The sixth episode of the drama series "Chihayafuru: Meguri" (NTV, Wednesdays at 10pm), starring actress Ami Touma, aired on August 13th. The role of Yakumo Chikara, a new member of the Umezono Karuta Club, was played by Sakamoto Manato, who gained attention for his role as Kiyoshi, a middle school student who travels back in time to the Showa era, in the January 2024 drama series "Extremely Inappropriate!" (TBS). The episode became a hot topic on social media.
◇The following contains spoilers.
In episode 6, it's April, and Meguru (Touma) and the other five members of the Umezono Karuta Club are now in their third year of high school. Eager to recruit new students, Meguru and the others go around the first-year classrooms in their gorgeous hakama (traditional Japanese formal wear), enthusiastically promoting the appeal of karuta.
Meanwhile, a new student, Yakumo Chikara, who is attracted to Meguru and Chieri (Arashi Rina) in their hakama outfits, comes to visit the karuta club. Yakumo, a modern boy obsessed with bangs, has never played karuta and says he is only interested in hakama and has no intention of joining the club. However, Meguru and the others suggest that he "give it a try, even if you think it's a trick," and when they let him play karuta, he picks up cards at lightning speed... and so it unfolds.
Afterwards, Meguru and the others are surprised by Yakumo's strength and say, "You said earlier that you've never played karuta before..." to which Yakumo calmly replies, "I think I've never played competitive karuta." In fact, Yakumo was already a member of the karuta club and possessed A-class skills.
"Well, I've been tricked, so I'm going home," Yakumo said, and Meguru and the others frantically tried to stop him, but Yakumo retorted, "If I can't wear a hakama, I'm going home! Karuta is enough for the Karuta Club." After that, when Meguru and the others promised to help him wear a hakama, Yakumo readily agreed, saying, "Then I'll join," and surprised everyone by suggesting, "Let's have a welcome party for me right away."
The appearance of the quirky Yakumo became a hot topic on social media. Comments included, "What a great new character with such a strong personality," "Another strong character has appeared, lol," "A strong new recruit in many ways!" and "His strong character is Extremely Inappropriate!", comments such as, "He's a Extremely Inappropriate! Kiyoshi!" and "Kiyoshi, no, Yakumo, is an incredible asset, lol."
Also, at the end of the episode, there is a scene where the powerful Mizusawa High School Karuta Club is interviewed on TV, and for some reason Yakumo is seen being interviewed among the Mizusawa Karuta Club members and new students. Comments such as "Who is Yakumo?", "He's a good kid, but there are so many mysteries about him that it's nerve-wracking...!" and "Yakumo is crazy, he's scary (lol)" lined up, attracting a lot of attention.
