It was fantastic news last year when we learned that the Chihayafuru manga from Yuki Suetsugu had gotten the green light for a third season but it was heartbreaking when it got delayed from a spring debut to a fall debut this year. Progress continues, however, and now some new details have arrived in regards to the cast as two characters have been recast. Kenta Miyake takes over for Unshō Ishizuka as Dr. Harada while Yoshino Ohtori takes over for Toshiko Fujita. Both original actors had passed away since last performing the roles in the second season.
Morio Asaka is set to direct with Madhouse handling the animation production.
The Japanese cast includes Asami Seto as Chihaya Ayase, Mamoru Miyano as Taichi Mashima, and Yoshimasa Hosoya as Arata Wataya.
The manga began in 2008 and has thirty-seven volumes so far that sell quite well in Japan. Kodansha Comics is releasing it digitally in North America while Sentai Filmworks has licensed and released the first season with the second season coming up shortly for a home video release.
99RadioService to handle the opening theme for this season like they did the other two and they’ll use the song “COLORFUL” for it. The ending theme song will be “Hitomebore” from a group called Harassment.
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: Chihaya Ayase was a girl who never seemed to fit in. She never had much in common with the other kids, and her family was so obsessed with her older sister’s modeling career that, sometimes, it was like Chihaya wasn’t even there. Everything changes when transfer student Arata gets Chihaya interested in the world of competitive Karuta, a unique card-based game that requires lightning fast reflexes, an exceptional memory, and a keen ear. Chihaya is a natural, and she has the skills to take her to the very top. Suddenly, Chihaya has found her goal: to become the best player in Japan! It won’t be easy, but when a girl has a dream in her heart, nothing else matters in CHIHAYAFURU!
[Source: ANN]
