Men's Individual Round 2 Court 1 Section1Match

Encho 1 (extension) — Tsuji（辻） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

The second round of the men's individual event at the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament took place, featuring a match between Tsuji（辻） (red) and Taketsu（竹津） (white). Neither player scored a valid strike within the regulation time, leading to a 0-0 score and encho. In Encho 1, Tsuji scored a do. The match time was 4 minutes and 25 seconds, and the winner was Tsuji.

Matchup

Red Tsuji Kosuke（辻康佑） / Kannabe Asahi（神辺旭） / Hiroshima2nd year 2nd dan
Tsuji of Kannabe Asahi is a second-year student and 2nd dan. As a representative of the school, which upholds the motto "One Day, One Life," he secured his spot by placing 1st in the boys' individual event at the Hiroshima Prefectural High School Comprehensive Athletic Meet kendo competition.
White Taketsu Yuma（竹津裕真） / Kanazawa Sakuragaoka（金沢桜丘） / Ishikawa2nd year 2nd dan
Kanazawa Sakuragaoka's Taketsu（竹津） is a second-year 2nd dan. They qualified for the tournament by winning the 石川 prefectural qualifiers, coming from a powerhouse school in Hokushinetsu that upholds the school motto "shitsujitsu goken" (simplicity and fortitude).

Highlights

It became a tense development where neither side allowed a valid strike within the regulation time.

Steady offense and defense continued, and the match was carried over into encho.

A strike in Encho 1, a do by Tsuji（辻） decided the match.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Encho 1	Red	Tsuji（辻）	Do

Conclusion: Encho 1
Match time: 4:25
Winner: Tsuji（辻）（Red）
Foul: No record

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

The 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament, Men's Individual second round. Court 1, Match 1.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red is Kannabe Asahi's Tsuji（辻）, and white is Kanazawa Sakuragaoka's Taketsu（竹津）. This match is expected to be a steady exchange of offense and defense.

Explanation
堂島厳

Both are leaving no openings, and a very cautious tactical battle continues.

Commentary
剣持翔

Both aim for sharp strikes, but no valid strikes are landed within the time limit.

Explanation
堂島厳

Both are remaining composed and fighting with very high concentration.

Commentary
剣持翔

0-0. The match goes into encho.

Explanation
堂島厳

This is the critical moment. With mental exhaustion setting in, it comes down to who makes the first move.

Commentary
剣持翔

The match enters encho, and a fierce offensive and defensive battle unfolds.

Commentary
剣持翔

Ah, he got it! Red's Tsuji, do!

Explanation
堂島厳

That was a splendid do. It was captured perfectly.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winning point came in Encho 1. 赤のTsuji（辻） scored a do, taking an ippon.

Explanation
堂島厳

The match was decided immediately after entering encho. It was a brilliant victory.

Commentary
剣持翔

Match time 4 minutes 25 seconds. It was decided by one ippon.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winner is red, Kannabe Asahi Tsuji（辻）!

Explanation
堂島厳

I stayed focused until the end and fought to a victory.

Commentary
剣持翔

After a steady fight, Tsuji（辻） advances to the next match!

To both players

Congratulations to Tsuji（辻） for a splendid victory. I would also like to commend the fighting spirit of Taketsu（竹津）, who fought hard and never gave up until the end. I look forward to the further growth of both players.

Kannabe Asahi（神辺旭）

Official name: 広島県立神辺旭高等学校
Reading: Kannabe Asahi
Division/Category of Establishment: Hiroshima Prefectural (Co-educational)
Location: Fukuyama City, Shinbe Town, Hiroshima Prefecture.
History: Opened in 1980 (Showa 55) in Tokuda, Kamibe-cho, Fuka-gun. Kamibe-cho was merged into Fukuyama City in March 2006 and is now Kamibe-cho, Fukuyama City.
School motto/philosophy: Our school motto is "Ichinichi Issho" (One Day, One Life). We embrace "Let us fulfill our duties before us" as our guiding principle.
Department.: General studies and physical education.
Kendo Club: In 2026, 辻康佑 (2nd year, 2nd dan) will participate in the boys' individual competition. He secured a spot in Inter-High by finishing 1st in the 79th Hiroshima Prefectural High School Comprehensive Sports Tournament Kendo Boys' Individual Competition on June 14, 2026 (the top two players in the tournament earned qualification). Although 辻昌孝 won the individual competition at the 2024 Chugoku Championships Hiroshima Prefecture Qualifier, he is a different player. We could not confirm publicly available information regarding the kendo club's history or national tournament results.
Notes: This tournament featured only male individual competitors. We have no record of female participation.

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/広島県立神辺旭高等学校↗ https://iraw.rcc.jp/topics/articles/34759↗ https://app.notion.com/p/7589374a996d4077b412d45589dfab38↗

Kanazawa Sakuragaoka（金沢桜丘）

Official name: 石川県立金沢桜丘高等学校
Reading: Kanazawa Sakuragaoka
Division/Category of Establishment: 石川 Prefectural (Co-ed)
Location: 16-1 Ohi-cho, Kanazawa City, 石川 Prefecture
History: Established in March 1921 (Taisho 10) as 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Third Middle School. In 1923, it moved to its current location in Ohi-cho, Kanazawa City. Following the school system reform of 1948, it was converted into a high school, and in April 1949, it merged with 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Third High School and was renamed 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Sakuragaoka High School. A new school building was completed in 2015.
School motto/philosophy: School motto: "Quality and Robustness"
Department.: General studies (from the second year, students divide into four courses: humanities, natural sciences, science, and arts).
Kendo Club: Won the 石川 prefectural qualifiers in 2026 (Reiwa 8) to qualify for the Inter-High in the boys' team event. In the Let's Kendo bracket articles, they are introduced as "the powerhouse of Hokushinetsu, Kanazawa Sakuragaoka (石川)". 竹津裕真 (2nd year, 2nd dan) competed in the boys' individual event. No public information could be found regarding the history or national tournament results of the kendo club alone.
Notes: This tournament featured participation in both the men’s team and men’s individual events. We have no record of female participation.

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/石川県立金沢桜丘高等学校↗ https://www.letskendo.com/posts/47192/↗ https://app.notion.com/p/cc31bd1a9eaf48d287500622a358c370↗

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.