Encho 2 (extension) — Hashimoto（橋本） wins
The men's individual final of the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament became a match of steady offense and defense between Hashimoto（橋本） and Umaki（馬木）. With no valid strikes from either side within the regulation time or Encho 1, Hashimoto decided the match by scoring a kote in Encho 2. The match time was 7 minutes and 4 seconds, and the winner was Hashimoto.
Matchup
- Red Hashimoto Daichi（橋本 大治） / Higashi Fukuoka（東福岡） / Fukuoka3rd Year 3rd danHashimoto（橋本） of Higashi Fukuoka is a third-year student with a 3rd dan rank. Their kendo club finished as the men's team runner-up at this spring's All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament, and Hashimoto is one of the players to watch in the tournament.
- White Umaki Taketora（馬木 洸虎） / Nitta（新田） / Ehime3rd Year 3rd danNitta's Umaki（馬木） is a 3rd year with sandan. Their kendo club won the team event at the Shikoku High School Kendo Championship in June 2026 and secured a spot in the Inter-High by winning the Ehime Prefecture qualifiers.
Highlights
A tense development with no valid strikes within the regulation time or Encho 1.
A tenacious battle lasting 7 minutes and 4 seconds
The winning point by Hashimoto（橋本）'s kote, decided in Encho 2.
Live commentary video
Valid strike
| # | Situation | Red and White | Players | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encho 2 | Red | Hashimoto（橋本） | Kote |
- Conclusion
- Encho 2
- Match time
- 7:04
- Winner
- Hashimoto（橋本）（Red）
- Foul
- No record
Text Commentary
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
The 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship, Men's Individual Finals. Court 1, it has finally begun.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
Hashimoto（橋本） of Higashi Fukuoka and Umaki（馬木） of Nitta. The highlight of this matchup between these two is their mutually solid offense and defense.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
The intense offensive and defensive exchanges continue, but neither side scores a valid strike within the time limit.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
Both sides left no openings, and the match was played with extreme caution.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
The match remains 0-0 and goes into encho.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
From here on, it will be a battle of mental strength and concentration.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
It went into Encho 1. However, no valid strike is scored here either.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
The tension is high as both sides gauge each other's distance, waiting for a single moment of opportunity.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
And now we enter Encho 2. A single strike here will decide the match!
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
Whoa, he got it! Hashimoto（橋本） in red struck the kote!
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
That was a perfect kote. A splendid finish.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
It was decided by an ippon in Encho 2. Match time 7 minutes 4 seconds.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
The winner is Higashi Fukuoka's Hashimoto（橋本）!
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
I would like to praise Hashimoto（橋本） for maintaining focus until the end and winning through steady offense and defense.
To both players
Congratulations to Hashimoto（橋本） for winning the championship. I would also like to commend the fighting spirit of Umaki（馬木）, who fought their way to the finals. I look forward to the further growth of both players.
Higashi Fukuoka（東福岡）
- Official name
- 東福岡高等学校(東福岡自彊館中学校・東福岡高等学校)
- Reading
- Higashi Fukuoka
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (School Corporation Higashi Fukuoka Gakuen)
- Location
- Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka City Hakata Ward Higashihie 2-24-1
- History
- The predecessor Fukuoka Meigo Gakujuku was established in November 1945, and Higashi Fukuoka High School opened on April 10, 1955. In April 1999, Higashi Fukuoka Jikyo-kan Junior High School was opened, becoming a junior and senior high school.
- School motto/philosophy
- Our school motto is "No genius can surpass hard work" and "Where there's a will, there's a way." We uphold honesty, a spirit of inquiry, and health as our educational principles.
- Department.
- General studies (from the 2025 academic year: Frontier Course, Liberal Arts and Sciences Course, Medical/Science Course, International Studies Course, Jikyuukan Course)
- Kendo Club
- According to Let's Kendo, they finished second in the men's team at this spring's All-Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament. They qualified for Inter-High by winning the fierce Fukuoka prefectural qualifying tournament. 橋本大治 (3rd year, 3rd dan), the Taisho, is one of the players to watch in the tournament. They finished second at the Gyokuryuki High School Kendo Tournament in 1971 and third in 1984. As for the school, the rugby club has won the national tournament seven times, and the soccer club has achieved a triple crown.
- Notes
- Known as a national powerhouse in rugby and soccer. We were unable to find an official kendo club page for the school.
Nitta（新田）
- Official name
- 新田高等学校
- Reading
- Nitta
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (School Corporation Nitta Gakuen)
- Location
- 663 Nishiyama-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture.
- History
- The Shinko Ikuei Foundation and Nitta Junior High School were authorized on June 18, 1938, and the school opened in April 1939. It was authorized as a new-system high school in 1948, and an industrial course was established in 1958. Originally a boys' school, it became coeducational in the 1986 academic year. A Super Special Advanced Course was established in 2009.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Sincerity, Brightness, Respect and Love, Robustness."
- Department.
- General studies courses (Super Special Advancement, Special Advancement, Comprehensive Advancement Selection, and Comprehensive Advancement), Industrial studies (Industrial Technology Course)
- Kendo Club
- In the 1981 National High School Comprehensive Sports Tournament Kendo Competition, the men's team was runner-up (PL Gakuen won). They won the team event at the 72nd Shikoku High School Kendo Championships (men's) in June 2026. They qualified for Inter-High in both the men's team and men's individual events by winning the Ehime Prefecture qualifiers for the 8th year of Reiwa. The men's individual representative is 馬木洸虎 (3rd year, 3rd dan).
- Notes
- Read as "Nitta" and not "Shinden". There are examples of the surname of 馬木 洸虎 being misread by OCR of public materials, but the official notation of Ehime Prefectural High School Sports Federation is "馬木 洸虎".
Source: 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament Official Website "Tournament Bulletin" (Match Results / Tournament Bracket)
https://inhigh.kendotaikai.jp/大会速報↗
Only facts recorded in the logs (matches, valid strikes and their order, outcomes, match duration, and presence of fouls) are listed. The play-by-play and commentary are AI-generated content.
https://inhigh.kendotaikai.jp/大会速報↗
Only facts recorded in the logs (matches, valid strikes and their order, outcomes, match duration, and presence of fouls) are listed. The play-by-play and commentary are AI-generated content.