mayu Matsuoka and Miyuki Matsuda
- Description
- Becomes main cast in live-action movies and TV dramas, realizing wide-ranging developments
Relationships
Wakamiya Shiho
Mother
Educationally enthusiastic but strict, strongly trained her daughter Shinobu. Supports her daughter's activities from the shadows but has left home after divorce.
Shinobu's Grandmother
Grandparent
Kyoto Prefectural Assembly member. The person who took in Shinobu and recommended competitive karuta. Strict but deeply loves her grandchild.
Ayase Chihaya
Rival
Numerous intense matches at national tournaments and Queen battles. Mutual recognition.
Wataya Arata
Rival
Fierce battles in Meijin and Queen matches. One of the few competitors to struggle and lose to Arata.
Miyauchi Taeko
Occasionally interacts as an adult sponsor and collaborator.
Kyoto Meisei-kai
Kyoto Meisei-kai: leader
Media appearances
Chihayafuru
Manga / Protagonist
2007-2022 Kodansha BE·LOVE serialization
Chihayafuru
Anime / Protagonist
2011-2012 Season 1 TV series
Chihayafuru 2
Anime / Protagonist
2013 Season 2 TV series
Chihayafuru 3
Anime / Protagonist
2019-2020 Season 3 TV series
Chihayafuru -Upper Phrase-
Movie / Protagonist
2016-03-19 Theatrical version
Chihayafuru -Lower Phrase-
Movie / Protagonist
2016-04-29 Theatrical version
Chihayafuru -Knot-
Movie / Protagonist
2018-03-17 Theatrical version
Chihayafuru -Meguri-
TV drama / Protagonist
2025-07-09 Continuous drama
Voice cast and creators
Mihoko Nakamichi
- Voice actor
- Mihoko Nakamichi
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- TV anime version
- Notes
- primary
Mayu Matsuoka
- Voice actor
- Mayu Matsuoka
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Live-action movie version
- Notes
- protagonist portrayer
Miyuki Matsuda
- Voice actor
- Miyuki Matsuda
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Live-action movie version
- Notes
- supporting
Mayu Matsuoka
- Voice actor
- Mayu Matsuoka
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Some live-action movie version
- Notes
- supporting
Mihoko Nakamichi
- Voice actor
- Mihoko Nakamichi
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Anime "Chihayafuru 3"
- Notes
- repeated role
Yuki Suemitsu
- Creator name
- Yuki Suemitsu
- Role
- Original author
Yuki Suemitsu
- Creator name
- Yuki Suemitsu
- Role
- Writer
Yuki Suemitsu
- Creator name
- Yuki Suemitsu
- Role
- Illustrator
Madhouse
- Creator name
- Madhouse
- Role
- Animation studio
Kodansha
- Creator name
- Kodansha
- Role
- Publisher
Related goods
Snowmaru plush
- Item name
- Snowmaru plush
- Category
- Plush or doll
- Availability
- Regular
Daddy Bear plush
- Item name
- Daddy Bear plush
- Category
- Plush or doll
- Availability
- Regular
Chihayafuru wrapped train goods
- Item name
- Chihayafuru wrapped train goods
- Category
- Accessory
- Availability
- Limited
Chihayafuru curry
- Item name
- Chihayafuru curry
- Category
- Food
- Availability
- Limited