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Competitive karuta, a game derived from the traditional Japanese card game “karuta,” is gaining increasing attention worldwide. This ancient and captivating game determines the winner by testing competitors’ abilities in instant memory and reaction speed. In recent years, a series of anime works themed around competitive karuta, such as “Chihayafuru”, have attracted more young people to participate in the sport.
Especially students, influenced by the characters in the story, are eagerly joining in this sport.
In Japan, there is a high school girl dedicated to competitive karuta, showcasing her extraordinary perseverance and focus.
She is Seiran Yajima from the Kanto First High School, a legendary figure known as the “Queen of Karuta.” She has stood out in many competitions, dominating the arena with her astonishing speed and precision.
Initially, Yajima was deeply attracted by her sister’s impressive performance in a karuta competition when she was in the fifth grade of elementary school, which sparked her desire to learn karuta. Her passion for karuta quickly intensified, and she dedicated a lot of time to practice, a fervor that continued throughout her growth from elementary school to high school.
During this journey, she not only had to face the pressure of her studies but also improve her skills through daily training, winning championships multiple times in national karuta competitions.
The speed at which Seira Yajima snatches the cards can be described as lightning fast.
When asked about her outstanding secret, she attributed it to “more practice than others” and that “unyielding spirit.”
Yajima emphasized that honing oneself through practical combat is very important. Even during the pandemic when she couldn’t go out to fight with others, she did not relax her demands on herself and invented a unique training method that could be practiced at home.
She tied 250-gram weighted wristbands to her wrists and practiced at least 100 times a day with empty swings.
This innovative training method not only enhances wrist strength but also improves reaction speed, leading to a significant increase in the speed of card grabbing when removing weight in actual competitions.
Yajima is determined to dedicate her entire high school life to the competitive card game she loves.
Her schedule is almost filled with training activities: spending no less than five hours of practice time on each weekday, and on holidays, this duration even increases to nine hours.
In addition, she often has to travel across Japan on weekends to participate in different karaoke competitions.
Her persistent spirit and unremitting efforts have made her an idol in the eyes of many young people. Faced with such dedication, many feel a sense of respect. In Yajima’s high school life, everything revolves around competitive karaoke, and she has woven an admirable growth story with her passion and perseverance.
To pour so much into an interest requires a great deal of courage and perseverance! Yajima’s story makes us reflect: when we find something we truly love, do we have the courage to invest in it, resist various challenges, and ultimately achieve growth of our spirit?
The girl who dedicated her youth to competitive singing cards, her story inspires countless young people to pursue their dreams and to bravely move forward.
