Encho 3 (extension) — Kinoshita（木下） wins
The 3rd round of the men's individual event at the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament was held, and Kinoshita（木下） won. Neither side scored a valid strike within the regulation time or the first and Encho 2s, leading to a fierce battle that extended into a Encho 3. After a long match lasting 10 minutes and 17 seconds, Kinoshita decided the bout with a men strike in Encho 3.
Matchup
- Red Narusawa Sora（成澤 輝空） / Saku Chosei（佐久長聖） / Nagano1st Year 2nd danNarusawa（成澤） of Saku Chosei is a first-year 2nd dan. Carrying the expectations of the school, which has won the Nagano Prefecture qualifiers for the 7th time in 3 consecutive years in the boys' team event, they are competing in the boys' individual event in this tournament.
- White Kinoshita Tomoki（木下 智貴） / Hieizan（比叡山） / Shiga3rd Year 3rd danHieizan's Kinoshita（木下） is a 3rd-year student with a 3rd-dan rank. Under the club's policy of emphasizing character development and dedicating significant time to basic training, they entered this tournament as a top 8 finisher from the Kinki tournament.
Highlights
A tense development where no valid strike occurred from the regulation time through Encho 2.
A fierce war of attrition that remained undecided even after Encho 3.
A long match that lasted 10 minutes and 17 seconds
Live commentary video
Valid strike
| # | Situation | Red and White | Players | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encho 3 | White | Kinoshita（木下） | Men |
- Conclusion
- Encho 3
- Match time
- 10:17
- Winner
- Kinoshita（木下）（White）
- Foul
- No record
Text Commentary
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
Court 4, Match 14. Narusawa（成澤） of Saku Chosei, Kinoshita（木下） of Hieizan. This match became a fierce war of attrition that lasted until Encho 3.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
It was a long battle with a match time of 10 minutes and 17 seconds. Both sides' determination and concentration clashed.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
Within the regulation time, Narusawa（成澤） and Kinoshita（木下） both look for an opening, but there are no valid strikes. The match enters encho at 0-0.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
Neither side will break easily. From here on, it becomes the true critical moment.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
Encho 1, then second. The intense offensive and defensive struggle continues, but still, no valid strike is landed.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
It is a physically demanding situation, but the mental battle continues.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
Then came Encho 3. The match shifted! White's Kinoshita（木下） landed a sharp men!
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
He landed a strike to the men here. This blow was the result of maintaining his focus.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
The winning point with a Men strike in Encho 3! With a match time of 10 minutes and 17 seconds, Kinoshita（木下） in white wins.
Explanation
堂島 厳
堂島 厳
Narusawa（成澤） fought tenaciously until the end, but Kinoshita（木下） did not miss a slight opening and landed a decisive men strike.
Commentary
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
The fierce battle that lasted over 10 minutes has come to an end. The one who achieved a splendid victory was Kinoshita（木下） of Hieizan.
To both players
Applause for Kinoshita（木下）, who secured the victory with a brilliant men strike. I would also like to praise the fighting spirit of Narusawa（成澤）, a first-year student who fought tenaciously through three encho periods. I look forward to the further growth of both players.
Saku Chosei（佐久長聖）
- Official name
- 佐久長聖高等学校
- Reading
- Saku Chosei
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). Established by the Nagasei School Corporation.
- Location
- 951 Iwamurada, Saku City, Nagano Prefecture.
- History
- 1964 (Showa 39), the school was founded as Saku High School by the Saku Gakuen school corporation. In 1995 (Heisei 7), Saku Chosei Junior High School was established, beginning the first integrated junior and senior high school education in Nagano Prefecture, and the school was renamed to Saku Chosei High School.
- School motto/philosophy
- Since 1991, the school has operated under the slogan “University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and Koshien.” It is a member of the National Federation of Private Boarding Schools, and approximately half of the students live in dormitories (called “Kan”).
- Department.
- General studies course.
- Kendo Club
- In the Nagano Prefecture qualifying tournament for the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in January 2025, the boys’ team won for the 7th consecutive year, and 3rd time in a row. The school’s official website’s list of club activities records participation in both the All Japan Selection Tournament and Inter-High for the 2024 and 2025 academic years. In this tournament, they participated in the boys’ team, girls’ team, and boys’ individual events, with 成澤輝空 (2nd dan) as a first-year student in the boys’ individual event.
- Notes
- The school boasts nationally-ranked clubs in events such as Ekiden and skating, and the hardball baseball team has made 10 appearances in the Spring and Summer National High School Baseball Championships, in addition to its strong kendo program.
Hieizan（比叡山）
- Official name
- 比叡山高等学校
- Reading
- Hieizan
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private coeducational school operated by Enryaku-ji Gakuen, a school corporation affiliated with the Tendai sect.
- Location
- 4-3-1 Sakamoto, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.
- History
- Founded in 1873 (Meiji 6) as “Tendai Sōgaku” on Hieizan. In 1879, it became a middle school and was split into Hieizan and Tokyo, and in 1888, the first school building was constructed on Hieizan. A new middle school was established with the 1947 educational system reform, and a high school was established in 1948 with the opening of a girls' department. It became a school corporation after 1951.
- School motto/philosophy
- Based on the words of Kobo Daishi (Saicho), “Illumination from a single point,” “Practice what you preach,” and “Selflessness and benefit to others.”
- Department.
- General Studies (Act Course, Bright Course, Crest Course)
- Kendo Club
- Inter-High appearance 9 times, All Japan Selected Tournament appearance 6 times, Kinki Tournament appearance 30 times, Kinki Selected Tournament appearance 8 times, Tamaryu Flag best 32. The club has 15 male members (4 first years, 5 second years, 6 third years) and 11 female members (3 first years, 1 second year, 7 third years). Guided by the principle of “emphasizing character development, which is the philosophy of kendo,” they dedicate a significant amount of time to fundamental practice. In practice matches, they value “respect and friendship through the sword.” The women’s team is a strengthening base school for the 2025 Shiga National Sports Festival. They entered this tournament after achieving a best 8 finish in the Kinki Tournament.
- Notes
- This tournament features competition in the men’s team, men’s individual, and women’s individual events.
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.