Summer after 52 years! Men’s Team B League.
League B at Court 1 consists of two Kanto schools—Sano Nichidai (Tochigi), known as the Kanto champion, and Kamakura Gakuen (Kanagawa), which secured its first Inter-High appearance in approximately 52 years—joined by Kochi (Kochi) from Shikoku. Sano Nichidai placed 3rd in the boys' team event at the 64th tournament in 2017, while Kamakura Gakuen holds a record as the boys' team runner-up at the Inter-High in 1968. In a round-robin format with two matches per school, only one school can advance to the final tournament. This set the stage for the two Kanto schools to eliminate each other on the first day.
These three schools.
- Kamakura Gakuen（鎌倉学園）Kanagawa PrefectureMen's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 稲葉 慧Players(3Year)
- Kochi（高知）Kochi PrefectureMen's team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 森田 優姫Players(3Year)
- Sano Nichidai（佐野日大）Tochigi PrefectureMen's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 大河原 靖太Players(3Year)、川崎 泰知Players(3Year)
The one school that advanced will play against the winners of League A (Shonan(Kagoshima), Meikeigakuen(Ibaraki), Nissho Gakuen(Miyazaki)) in the first round of the finals 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 summer is over. The one school that advances from League B will face the winner of League A in the first round of the knockout tournament.
Kanto champion Sano Nichidai sweeps both individual spots for Tochigi
Sano Japan University High School, a private school in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, is a leading boys' powerhouse in the Kanto region, introduced as the "Kanto Champion" in kendo media. They placed third (best 4) in the men's team event at the 64th All Japan High School Kendo Tournament in 2017. In this tournament, they sent two players, 大河原靖太 (3rd year, 3rd dan) and 川崎泰知 (3rd year, 3rd dan), in the men's individual category, monopolizing Tochigi Prefecture's men's individual slots. They are specifically mentioned in Let's Kendo's highlights as aiming to break through the league "centered around Ogawara and Kawasaki." Founded in 1964, the school motto is "Independent Creativity, Harmony of Literature and Martial Arts, and Teacher-Student Solidarity."
52 years since summer—Kamakura Gakuen
The private school Kamakura Gakuen in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, won the Kanagawa Prefecture High School General Athletic Meet Kendo Tournament Men's Team on June 20, 2026, and secured a spot in Inter-High. The opponent in the final was Yokohama High School. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, it has been approximately 52 years since the school's kendo club last participated in Inter-High. They finished as runners-up in the Inter-High Men's Team in 1968, half a century ago, and reached the best 8 in the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in fiscal year 2013. 稲葉慧 (3rd year, 3rd dan), who finished as runner-up in the prefectural qualifying round for the Men's Individual event, will participate.
A school standing before the gate of Kencho-ji.
Kamakura Gakuen was founded in 1921 by Sugawara Tokuyasu, the head priest of the Kencho-ji sect, as the former "Kamakura Middle School," and its campus is located on the site of Gyokun'an, a sub-temple of Kencho-ji, the first of the Five Great Temples of Kamakura. The school motto is "Reigi Renchi" – Reigi is maintaining decorum, Gi is not showing off, Ren is not concealing mistakes, and Chi is not being led into evil. The educational motto is "Bunbu Ryodo." This school with a hundred years of history, located next to a Zen temple, is returning to the national stage after 52 years.
Shikoku's representative, Kochi, will participate in the men's team and women's individual events.
Kochi City's northernmost private high school, Kochi High School, is a junior and senior high school within the Kochi Gakuen educational institution, originating from Koyo Gakusha founded in 1899. It is known as the only high school in the prefecture to have experienced national championships in both the Spring Koshien and Summer Koshien baseball tournaments, but the kendo team has also sent teams to the national tournament 9 times and individuals 5 times over the past 4 years. It has a history of winning the All Japan Middle School Kendo Tournament men's team championship in 1985. This tournament will feature participation in the men's team and women's individual categories (森田優姫 player, 3rd year, 3rd dan).
The winners will be facing the A League from Kyushu.
The one school that broke through B League will face the winner of A League in the first round of the final tournament. A League includes the current spring national champion, Nissho Gakuen(Miyazaki), which won its first victory at the 2026 March All Japan High School Kendo Tournament, Shonan(Kagoshima), which won the Inter-High men's team championship in 1979 when it was Kagoshima Commerce, and Meikeigakuen Academy (Ibaraki), which designates kendo as its school martial art. The side that won through B from Kanto and Shikoku has a high possibility of colliding with a national champion school from Kyushu from the first match.
Live broadcast「Summer after 52 years! Men’s Team B League.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Returning to the summer nationals for the first time in over half a century, Kamakura Gakuen heads to Nara with 稲葉慧 and a sword of etiquette and honor. Sano Nichidai, known as the Kanto champion, also sends 大河原靖太 and 川崎泰知 to the individual events. Coming from Shikoku, Kochi also sees 森田優姫 compete in the women's individual event. Three schools chase a single slot, but the league format is a stage where two schools must inevitably face disappointment. Even so, the fact that they stand here having claimed the top spot in their prefecture cannot be erased. I will not tell you to win. Simply give everything from the training you have built up until now at the Rohto Arena Nara. Heartfelt applause for the challenge of these three schools.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
Kamakura Gakuen, whose school buildings stand on the former site of Gyokuunan, a sub-temple of Kencho-ji, returns to the summer nationals for the first time in 52 years. Five players who uphold the values of courtesy and honor; five players from Sano Nichidai, known as the champions of Kanto; and five players from Kochi, arriving from Shikoku. The bracket shows 稲葉慧 from Kamakura Gakuen, and 大河原靖太 and 川崎泰知 from Sano Nichidai. The boys from Kochi have not appeared yet, but there is not a single player without a name. We simply do not know them yet. On August 2nd, once the matches begin, the names of all five players, from Senpo to Taisho, will be announced to the arena. Fifteen players will all strive equally for an ippon. Please let those names be heard in Nara.
School Information
Kamakura Gakuen（鎌倉学園）
- Official name
- 鎌倉学園高等学校
- Reading
- Kamakura Gakuen
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (School Corporation Kamakura Gakuen). Integrated junior and senior high school (since 1986).
- Location
- 110 Yamanouchi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
- History
- Founded on September 10, 1921, by Sugawara Tokuyasu, the head priest of the Kencho-ji school of Zen Buddhism, as the former “鎌倉中学校”. Following postwar educational reforms, it became a new system middle and high school, and began unified middle and high school education in 1986. The school grounds are located on the site of “玉雲庵”, a sub-temple of Kencho-ji, ranked first among the Five Great Temples of Kamakura.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Reigi Renchi" (Rei = maintaining decorum, Gi = not showing off, Ren = not concealing faults, Chi = not being led into evil). The educational philosophy is "Bunbu Ryodo" (the way of the pen and the sword).
- Department.
- General studies course.
- Kendo Club
- In 1968, the team was runner-up in the Inter-High men's team event. In fiscal year 2013, they reached the best 8 in the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament. In recent years, they were runner-up in the Kantō block of the National Sports Festival in Reiwa 3, qualified for the Kantō tournament team event in Reiwa 5, and finished 3rd in the Inter-High qualifying team event in Reiwa 6, among other achievements. On June 20, 2026, they won the Kanagawa Prefectural High School General Athletic Meet Kendo Competition men's team event (their opponent in the final was Yokohama), and according to the Yomiuri Shimbun, they secured a spot in the Inter-High for the first time in about 52 years. 稲葉慧 player, who was runner-up in the prefectural qualifying, will participate in the men's individual event.
- Notes
- A school other than Kanagawa Prefectural Kamakura High School.
Kochi（高知）
- Official name
- 高知高等学校
- Reading
- Kochi
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (School Corporation Kochi Gakuen). Junior and senior high school integrated.
- Location
- Kochi Prefecture Kochi City, Kitatancho 100
- History
- Founded in 1899 as “Koyo Gakusha.” In 1956, it was reorganized into the school corporation Kochi Gakuen, and in 1957, it moved to its current location.
- Department.
- General studies (Academic course, Advanced course, Sports advancement course)
- Kendo Club
- According to the official website of school corporation Kochi Gakuen, the high school has participated in national tournaments 9 times as a team and 5 times individually over the past 4 years. In 1985, they won the boys' team event at the All-Japan Junior High School Kendo Tournament. The high school has the overall strength of winning 30 sports in 55 events at the prefectural general athletic meet. In this tournament, the boys' team has qualified for Inter-High, and 森田優姫 (3rd year, 3rd dan) will participate in the girls' individual event.
- Notes
- The baseball club is the only high school in the prefecture to have experienced national championships in both the Spring Koshien and the Summer Koshien Kochi. It is a different school from Kochi Shishigakuen High School, Kochi Chuo High School, and Kochi Gakugei High School.
Sano Nichidai（佐野日大）
- Official name
- 佐野日本大学高等学校
- Reading
- Sano Nichidai
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (School Corporation Sano Nihon University Gakuen). Nihon University’s affiliated high school.
- Location
- 2555 Ishizuka-machi, Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture.
- History
- On May 1, 1964, Sano Nihon University High School (General Course) was founded alongside the establishment of the Sano Gakuen Educational Foundation.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Independent Creation," "Harmony of Literary and Martial Arts," and "Walking with Teacher and Student."
- Department.
- General Studies (Special Advancement Course α Class, Special Advancement Course, Super Advancement Course, Advancement Course)
- Kendo Club
- In the 64th All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Inter-High) of 2017, the men's team placed 3rd (final 4). Introduced as "Kantō champions" in kendo media, they are one of the strongest men's teams in the Kantō region. They won the men's team event at the Japan University Sports Tournament (High School Division) Kendo Tournament in August 2025. In this tournament, in addition to the men's team event, 大河原靖太 and 川崎泰知 (both 3rd year, 3rd dan) will participate in the men's individual event.
- Notes
- The abbreviation is "Sano Nichidai". The school occupies both of Tochigi Prefecture's individual slots for boys.
・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. ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Kamakura Gakuen High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Kochi High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library: Summary of the History and Achievements of Sano Nichidai High School Kendo Club ↗
・Yomiuri Shimbun Kendo Club to Inter-High for the First Time in 52 Years, Victory at Prefectural High School Games…Kamakura Gakuen ↗
・Wikipedia Kamakura Gakuen middle and high school ↗
・Kamakura Gakuen High School Kendo Club ↗
・Wikipedia Kochi middle and high school ↗
・School Corporation Kochi Gakuen Kochi Junior and Senior High School Sports Clubs ↗
・Wikipedia <a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B7%9E%E5%9F%8E%E6%97%A9%E6%9C%AC%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6%E9%AB%98%E6%A0%A1%E6%96%87">佐野日本大学高等学校</a> Sano Nihon University High School ↗
・All Japan Kendo Federation 64th National High School Kendo Tournament Results ↗
・Sano Nihon University High School [Kendo Club] – Report on the Results of the Nihon University Sports Tournament Men’s Team Competition 先鋒は、激しい攻めを見せましたが、残念ながら一本取られ、敗北しました。次鋒は、相手の隙を見つけ、見事一本を奪い返しました。中堅は、互いに譲らず、一進一退の攻防が続きましたが、最後は相手に一本を奪われ、敗北しました。副将は、持ち前の粘り強さで相手を追い詰め、一本を獲得し、勝利しました。大将は、代表戦までもつれ込みましたが、力及ばず敗北しました。 結果、勝者数は2、取得本数は5でした。 今回の結果を教訓に、今後も稽古に励み、更なるレベルアップを目指します。 応援してくださった皆様、ありがとうございました。 ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League composition (Kamakura Gakuen・Kochi・Sano Nichidai), first match court, individual event participants from each school, and the B vs A match in the final tournament are from data/2026/league_briefs.json and data/2026/kumiawase.json (derived from official PDF)
- "'Kanto champion Sano Nichidai aims to break through the league centered around 大河原 and 川崎' is in the highlights section of Let's Kendo's Nara Inter-High bracket 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."
- Kamakura Gakuen's 2026 Kanagawa Prefecture High School General Athletic Meet Men's Team Championship (June 20th, opponent in the final is Yokohama) and "approximately 52 years since their last Inter-High appearance" are from a Yomiuri Shimbun article.
- Kamakura Gakuen’s 1968 Inter-High men’s team runner-up, 2013 National Selection Best 8, founding history (1921, Tokiho Sugawara, site of Kencho-ji Tatto Jyun’an), and school motto “Reigi Renchi” are on the Wikipedia page “Kamakura Gakuen Junior High and High School.” Recent prefectural tournament results are on the school’s official website’s kendo club page.
- The 2017 64th Inter-High boys' team 3rd place for Sano Nichidai is on the All Japan Kendo Federation's tournament results page. The founding year, school motto, location, and departments are from Wikipedia's "Sano Nihon University High School." The victory in the Nihon University Sports Tournament boys' team event is from the school's official website club activities news.
- Kochi’s founding (1899, Koyo Gakusha) · location · departments · baseball club’s national championship · kendo club’s 1985 All-Japan Middle School Tournament men’s team victory are on Wikipedia “Kochi Junior & Senior High School”. The kendo club’s national tournament appearances (9 team and 5 individual appearances in the past 4 years) are on the official website of the school corporation Kochi Gakuen.
- 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.