Women's Individual Round 2 Court 2 Section11Match

Encho 3 (extension) — Hirai（平井） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

The second round of the women's individual event at the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship took place, featuring a match between Hirai（平井） and Makio（槇尾）. There were no valid strikes during the regulation time or the first and Encho 2s; however, Hirai decided the match with a kote strike in Encho 3. The match lasted 11 minutes and 15 seconds, with Hirai emerging as the winner.

Matchup

Red Hirai Kotoha（平井詞葉） / Kansei Gakuin（関西学院） / Hyogo3rd Year 3rd dan
Kansei Gakuin's Hirai（平井） is a 3rd year Sandan. She competed in the 2026 women's individual event.
White Makio Tsukushi（槇尾光空子） / Taisha（大社） / Shimane3rd Year 3rd dan
Taisha's Makio（槇尾） is a 3rd year sandan. Taisha placed 3rd in the girls' team event at the 35th All Japan High School Kendo Selected Championship in March 2026.

Highlights

A tense development where neither side allowed a valid strike from the regulation time through Encho 2.

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

The ability to close out the match with a kote strike after a long battle of 11 minutes and 15 seconds by Hirai（平井）

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Encho 3	Red	Hirai（平井）	Kote

Conclusion: Encho 3
Match time: 11:15
Winner: Hirai（平井）（Red）
Foul: 槇尾光空子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, Women's Individual second round, Court 2, Match 11.

Explanation
堂島厳

Of particular note is the grueling battle that lasted 11 minutes and 15 seconds, remaining undecided until Encho 3.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red is Kansei Gakuin's Hirai（平井）, and white is Taisha's Makio（槇尾）. Both face off with sharp footwork.

Explanation
堂島厳

Neither side is leaving any openings, and the tension continues to mount.

Commentary
剣持翔

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

Explanation
堂島厳

This is where the real critical moment begins. It will be a clash of mental and physical strength.

Commentary
剣持翔

Encho 1, then second. Still, no valid strike is landed. The intense offensive and defensive struggle continues.

Explanation
堂島厳

Neither side will give an inch. It has truly become a war of attrition.

Commentary
剣持翔

And then came Encho 3. This is where the match shifts!

Commentary
剣持翔

Hirai（平井） in red landed a sharp strike! Kote!

Explanation
堂島厳

That one was definitely a point. A splendid kote.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winning point in Encho 3! Hirai（平井） scores with a ko-te, and the match is over.

Explanation
堂島厳

It was a precious ippon, the result of fighting through a long duration of 11 minutes and 15 seconds.

Commentary
剣持翔

The one who advanced is Kansei Gakuin's Hirai（平井）!

Explanation
堂島厳

They fought tenaciously to the end and managed a brilliant victory.

Commentary
剣持翔

Hirai（平井） showed great concentration to win the fierce battle.

To both players

Applause for Hirai（平井）, who won a hard-fought battle and scored the winning point in Encho 3. Respect is also given to Makio（槇尾） for fighting bravely and never giving up until the end. We look forward to the further growth of both players.

Kansei Gakuin（関西学院）

Official name: 関西学院高等学校
Reading: Kansei Gakuin
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (Educational Corporation Kansei Gakuin)
Location: 1-1-155 Kamigahara Ichibancho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture
History: In 1889, missionary W.R. Lambuth established a former system middle school (general education department) in Harada-no-mori, Kobe. In 1929, it moved to the Nishinomiya Kamigahara campus, and in 1948, it transitioned to the new educational system. In 2015, it became coeducational.
School motto/philosophy: Mastery for Service
Department.: General studies course.
Kendo Club: Achievements include appearing in the Inter-High (Women's Individual), winning the Women's Individual title and placing 3rd in the team event at the Kinki Tournament, winning the Women's Individual title and placing as runner-up in the team event at the Hyogo Prefectural Tournament, and placing 3rd in the Men's team event.
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/関西学院中学部・高等部↗

Taisha（大社）

Official name: 島根県立大社高等学校
Reading: Taisha
Division/Category of Establishment: Shimane Prefectural (Co-educational)
Location: Shimane Prefecture, Izumo City Taisha Kitahara-ki 1473
History: Founded in 1898 (Meiji 31) as the Shimane Prefectural Hikawa Normal Junior High School under the jurisdiction of Hikawa District. A women's school (practical training school) was established in 1909. In 1948, it split into First and Second High Schools, and in 1949, it was integrated to become the Shimane Prefectural Taisha High School, a coeducational institution. A physical education course was established in 1973, and it moved to the Hamayama New School Building in 1980.
Department.: General studies and physical education (the only high school in Shimane Prefecture with a physical education program).
Kendo Club: In March 2026, the team placed third in the women’s team event at the 35th All-Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament (Kasugai City General Gymnasium). They also placed third in the women’s team event at the 2010 Okinawa Inter-High. The club has 25 male and 13 female members, and promotes “Goal: To be the best in Japan, Purpose: Character development,” emphasizing both academic and martial arts excellence, as well as a fulfilling lifestyle. At this tournament, they competed in all four categories: men’s team, women’s team, men’s individual, and women’s individual.
Notes: The school name is derived from Izumo Taisha. It is read as "Taisha".

Source: https://www.kendo.or.jp/event/koko-senbatsu-35th/↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/島根県立大社高等学校↗ https://www.taisha.ed.jp/about/p162↗ https://www.taisha.ed.jp/club/sports/kendo_club/↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/全国高等学校剣道大会↗ https://app.notion.com/p/e8a509313ae343e3927914d1215c0d05↗

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.