Chihayafuru (2011)
Chihayafuru is streaming in Japan on Netflix, Hulu, Anime Times Amazon Channel.
The verdict
Chihayafuru ranked near the top of that week's Japanese series crop. It's sitting at 7.6/10 on TMDB across 68 ratings, which puts it comfortably above average. Episode length hovers around 23 minutes. In Japan you can stream it on Netflix, Hulu, Anime Times Amazon Channel.
Is it worth starting?
This is 3 seasons deep — Japanese animation with drama threaded through. Starting now means a backlog — worth knowing before you press play.
Don't watch this if…
- you want a safe bet — that rating is resting on 68 votes so far
- you want something that ends tonight — there are 3 seasons of it
- Why
- Currently 7.6/10 from 68 ratings, which is a good sign this early.
- Skip if
- a backlog this size is the opposite of what you're after
- Best for
- A proper binge, once you've got the weeks for it
Story
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.
Good to know
| Runtime | ~23 min per episode |
| Genre | Animation / Drama |
| Language | Japanese |
| Best screen | Stream at home |
Cast
Where to watch in Japan
Included with a subscription — no extra charge on these platforms.
Availability as of 22 Sept 2026 — platforms may change over time.
More: Everything new on Netflix
Trailer
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