Character Spotlight: Haruka Inokuma

Chihayafuru is an amazing anime with (soon-to-be) three two-cour-long seasons under its belt. It ought to come as no surprise, then, that it has a huge and varied cast of characters. You’ve got your three main characters, Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata, whose passion for karuta is nigh on contagious, their teammates, whose encouragement propels them forward at the most crucial of times, their friends in their respective karuta societies, their parents, some of whom are for, some of whom are against their dreams, and their many, many rivals, including the quirky queen, Shinobu, and the mysterious master, Suo. Why, then, have I decided to dedicate this month’s Character Spotlight to Haruka Inokuma, a relatively new character with only a few episodes of screentime under her belt? Well… 

12 Days of Anime 2019 – Chihaya Is Back!

It doesn’t happen nearly as much as I’d like (probably because of my fondness for kooky, off-the-wall anime), but every so often it seems the anime gods hear my prayers and bless me with more of one of my favourite shows. Hearing that Chihayafuru was getting its third season after six long, agonising years was one of those rare times. If you didn’t already know, Chihayafuru is an awesome series. This anime takes a sport that very few have heard of (and even fewer have played), karuta, and, through its characters’ passion for it, gets you invested in it too. Who knew that a card game with no magic, monsters, or ancient Egyptian gods could be so exciting? Not to mention that its characters are all perfect little cinnamon rolls! Thankfully, Chihayafuru’s third season is proving to be more than worth the wait and is helping to ensure that 2019 ends with a bang! 

Here are some of the things that I’ve liked the most about Chihayafuru 3 so far… 

Ty’s Top Picks for Summer 2019

Hello, everybody! I’m writing this from the ever hot and humid Arkansas, where summer is just around the corner! I’m already sweating through my shirt just thinking about it! What better way to while away the summer (and escape its oppressive heat) than by never leaving the comfort of my home and powering through this season’s anime? At least, that’s what I would do, if I didn’t have bills to pay! Anyway, you know how this goes by now: I pour through all of the PVs, reviews, and source material that I can get my hands on, so you don’t have to. Based on this “research” I compile a list of all of the shows that I think are worth watching. Click the “Continue Reading” button to see this list for yourself! 

Run with the Wind – Redefining Masculinity in the Context of Male Friendships

I’ll usually look less favourably upon an anime with no strong female characters (I get a real kick out of seeing my sex represented in a positive, significant way). And whilst Run with the Wind is one such show (with only one female character – and a minor one at that), I still adore the bare bones of it! It may be a bit of a sausage party, but, contrary to what you might expect, the way that our main characters interact with each other is completely and utterly devoid of any exaggerated masculinity. If anything, many of their interactions actually contain the hallmarks of, not male, but female friendships. These include intimacy, the tendency to encourage one another, vulnerability, and insight into each other’s characters…

12 Days of Anime 2018 – the Year of the Tears

Forget year of the dog. 2018 was, for me, year of the tears – as in there were multiple times when anime reduced me to a blubbering mess this year! I couldn’t tell you why this was more the case this year than in previous years, but I can’t help but think that, like a rock on a beach whose edges have been gradually softened by the surf over time, I’ve grown softer and more in touch with my sensitive side as I’ve grown older. Even just a few years ago I was the very embodiment of a stiff upper lipped Brit, but now even the right combination of musical notes can have me reaching for the tissues! I’m a hot mess – as you’ll soon see. Below are several of the times when anime made me cry this year.

Spoilers ahead for Inuyashiki, Made in Abyss, Assassination Classroom 2nd Season, Haikyuu!! 2nd Season, and Naruto Shippuuden.