Chihaya Ayase is a school girl who becomes fascinated by the obscure world of competitive karuta, a card game based on Japanese poetry. Introduced to the aggressive style of the game by a quiet and thoughtful classmate named Arata Wataya, the two quickly become close friends. As Chihaya takes on her dream of becoming Japan's best karuta player, she is soon separated from her karuta playing friends as they grow up. As high school life begins, they meet once again.

Chihayafuru Season 1 premieres 13 Feb 2013, airing from Mondays to Fridays at 11pm, first & exclusively on Animax