I have been thinking about this theory for so long. I recently just had the motivation to post this and this is to support the theory of Classic Literature Lovers(the blog’s been circulating for years, and if you’ve not seen it, this is your chance, please click on the name).
Chihayafuru’s love triangle is notorious to its fans. Whoever of the two beautiful lads the fans are rooting for to end up with the karuta beauty, no one is exempted from the heartache. Because eventually, Chihaya would made up her mind, finally choose the one she truly likes, or just pursue karuta (which is a big possibility, but this surely will gain thousands of sighs from fans).
Let me share my thoughts about this topsy-turvy of a love story. As of now, to be honest, I’m confident that Chihaya will end up with Taichi. The “Maple Leaf Theory”. Based on the symbols present on Suetsugu’s work, the manga itself (from the story line up to the visual parts), point of view of the characters, and the Hyakunin Isshuno. 17, Chihayaburu. The poem has much importance to the story, so this is mostly the foundation of this hunch.
I know that Chihayaburu poem can be interpreted in many ways, therefore, what conclusion I’ll be blabbering about here is my understanding of the waka no. 17 and its connection to the story with the help of the articles I’ve read in the past years.
In the poem 17 by Ariwara no Nanihira, we can find three elements: (1) gods;
(2) Tatsuta River (Tatta’s stream);
(3) autumn red
I.
The word Chihayaburu is an the epithet of a powerful, intense being. Seemingly, Chihayafuru term talks about a god. I believe that Ayase Chihaya is the embodiment of that powerful, intense being. Aside from the obvious connection with the name, a deity is said to be similar with Chihaya. (EDITED: @unabashedgiverface) She is the passionate goddess, who weaves the color red, and yellow, and orange, the goddess of autumn wind and dyeing whose symbol is “fall leaves”, Tatsuta-Hime. The deity is said to be tomboyish, just like Chihaya.
And I presume this has just been confirmed by Suetsugu herself.
This one is an in-your-face. Arata’s always been described as the water: calm and mysterious, ‘like dragging you to his flow. I can cite several characters who have mentioned the same thing (unfortunately, I forgot the chapters lol). Aside from Chihaya, Shinobu Wakamiya have addressed Arata once as the “troublesome river”.
Apparently, Arata is the concrete representation of Tatsuta River in the poem no. 17.
The symbol for Taichi was just recently shown to the readers; and it was presented to us by Hanano Sumire herself. Of all the characters in the series, she was the only one who associated Taichi to this thing, not even Kana herself (notorious for reading people like sort of literature books), and I think it’s because Hanano’s always watching Taichi. She’s the one who sees most of his hardships in love and she’s the one who tries her hardest to understand him as a person.
I think this is a pretty good proof. There, Taichi’s avatar.
Now, we have the three representations of the Chihayaburu waka; gods (Chihaya), river (Arata), maple leaf (Taichi); next is the interpretation of the poem and its relevance on what the heck is going on with the series. I have read a couple or more interpretations of the Chihayaburu poem, but I’ll go with Kanade’s explanation, simply because it came directly from the point of view of one of the characters, and I believe, Kana is one of the keys to Suetsugu’s subtle storytelling.
There are two versions of this poem where there is the verb kukuru (to dye) and kuguru (to pass under). It is said that the original reading of the classical kanji was kukuru before Fujiwara no Teika compiled the Hyakunin Isshu. I’d like to emphasize that Kanade entertained both versions, so we’d have no problem with the kukuru and kuguru stuff.
A song about a bright red love that cannot be concealed. My understanding of the poem is like this:
The Gods didn’t notice such Tatsuta River in Autumn– dyed in red. (How in the world did the river become red?)
In the Japanese version of the poem, we won’t see a direct translation or word for “maple leaf”, and I believe it’s meant to be HIDDEN. Instead we have karakurenai (scarlet/crimson); and karakurenai is used to describe the river. Kanade mentioned (see the picture above) that she believes that the “red colourof the momiji (autumnal leaf) represents the; (1) love that cannot be concealed, because it’s the very thing, the RED COLOUR OF FREAKING MAPLE LEAVES, that makes Tatsuta River karakurenai; (2) love that will not fade even if many years pass by, the autumn will always come. There are times when the red color isn’t there because it’s not yet autumn, but it will come eventually after summer, thus, it will never ever fade.
I also think that the poem intentionally made it look like like the God thinks that the Tatsuta river is actually red. That the God is oblivious of the maple leaves, and the God assumes that the river is really red.
The poem is considered an autumn one but the interpretation of Chouyaku Hyakuninisshu: Uta Koi clearly says it’s a love poem, Kanade (or Kana-chan) in Chihayafuru also considers it a love poem. It is even hard to believe that a poet like Ariwara no Narihira would write a poem about scenery which wouldn’t have some kind of deeper meaning, and don’t forget the part about karakurenai and maple leaves! It is surely possible that it is a poem about passionate love. The passion might have faded over time as if an autumn had come for it, yet the love is still there, red, like the leaves hiding flowing water underneath, hiding, like the water under leaves.
That’s why Kana emphasized that the true passion that never fades is the red colour of the autumnal leaf and it’s been overlooked.
Chihaya, the Impassionate Goddess of Autumn Wind, the source of passion who weaves the colour red, is oblivious of Taichi, the maple leaf. She sees Arata as the Red River, and she had her eyes only on him.
Does it ring a bell?
The poem sums up the whole triangle of Taichi, Chihaya, and Arata. I think this is the connection of the waka no. 17 to the part of the plot of the series. Are the interpretations similar to the actual situation of the three? For me, yes.
In addition and it’s a sad news for some, it’s been confirmed that Arata doesn’t have the passionate love described in the poem.
Nevertheless, he really likes Chihaya. No question about that. But, it isn’t as intense as red (I hope Team Arata won’t get mad at this), because he IS the RIVER. Calm, blue, and smooth. He goes on with his own flow no matter what happens. Either be dragged by it, counter the flow, or simply just stay by the river bank.
THE THING IS
Everything has changed when the Maple Leaf left the triangle. If you’ll notice, ever since the author decided to put Taichi off, the story’s always been about battle and karuta, and there’s almost no tension (I’m talking about the tension that doesn’t involve karuta).
Team Taichi is actually wreaking havoc in the past chapters, and you guys should calm thy mammary glands ‘cause you just have to wait for AUTUMN. The Red Maple Leaf will come back, don’t worry your pretty little heads.
WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER AUTUMN.
Hi there, Daddy Bear. Hi there, Snowmaru. I believe you two are Taichi and Arata.
CONCLUSION: Goddess of Autumn Wind is for Maple Leaf, Ice Queen is for the River.
THESE ARE ONLY MY ANALYSES, DON’T KILL ME.
LAST: I suggest you read Classic Literature Lover’s Theory ‘cause we have similar stuff and this is a support to her theory.
What a wonderful random question! Yes, I do follow the Chihayafuru manga though I haven’t been involved in the fandom for years! Nonetheless, I could honestly write an essay about my shipping views in Chihayafuru but I wouldn’t want to bore you with–
You know what? Screw it, I’ll write that essay. ^-^
The first Chihayafuru-related fact you should know about me would be that when I first read Chihayafuru I was young, and I was crazy about Taichi/Chihaya. I believed that Taichi and Chihaya would somehow end up together, one way or another, no matter how improbable it seemed at that time.
I still believe that Taichi and Chihaya are endgame, but the basis for my argument is much more grounded and evidence-filled than it would have been, say, three years ago. Back then, I just had a gut feeling that they would be together, but now I can allude to several scenes in the manga to back me up.
It’s important that I should mention that this is definitely NOT an Arata-hate post, but if you’re an Arata/Chihaya shipper and the idea of Taichi and Chihaya being together upsets you, I advise you not to read my post any further than this. I may be right, but I also may be wrong, and in the end, only Sensei can decide how this series will progress. ^-^
Without further ado, here’s why I think Taichihaya is endgame.
midnight-in-town 