Men's Individual Round 1 Court 3 Section22Match

Win by one ippon — Yamamoto（山元） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

The first round of the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament Men's Individual was held. After fighting through the regulation time of 4 minutes and 0 seconds, the match was decided by a difference of one ippon. With Yamamoto（山元） in red scoring a kote, Yamamoto won.

Matchup

Red Yamamoto Shotaro（山元祥太朗） / Nagoya（名古屋） / Aichi3rd Year 2nd dan
It is Yamamoto（山元） from Nagoya. A 3rd-year 2nd dan, competing in the 2026 men's individual.
White Yasui Soma（保井蒼舞） / Nagasaki Nanzan（長崎南山） / Nagasaki3rd Year 3rd dan
It is the player Yasui（保井） from Nagasaki Nanzan. A 3rd-year student with 3rd dan, competing in the 2026 men's individual event.

Highlights

The decisive moment where Yamamoto（山元） scored a kote within the time limit

A fierce battle that lasted the full regulation time of 4 minutes and 0 seconds

A tense development where a one-ippon lead was defended until the end

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Within the time limit	Red	Yamamoto（山元）	Kote

Conclusion: Win by one ippon
Match time: 4:00
Winner: Yamamoto（山元）（Red）
Foul: No record

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

The 73rd National High School Kendo Tournament, Men's Individual first round, Court 3, Match 22.

Commentary
剣持翔

It became a tense development, defending a single ippon until the very end of the regulation time.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red is Nagoya's Yamamoto（山元）, and white is Nagasaki Nanzan's Yasui（保井）. Both face off with sharp stances.

Explanation
堂島厳

It's a very tense start, as both sides vie for the initiative.

Commentary
剣持翔

Whoa, Yamamoto（山元） stepped in! Kote!

Explanation
堂島厳

It was a sharp strike. Yamamoto（山元） scores first to take an ippon.

Commentary
剣持翔

Yasui（保井） attacks aggressively against Yamamoto（山元）, who leads by one ippon.

Explanation
堂島厳

Yasui（保井） is desperately trying to catch up, but Yamamoto（山元） is calmly weathering the attack.

Commentary
剣持翔

There is very little time left in the match. Yasui（保井） continues a fierce offensive, but Yamamoto（山元） holds his ground!

Explanation
堂島厳

Can they hold onto the one ippon? The passage of time from here on will be extremely important.

Commentary
剣持翔

That's the signal for the end of the match! They fought through the regulation time of 4 minutes and 0 seconds.

Commentary
剣持翔

Winning by a one-ippon difference is the red team's Yamamoto（山元）!

Explanation
堂島厳

You kept your focus until the very end and brilliantly defended your ippon.

Commentary
剣持翔

Nagoya's Yamamoto（山元） wins a hard-fought battle and advances to the next match!

To both players

A splendid victory for Yamamoto（山元）. We also commend Yasui（保井） for fighting bravely and never giving up until the end. We look forward to the future success of both players.

Nagoya（名古屋）

Official name: 名古屋高等学校
Reading: Nagoya
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (Nagoya Academy)
Location: 2-1-58 Sunatabashi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
History: In July 1887, missionary Klein founded the private Aichi Eiwa School, which was renamed Nagoya Eiwa School in November of the same year. The old-system Nagoya Junior High School was established in 1906, and the new-system Nagoya High School was established in 1948. It was renamed Nagoya Gakuin High School in 1968, and the school name was changed back to Nagoya High School in 2000.
School motto/philosophy: The school motto is "Revere God and Love People."
Department.: Full-time course, General course (6-year Liberal Arts course <Integrated Middle and High School>, Liberal Arts course). Boys' school
Kendo Club: Participated in the 34th All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament in March 2025 as the runner-up in the Aichi Prefecture qualifiers. Runner-up in the boys' team event at the 72nd Tokai High School Comprehensive Athletic Meet in June 2025. In the kendo competition at the 80th Aichi Prefecture High School Comprehensive Athletic Meet in May 2026, the school produced its first-ever individual winner, qualifying for the Inter-High (second time in two years), and the team placed third, qualifying for the Tokai tournament.
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/名古屋中学校・高等学校↗ https://www.meigaku.ac.jp/high-school/club/↗

Nagasaki Nanzan（長崎南山）

Official name: 長崎南山高等学校
Reading: Nagasaki Nanzan
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (Educational Corporation Nagasaki Nanzan Gakuen)
Location: 25-1 Ueno-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki
History: Established in January 1940 as Nagasakihigashi Junior High School (old system). Following the educational system reforms of 1948, it was renamed Nagasaki Nanzan Junior and Senior High School in 1952, with the founding body transitioning to the Society of the Divine Word, and operation by Nagasaki Nanzan Academy began in 1955.
School motto/philosophy: Philosophy: "For the Dignity of Mankind (Hominis Dignitati)" / School Motto: "High Character," "Broad Education," "Strong Sense of Responsibility"
Department.: General Course (Full-time course / Correspondence course)
Kendo Club: Won the National Selection and Gyokuryu-ki in 1996, placed 3rd in the Inter-High team event and won the individual event in 1996, and won the Selection in 1997. Placed 2nd in the Inter-High team event in 1978, 1979, and 1998, and 3rd in the team event in 1983, 1996, and 2003. In 2003, won the Inter-High individual event and placed 2nd in the Gyokuryu-ki, and placed 2nd in the Gyokuryu-ki in 2023.
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/長崎南山中学校・高等学校↗

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.