Women's Individual Round 1 Court 2 Section13Match

Encho 1 (extension) — Kitayama（北山） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

In the first round of the women's individual event at the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship, Kitayama（北山） and Yamada（山田） faced off. Neither player scored a valid strike within the regulation time, and the match entered encho. In Encho 1, Kitayama scored a men, which became the winning point, and Kitayama won the match with a time of 4 minutes and 9 seconds.

Matchup

Red Yamada Saki（山田咲希） / Hieizan（比叡山） / Shiga3rd Year 3rd dan
Yamada（山田） is a 3rd-year sandan from Hieizan (Shiga). Hieizan focuses on human development, guided by the philosophies of "Shoyu Ichigu," "Nogyo Nogon," and "Boki Rita."
White Kitayama Manaka（北山愛華） / Shimabara（島原） / Nagasaki1st Year 2nd dan
Kitayama（北山） is a first-year 2nd dan from Shimabara (Nagasaki). Shimabara is a powerhouse school that upholds the school motto "Bunbu Ryodo" and has a track record of achievements such as winning the Inter-High in the boys' team event.

Highlights

A tense development where no winner was decided within the regulation time, leading to an encho match.

A short battle lasting 4 minutes and 9 seconds, decided by an ippon in Encho 1.

The point that there were no fouls and a steady offense and defense were displayed.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Encho 1	White	Kitayama（北山）	Men

Conclusion: Encho 1
Match time: 4:09
Winner: Kitayama（北山）（White）
Foul: No record

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

The 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship, Women's Individual first round. Match 13 at Court 2.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red, Hieizan's Yamada（山田）. White, Shimabara's Kitayama（北山）. This match will be a highlight of steady offense and defense.

Explanation
堂島厳

Both sides are leaving no openings, and the tachiai continues to be very cautious.

Commentary
剣持翔

Neither side scored a valid strike within the regulation time. With the score remaining 0-0, the match goes into encho.

Explanation
堂島厳

From here on, it becomes a battle of mental strength. Concentration to not miss a single moment of opening is required.

Commentary
剣持翔

It has gone into Encho 1. A fierce battle continues!

Commentary
剣持翔

Ah, it's decided! White's Kitayama（北山）, Men! Men has been scored!

Explanation
堂島厳

It was a sharp Men strike. It becomes the winning point in Encho 1.

Commentary
剣持翔

Match time 4 minutes 9 seconds. There were no fouls recorded, and the match was decided by one ippon.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winner is Kitayama（北山）. A 1st-year from Shimabara defeated a 3rd-year from Hieizan.

Explanation
堂島厳

In a very steady match, Kitayama（北山） scored a brilliant men and advances.

Commentary
剣持翔

A dramatic ippon in encho. A brilliant victory for Kitayama（北山）!

To both players

Applause for Kitayama（北山）, who won with a brilliant men strike. Yamada（山田） also fought bravely, showing a steady performance until the end. We look forward to the further growth of both players.

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: https://hieizan.ed.jp/hieizan-jh-hs/club-hs/kendo/↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/比叡山中学校・高等学校↗ https://app.notion.com/p/9a66b5941d4f4e25ab89927125b4ca7a↗

Shimabara（島原）

Official name: 長崎県立島原高等学校
Reading: Shimabara
Division/Category of Establishment: Nagasaki Prefectural (Co-educational)
Location: Nagasaki Prefecture Shimabara City, Shiroyone 2-chome 1130
History: Opened in April 1900 (Meiji 33) as Nagasaki Prefectural Shimabara Middle School. With the 1948 school system reform, a new system high school was established, and in November of the same year, Shimabara High School, Shimabara Women's High School, and Shimabara Commercial High School were integrated to become coeducational. A science and mathematics course was established in 2003, and the school celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2010.
School motto/philosophy: School motto: "Harmony of literary and martial arts."
Department.: Full-time courses: General academic and science courses, Part-time courses: General academic courses.
Kendo Club: In 2022 (the 69th time・Kochi), they won the championship in the National High School Comprehensive Sports Tournament for the men's team. The women's team also won Inter-High in 2009 and 2013. In the Tamaryu Flag High School Kendo Tournament, the men's team won in 2012 and 2018, and the women's team won in 2009 and 2013. In fiscal year 2026, they won the Winter Kyushu Selection Tournament and reached the best 8 in the All-Kyushu Tournament. Let's Kendo reports that they were unable to qualify for the National High School Kendo Selection Tournament in March. In this tournament, 三木己徹 (3rd year・2nd dan) will participate in the men's individual event, and 北山愛華 (1st year・2nd dan) and 大賀幸愛 (3rd year・2nd dan) will participate in the women's individual event.
Notes: This tournament features competition in the men’s team, men’s individual, and women’s individual events.

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/長崎県立島原高等学校↗ 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/玉竜旗高校剣道大会↗ https://www.letskendo.com/posts/47192/↗ https://nagasaki-koutairen.jp/03_kousoutai/2026_r08/kekka/09…↗ https://app.notion.com/p/48122640bce74da9adc98f0a74d71564↗

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.