Chihayafuru is a hugely popular girls' manga. It tells the story of high school students spending their youth in a competitive karuta club. The passionate plot and romance are sure to touch your heart! A second season of the anime has been produced, and the live-action film starring Hirose Suzu has been much talked about. With the third season of the anime due to air soon, the series is gaining even more attention. In this article, we'll be introducing Inokuma Haruka, one of the characters from Chihayafuru! While Chihayafuru features many high school students, she's also a mother of two! What kind of character is she? Let's take a look!
What kind of character is Inokuma Haruka?
She's 34 years old. She has a husband and two sons, Aki and Jin. She was pregnant at the time. She's a 7th-dan karuta player, has won the Queen's Championship four times in a row, and holds the record for being the world's number one female karuta player for four consecutive years. This alone makes it clear she's an extraordinary person.
A-class wrestler belonging to the Takasago-kai
Haruka Inokuma's current best friend, Midori Sakurazawa, was her challenger during her four consecutive Queen titles. She was such a strong wrestler that she kept her as the "strongest challenger" and never made her Queen. This shows how skilled she is.
She looks like this
She has distinctive, round, wide, and very large eyes. Incidentally, her doctor told her not to wear contact lenses because she was careless with them, so she wore glasses during the Queen's Tournament preliminaries. She also seems to have a very carefree personality, and she has some quirky quirks, like starting to breastfeed regardless of the venue.
Which is more important: her child or karuta? Haruka Inokuma's Wavering Life
To prove that she could still play even after becoming a mother, Haruka Inokuma aimed to return to the Queen rank. She chose Fujisaki High School as her training ground. However, the world of karuta she knew was no longer what it used to be. Watching the high school students' passionate and intense battles, Haruka Inokuma felt the age difference between them.
Are they underestimating her as an opponent?
Inokuma Haruka was overwhelmed by the high school student's power. She felt the unbridgeable age gap. Even the once-powerful Queen can experience this. Incidentally, Inokuma Haruka's maiden name was "Chihara." Therefore, the "Chihayaburu" card, which begins with "Chiha," was her favorite card, and she was particular about it because it had her name on it. However, now it's Chihaya's favorite card. When she was active and won the Queen title, competitive karuta players from around the world were paying attention to her. But now, she's shocked to learn that no one even knows her maiden name. Finding herself nowhere near where she once thrived, she felt lost and alone.
Which should she choose: her children or karuta?
The question that troubles Haruka Inokuma the most is, "Which should I choose: my children or karuta?" This is perhaps a rather important one. Originally, Haruka Inokuma was known in the karuta world as a genius for "sense." However, that sense has gradually weakened with age. At the same time, practicing karuta and competing in tournaments leaves her with the dilemma of not being able to keep enough time with her young children. She wonders whether it's okay to continue playing karuta even though she can no longer give everything to it like she did in the past, and yet put her children aside. However, amid this struggle, she realizes the strength of having a family. Her husband watches the children during matches, and her children cheer her on. She realizes that having a family isn't a burden that prevents her from devoting herself to karuta, but is actually a great strength, a privilege that only she possesses. With this shift in perspective, Inokuma Haruka overcomes this conflict and becomes stronger once again.
Not Just an "Enemy Character"! What's the Appeal of Inokuma Haruka?
Inokuma Haruka is treated as an "antagonist" in the story. However, she has a great charm that goes beyond being just an enemy character!
You'll find yourself empathizing with the struggles of a mother raising a child
"Chihayafuru" is a work beloved by people of all ages. Inokuma Haruka, in particular, seemed to be a character who struck a chord with mothers in a similar position to her. Seeing her overcome various conflicts and work hard at karuta, many mothers were inspired. It was a moment when they suddenly realized that even mothers who are raising children can work hard at things other than childcare. There are many moments when manga and anime give us courage, but what was striking was that Inokuma Haruka particularly struck a chord with mothers of a similar generation.
What a great quote!
"I want to show them. My best days are yet to come." Haruka Inokuma once held the title of Queen, but I think these words perfectly reflect her determination to become even stronger than she was then. Isn't that wonderful?! She could have made countless excuses, citing her age or her family. But in the end, Haruka Inokuma chose not to and instead decided to fight with all her might. It's just so cool, isn't it?
[Chihayafuru] Characters! Summary of Inokuma Haruka
That concludes our introduction to the "Chihayafuru" character, Inokuma Haruka! She's essentially an antagonist within the series. However, "Chihayafuru" is full of charming characters, both allies and enemies! In fact, Inokuma Haruka is a very compelling character, and I'm sure she left a strong impression on fans. If you're interested in learning more about her story, be sure to check out the new anime series or the original manga. Thank you for reading this far.
