Keiichi Takemura

Takemura is an experienced competitor whose involvement with younger players shows that his connection to karuta extends beyond pursuing his own results. He works with juniors at Koutokuin while continuing to participate in high-level tournaments.

The series gives comparatively little attention to his private life, but his continued presence in major competitions after challenging for the Meijin title demonstrates considerable commitment to the game.

Takemura is a Class A player strong enough to have earned the right to challenge for the Meijin title. Reaching that match requires surviving the qualification process and defeating the opposing regional representative, placing him among the elite male players in competitive karuta.

His experience makes him a difficult opponent even for rapidly improving younger players. During the Yoshino tournament, he faces Chihaya Ayase, giving her an opportunity to test changes in her game against someone with title-match experience.

Takemura is first established through his challenge against Suou for the Meijin title. His inability to dislodge the reigning champion helps demonstrate the level at which Suou operates.

He later appears at the Yoshino Society tournament. Chihaya meets him in the fourth round, by which point she is attempting to broaden her game beyond the speed that originally defined her.

Takemura consequently serves as a bridge between the title-level adult circuit and the younger generation attempting to enter it.

Hisashi Suou is the reigning Meijin whom Takemura challenges for the title. Their match establishes Takemura as a player capable of reaching karuta's highest competitive stage.

Chihaya Ayase later faces Takemura at the Yoshino Society tournament, testing her developing style against an experienced former Meijin challenger.