Chihayafuru — Season 1, Episode 18: The Plum Blossoms Still Smell the Same

Episode synopsis

Chihaya finally gets to play her first Class A match, while the other members are looking to advance their rank through a strong tournament showing. Chihaya's opponent Kanai Sakura, who has 35 years of karuta experience. Chihaya is faster, but she has trouble taking cards. Her opponent constantly moves cards into positions that are difficult for her, and Chihaya soon realizes how tough Class A is. Will Chihaya be able to learn something from her match with Sakura?

About Chihayafuru

Chihaya Ayase has spent most of her life supporting her sister’s model career. When she meets a boy named Arata Wataya, he thinks Chihaya has potential to become a great karuta player. As Chihaya dreams of becoming Japan's best karuta player, she is soon separated from her karuta playing friends. Now in high school, Chihaya still plays karuta in the hope that she will one day meet her friends again.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Now the Flower Blooms
• E2The Red That Is
• E3From the Crystal White Snow
• E4A Whirlwind of Flower Petals Descends
• E5The Sight of a Midnight Moon
• E6Now Bloom Inside the Nine-fold Palace
• E7But for Autumn's Coming
• E8The Sounds of the Waterfall
• E9But I Cannot Hide
• E10Exchange Hellos And Goodbyes
• E11The Sky is the Road Home
• E12Sets These Forbidden Fields Aglow