Reiko Mashima

Reiko is controlling, competitive and intensely concerned with her children's success. She dislikes seeing Taichi lose and initially sees little value in his continuing with karuta when the activity offers him no guarantee of being the best.

Her expectations are not limited to karuta. Academic achievement is important enough that Taichi negotiates his continued participation in the game around maintaining exceptional school results.

Reiko's severity does not mean she is indifferent to her son. Later developments force her to recognize the emotional cost of the pressure she has placed on him, and her response to his progress shows genuine pride even when she has struggled to understand why karuta matters so much to him.

Reiko is not established as a competitive karuta player. Her influence comes through family expectations rather than technical knowledge of the game.

She is, however, highly attentive to Taichi's academic and extracurricular performance. Her pressure becomes one of the external demands he must manage while attempting to improve in a field where effort does not guarantee immediate success.

Reiko is introduced through Taichi's childhood, where her expectations help explain his fear of failure and his tendency to measure himself against people who appear naturally superior.

As Taichi continues playing in high school, she remains skeptical. Karuta consumes time that could be devoted to academic work, and his inability simply to dominate the game conflicts with the philosophy she has encouraged since childhood.

Her attitude becomes more complicated as Taichi's relationship with karuta changes. She eventually shows regret over the pressure she placed on him and becomes emotionally invested when his own competitive achievements bring him close to the highest level of the game.

Taichi Mashima is Reiko's son and the primary target of her demanding expectations. Reiko wants Taichi Mashima to succeed and frequently tries to steer him away from situations where he cannot be the best.

Rika Mashima is Reiko's younger child. Reiko applies her broader philosophy about achievement and competition to the upbringing of both children.

Chihaya Ayase knows Reiko through her long friendship with Taichi and recognizes immediately how much pressure she places on him.