Taichi Mashima

Captain and Ace of the Mizuho High School Karuta Club

Chihaya's childhood friend, and the captain and ace of the Mizuho High School Karuta Club who struggled but advanced to A-class. Competitive and hardworking, but often forsaken by luck. Serves as the team's leader bearing the heavy responsibility of ace.

Quotes

  • I like you, Chihaya.
  • Forsaken by luck, but I've come this far.
  • To win, I won't spare any means.
  • Please don't tell Chihaya, absolutely.
  • If you don't give up, flowers will surely bloom.

Trivia

  • In childhood, called 'Eyelash-kun' because of long eyelashes.
  • Bad luck in karuta is recognized by those around him and himself.
  • Stayed in B-class long, partly due to Shirahama-kai's strict promotion rules.
  • Live-action movie actor Shuhei Nomura shares the same with anime voice actor Mamoru Miyano.
  • Taichi's mother is grades-excellentist and showed reluctance toward joining the karuta club.

Alternate names

Mashima Taichi Taichi Mashima Mashima-kun

Tags

Chihayafuru Competitive Karuta Youth High School Student Captain Ace Childhood Friend Romance Sports Manga Somewhat Unlucky

Profile

Species
Human
Gender
Male
Birthday
April 2

Appearance

Overall appearance
Somewhat long black hair. Wears glasses, with long eyelashes as a characteristic feature. Height of 172cm and a slightly tall slim build. Usually gives a refreshing impression like a sportsman.
Height
Approximately 172cm
Eye color
Brown
Hair color
Black
Distinguishing features
  • Long eyelashes
  • Glasses
Iconic items
  • Karuta cards
  • Glasses
  • Mizuho High School Karuta Club uniform

Personality and abilities

Core personality
Competitive
Detailed personality
Competitive and hardworking. Constantly strives to improve karuta skills, serving as the team's mental pillar. Aware of his own bad luck but persists without giving up, continuing challenges tenaciously. Excellent in academics, fulfills duties as karuta club captain while meeting his mother's expectations. In romance, harbors feelings for Chihaya, cherishing friendship bonds amid complex emotions.
Keywords
  • Competitive
  • Hard worker
  • Sensitive
  • Unlucky
  • Excellent
  • Leadership
  • Thoughtful
  • Serious
  • Reserved
Motto
Effort doesn't always bear fruit, but not giving up is the shortcut to growth.
Talents
  • Memory
  • Instant concentration
  • Leadership
Skills
  • Tactical planning
  • Psychological warfare
  • Team management
  • Delicate karuta technique
Motivation
A-class promotion and national tournament team championship, building trust with Chihaya, and personally aiming for Meijin.
Habits
Dislikes unnecessary movements when concentrating on karuta. Teased for having long eyelashes.
Favorite foods
Chocolate
Hobbies
Competitive karuta, Reading
Favorite colors
Blue
Favorite places
Mizuho High School, Karuta dojo
Disliked situations
Unlucky events, Sudden troubles, Own failures

History

Backstory
Started karuta as Chihaya's childhood friend, blessed with effort and talent but rarely with results, wandering in B-class at Shirahama-kai for a long time. However, through master's guidance and effort, gained everyone's trust, and after numerous matches, finally promoted to A-class, leading the Mizuho High School Karuta Club as captain. Depicted struggling with complex romantic feelings for Chihaya while devoting himself to karuta.
Debut date
December 28, 2007
Work title
Chihayafuru
Media type
Manga
Episode or chapter
Volume 1

Joining Harada Shirahama-kai in elementary school

Significant event
Joining Harada Shirahama-kai in elementary school
Description
Started karuta together with childhood friend Chihaya, and friendship with rival Arata blossomed.

Promotion from B-class to A-class

Significant event
Promotion from B-class to A-class
Description
After staying in B-class for a long time, achieved A-class promotion around volume 17 through effort and skill.

Establishing Competitive Karuta Club at Mizuho High School

Significant event
Establishing Competitive Karuta Club at Mizuho High School
Description
Moved by Chihaya's passion, founded the high school karuta club as captain and ace.

High School Championship Team Victory

Significant event
High School Championship Team Victory
Description
In second year, led the team to victory in the national tournament team competition, becoming the team's center.

Sudden Withdrawal and Return

Significant event
Sudden Withdrawal and Return
Description
Withdrew due to romantic disappointment and academic pressure, but later encountered Suou Meijin, honed his skills, and returned to competitive karuta.

Relationships

Reiko Mashima

Mother

Strict and grades supremacist, places pressure on Taichi but initially negative about karuta club activities. Later understands competitive karuta as Taichi's youth and reconciles.

Rika Mashima

Sibling

7 years younger sister. Spoiled personality, good relationship with brother.

Chihaya Ayase

Childhood friend

Childhood friends since elementary school, after reuniting at Mizuho High School, teammates in karuta club spurring each other on. Taichi's romantic feelings for Chihaya form a key axis of the story.

Arata Wataya

Rival

Rival relationship from childhood encounter, repeating conflict and friendship over karuta skill and feelings for Chihaya.

Hideo Harada

Mentor

Shirahama-kai president and Taichi's master. Earnestly provides guidance on promotion applications and mental aspects.

Mizuho High School Karuta Club

Mizuho High School Karuta Club: leader

Fuchu Shirahama-kai

Fuchu Shirahama-kai: unknown

Media appearances

Chihayafuru

Manga / Protagonist

Serialization started December 28, 2007

Chihayafuru

Anime / Protagonist

October 2011 - March 2012 (Season 1)

Chihayafuru 2

Anime / Protagonist

January - June 2013 (Season 2)

Chihayafuru 3

Anime / Protagonist

October 2019 - March 2020 (Season 3)

Chihayafuru -Upper Phrase- / -Lower Phrase- / -Conclusion-

Movie / Protagonist

Released in 2016 and 2018

Chihayafuru -Meguri-

TV drama / Protagonist

Scheduled to start broadcasting in July 2025

Voice cast and creators

Mamoru Miyano

Voice actor
Mamoru Miyano
Language
Japanese
Version or series
TV Anime Version
Notes
Childhood voice by Aya Ayano

Shuhei Nomura

Voice actor
Shuhei Nomura
Language
Japanese
Version or series
Live-action Movie Version

Aya Ayano

Voice actor
Aya Ayano
Language
Japanese
Version or series
TV Anime Version (Childhood)

Yuki Endou

Creator name
Yuki Endou
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 Figure

Item name
Chihayafuru Figure
Category
Figure
Availability
Regular

Chihayafuru Plush (Daddy Bear)

Item name
Chihayafuru Plush (Daddy Bear)
Category
Plush or doll
Availability
Regular

Chihayafuru Plush (Snowmaru)

Item name
Chihayafuru Plush (Snowmaru)
Category
Plush or doll
Availability
Regular