The reigning champions have arrived! Men's Team A League.
The A League, which will open the first match venue, features Nissho Gakuen (Miyazaki), the current spring national champion who just won their first victory at the 2026 March All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament. Joining them are the former Kagoshima Shoko – now Shonan (Kagoshima) – which won the Inter-High men's team title in 1979, and Meikeigakuen Gakuen (Ibaraki), a junior and senior high school that lists kendo as a school tradition. Each school will play two matches in a round-robin format, and only one school will advance to the knockout tournament. The first winner of this tournament will come from this league.
These three schools.
- Shonan（樟南）Kagoshima Prefecture.Men's team.Girls' team.
- Meikeigakuen（茗溪）Ibaraki PrefectureMen's team.
- Nissho Gakuen（日章学園）Miyazaki Prefecture.Men's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 太田 琉生Players(3Year)
The one school that broke through will face the winners of B League (Kamakura Gakuen(Kanagawa), Kochi(Kochi), Sano Nichidai(Tochigi)) in the first round of the final tournament.
Highlights
Round-robin tournament between three schools; only one school advances.
The preliminary league will be a round-robin between three schools, with each school playing two matches. The team match consists of five members: Senpo, Jiho, Chuken, Fukusho, and Taisho. The winner will be decided by the number of wins, and if tied, by the number of points. In the quick report from the previous tournament, the number of wins and points were listed together, such as "3(6)-1(2)". Only one school from each league can advance to the knockout tournament, and if they lose even one match, their Inter-High journey is over. The one school that advanced from League A will face the winner of League B in the first round of the knockout tournament.
Spring's national champion Nissho Gakuen is here.
The private school in Miyazaki City, Nissho Gakuen, is the current spring national champion, having won the 35th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament men’s team event held in March 2026 at the Aichi/Kasugai City General Gymnasium. The final was 3-1 against Higashi Fukuoka, and the All Japan Kendo Federation tournament results show a second place for Higashi Fukuoka and a third place for Nagasaki Nanzan. This was the school’s first Selection Tournament victory. In this tournament, 太田琉生 (3rd year, Sandan) will also participate in the men’s individual event in addition to the men’s team event. The club’s slogan is “Continuity is strength,” and they promote straightforward kendo and lifelong kendo.
1979 Japan's number one・Shonan, formerly Kagoshima Sho-ko
Kagoshima City Takeoka’s private Shonan High School was formerly known as Kagoshima Commerce until 1994. In 1979, during the Kagoshima Commerce era, they won the national championship in the 26th Inter-High Men’s Team event. They also finished third in the 29th tournament in 1982, making them a traditional powerhouse. The school’s official introduction describes the boys’ kendo club as “one of the strongest in the prefecture,” with the slogan “Conquer yourself!” and the girls’ kendo club achieved Kagoshima Prefecture’s first national championship at the National High School Selection Tournament in March 2025. Both the men’s and women’s teams will travel to Nara for this tournament.
Kendo is the "school technique" at Meikeigakuen Gakuen.
The Meikeigakuen Academy in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, was established in 1979 by Meikeikai, an alumni association of the University of Tsukuba and Tokyo University of Education, as an experimental educational institution. Taking British public schools as a role model, all students continuously engage in rugby for boys and kendo for girls as a "school technique" in physical education classes. This school will now take the stage nationally in the boys' team event. In the 2026 Ibaraki Prefecture qualifiers, the boys' team won the championship, and in the boys' individual event, 阿部峻平選手 and 神賀順道選手 reached the top 8 in the prefecture.
Two schools from Kyushu eliminated each other on the first day.
League A’s 3 schools, 2 schools——Shonan (Kagoshima) and Nissho Gakuen (Miyazaki)——are both schools in Kyushu. On the first day of the national tournament, and at the earliest stage of the preliminary league, the Kyushu representatives directly faced each other in a pairing. Even in Let's Kendo’s highlights, Nissho Gakuen’s third-place finish in the Kyushu tournament, and the team’s good balance with Miyazaki players Kurabe and the tall 太田選手 sent as individual players, have been pointed out. National champion and former national champion. The Kyushu clash could determine which team advances.
The teams waiting to advance are the B League teams from the Kanto and Shikoku regions.
The one school that breaks through League A will face the winner of League B in the first round of the finals tournament. League B includes Sano Nichidai (Tochigi), regarded as the Kanto champion, Kamakura Gakuen (Kanagawa), who secured their first Inter-High appearance in about 52 years, and Kochi (Kochi). This is a group where Kyushu, Kanto, and Shikoku intersect, and those advancing from League A are likely to face a heavyweight from Kanto in their first match. Whether they can minimize exhaustion over the two qualifying league matches will also influence their progress.
Live broadcast「The reigning champions have arrived! Men's Team A League.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Shonan, who inherits the days of standing at the top of the nation under the name of Kagoshima Shoko; Meikeigakuen Academy, where every student has held a shinai as kendo is the school's official sport; and Nissho Gakuen, who sends 太田琉生 players as the spring national champions. Although the paths they have walked are completely different, the three schools will stand on the same floor, competing for a single slot. Since it is a league format, two schools will inevitably suffer defeat. Even so, every single ippon from the morning practices leading up to Nara cannot be taken away by anyone, regardless of the result. I will not tell you to win. Simply give everything you have built up over three years in the air of this summer. I send my heartfelt applause to the very challenge of these three schools.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
Kendo is designated as the "school technique" at Meikeigakuen Academy, where all students from the first year of junior high to the third year of high school wield bamboo swords. Five people selected from this base will stand on the floor in Nara. Currently, only 太田琉生 player from Nissho Gakuen is listed on the match order. Shonan and Meikeigakuen Academy have not appeared yet, but that does not mean their names are not present. On August 2nd, when the matches begin, the order will be announced, and the names of all five players, from Senpo to Taisho, will resonate throughout the venue. Both Shonan, which proclaims "Conquer yourself," and the spring national champion, Nissho Gakuen, can send out the same five players. Someone will create the momentum, someone will receive it, and someone will bring it to a conclusion. Fifteen players from three schools, all are the main characters. Please let us hear their names in Nara.
School Information
Shonan（樟南）
- Official name
- 樟南高等学校
- Reading
- Shonan
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (School Corporation Tokimitsu Gakuen)
- Location
- 1-120, Takeoka 1-chome, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
- History
- In 1883, Ando Reizaburo founded "Hakuyaku Gakusha." In 1916, it became Hakuyaku Railway School, in 1925 Kagoshima Railway School, and in 1950, with the educational system reform, Kagoshima Railway High School. In 1960, it was renamed Kagoshima Commercial and Industrial High School, and in 1994 it became the current Shonan High School.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Advancement, Friendship, and Integrity."
- Department.
- General Studies (Liberal Arts, English & Mathematics, Future Creation Course), Business Studies (Qualification & Career, Advanced Business Course), Industrial Studies (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automotive Engineering Course)
- Kendo Club
- In 1979, while at Kagoshima Shokō, they won the 26th Inter-High Men’s Team competition. They placed third in the 29th tournament in 1982. The school’s official website describes the Men’s Kendo Club as “one of the strongest in the prefecture,” with a slogan of “Conquer Yourself!” and a goal of winning the Inter-High. The Women’s Kendo Club won the National High School Selection Tournament in March 2025, reported as the first national championship for a team from Kagoshima Prefecture (Coach Kimata Masako). They will participate in both the Men’s Team and Women’s Team divisions in this tournament.
- Notes
- Unrelated to Shonan High School in Kanagawa Prefecture. Although pronounced "Shonan," the kanji is "Shonan".
Meikeigakuen（茗溪）
- Official name
- 茗溪学園高等学校
- Reading
- Meikeigakuen
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (School Corporation Meikeigakuen Gakuen). Junior and senior high school integrated curriculum.
- Location
- Ibaraki Prefecture, Tsukuba City.
- History
- Opened in April 1979 in Tsukuba Research Garden City as an experimental educational institution. The founding organization is the alumni association of the University of Tsukuba and Tokyo University of Education, “Meikeikai.” The school was initially a full boarding school.
- School motto/philosophy
- Guided by the founding principle of fostering “well-rounded and comprehensive education that values sound judgment and decision-making, robust execution, and a rich inner life.”
- Department.
- General course (integrated middle and high school)
- Kendo Club
- The school takes British public schools as its role model, designating rugby for boys and kendo for girls as its “school sports.” All students from the first year of junior high school to the third year of high school continuously practice these sports in physical education classes (with the third year of high school having an elective option). They hold a school sports competition every March. In the 2026 Ibaraki Prefectural High School Comprehensive Sports Tournament (Inter-High prefectural qualifier), the boys’ team won the team championship, and Abe Shunpei and Kanka Jundo reached the prefectural top 8 in the individual competition. The girls’ team placed third in the prefecture.
- Notes
- The notation on the match list is "Meikeigakuen", the official name is "Meikeigakuen High School". The nickname is "Meikeigakuen (Meikei)".
Nissho Gakuen（日章学園）
- Official name
- 日章学園高等学校
- Reading
- Nissho Gakuen
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (Educational Corporation Nissho Gakuen)
- Location
- 836 Hirohara, Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
- History
- Established in May 1950 as Miyazaki Higher Accounting College. The educational corporation Nissho Gakuen was founded in 1953, and the name was changed to Nissho Gakuen High School in April 1987. In April 2004, Nissho Gakuen Junior High School opened, making it a combined junior and senior high school.
- School motto/philosophy
- "Adhere to morality, seek practical benefit, and love diligent labor."
- Department.
- Special Advancement/Athlete Course, General Course, and others (Total Aesthetics Course, Culinary Arts Course, Electrical Course, Computer Course, Hair Design Course, Patissier Course, Welfare Course, Automotive Course)
- Kendo Club
- The boys' kendo club won their first championship at the 35th All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament in March 2026. They placed 3rd in the team event at the All Japan High School Championships in August 2025, 3rd nationwide at the Gyokuryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament in July 2025, and were team runners-up at the 40th Kyushu High School Selected Kendo Tournament in February 2026. In the Miyazaki Prefectural Tournament in June 2026, they won the team championship for the 10th time and for the 3rd consecutive year.
- Notes
- This tournament featured participation in the men’s team and men’s individual events. We were unable to confirm participation in the women’s events.
・National High School Kendo Tournament Official Website (Tournament Updates) ↗
・Let's Kendo [Matchups] August 2nd - 5th, 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament / Nara Inter-High 2026. ↗
・Let's Kendo 【Nissho Gakuen First Championship! Women’s Shirayuri GakuenV】3/26〜28 The 35th All-Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament 2026 ↗
・All Japan Kendo Federation 35th National High School Kendo Selection Tournament ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Shonan High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Meikeigakuen Gakuen High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Nissho Gakuen High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Wikipedia Shonan High School ↗
・KENDO PARK Complete Archive! A List of All-Time Inter-High Kendo Tournament Results. ↗
・FNN Prime Online The secret to the strength of the first-ever Kagoshima Prefecture champion Shonan high school girls' kendo team ↗
・MeikeigakuenGakuen Junior High and High School School Introduction ↗
・Ibaraki Prefectural High School Athletic Federation Kendo Specialist Division - Results of the Reiwa 8 National Qualifying Tournament. ↗
・Nissho Gakuen High School Kendo Club ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Shonan・Meikeigakuen・Nissho Gakuen), first match venue, 太田琉生 player's men's individual participation, the A vs. B match in the final tournament is in data/2026/league_briefs.json and data/2026/kumiawase.json (based on the official PDF)
- "Selected champion・Nissho Gakuen" "Kantō Tournament runner-up Meikei Gakuen" "The Shōwa era saw them rise to fame at Kagoshima Shōkō, and they continue as a traditionally strong school even after changing their name to Shonan" is the highlight section of the Let's Kendo Nara Inter-High combination article.
- Each school's official name, type of institution, location, pronunciation, and qualification for participation can be found on the school-specific page in the Notion "2026 Inter-High Kendo Participating Schools Library."
- Nissho Gakuen’s 35th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament (March 2026) men’s team championship, final score 3-1 Higashi Fukuoka, third place Nagasaki Nanzan was mutually confirmed on the All Japan Kendo Federation tournament results page and the Let's Kendo tournament results article. “First championship” is based on Coach Kai’s comment in the Let's Kendo article.
- Nissho Gakuen’s dojo facilities, motto, and past national tournament results are on the school’s official website kendo club page.
- Shonan’s founding year, school name changes (Hakuyaku Juku → Kagoshima Shokō → Shonan), school motto, departments, and location are on Wikipedia “Shonan High School”.
- Kagoshima Shokō’s 26th (1979) Inter-High Men’s Team Championship and 3rd place in the 29th (1982) were based on the list of all-time Inter-High Kendo champions (KENDO PARK). Another historical list site also records their championship in 1988 (35th), but as this was not consistent across multiple sources, this article only details the 1979 championship.
- ShonanThe 2025 All-Japan Selected Tournament victory of the women's kendo team (the first for Kagoshima Prefecture) is reported on FNN Prime Online and the Notion school page.
- MeikeigakuenAcademy's 1979 founding, established by Meikeikai, founding principles, men's rugby/women's kendo as school traditions are on the school introduction page of the same school's official website.
- Meikeigakuen Academy's 2026 Ibaraki Prefecture preliminary results are the Ibaraki Prefecture High School Athletic Federation Kendo Specialist Division's national preliminary results (check via Notion school page).
- For team matches with five players, and judging based on the number of wins (points), please refer to the score notation on the official results website for the 2025 Hiroshima Tournament (e.g., 3(6)-1(2)).
- School names are read as indicated in the Notion participating schools library’s reading column. As the reading for player names is unconfirmed, only the surname will be read in the audio.
- Since this is before the tournament, I have not described any details of the matches – the attacks and defenses, wins and losses, or rankings. Only facts that can be read from the pairings and previously reported results are included.
Please note that the commentary and analysis are AI-generated content based on the facts listed above. As this is before the tournament, there is no description of the matches, attacks and defenses, or wins and losses. Please excuse any errors in reading or notation.