Main characters
Chihaya Ayase (綾瀬 千早, Ayase Chihaya)Voiced by: Asami SetoPortrayed by:
Suzu Hirose, Kokoro Kuge (young)Birthday: June 1A determined high school girl who was inspired by Arata in elementary school to play karuta and to dream of becoming the "Queen" of karuta. She begins a
karuta club at her high school with Taichi. She is first introduced to
competitive karuta by her childhood friend, Arata. Karuta has remained as Chihaya's passion despite being separated from Arata. She has an exceptional hearing ability that gives her an advantage in playing karuta. While she is beautiful, she is considered too weird, her classmates referring to her as a "beauty in vain". She is crazy about karuta (her friends calls her "karuta baka"), to the point that she can be oblivious to other people's feelings. Chihaya is the captain of Mizusawa Karuta Club. She works very hard at improving her karuta skills, and reaches Class A near the beginning of the series. She is a strong, passionate person who loves karuta and is dedicated to her teammates and friends. Chihaya shares a strong bond of trust and friendship with Taichi and appreciates his skill in leading the club, though oblivious towards his feelings for her. Chihaya cares deeply for Arata, despite their long-distance relationship. While on the telephone with Arata, she realizes that she will always love him and karuta.
Taichi Mashima (真島 太一, Mashima Taichi)Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano,
Ayahi Takagaki (young)Portrayed by: Shuhei Nomura, Eru Yamada (young)Birthday: April 2A good-looking, all-rounded sportsman and Chihaya's childhood best friend. His mother is very strict with him, telling him that he should stick to activities he can win at. He seems to have feelings for Chihaya although he had a girlfriend at the beginning, and is jealous of her feelings for Arata. Taichi is the president of Mizusawa Karuta Club. He is a talented student and an athlete, at the beginning of the series he claims to have outgrown 'karuta', but then, after watching Chihaya excelling and obviously having fun, he decides to help her form a
karuta club. He has good analytical skills and a good memory when playing karuta, but he has very bad luck. Due to this, he ends up staying in Class B longer than supposed to. He has been in love with Chihaya ever since childhood (and eventually realizes his feelings) but never confessed her. When Sumire tried to confess to Taichi, he tells her that he would rather have a relationship with the girl he loves than with a girl who loves him, indirectly indicating Chihaya. He cares for her very deeply, being there for her every time Chihaya gets upset or sad. He has serious character to make up for Chihaya's comical character. As a child, Taichi was a spoiled rich, child and disliked Arata, making fun of him for being poor, but as soon he, Chihaya, and Arata started to play Karuta together, they became friends. In love, Taichi still views Arata as his enemy.
Arata Wataya (綿谷 新, Wataya Arata)Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya,
Yuka Terasaki (young)Portrayed by:
Mackenyu , Amon Kabe (young)Birthday: December 1Arata Wataya was a transfer student to Chihaya's elementary school, grandchild of an eternal master
karuta player, Arata inspires Chihaya to take up
karuta. He has difficulty fitting in at Chihaya's elementary school because of his
Fukui dialect and passion for
karuta, but Chihaya befriends him. His dream is to become a
karuta Meijin. After graduating elementary school, he returns to Fukui to care for his grandfather. After returning to Fukui, he quits
karuta because his grandfather died while Arata was competing in a
karuta tournament to rise to A-rank. However, after Chihaya and Taichi visit him in Fukui, he regains his resolve to play competitive karuta again. He has beaten "The Queen" Shinobu Wakamiya and is aiming to beat "Master" Hishashi Suo to claim the position of "Master". Arata cherishes his friendship with both Chihaya and Taichi, albeit romantically to Chihaya. Later in the manga, Arata confesses his love to Chihaya, also informing her of his move back to Tokyo. Arata then excuses himself, leaving Chihaya flustered and speechless.
Kanade Ōe (大江 奏, Ōe Kanade)Voiced by: Ai KayanoPortrayed by: Mone KamishiraishiA girl with a taste for the classics, Kanade is a quiet girl who works in a kimono store and loves all kinds of traditional clothing. She is quite knowledgeable about the true meanings behind the One Hundred Poems and joins the
karuta club on the condition that they start wearing
hakama. Her dream is to become an official reader and be able to read for Chihaya's Queen match. She knows that Taichi has feelings for Chihaya and tells him to do his best.
Yūsei Nishida (西田 優征, Nishida Yūsei)Voiced by: Tōru NaraPortrayed by: Yuma YamotoA rather tubby boy who is reluctantly often called 'Porky'
(肉まんくん, Nikuman-kun, lit. Steamed meat bun) by Chihaya. Once a top
karuta player who had previously played against Chihaya, Arata and Taichi in an elementary school tournament, Yūsei quit
karuta after suffering a defeat against Arata and took up tennis as a refuge. However, Chihaya manages to remind him how he used to play for fun and he ends up joining the
karuta club. While he is talented in karuta, focusing on a defensive style, he gets shaken up really easily.
Tsutomu Komano (Desktomu) (駒野 勉, Komano Tsutomu)Voiced by: Tsubasa YonagaPortrayed by: Yuki MorinagaAn intelligent boy in Chihaya's class who is second only to Taichi in test scores. Often tied to his desk and anti-social, he feels that nothing is worth doing unless it makes you smarter. However, Chihaya and Taichi help to convince him that
karuta involves a lot of strategy and he joins the club. As the progress within the series, Tsutomu has improved social skill to his teammates, especially Kanade. He is now the karuta strategist of the team, taking down notes in every game.
Sumire Hanano (花野 菫, Hanano Sumire)Voiced by: Megumi HanA girl who joins the Karuta Club at the start of Chihaya's second year. Having been dumped by her boyfriend on the first day of school, she becomes desperate to find a new boyfriend and immediately develops a crush on Taichi, which he does not return. Sumire initially joins the club in order to get close to Taichi, but after she inadvertently told that to the club members, she was convinced by Kanade to stay and devote herself to karuta. Her feelings for Taichi become genuine as she spends more time around him. She even stands up to Taichi's mother, who wanted to stop him from competing in a karuta tournament. Although she is new to the game, she tends to show strong emotions when reading poems.
Akihiro Tsukuba (筑波 秋博, Tsukuba Akihiro)Voiced by: Miyu IrinoA boy who joins the Karuta Club at the start of Chihaya's second year. He is originally from
Hokkaido and is a master at playing second verse karuta using two hands. He joins the club to learn how to play first verse karuta. He comes from a family who is attracted to pretty people, and has three younger brothers who admire him. At the beginning, he would sometimes do sneaky acts (such as changing the order of his teammates before games) so that he could show off his skills in front of his brothers. He and his brothers admire Chihaya for both her playing skills and beauty, and several instances show that he has a small crush on Chihaya.
Taeko Miyauchi (宮内 妙子, Miyauchi Taeko)Voiced by: Toshiko FujitaPortrayed by: Miyuki MatsudaNicknamed "Empress", she is the advisor of the Karuta Club and also the homeroom teacher of Ayase and Tsutomu. Although initially unreceptive to Karuta, she gradually warms up when she witness how serious the club members are playing Karuta.
Meijin and Queen
Shinobu Wakamiya (若宮 詩暢, Wakamiya Shinobu)Voiced by: Mihoko NakamichiPortrayed by: Mayu MatsuokaThe current Queen of Karuta, she is also the youngest Queen in history. When she was younger there was this girl that was a close Karuta friend, but because Shinobu was very skilled in Karuta she wasn't allowed to play Karuta with kids her age. She was always isolated from others.
Hisashi Suō (周防 久志, Suō Hisashi)Voiced by: Hiroki TōchiThe current Meijin of Karuta. He began karuta in college, and took three years to take the title of Meijin. He has since defended the title 5 times. His favourite food is sweets.
Hidehiro Harada (原田 英弘, Harada Hidehiro)Voiced by: Unshō IshizukaPortrayed by: Jun KunimuraChairman of the Shiranami Karuta Society. He was the one who taught Taichi how to play karuta. Chihaya often plays matches with him to practice her karuta skills.
Hiroshi Tsuboguchi (坪口 広史, Tsuboguchi Hiroshi)Voiced by: Kenji TakahashiAce of the Shiranami Karuta Society. Made it to the Meijin Challenger Finals as the Eastern Representative but lost to his opponent. Currently the advisor for Homei High School Karuta Team.
Fuyumasa Tsukuba (筑波 冬政, Tsukuba Fuyumasa),Haruomi Tsukuba (筑波 春臣, Tsukuba Haruomi)and Natsufusa Tsukuba (筑波 夏総, Tsukuba Natsufusa)Voiced by: Chika Anzai, Naoko Sugiura and Megumi SatouTsukuba Akihiro's younger brothers.
Kitano (北野, Kitano)Voiced by: Kensuke SatouChairman of Suihoku Karuta Society. He has a deep-seated rivalry against Hidehiro Harada.
Yumi Yamamoto (山本 由美, Yamamoto Yumi)Voiced by: Yuko KaidaThe former Queen of Karuta, she is 24 years old. Unlike Shinobu and Chihaya, she is plain-faced, with talent for nothing except Karuta. While playing, she argues with her opponent over every card she loses, even if her argument holds no water. She was able to defeat Chihaya in a tournament using this trick because Chihaya innocently succumbed to every one of her arguments. This trick didn't work when against Shinobu because Shinobu was too fast for her.
Isami Kuriyama (栗山 勇, Kuriyama Isami)Voiced by: Yuya MurakamiChairman of Fukui Nagumo Karuta Society.
Murao Shinichi (村尾 慎一, Shinichi Murao)Voiced by: Yuji UedaA-Class member of Fukui Nagumo Karuta Society. Always practices with Arata.
Daisuke (大輔, Daisuke)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiMember of Fukui Nagumo Karuta Society who is still in elementary school.
Ise Daijiro (伊勢 大二郎, Daijiro Ise)Voiced by: Daichi EndoChairman of Kyoto Myojo Karuta Society, where Wakamiya Shinobu used to play at.
Yuikawa (結川, Yuikawa)Satoko (さとこ, Satoko)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiShinobu's Childhood friend
Ryusei (りゅうせい, Ryusei)Akito Sudo (須藤 暁人, Sudo Akito)Voiced by: Takashi OharaPortrayed by: Hiroya Shimizu
Nayuta Amakasu (甘糟 那由太, Amakasu Nayuta)Voiced by: Takako HondaHiro Kinashi (木梨 浩, Kinashi Hiro)Voiced by: Kazuya NakaiPortrayed by: Ryotaro Sakaguchi
Takuma (宅間, Takuma)Voiced by: Yuya MurakamiRyugasaki (竜ヶ崎, Ryugasaki)Voiced by: Tōru HiguchichiKoki Shiroyama (城山 浩希, Shiroyama Koki)Voiced by: Masayuki KatōSeihisa Kameda (亀田 精久, Kameda Seihisa)Voiced by: Yūichi KarasumaFutoshi Mochida (持田 太, Mochida Futoshi)Voiced by: Daisuke SakaguchiAdvisor of Hokuo High School Karuta Club.
Ryoga Emuro (江室 凌雅, Emuro Ryoga)Voiced by: Yūki OnoYoshihiko Hiyuuga (日向 良彦, Hiyuuga Yoshihiko)Voiced by: -Makoto Yamai (山井 真琴, Yamai Makoto)Voiced by: Mitsuki SaigaMitsuki Ichimura (市村 充輝, Ichimura Mitsuki)Voiced by: Shigeyuki SuzakiRion Yamashiro (山城 理音, Yamashiro Rion)Voiced by: Ayahi TakagakiKanata Suzuki (鈴木 奏太, Suzuki Kanata)Manata Suzuki (鈴木 真太, Suzuki Manata)Voiced by: Susumu ChibaToda (戸田, Toda)Voiced by: Ryōta AsariHayashida (林田, Hayashida)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiMidori Sakurazawa (桜沢 翠, Sakurazawa Midori)Voiced by: Megumi HayashibaraAdvisor of the Fujisaki High School Karuta Club.
Megumu Ousaka (逢坂 恵夢, Ousaka Megumu)Voiced by: Sachi MatsumotoKeiko Yuube (夕部 慶子, Yuube Keiko)Voiced by: Junko KitanishiNene Hayasaka (早坂 寧々, Hayasaka Nene)Voiced by: Yoko NishinoNatsuki Tanimura (谷村 夏樹, Tanimura Natsuki)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiDaigorou Minami (南 大吾郎, Minami Daigorou)Voiced by: Kosuke TakaguchiAdvisor of the Karuta Club.
Zui Kawabe (川辺 穂, Kawabe Zui)Haruto Tashiro (田代 晴人, Tashiro Haruto)Voiced by: Kenta OkumaAyane Ooka (大岡 綾音, Ooka Ayane)Voiced by: Marika MinaseReo Sano (佐野 礼央, Sano Reo)Haruki Sanada (真田 春樹, Sanada Haruki)Manabu Nakayama (中山 学, Nakayama Manabu)Voiced by: Kensuke SatoSosuke Hayashi (林 宗佑, Hayashi Sosuke)Taichi Toyota (豊田 泰壱, Toyota Taichi)Makoto Sasaki (佐々木 真, Sasaki Makoto)Daisuke Tokoro (所 大輔, Tokoro Daisuke)Tomonori Oikawa (及川 知成, Oikawa Tomonori)Voiced by: Takanori HoshinoAdvisor of the Karuta Club.
Anthony Sorb (アンソニー・ソーブ, Anthony Sorb)Voiced by: Shinichiro MikiNapa Payakuarun (ナパー・パヤクアルン, Napa Payakuarun)Voiced by: Akane FujitaRachel Port (レイチェル・ポート, Rachel Port)Voiced by: Naoko SugiuraPark Kyoson (パク・キョソン, Park Kyoson)Voiced by: Masayuki KatōMatt Rowan (マット・ローワン, Matt Rowan)Voiced by: Kensuke SatoRyuhei Inoue (井上 龍平, Inoue Ryuhei)Ayako Tanaka (田中 彩子, Tanaka Ayako)Miyuki Satokura (郷倉 美幸, Satokura Miyuki)Katsue Yamashiro (山城 加都恵, Yamashiro Katsue)Suzuka Sasa (佐々 鈴香, Sasa Suzuka)Voiced by: Mai TodoMei Toda (戸田 メイ, Toda Mei)Voiced by: Marika MinaseEita Takei (武井 永太, Takei Eita)Voiced by: Yuichi KarasumaTakatoshi Mori (森 孝利, Mori Takatoshi)Voiced by: Taisuke YamamotoKomazawa (駒沢, Komazawa)Sano (佐野, Sano)Voiced by: Yuka HiroseYuri Nawano (縄野 友里, Nawano Yuri)Voiced by: Marika MinaseEmi Suda (須田 恵美, Suda Emi)Voiced by: Yoko NishinoAyaka Sakura (佐倉 彩夏, Sakura Ayaka)Voiced by: Nanami YoshinoTakashi Nagura (名倉 孝, Nagura Takashi)Voiced by: Takuya SatoMakoto Oda (小田 誠, Oda Makoto)Voiced by: Yuichi KarasumaKeisuke Ariyoshi (有吉 圭介, Ariyoshi Keisuke)Nao Mastsumoto (松本 直, Mastsumoto Nao)Shoji Kawauchi (河内 翔二, Kawauchi Shoji)Voiced by: Masayuki ShojiMasaki Ono (大野 柾, Ono Masaki)Voiced by: Ryota OhsakaTajiri (田尻, Tajiri)Shogo Kinoshita (木下 誠吾, Kinoshita Shogo)Voiced by: Hayashi YuuToyo Honma (本間 豊, Honma Toyo)Voiced by: Meiko KawasakiEmi Mayama (真山 恵美, Mayama Emi)Voiced by: Kiyono YasunoYuuko Natsuwaki (夏脇 由有子, Natsuwaki Yuuko)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiFumiko Suzuki (鈴木 富美子, Suzuki Fumiko)Voiced by: Shoko TsudaAdvisor of Karuta Club.
Hajime Wataya (綿谷 始, Wataya Hajime)Voiced by: Kinryu ArimotoPlayed by: Masane TsukayamaArata's grandfather, who died before the beginning of the series. He was an excellent karuta player in the past, who gave Arata life lessons whenever he is at a disadvantage.
Keiichi Takemura (武村 敬一, Takemura Keiichi)1st year Meijin Challenger.
Yasuda (安田, Yasuda)Voiced by: Tokuyoshi KawashimaChihaya's opponent during the match that earned Chihaya her promotion to class A.
Sakura Kanai (金井 桜, Kanai Sakura)Voiced by: Mika KanaiRirika Tachikawa (立川 梨理華, Tachikawa Ririka)Voiced by: Ikue OtaniHaruka Inokuma (猪熊 遥, Inokuma Haruka)née Chihara. Former Queen.
Ruri Hanamoto (花本 瑠璃, Hanamoto Ruri)Voiced by: Noriko ObataNatsumi Akita (金子 夏美, Akita Natsumi)Shusaku Koishikawa (小石川 秀作, Koishikawa Shusaku)Kyoko Yamashiro (山城 今日子, Yamashiro Kyoko)Voiced by: Keiko Serino (Reader); Miyoko Shoji1 out of 7 Certified Readers. 7 Dan.
Osamu Igarashi (五十嵐 修, Igarashi Osamu)Voiced by: -Reader of the CD used for Practice. 7 Dan.
Tashiro (田代, Tashiro)Voiced by: Ryota OhsakaYoshioka (吉岡, Yoshioka)Voiced by: Mitsuru OgataYoshiaki Mashita (間下 義明, Mashita Yoshiaki)Voiced by: Masahiko TanakaNational Society Chairman. 10 Dan.
Katsuhito Masuoka (増岡 勝人, Masuoka Katsuhito)Voiced by: Tsuguo MagamiHigh School Competitor Disciplinary Committee Chair. 6 Dan.
Chitose Ayase (綾瀬 千歳, Ayase Chitose)Voiced by: Aya EndōPortrayed by: Alice HiroseChihaya's big sister, who works as a model. She has doubts about her modeling career; but she gets determined again after watching her sister focus on Karuta all the time.
Chieko Ayase (綾瀬 千恵子, Ayase Chieko)Voiced by: Satsuki YukinoChitose and Chihaya's mother.
Kenji Ayase (綾瀬 健二, Ayase Kenji)Voiced by: Kenji HamadaChitose and Chihaya's dad.
Reiko Mashima (真島 麗子, Mashima Reiko)Voiced by: Yuu ShimamuraTaichi's mother.
Rika Mashima (真島 梨香, Mashima Rika)Voiced by: Kiyono YasunoTaichi's sister.
Rieko Oe (大江 利恵子, Oe Rieko)Voiced by: Aya HisakawaKanade's mother.
Mari Wataya (綿谷 麻里, Wataya Mari)Voiced by: Noriko KuwashimaArata's mother.
Akira Wataya (綿谷 彰, Wataya Akira)Voiced by: Hitoshi HorikawaArata's dad.
Shiho Wakamiya (若宮 詩穂, Wakamiya Shiho)Voiced by: Naomi ShindoShinobu's mother.
Shinobu's Grandmother (詩暢の祖母, Shinobu's Grandmother)Voiced by: Lisa HayamizuKyoto Diet representative.
Yukari Nishida (西田 優華璃, Nishida Yukari)Voiced by: Miho HinoYusei's elder sister.
Michiru Horikawa (堀川 みちる, Horikawa Michiru)Voiced by: Miho HinoYamakawa (山川, Yamakawa)Voiced by: Yuya MurakamiMatsuda (松田, Matsuda)Hinako Mano (真野 陽菜子, Mano Hinako)Voiced by: Kiyono YasunoShori Miyazaki (宮崎 詩織, Miyazaki Shori)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiTokiji Fukasaku (深作 時次, Fukasaku Tokiji)Voiced by: Daichi EndoShibata (柴田, Shibata)Voiced by: Takuya SatoMatoba (的場, Matoba)Voiced by: Yuuji UedaYuu (由宇, Yuu)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiArata's neighbour in Fukui.
Katsugi Bookstore Manager (勝義書店店長, Katsugi Bookstore Manager)Voiced by: Kensuke SatoManager of the bookstore where Arata work part-time.
Taichi's Girlfriend (太一の彼女, Taichi's Girlfriend)Voiced by: Chika AnzaiSasagu Mori (森 捧, Mori Sasagu)Voiced by: Yoshimasa HosoyaTsukusu Hayashi (林 尽, Hayashi Tsukusu)Voiced by: Kiyotaka FurushimaYutaka Kibayashi (木林 豊, Kibayashi Yutaka)Voiced by: Kensuke SatoBoys who are fans of Ousaka Megumu.
