Women's Individual Round 2 Court 4 Section30Match

Encho 1 (extension) — Kitagawa（北川） 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 Tournament took place, and Kitagawa（北川） defeated Sekitani（関谷）. The match lasted 6 minutes and 24 seconds; neither side scored a valid strike during regulation time, and the match entered encho at 0-0. Kitagawa scored a men in Encho 1 period to take the winning point and decide the match.

Matchup

Red Sekitani Saki（関谷咲希） / Noda Gakuen（野田学園） / Yamaguchi2nd year 3rd dan
Noda Gakuen's Sekitani（関谷） is a 2nd year 3rd dan.
White Kitagawa Mio（北川美緒） / Shukutoku Sugamo（淑徳巣鴨） / Tokyo3rd Year 3rd dan
Kitagawa（北川） of Shukutoku Sugamo is a 3rd-year student with a sandan rank. Shukutoku Sugamo has "Gratitude and Service" as its school motto and operates as a combined junior and senior high school club.

Highlights

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

A match characterized by steady offense and defense

The concentration of Kitagawa（北川）, who decided the match with a strike in Encho 1.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Encho 1	White	Kitagawa（北川）	Men

Conclusion: Encho 1
Match time: 6:24
Winner: Kitagawa（北川）（White）
Foul: 北川美緒Posted on the board (it is not clear from the flash report when the foul occurred)

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

Court 4, Match 30. Sekitani（関谷） of Noda Gakuen, Kitagawa（北川） of Shukutoku Sugamo.

Explanation
堂島厳

Both sides left no openings, resulting in a match with very solid offense and defense.

Commentary
剣持翔

Both show sharp strikes, but there are no valid points within the time limit.

Explanation
堂島厳

Neither side broke, and time ran out while the tension remained high.

Commentary
剣持翔

The match remains 0-0 and goes into encho.

Explanation
堂島厳

The real battle starts now. Your concentration will be put to the test.

Commentary
剣持翔

Encho 1, a fierce exchange of attacks continues here.

Explanation
堂島厳

Striking a slight opening, it is a matter of who can seize the moment first.

Commentary
剣持翔

There it is! White Kitagawa（北川）, a men strike!

Explanation
堂島厳

That was a magnificent men. This becomes the winning point.

Commentary
剣持翔

The match was decided by an ippon in Encho 1. Match time: 6 minutes 24 seconds.

Explanation
堂島厳

Sekitani（関谷） fought tenaciously until the end, but Kitagawa（北川） had the edge in concentration.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winner is Kitagawa（北川）, Shukutoku Sugamo. A splendid victory!

To both players

Congratulations to Kitagawa（北川） for a splendid victory. We commend Sekitani（関谷） for fighting tenaciously until the end. We look forward to the further growth of both players.

Noda Gakuen（野田学園）

Official name: 野田学園高等学校
Reading: Noda Gakuen
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (Noda Gakuen Educational Corporation)
Location: 山口 Prefecture, 山口 City, 野田 56
History: Established in 1877 as the (Murao) Sewing School. In 1920, it moved to 山口 City 野田 and was renamed 野田 Girls' School, and in 1927, 野田 Higher Girls' School. In 1948, it became Noda Gakuen High School, and in 2007, it began integrated middle and high school education.
Department.: General studies course.
Kendo Club: At the 76th 山口 Prefectural High School Comprehensive Athletic Meet, the women's team placed 2nd, the men's team 3rd, and a male individual placed 3rd. With the motto of "balance between academic and athletic pursuits," they are striving in practice with the goal of competing in the national tournament.
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/野田学園中学校・高等学校↗ https://www.nodagakuen.ed.jp/↗ (学校公式サイト)

Shukutoku Sugamo（淑徳巣鴨）

Official name: 淑徳巣鴨高等学校(淑徳巣鴨中学校・高等学校)
Reading: Shukutoku Sugamo
Division/Category of Establishment: Private (coeducational)
Location: 2-22-16 Nishi-Sugamo, Toshima Ward, Tokyo.
History: Founded in 1919 (Taisho 8) by social worker Yoshinobu Hasegawa. Currently has a middle school attached.
School motto/philosophy: The school motto is "Gratitude and Service." We aim to cultivate character based on the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism.
Department.: The high school offers a selection course (Ultimate Class/Premium Class) and a special advancement course. The junior high school offers a super selection course and a special advancement course.
Kendo Club: Combined junior high and high school division, with practice locations at the kendo and judo dojo. There are 4 male and 21 female high school members, totaling 25, and 12 female junior high school members (as of March 2026). Main achievements include a best 8 finish at Inter-High and a win at the Kanto High School Kendo Tournament for the high school team, and a win at the All Japan Middle School Kendo Tournament and the Kanto Middle School Kendo Tournament for the junior high school team. They have a spacious dojo with strong support from alumni, with Fridays off for junior high school and Mondays off for high school, and training camps in spring and summer. In this tournament, they will participate in the women's team event and the women's individual event (杉本歩夢 player・北川美緒 player).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/淑徳巣鴨中学校・高等学校↗ https://www.shukusu.ed.jp/life/club/kendo.html↗ https://app.notion.com/p/85da404a279e4c45a61cfd147bfad15f↗

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.