Women's Individual Semifinals Court 4 Section2Match

Encho 1 (extension) — Sakurai（櫻井） wins

📅 August 2–5, 2026 📍 Lotto Arena Nara

The women's individual semifinals of the 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament were held, where Sakurai（櫻井） and Usami（宇佐美） faced off. Neither side scored a valid strike within the regulation time, and the match entered encho at 0-0. In Encho 1, Sakurai scored a men, which became the winning point, and Sakurai won at 5 minutes and 19 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 with a second-dan rank. The girls' kendo club is one of the strongest in the country, with a track record including 16 consecutive appearances at the Inter-High.
White Sakurai Nana（櫻井菜成） / Moriya（守谷） / Ibaraki3rd Year 2nd dan
Moriya's Sakurai（櫻井） is a 3rd year 2nd dan.

Highlights

It became a tense development where neither side allowed a valid strike within the regulation time.

The match was characterized by steady offense and defense.

The match was decided in 5 minutes and 19 seconds, following a strike in Encho 1.

Live commentary video

Valid strike

#	Situation	Red and White	Players	Technique
1	Encho 1	White	Sakurai（櫻井）	Men

Conclusion: Encho 1
Match time: 5:19
Winner: Sakurai（櫻井）（White）
Foul: No record

Text Commentary

Commentary
剣持翔

The 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Championship, Women's Individual Semifinals, Court 4, Match 2.

Explanation
堂島厳

The point of interest is whether a solid offense and defense will unfold, with neither side leaving an opening.

Commentary
剣持翔

Red is Too Gijuku's Usami（宇佐美）, and white is Moriya's Sakurai（櫻井）. Both are maintaining a sharp distance.

Explanation
堂島厳

Both are cautiously waiting for an opportunity, and the tachiai is filled with intense tension.

Commentary
剣持翔

Intense offense and defense continue within the time limit, but no valid strikes are scored.

Explanation
堂島厳

Both sides had solid defenses, leading to a situation where neither could easily break through.

Commentary
剣持翔

0-0. The match goes into encho.

Explanation
堂島厳

From here on, it will be a battle of mental strength and concentration.

Commentary
剣持翔

Encho 1, the moment the match started moving! White's Sakurai（櫻井）, Men!

Explanation
堂島厳

That was a brilliant men. He settled the match in one fell swoop.

Commentary
剣持翔

The winning point came in Encho 1; Sakurai（櫻井） scored a men, and the match is over.

Explanation
堂島厳

After a tenacious exchange of offense and defense, Sakurai（櫻井） won the match.

Commentary
剣持翔

Match time 5 minutes 19 seconds. The winner is Moriya's Sakurai（櫻井）!

Explanation
堂島厳

I want to applaud the victory of Sakurai（櫻井）, who stayed focused until the end and landed a strike to the men.

To both players

Applause for Sakurai（櫻井）, who secured the victory with a magnificent men. Usami（宇佐美） also put up a wonderful fight, remaining steady until the end. We look forward to the future success 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↗

Moriya（守谷）

Official name: 茨城県立守谷高等学校
Reading: Moriya
Division/Category of Establishment: Public (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Location: 70 Oki, Moriya City, Ibaraki Prefecture
History: A high school that opened in the northern part of Moriya City in 1983.
School motto/philosophy: The educational policies consist of three items: "striving to improve academic ability and fostering an attitude of proactive learning," "observing social rules and fostering an attitude as a person with a rich heart," and "fostering an attitude to cultivate physical and mental health."
Department.: Full-time Course, General Studies
Kendo Club: The Kendo club is one of the strongest in the country. They won the girls' team event at the Inter-High Kendo Championships in 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2023, and won the girls' event at the All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament in 2005 and 2023. The tournament records on the official website include 3rd place in the girls' team event at the 68th All Japan High School Kendo Tournament in 2021, victory at the Kaiseiki National High School Girls' Kendo Tournament in 2018, and the team victory at the 66th Kanto High School Kendo Tournament in 2019 (the 15th title in 3 years).
Notes: History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).

Source: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/茨城県立守谷高等学校↗ 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/全国高等学校剣道選抜大会↗ https://www.moriya-h.ibk.ed.jp/↗ (学校公式・剣道部大会記録)

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.