It is about a high school girl, Chihaya Ayase, who after seeing her sister become a fashion model, is inspired by a new classmate to take up karuta competitively.
I started this serie 'cause of boredom and didn't expect it to be so exiting :) I think that at first it wasn't the story that kept me amused but animation - not only characters but nuture, cadrs, the way cards and poems were presented.. somehow it was like magic to me. Then story started to get interesting and now I am imapatiently waiting for new episode of 2nd season on each Friday, I hope I'm not addicted :D
Characters are great, all togehter and each individually. There is not much of action, but a lot of emotion during each play as they gain experience and find their strong points. Of course, as the main heroine is beatiful, you can expect a romance - but it's really different. I have to praise music too; opening was very nice, sundtrack is very good.
I think when you read 'cards' and 'competition' in description you can't imagine that and you are not interested, don't want to waste your time on smth not interetsing. But give it a try, one or two first eps - and I am sure you'll get hooked right off the bat and follow the Karuta Club and inspiring heroine 'Hopeless Beauty' :)