Men's Individual Semifinals Court 1 Section1Match

Win by two ippon — Hashimoto（橋本） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

The first match of the men's individual semifinals at the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament. Hashimoto（橋本） in red scored two points, first with a kote and then a men, within the time limit. The match was decided in a short time of 0 minutes and 54 seconds, with Hashimoto emerging as the winner.

Matchup

Red Hashimoto Daichi（橋本大治） / Higashi Fukuoka（東福岡） / Fukuoka3rd Year 3rd dan
Hashimoto（橋本） of Higashi Fukuoka is a third-year student with a 3rd dan rank. Their kendo club finished as the men's team runner-up at this spring's All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament, and Hashimoto is one of the players to watch in the tournament.
White Hakkaku（八⻆響） / Shitennoji Higashi（四天王寺東） / Osaka3rd Year 3rd dan
Shitennoji Higashi's Hakkaku（八⻆） is a 3rd year 3rd dan. He competed in the 2026 men's individual event.

Highlights

A decision reached at an extremely fast pace, just 54 seconds from the start.

A dominant performance, winning with a one-sided rapid attack without conceding a single ippon.

The offensive power of Hashimoto（橋本）, who accurately landed kote and men within the time limit.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Within the time limit	Red	Hashimoto（橋本）	Kote
2	Within the time limit	Red	Hashimoto（橋本）	Men

Conclusion: Win by two ippon
Match time: 0:54
Winner: Hashimoto（橋本）（Red）
Foul: 八⻆響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 Championships, Men's Individual Semifinals. Court 1, Match 1.

Explanation
堂島厳

Will it be Hashimoto（橋本） of Higashi Fukuoka, or Hakkaku（八⻆） of Shitennoji Higashi? It will be a match to watch.

Commentary
剣持翔

The main thing to watch for is undoubtedly Hashimoto（橋本）'s rapid attacks. They will dominate this match.

Explanation
堂島厳

Who will seize the initiative first? It is a very tense start.

Commentary
剣持翔

Match start! Both sides exchange fierce strikes. Oh, Hashimoto（橋本） scored!

Explanation
堂島厳

That was a clean kote. Hashimoto（橋本） took the initiative.

Commentary
剣持翔

In the first ippon within the time limit, red's Hashimoto（橋本） struck the kote!

Explanation
堂島厳

Hashimoto（橋本） has found their rhythm. There is a possibility they will push through to a win.

Commentary
剣持翔

Now, the offensive and defensive struggle for the second ippon continues. Hashimoto（橋本） steps in further!

Explanation
堂島厳

A sharp step-in. They do not miss the opponent's opening.

Commentary
剣持翔

It went in! Hashimoto（橋本）, Men! They scored their second ippon within the time limit!

Explanation
堂島厳

That was a splendid men. You struck with perfect timing.

Commentary
剣持翔

Just 0 minutes and 54 seconds. Hashimoto（橋本） secured two points with a one-sided rapid attack!

Explanation
堂島厳

The sense of speed was overwhelming. They gave the opponent no opening whatsoever.

Commentary
剣持翔

The match was decided within the time limit. The winner is Red, Higashi Fukuoka Hashimoto（橋本）!

Explanation
堂島厳

Wonderful focus and offensive power. A perfect way to win on the big stage of the semifinals.

Commentary
剣持翔

With a lightning-fast match lasting only 0 minutes and 54 seconds, Hashimoto（橋本） advances to the final!

To both players

Congratulations to Hashimoto（橋本） for securing the victory with a one-sided rapid attack. We also praise the fighting spirit of Hakkaku（八⻆）, who narrowly lost after advancing to the semifinals. We look forward to the further growth of both players.

Higashi Fukuoka（東福岡）

Official name: 東福岡高等学校(東福岡自彊館中学校・東福岡高等学校)
Reading: Higashi Fukuoka
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (School Corporation Higashi Fukuoka Gakuen)
Location: Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka City Hakata Ward Higashihie 2-24-1
History: The predecessor Fukuoka Meigo Gakujuku was established in November 1945, and Higashi Fukuoka High School opened on April 10, 1955. In April 1999, Higashi Fukuoka Jikyo-kan Junior High School was opened, becoming a junior and senior high school.
School motto/philosophy: Our school motto is "No genius can surpass hard work" and "Where there's a will, there's a way." We uphold honesty, a spirit of inquiry, and health as our educational principles.
Department.: General studies (from the 2025 academic year: Frontier Course, Liberal Arts and Sciences Course, Medical/Science Course, International Studies Course, Jikyuukan Course)
Kendo Club: According to Let's Kendo, they finished second in the men's team at this spring's All-Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament. They qualified for Inter-High by winning the fierce Fukuoka prefectural qualifying tournament. 橋本大治 (3rd year, 3rd dan), the Taisho, is one of the players to watch in the tournament. They finished second at the Gyokuryuki High School Kendo Tournament in 1971 and third in 1984. As for the school, the rugby club has won the national tournament seven times, and the soccer club has achieved a triple crown.
Notes: Known as a national powerhouse in rugby and soccer. We were unable to find an official kendo club page for the school.

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/東福岡高等学校↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/玉竜旗高校剣道大会↗ https://www.letskendo.com/posts/47192/↗ https://www.higashifukuoka.ed.jp/↗ https://app.notion.com/p/eea3a49f61274033aa26d8a544ead1a8↗

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.