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Taichi Mashima (真島 太一 Mashima Taichi) is the son of Reiko Mashima, the older brother of Rika Mashima and one of the childhood friends of Chihaya Ayase and Arata Wataya who is an all-around student as he is gifted in both studies and sports, although his mother pressures him to stick to competitions that he can win.

He is part of the Shiranami Karuta Society and the former president of the Mizusawa Karuta Club.

Appearance[]

Taichi's appearance

Taichi's appearance

Taichi is a handsome and attractive young man that makes him popular to all the girls with messy light brown hair (shorter and neater hair when he was younger) and hazel eyes.

He wears his school uniform which is a simple white button-up shirt, a plaid tie, a brown jacket with the school crest, a black belt, grey dress pants and brown school shoes.

When he is serious playing karuta, just like Arata Wataya with his 'water' aura and assumable Chihaya Ayase with her 'fire' aura, Taichi got the 'wind' aura when he's calmly and yet seriously playing karuta.

As part of his preparations for the Meijin/Queen qualifier finals, he had his hair cut short again, to the same length he had as a young boy.

Personality[]

Taichi is a smart, hard-working and athletic guy who was cocky at times, but he was also a bit of a coward during his younger years. Reiko Mashima (Taichi's mother) has only allowed him to enter competitions that he's sure to win. If he loses, he will be scolded by her, but he is easy-going and fairly modest despite this.

However, Taichi is somewhat easily disheartened: he considers giving up karuta early on in the series after becoming convinced that he could spend his entire life on the game without ever becoming better than Arata Wataya. His confidence builds, however, with his continued participation in the world of karuta, and it is shown that it is his own perception of his skill in karuta that is holding him back.

Taichi's maturity and loyalty are valuable assets to his friends, and he is adept, after a few initial stumbles, at saying to his teammates exactly what they need to hear in moments of stress. He is the "voice of reason" in whatever group he is in, and a wise and kind leader who is not averse to doling out some tough love (particularly with respect to Chihaya Ayase).

His memory is also remarkable: he can recite the Hyakunin Isshu without visual aid, and randomize verses without doubling up. He even showed he can match cards without having to see them once he's memorized their positions.

Despite being all said and done, everything he had gained was purely because of his skill, not because of his luck - more like he is not lucky in anything. Throughout the series, there are a few times where it is stated about Taichi's bad luck. Also because of this, he has had a hard time winning in luck-of-the-draw.

History[]

Taichi used to go to the same grade school as Chihaya Ayase and was the smartest in their class. He used to tease Chihaya which led her to attack him. They were good friends, but when Arata Wataya arrived, he was annoyed that he wasn't the only one that had memorized all of the Hyakunin Isshu. He tried to get Chihaya's attention and threatened to not be her friend anymore if she stands by Arata's side. Because of this, everyone ignored her - per Taichi's orders - the next day for associating with Arata.

Glasses returned

Taichi returning Arata's stolen glasses.

He later challenged Arata to the karuta competition they were having at their school. On the day of the competition, his mother was there holding a camera to film him during the match as she believed he would win as usual and tried to encourage him to win. Taichi won all his matches and made it to the final against Arata. In order to win, and not get scolded, he cheats by giving Arata a shaken soda to spray him, in order to make him wash his face and take off his glasses. He steals Arata's glasses while he is washing his face and Arata only catches his small figure. Chihaya and Arata start searching for them, but they don't find the glasses for Arata's match. During the match, Taichi is beating Arata as he switches the cards, but is then interrupted by Chihaya saying that she'll replace Arata in the match. He is eventually defeated by Chihaya and all three of them win an award. Even so, he still gets yelled by his mother and his mother tells him never to participate in a competition that he cannot win at.

After the competition, Chihaya goes out looking for Arata's glasses. While she is away, he admits to Arata that he was the one that stole the glasses and hands them to Arata. They later go out to look and call out to Chihaya to tell her that they found them. Chihaya hears them from the branches of a tree and jumps down on top of them, laughing.

Since then, Taichi, Chihaya, and Arata became good friends and referred to each other by their first names, signifying they are very close friends. They even joined a Competitive Karuta Society with their teacher being Harada-sensei and participated in a group competition. The three of them then went their separate ways in Junior High School with Taichi going to a Junior High School with a one-and-a-half hour commute that most students found difficult to be accepted into.

Synopsis[]

Karuta Style[]

Taichi's initial style of karuta is all brain, with little body. He makes great use of his mind in karuta matches, reasoning out probabilities and strategies completely in his head, and takes great pride in the fact that he makes few, if any, faults. He considers practicing his swing in front of others "embarrassing", which disadvantages him in the more physical aspect of karuta.

Hjk

Taichi practicing swinging

However, spurred on by his desire to compete on par with Arata Wataya and Chihaya Ayase, he vastly improves in the later part of the manga. He has been called a "monster" once he has self-confidence (by Sakurazawa-sensei, coach of Fujisaki High), and it has been noted by Hiro Kinashi that Taichi becomes stronger when Chihaya is not around (Chapter 94).

Notably, when he managed to get to final of his very first Class-A official tournament beating Sudou in the top 8 and Murao in the top 4. He lost to Chihaya in final match but all that witness the match admit that both Chihaya and Taichi are both had proven to be great karuta players. *note that Chihaya took a break in top 4 because her opponent forfeit the match, while Taichi need to beat Shinichi Murao for the final spot*. Harada-sensei who watched the match carefully said Taichi is more suited to play defensive style karuta instead of offensive style karuta which Chihaya and Harada-sensei specialized in. Also noted how good is Taichi when he played against Chihaya with an arrangement which is different from his normal one.

In chapter 150, Taichi (who had quit the school karuta club) was seen to be playing a lot of matches against Meijin Suou. Also, there's a rumor about how Taichi can hear Hisashi Suo's quiet and gentle voice loud and clear, showing that he has better and sharper hearing now.

Techniques & Talents[]

Perfect Memorization[]

  • As the name implies, it's the perfect memorization of all the cards' positions, the cards that have been read, and those that haven't been read yet. Other karuta players may have this skill, but their memory is still not as perfect as Taichi's, considering Taichi's memorization is 100% while the others' only up to 80-90%. However, due to this skill, Taichi tends to make silly mistakes since he can still remember the arrangement of his previous matches.
  • Another application to this skill of his is that he can use any other card arrangement and still fight normally. Other players can't memorize as well as Taichi so they tend to use a fixed card arrangement and let their body remember where the cards in that arrangement are. They would commit lots of faults if they used other arrangements, unlike Taichi.

Cross-Sweeping Move Neutralizer[]

  • So far, Taichi has only used this move once against Arata Wataya. Obviously, this move was created purposely to negate Arata's fast sweeping technique. This move uses covering and sweeping, in which Taichi would first cover the card that would be read; therefore 'kill' the opponent's speed and momentum, making him hesitate for a while; then sweep the correct card.

Katana Slash Backswing[]

  • This is actually Akihito Sudo's specialty in which the player would go for the opponent's field. Depending on which card that would be read, the player can either go ahead and attack the card or go back to touch the correct card on player side. This is different from normal kinds of backswings because the player need to be slightly away from the side of his hand. As in Taichi case, it would be his right side. By doing so, the player can attack the opponent field and if the correct card is in his side of the field, he can make his hand into a knife-like shape and use a backswing to defend the card. By distancing himself from the his defending side, he can touch the card comfortably and by making his hand into a more streamlined stance, reduce the air resistance and make the backswing faster.

Counter Data Analysis[]

  • Using the data he or Tsutomu Komano collected from his opponent, he would then analyze and think of a way to counter his opponent's play. Taichi used this against Chihaya Ayase in the Yoshino Society Class A match where he used a different card arrangement from what he usually used. It proved to be working well although he lost to Chihaya in that match with just a 2 cards difference with an exhausted condition. In that match, many can see that a lot of mind tricks involved. He also made and used the sweeping move canceler against Arata Wataya, who is known for his fast sweeping ability.

Peculiar Defense[]

  • A copy from Ryoga Emuro's specialty. This technique is used to defense a card even if the swing is delayed or slower. Taichi used this technique against Shinichi Murao in Yoshino Society Tournament's semi-final. This move is used to sweep cards out of the field. The difference between sweeping move and this move is sweeping move used whole hand to sweep a bunch of cards out, but this move only used 1 finger to sweep the correct card and send it out. The difference would be sweeping bunch of cards will consume more time but sweep just 1 particular card with just 1 finger will reduce the time taken to sweep the card.

Enhanced Hearing[]

  • This refers to the recent chapter of 150 where Taichi managed to hear Hisashi Suo's quiet voice, which is hardly heard by other people with normal hearing sense.

Relationships[]

Family[]

Reiko Mashima[]

Reiko is Taichi's mother who has been very strict and stern as she tells Taichi "You can only join competitions you know you'll win." ever since elementary school. Mrs. Mashima is against Taichi playing karuta, saying it's a waste of time and effort. If Taichi does not stay the top student, she will prohibit him from playing karuta. However, when Taichi becomes the East representative for the challenger title she supports him and places an order at Ooe Drapery of a hakama for him.

Oligotou Mashima[]

Oligotou is Taichi's father. He is a capable surgeon and a very kind person. He is always amazed at Taichi's achievements and is proud of him.

Rika Mashima[]

Rika is Taichi's younger sister. She loves playing pranks on him. Though neither of them like involving their mother in such matters.

Friends[]

Chihaya Ayase[]

Chihaya is Taichi's childhood friend who has feelings for her as he tells himself he is in love with her and the started the Mizusawa karuta club together.

In the past, it was shown that Taichi had feelings for Chihaya during grade school by often teasing her and getting jealous whenever she was with Arata. He has nurtured those feelings until recently, when he finally confessed his love to Chihaya. Unfortunately, she rejected him and this leads to him leaving the Karuta club.

However, just after they graduated from Misuzawa High School, Chihaya confessed her feelings to Taichi. She was scared because her club members told her that Taichi is not going to Tokyo University, and she thought that he will go overseas for college.

On a karuta competition after they graduated, they met Arata and told him that they are already dating.

Arata Wataya[]

Taichi and Arata were childhood friends. At first, he didn't like Arata because he memorized the poems in his first try, also he challenged Arata again in a karuta competition and took his glasses to stop him from winning against him. But Chihaya took Arata's place and defeated Taichi. After he admitted that he took his glasses, they went to look for Chihaya. Soon after he began getting interested in karuta and his dream was to become a meijin. They also teamed up with Chihaya in another karuta competition, but lost. Since Arata was sick, he lent his hat to him.

Kanade Ōe[]

Kanade Ōe is a member of the Mizusawa Karuta club. She is always pushing Taichi to be more assertive of his feelings around Chihaya, as she is clueless. She wants their relationship to change as she was the first to see how much Taichi loves Chihaya.

During the East - West masters qualifiers, Arata’s hakama comes loose. Initially Taichi thinks it as an advantage to him, but later calls the umpire to notify him and let Kanade fix Arata’s hakama. Later he thanks her for it, and tells her the reason he did so was because he saw her in the crowd, and was proud to have a friend who was such an expert in kimonos that she could fix Arata’s hakama in ten seconds.

Yūsei Nishida[]

During elementary school, Yūsei Nishida is one of the three opponents, Taichi, Chihaya and Arata are matched against in Dr. Harada’s club. He plays against Chihaya and wins. Later, in high school he quits karuta, but Chihaya and Taichi convince him to join their club. He was one of the people Taichi wanted as his card boy if he became the challenger for the masters match.

Tsutomu Komano[]

Tsutomu Komano, nicknamed  Desk-tomu (机くん, Tsukue-kun), is a member of the Mizusawa karuta club, and Taichi and him are friendly. When Taichi leaves the karuta club, he, Nishida and Taichi go to karaoke as a farewell party. Taichi tells them he is counting on them to look after the club after he is gone. He was one of the people Taichi wanted as his card boy if he became the challenger for the masters match.

Sumire Hanano

Sumire Hanano is currently a second year at Mizusawa High School. She initially joins the club to be close to Taichi as she wanted a good looking boyfriend, and realises to be close to Taichi she has be close to Karuta. Her feelings eventually deepen from more than just a crush, but she is aware her feelings are unrequited. Even so, on valentines day she gives Taichi a can of fermented squid guts, and tells him she likes him, and she wants him to tell the person he likes about his feelings too. Taichi appreciates the gesture, and gives her a present in return.

Others[]

Kasumi[]

In the beginning of the series, Taichi had a girlfriend named Kasumi (香澄) (as revealed in the Light Novel 4) whom he had met her during Junior High School while he had been struggling to keep his passion for Karuta after several set-backs and she called him 'Ta-kun', but he has feelings for Chihaya Ayase despite this relationship. In Episode 1, he told Chihaya that he was only dating her because she liked him but as we found out in the Light Novel 3 the other reason for them dating was that she was filling the gap in his heart that Karuta left once he had quit playing. In Episode 17/Chapter 29, he breaks up with her over the phone in a short and dry exchange.

Rieko Oe[]

Taichi met Rieko at a match where the Oe Traditional Clothing Shop was providing the Mizusawa team with hakamas. She seems to think that Taichi is 'very cute' and always rushes around him to fix his hakama.

Hisashi Suo[]

Hisashi is Taichi's cram school teacher who is the current reigning Meijin. While everyone in the Karuta world seems to have a scorn toward Suo for his Karuta style calling it 'nasty' and 'sick', Taichi doesn't. On the contrary, he seems to like it by saying that he 'can't help but finding that style fascinating'. They had a rocky start because Taichi claimed that Chihaya was his girlfriend and asked Suo to stop his advances on her, much to Suo's dismay, who used to say he's not obliged to do anything that Taichi says because he hates him. Taichi always came prepared with sweets to bribe him with, though, and confessed his lie about Chihaya and cleared the air between them. Suo showed, on more than one occasion, that he's interested in Taichi's Karuta, interestingly enough calling him a 'nasty player'. Later on when he found out Taichi quit Karuta, he told him that he admires him, for even though he doesn't like Karuta he still tried his absolute best in it, and admitted to not liking Karuta either. Suo and Taichi are last seen practicing Karuta together.

Official Matches Records[]

Opponents

Tournament

Results

Cards Differences

Important Event

Unknown
(Eikou University High)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Group B)

Win
(3-2)

Unknown

-

Unknown
(Shuryukan)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Group B)

Win
(4-1)

Unknown

-

Unknown
(Hanasaki Academy)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Group B)

Win
(3-2)

Unknown

Right after this match, Komano throws a tantrum and left. Taichi showed his leadership here.

Unknown
(Tomihara West High)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Semi-final)

Win
(3-2)

Unknown

-

Hiro Kinashi

(Hokuo Academy)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Final)

Win

(3-2)

+8 Cards

After the match, Hyoro told how he take pride over the trophy.

Unknown

(Takechi High)

High School Team National Championship
(Round 1)

Win

Unknown

Chihaya fainted. Taichi caught her and leave her to Arata’s care.

Unknown
(Fujisaki High)

High School Team National Championship

(Round 2)

Lose

Unknown

-

-

High School Individual National Championship (Round 2)

Win by default

-

Toda

(Fujisaki High)

High School Individual National Championship
(Class B : Final)

Lose

-3 Cards

-

Hiro Kinashi

(Hokuo Academy)

Saitama Karuta Tournament

(Class B : Round 1)

Win

+3 Cards

-

Yusei Nishida

Saitama Karuta Tournament

(Class B : Final)

Lose

+1 Card
(Luck-of-the-Draw)

Nishida noted about Taichi’s personality and Chihaya’s

-

Yoshino Karuta Tournament

Lose at Round 3

-

Harada-sensei asked if Taichi want to be Class A. Taichi refused by saying “Teacher, I’m not much focused on making Class A as I’m focused to become someone who doesn’t run away.”

Unknown

(Shuryukan)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Group Match)

Win

Unknown

-

Unknown

(Tomihara West High)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Group Match)

Win

(3-2)

Unknown

-

Sasagu Mori

(Homei High)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Semi-Final)

Win

+4 Cards

During the match, the aircond is malfunction and Taichi is having a hard time. He asked for a towel and Chihaya was one of girls that gave the towel to him.

Hiro Kinashi

(Hokuo Academy)

High School Regional Tournament
(Tokyo : Final)

Win but the team lose

(2-3)

+2 Card

(Opponent Fault)

Even though Mizusawa lost, Mizusawa still become one of the representative for Tokyo region.

Park Kyung-Seo

(Chiba International School Of Information Sciences)

High School Team National Championship
(Group Match)

Win

(4-1)

Unknown

-

Sosuke Hayashi

(Yamaguchi Mioka

High)

High School Team National Championship
(Group Match)

Win

(3-2)

Unknown

-

Unknown

(Shoyo High School)

High School Team National Championship

(Quarter-Final)

Win

Unknown

-

Nanase

(First Akashi Girls’)

High School Team National Championship

(Semi-Final)

Win

(3-2)

+5 Cards

Kanade injured her finger. Chihaya frustrated over her lost and almost injured her own hand before Taichi stop her.

Ryoga Emuro

(Fujisaki High)

High School Team National Championship

(Final)

Win

(3-2)

+1 Card

Luck-of-the-Draw

Taichi made a vow that he’s fine if his card never be call in other luck-of-the-draw as long his card in this match will be call. And Chihaya injured her finger.

Hiro Kinashi

(Hokuo Academy)

High School Individual National Championship

Win

+18 Cards

The start of Taichi Awakening in Karuta.

Rion Yamashiro

(Fujisaki High)

High School Individual National Championship

(Class-B : Final)

Win

+9 Cards

Hyoro noticed about Taichi link with Chihaya. Chihaya willingly to watch Taichi play rather than Shinobu vs Arata. Taichi reached Class A

Shiroyama

(Hokuo Academy)

Yoshino Karuta Tournament
(Best 16)

Win

+4 Cards

Taichi realized how good it felt to have reliable senpais.

Akihito Sudo

(Hokuo Academy)

Yoshino Karuta Tournament

(Best 8)

Win

+1 Card

Luck-of-the-Draw

but Taichi won by taking opponent’s card

-

Shinichi Murao

(Narumo Karuta Society)

Yoshino Karuta Tournament

(Semi-Final)

Win

+5 Cards

Chihaya moved to the final by default because her opponent forfeit. Harada-sensei realized that the path for Taichi to grow stronger is defensive-karuta.

Chihaya Ayase

Yoshino Karuta Tournament

(Final)

Lose

-2 Cards

Taichi didn’t get a break before the final and injured(scratched) his hand a bit when collided with Chihaya’s hand. Arata had an uneasy feeling.

Saneatsu Goutokuji

Meijin East Qualifier Tournament

(Round 1)

Win

+11 Cards

After the match, Taichi meet up with Hyoro and asked him to stop losing to someone like Goutou again cause Taichi acknowledged Hyoro as a good karuta player.

Unknown

Meijin East Qualifier Tournament

(Round 2)

Win

+7 Cards

-

Shusaku Koishikawa

Meijin East Qualifier Tournament

(Round 3)

Lose

-1 Card

Luck-of-the-Draw

Taichi lost the ‘Chiha’ card which took a toll on his self-confidence. After the match, Taichi watched firsthand about how to use the ‘joker’ detecting talent from Harada-sensei

Unknown

Takamatsunomiya Cup Tournament

(Round 1)

Win

+10 Cards

-

Unknown

Takamatsunomiya Cup Tournament

(Round 2)

Win

+7 Cards

-

Unknown

Takamatsunomiya Cup Tournament

(Best 8)

Win

+4 Cards

-

Arata Wataya

Takamatsunomiya Cup Tournament

(Best 4)

Lose

(4th place)

Unknown

Taichi sent the ‘Chiha’ card hoping to take it away from Arata’s field. But unfortunately, the card was never called. Also, Taichi quoted “Since I’m an offensive player, I would part with the I want to get the most, and I would go into the fight with the resolve to take them back no matter what.”

Meijin Suo who was watching closely how Taichi played, called Taichi as a nasty player.

Takeshi Tamaru

Eastern Meijin Qualifier
Tournament

Win

+12 Cards

-

Ryoga Emuro

Eastern Meijin Qualifier
Tournament

Win

+7 Cards

-

Momota Seta

Eastern Meijin Qualifier
Tournament

Win

Unknown

-

Akihito Sudo

Eastern Meijin Qualifier Tournament
(Best 4)

Win

+2 Cards

He forced Sudo to commit 2 faults at the end of the game.

Hideo Harada

Eastern Meijin Qualifier Tournament
(Finale)

Win

+4 Cards

-

Quotes[]

  • (To himself, about love) "You aren't happy even if you're with them. It makes me nervous. Nothing happened like I thought it would. It isn't fun. But I still want to be with them."
  • (To Sumire Hanano)"It doesn't seem right to let a girl choose me. I would rather choose the girl I devote myself to."
  • (To himself) "If Arata were here... If Chihaya were to practice with Arata instead of me, would she become a better player?"
  • (To Tsutomu Komano) "I don't have any talent for karuta either. It's tough, but I still play! I keep losing, but I still play! Because when I win, I feel happy!"
  • (To Tsutomu) "Instead of a karuta genius, I would rather have our new member be someone who puts in effort on the tatami."
  • (To Yusei Nishida) "Chihaya never gave up on karuta. Why don't you see for yourself how strong someone can be when they put in the effort? Or are you scared of losing?"
  • (To Chihaya Ayase) "As long as you have a smile on your face, karuta will always be fun. That's the truth, Captain!"
  • (to himself) "Chihaya...we'll have plenty of chances to try to become Master and Queen, but we only get to play as a team during our three years in high school."
  • (To Hisashi Suo) "Do not break with words someone you could not break with your play!"
  • (To Sumire Hanano) "I myself have been wondering since I was a kid why was I given this name... My mother does seem like someone who would choose something unconventional and posh for a name, and yet..."
  • (To himself) "I wonder if I managed to get stronger?"
  • (To Chihaya) "I've always, always wanted to become a person who is not a coward."
  • (To Chihaya) "Are you under the impression that I'm made of stone?"
  • (To himself) "Those encouraging words and those days we spent together turned into a curse, and I can't leave it like that. I can't keep living like that."
  • (To Hideo Harada) “Teacher, I’m not much focused on making Class A as I’m focused to become someone who doesn’t run away.”
  • (To himself) "Now that I've separated myself from the team and am alone and on my own, for the first time in my life I'm actually having fun playing Karuta."

Etymology[]

  • The name Taichi means "thick, big" (太) (ta) and "one" (一) (ichi).
  • Taichi's surname Mashima means "real, genuine" (真) (ma) and "island" (島) (shima).

Trivia[]

  • Taichi is good at all subjects.
  • When Taichi was 13, he was jealous of Arata Wataya because Chihaya Ayase was bonding with him.
  • Taichi made flash cards to help him memorize the 100 poems.
  • Taichi has recited the 100 poems in random order during a practice karuta match as the reader for it.
  • Rika Mashima once asked him if he was a narcissist.
  • Taichi somewhat dreams of becoming a doctor one day, but isn't sure yet.
  • Taichi is more focused on being someone who doesn't run away rather than being in class A.
  • Taichi once thought that karuta is scary while watching Chihaya play against Yumi Yamamoto, an ex-queen.
  • In Episode 13, Taichi put Arata in charge of taking care of Chihaya after she has fainted.
  • Hideo Harada calls Taichi "eyelashes" (まつげくん matsuge-kun) because of his long eyelashes, although the English subtitles always seem to mistake this for "eyebrows".
  • In the anime, many girls think Taichi is cute, even Rieko Oe (Kanade Oe's mother) thinks so.
  • Taichi's favourite poem from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu is Poem #16: "Note that though we may be apart, if I am to hear that you pine for me as the Inaba mountain pines, I shall return to you."
  • Taichi's favourite poem from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu starts with 'Tachiwakare' making him of one of the few characters whose names begin with the cards such as Hanano Sumire Poem #9, Wataya Arata Poem #11 and Poem #76 Tsukuba Akihiro Poem #13, Ayase Chihaya Poem #17, Wakamiya Shinobu Poem #40, Oe Kanade Poem #60, Takeuchi Kokoro Poem #68, Tamaru Midori Poem #89, Yuikawa Momo Poem #100.
  • Taichi and Chihaya's favourite poems in Ogura Hyakkunin Isshu are 16th poem 'Tachiwakare' and 17th poem 'Chihayfuru/Chihayaburu' respectively. Also, Ariwara no Yukihira who wrote 16th poem and Ariwara no Narihira who wrote 17th poem were half-brothers.
  • In Chapter 119, Taichi lied about Chihaya being his girlfriend to Hisashi Suo (the Meijin), but he told him the truth in Chapter 122.
  • In the light novel 1, it is stated that Taichi quit karuta after winning a class C tournament and advancing to class B and beat Chihaya in a luck of the draw in the previous match, thus somewhat messed of some of his statements in the manga and the anime that he'd never once won against Chihaya properly in a match before.
  • Taichi won second place in his first official class A tournament, and note that he's had class A skill approximately one year before actually being class A (by placing second in two class B tournaments).
  • Taichi's age is officially 18 years as of Chapter 193.
  • Taichi's surname Mashima is his mother's maiden name as seen in Chapter 191 so his father probably took his Reiko's surname after marriage.

References[]

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