Men's Individual Round 3 Court 2 Section5Match

Encho 1 (extension) — Hashizume（橋爪） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

The third round of the men's individual event at the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship took place, and Hashizume（橋爪） defeated Ito（伊藤）. The match lasted 4 minutes and 20 seconds, ending with an ippon in Encho 1. Valid strikes were scored in the following order: a men by Hashizume (white), a men by Ito (red), and finally a men by Hashizume in Encho 1.

Matchup

Red Ito Kosuke（伊藤光佑） / Meiho（明豊） / Oita3rd Year 2nd dan
Ito（伊藤） is a 3rd-year 2nd-dan from Meiho. The Meiho kendo club has a track record of achievements, such as being the runner-up in the Inter-High boys' team event for two consecutive years.
White Hashizume Masato（橋爪真人） / Kisarazu Sogo（木更津総合） / Chiba2nd year 2nd dan
Hashizume（橋爪） is a second-year 2nd dan from Kisarazu Sogo. He is competing in the 2026 men's individual event.

Highlights

A fierce exchange unfolded as both sides fought to score a men strike within the time limit.

The match went into encho, and the situation became tense.

The match was decided by a men strike in Encho 1, ending at the 4 minute 20 second mark.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Within the time limit	White	Hashizume（橋爪）	Men
2	Within the time limit	Red	Ito（伊藤）	Men
3	Encho 1	White	Hashizume（橋爪）	Men

Conclusion: Encho 1
Match time: 4:20
Winner: Hashizume（橋爪）（White）
Foul: No record

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

Court 2, Match 5: Ito（伊藤） from Meiho vs. Hashizume（橋爪） from Kisarazu Sogo.

Explanation
堂島厳

This will be a match where we can expect an intense exchange of strikes from both sides.

Commentary
剣持翔

Match start! After a sharp exchange of strikes, white's Hashizume（橋爪） scored a men!

Explanation
堂島厳

It was a sharp, decisive men strike. First, Hashizume（橋爪） takes the lead.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red's Ito（伊藤） keeps fighting! Within the time limit, Ito strikes the men!

Explanation
堂島厳

The score is now tied. Neither side gives way, and the match goes into encho.

Commentary
剣持翔

It has gone into encho. This is the critical moment.

Explanation
堂島厳

The one who loses focus loses. It's a matter of who strikes the men first.

Commentary
剣持翔

It's decided! In Encho 1, white's Hashizume（橋爪） scored a men!

Explanation
堂島厳

A magnificent men. That decided the match.

Commentary
剣持翔

Match time 4 minutes 20 seconds. Hashizume（橋爪） scored the winning point with a men strike and won!

Explanation
堂島厳

It was a match where Hashizume（橋爪）'s mental strength shone through as they kept attacking until the very end.

Commentary
剣持翔

Hashizume（橋爪） of Kisarazu Sogo prevailed in a fierce exchange of strikes!

To both players

Applause for Hashizume（橋爪）, who achieved a splendid victory. Respect also goes to Ito（伊藤）, who fought bravely and traded strikes until the very end. I look forward to the further growth of both players.

Meiho（明豊）

Official name: 明豊高等学校(明豊中学・高等学校)
Reading: Meiho
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (co-educational). A combined junior and senior high school established by the 別府 University educational corporation.
Location: 3088 Noguchihara, 別府 City, Oita Prefecture
History: The origin is the Hoshu Girls' School, founded in 1908 (Meiji 41). The school became the 別府 University Affiliated High School in 1958, after passing through Showa Jissen Girls' School, Hoshu Higher Girls' School, Oita Girls' High School, and Jiyugaoka High School. In 1998, the Educational Corporation 別府 University and the Educational Corporation Myojo Gakuen merged, and in April 1999, Meiho Junior High School and Meiho High School opened. The two former schools closed in 2001. The school name combines "Myo" (bright) from Myojo and "Ho" (abundant) from Hoshu Girls' School.
Department.: Full-time courses: General academic course (Special Advanced class, University-High School Collaboration class, Physical Education major class), Health Nursing course, Nursing course (Advanced program), Correspondence course: General academic course.
Kendo Club: At Inter-High for the men’s team, they were runners-up for two consecutive years in 2024 (71st) and 2025 (72nd), and placed third in 2019 (66th) and 2021 (68th). In the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament for the men’s team, they won in 2022 (31st) and were runners-up in 2019 (28th). For the men’s individual event, Yamashita Kenki won at Inter-High in 2024. The women’s team were runners-up at Inter-High in 2022 and 2023, and placed third in 2024. They won at the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in 2024 and were runners-up in 2022, 2025, and 2026. They will participate in all four divisions – men’s and women’s team and individual – at this tournament.
Notes: In school introductions, the kendo club, table tennis club, baseball club, and women’s basketball club are said to be at a national level. The baseball club was the runner-up in the 2021 Spring Koshien tournament.

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/明豊中学校・高等学校↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/全国高等学校総合体育大会剣道競技大会↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/全国高等学校剣道選抜大会↗ https://www.kendo.or.jp/event/koko-senbatsu-31st/↗ https://app.notion.com/p/57565c112c6a4538ac6526a5a5afc8db↗

Kisarazu Sogo（木更津総合）

Official name: 千葉県立木更津総合高等学校
Reading: Kisarazu Sogo
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (Kimitsu Gakuen Educational Corporation)
Location: 3-4-1 Higashi 太田, Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture
History: Established in April 1963 as Kisarazu Chuo High School. Seiwa Girls' Junior College Affiliated High School was established in 1973, and the two schools merged in April 2003 to become the current school name.
School motto/philosophy: School motto: "Magokoro." The founding spirit is "Magokoro Education."
Department.: Full-time Course General Department (Special Advanced / Advanced / Comprehensive / Art / Sports / Language / Information Business / Life Science / Childcare and Early Childhood Education / Medical Nursing and Welfare courses)
Kendo Club: Won the boys' team championship at the 2016 Chiba Prefectural High School General Tournament (2nd time in 27 years) and reached the boys' team quarterfinals at the same year's National High School General Tournament. In the 2025 fiscal year, both the men's and women's teams competed in the Kanto Tournament, with the women's team placing 3rd at the Chiba Prefectural High School General Tournament and 3rd at the National Sakura-monki Kendo Tournament.
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/木更津総合高等学校↗ https://www.kimigaku.ed.jp/↗ (学校公式サイト)

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.