Men's Individual Round 2 Court 2 Section14Match

Encho 3 (extension) — Hakkaku（八⻆） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

Neither side scored during the regulation time or the first and Encho 2s, and the match was decided in Encho 3 with the score still at 0-0. The match lasted 11 minutes and 10 seconds, ending in an ippon victory after the white player, Hakkaku（八⻆）, landed a strike to the kote. After a grueling war of attrition, Hakkaku emerged victorious.

Matchup

Red Kato Masato（加藤雅翔） / Kagoshima Gyokuryu（鹿児島玉龍） / Kagoshima3rd Year 3rd dan
Kato（加藤） from Kagoshima Gyokuryu. A 3rd-year student with sandan rank, competing in the 2026 men's individual event.
White Hakkaku（八⻆響） / Shitennoji Higashi（四天王寺東） / Osaka3rd Year 3rd dan
Shitennoji Higashi's Hakkaku（八⻆）. A 3rd-year sandan who competed in the 2026 men's individual.

Highlights

A tense development where no valid strike occurred from the regulation time through Encho 2.

A long match that lasted 11 minutes and 10 seconds

A fierce war of attrition that remained undecided even after Encho 3.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Encho 3	White	Hakkaku（八⻆）	Kote

Conclusion: Encho 3
Match time: 11:10
Winner: Hakkaku（八⻆）（White）
Foul: 加藤雅翔Posted on the board (it is not clear from the flash report when the foul occurred)

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

The 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship, Men's Individual second round. Second court, match 14.

Explanation
堂島厳

The highlights are the war of attrition that remained undecided until Encho 3, and the long match that lasted 11 minutes and 10 seconds.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red is Kato（加藤） (Kagoshima Gyokuryu), white is Hakkaku（八⻆） (Shitennoji Higashi). Both are 3rd dan clashing.

Explanation
堂島厳

Neither side is giving in, and the tension continues to build.

Commentary
剣持翔

Within the regulation time, neither side scored a valid strike, and the match enters encho at 0-0.

Explanation
堂島厳

This is where the real critical moment begins. It will be a battle of attrition in both mental and physical strength.

Commentary
剣持翔

It went into Encho 1. However, no valid strike is scored here either.

Explanation
堂島厳

They continue to gauge each other's distance, maintaining a stance that will not miss a single moment of opening.

Commentary
剣持翔

Next is Encho 2. A fierce offensive and defensive struggle unfolds, but again, there are no valid strikes.

Explanation
堂島厳

It is a grueling war of attrition. It comes down to who loses their focus first.

Commentary
剣持翔

Then came Encho 3. The match has exceeded 11 minutes, and the players are at their absolute limit.

Explanation
堂島厳

And here, at last, comes the moment the deadlock is broken.

Commentary
剣持翔

There it is! White's Hakkaku（八⻆）, kote! They scored a kote!

Explanation
堂島厳

A brilliant kote. A decisive strike that puts an end to this long battle.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winning point came in Encho 3. The white Hakkaku（八⻆） scored an ippon with a kote strike, deciding the match.

Explanation
堂島厳

This victory is the result of fighting tenaciously for a long duration of 11 minutes and 10 seconds.

Commentary
剣持翔

The one who advanced was Shitennoji Higashi's Hakkaku（八⻆）. They fought with tenacity to seize the victory!

To both players

Applause for Hakkaku（八⻆）, who achieved a brilliant victory. Respect also goes to Kato（加藤） for fighting bravely and never giving up until the end. I wish both players further success in the future.

Kagoshima Gyokuryu（鹿児島玉龍）

Official name: 鹿児島玉龍高等学校
Reading: Kagoshima Gyokuryu
Division/Category of Establishment: Public (Kagoshima City)
Location: 20-57 Ikenoue-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
History: The first entrance ceremony was held in April 1940 as Kagoshima Municipal Junior High School. In 1957, it was renamed Kagoshima Municipal Kagoshima Gyokuryu High School, and in 2006, it became a combined junior and senior high school by establishing Kagoshima Gyokuryu Junior High School.
School motto/philosophy: Vibrant (Body), Progressive (Intellect), Lucid (Virtue)
Department.: Full-time course, General stream
Kendo Club: The kendo club has long been a powerhouse for both men and women, consistently reaching the top 4 in the prefecture and with experience competing in the Inter-High.
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/鹿児島市立鹿児島玉龍中学校・高等学校↗

Shitennoji Higashi（四天王寺東）

Official name: 四天王寺東高等学校
Reading: Shitennoji Higashi
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (Shitennoji Gakuen Educational Corporation)
Location: 3-1-78 Kasugaka, Fujiidera City, Osaka Prefecture
History: Shitennoji Gakuen Junior High School opened on April 1, 2014, and Shitennoji Gakuen High School opened on April 1, 2017. This was effectively a relocation and reconstruction of Shitennoji Habikioka High School and Junior High School, which were located in Habikino City and closed in conjunction with the opening of this school. To avoid confusion with Shitennoji High School, the name was changed to the current one in April 2020. The campus is located on part of the former site of Fujiidera Stadium.
Department.: Full-time Course / General Studies (Course III, Course II, Course I)
Kendo Club: The official website's club activities page states "All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament Boys' Team 3rd Place," "All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament Boys' and Girls' Teams Participation," and "All Japan High School Kendo Tournament Boys' and Girls' Teams Participation" (no year specified). Daily practice is conducted to put into practice the concept that "Kendo is a path of human character building through the study of the principles of the sword."
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/四天王寺東中学校・高等学校↗ https://www.shitennojigakuen.ed.jp/higashi/highs/club_info/↗

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.