Tsubaki Kanai

Tsubaki receives little individual characterization. She appears principally as Sakura's daughter and Kaede's older sister, with the story focusing more heavily on what the children reveal about their mother's life.

No substantial independent ambitions or personal conflicts are established for her.

Tsubaki is not established as a ranked competitive karuta player. No playing class, society membership or specialized technique is attributed to her.

Her connection to karuta comes primarily through her mother, an experienced competitor who continues playing while raising a family.

Tsubaki appears during Chihaya's match against Sakura. The presence of Sakura's children gives Chihaya a glimpse of an adult competitor balancing high-level karuta with responsibilities very different from those faced by a high-school player.

Tsubaki therefore contributes to the broader picture of competitive karuta as a pursuit that extends beyond school and university.

Sakura Kanai is Tsubaki's mother and the competitive karuta player through whom she enters the story.

Kaede Kanai is Tsubaki's younger sister. Tsubaki Kanai and Kaede Kanai appear as part of the family surrounding Sakura Kanai's continued involvement in karuta.