Women's Individual Round 2 Court 3 Section22Match

Encho 1 (extension) — Usami（宇佐美） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

The second round of the 73rd National High School Kendo Championships girls' individual competition took place, featuring a match between Usami（宇佐美） and Tamura（田村）. Neither player scored a valid strike within the regulation time, and the match entered encho at 0-0. In Encho 1 period, Usami scored a men, which became the winning point, and Usami won the match with a time of 4 minutes and 12 seconds.

Matchup

Red Usami Karin（宇佐美華凛） / Too Gijuku（東奥義塾） / Aomori2nd year 2nd dan
Too Gijuku's Usami（宇佐美） is a second-year student and 2nd dan. The girls' kendo club they belong to is one of the strongest in the country, with a record of 16 consecutive Inter-High appearances and winning the Selection Tournament.
White Tamura Naoko（田村菜穂子） / Hiyoshigaoka（日吉ケ丘） / Kyoto3rd Year 3rd dan
Hiyoshigaoka's Tamura（田村） is a 3rd year, sandan.

Highlights

A steady offense and defense unfolded within the time limit, with neither side allowing a valid strike.

The match became a close contest that went into encho.

Usami（宇佐美） scored a men in Encho 1, settling the match at 4 minutes and 12 seconds.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Encho 1	Red	Usami（宇佐美）	Men

Conclusion: Encho 1
Match time: 4:12
Winner: Usami（宇佐美）（Red）
Foul: No record

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

The 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship, Women's Individual second round, Match 22 at Court 3.

Explanation
堂島厳

I expect this to be a tense match with very steady offense and defense.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red is Too Gijuku's Usami（宇佐美）, and white is Hiyoshigaoka's Tamura（田村）. Both are aiming for sharp strikes.

Explanation
堂島厳

Both sides are being extremely cautious, with a tactical stalemate where neither is leaving any openings.

Commentary
剣持翔

Intense offense and defense continue within the time limit, but neither side scores a valid strike.

Explanation
堂島厳

Neither side is giving way. It will proceed to encho.

Commentary
剣持翔

The match goes into Encho 1. From here, the offensive and defensive struggle becomes even more intense.

Explanation
堂島厳

Whoever maintains their focus and lands the first strike will advance.

Commentary
剣持翔

Ah, he got it! Usami（宇佐美） in red, Men! He landed a strike to the head!

Explanation
堂島厳

That was a magnificent men. This ippon decided the match.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winning point came in Encho 1. Usami（宇佐美） scores with a men, and the match is over.

Explanation
堂島厳

After a tenacious exchange of offense and defense, they brilliantly scored an ippon.

Commentary
剣持翔

Match time 4 minutes 12 seconds. The winner is red, Too Gijuku's Usami（宇佐美）!

Explanation
堂島厳

It was a wonderful victory, maintaining focus and landing the final strike.

To both players

Congratulations to Usami（宇佐美）, who secured the victory with a magnificent men. I would also like to commend the fighting spirit of Tamura（田村）, who fought tenaciously until the very end. I look forward to the further growth of both players.

Too Gijuku（東奥義塾）

Official name: 東奥義塾高等学校
Reading: Too Gijuku
Division/Category of Establishment: Private coeducational school. Protestant mission school. Established a junior high school in 2022.
Location: 61-1 Chojamori, 石川, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
History: Founded on November 27, 1872 (Meiji 5) by Kikuchi Kuro, as a continuation of the former Hirosaki Domain’s domain school, it is the oldest private school in Aomori Prefecture. After experiencing financial difficulties leading to public and prefectural administration, it was re-established in 1922. A junior high school was established in 2022.
School motto/philosophy: School motto: "Respect God, Love People" (officially established as the school motto in 1985).
Department.: Full-time general academic courses (CⅠ course = special advancement, CⅡ course = advancement selection/global studies, B course = comprehensive)
Kendo Club: The women's kendo team is one of the strongest in the country, with 16 consecutive Inter-High appearances. They won the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament for women's teams in 2016 and 2019. They were runners-up in the Inter-High women's team event in 2019, and finished third in 2015, 2018, and 2024. They also finished third in the women's team event at the 34th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in March 2025 (淡路咲来 was named an outstanding player). This tournament features the women's team and women's individuals (松名瀬天絆 player, 3rd year, 3rd dan, 宇佐美華凜 player, 2nd year, 2nd dan) as representatives of Aomori Prefecture.
Notes: “Touou” refers to the Ou region, including Aomori Prefecture.

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/東奥義塾高等学校↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/全国高等学校剣道大会↗ https://www.kendo.or.jp/event/koko-senbatsu-34th/↗ https://www.gijuku.ac.jp/hs/↗ https://app.notion.com/p/336e8a8ae16b46aa8ea2b1d2599ba61f↗

Hiyoshigaoka（日吉ケ丘）

Official name: 京都日吉ヶ丘高等学校
Reading: Hiyoshigaoka
Division/Category of Establishment: Public (Kyoto City)
Location: 5-22 Imakumono Hideninyama-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
History: Founded in 1949. In 1980, the Department of Fine Arts and Crafts became independent as Kyoto City Dota High School of Fine Arts and Crafts.
School motto/philosophy: School motto "Self-discipline, Cooperation, Creativity"
Department.: Full-time Course / Credit-based General Course (International Communication / Accelerated / Liberal Arts courses)
Kendo Club: In August 2016, at the 63rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Inter-High), the women's team reached the best 8 and the captain received the Outstanding Player Award. In July 2023, at the 61st Kinki High School Kendo Tournament, the women's team won the championship, achieving three consecutive titles.
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/京都市立日吉ヶ丘高等学校↗ https://cms.edu.city.kyoto.jp/300704/weblog/133464951↗ (学校公式・学校日記)

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.