A clash between the Kinki region and a challenger from the Tohoku region! E League Men's Team Competition.
The E League at the second venue features three schools: Hieizan, a Tendai sect school founded in Hieizan in 1873 (Shiga Prefecture); Goshogawara Daiichi, a leading powerhouse from Aomori Prefecture and this spring’s All-Japan Selected Kendo Tournament (Koryo Cup) runner-up; and Nara Ikuei representing the host city, Nara. Of the 48 male team schools, only Nara Prefecture has two schools participating—Nara Ikuei is the second of those two. A round-robin format will see each school play two matches, with only one advancing to the knockout tournament. This is also a group where two schools from the Kinki region will compete against each other.
These three schools.
- Hieizan（比叡山）Shiga Prefecture.Men's team.Men's IndividualWomen's IndividualMen's Individual: 木下 智貴Players(3Year) / Women's Individual: 山田 咲希Players(3Year)
- Goshogawara Daiichi（五所川原第一）Aomori Prefecture.Men's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 髙間 慎平Players(3Year)、成田 龍飛Players(3Year)
- Nara Ikuei（奈良育英）Nara Prefecture.Men's team.Girls' team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 髙間 咲良Players(3Year)、榎本 景香Players(3Year)
The one school that breaks through will face the winner of League F (Kanazawa Sakuragaoka(石川), Ikubunkan(Tokyo), Johoku(Tokushima)) 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 official results of the previous tournament, the number of wins and points were listed together, such as "3(6)-1(2)". Only one school from each league will advance to the knockout tournament, and if they lose even one match, their summer is over. The one school that advances from E League will play against the winner of F League in the first round of the knockout tournament.
Among 48 schools, only one prefecture had two qualifying teams – the second team from the host prefecture, Nara.
The men’s team tournament features a total of 48 schools, divided into 16 leagues of 3 schools each. Looking at the pairings, only Nara Prefecture has two schools listed from the same prefecture, with an additional spot allocated for the host region. Of those two schools, Naradai Fuzoku is in League I, and Nara Ikuei is in League E, with the local teams aiming for the final tournament in separate groups. The Let's Kendo pairing article also introduces Nara Ikuei as “having qualified from Nara, the host of the Kinki tournament, with a third-place finish.” They will be in the position to receive the closest support from local fans.
Founded in 1873, the kendo club from Hieizan above.
Hieizan High School was founded in 1873 (Meiji 6) as "Tendai Sōgaku," a school of the Tendai sect, on Hieizan. It is currently a private school in Sakamoto, Otsu City, operated by the Enryaku-ji Gakuen school corporation. The school motto, derived from the words of Kōbō Daishi Kukai, is "Shō u issū," "Nō gyō nō gen," and "Bō ki rita." The kendo club has participated in Inter-High nine times, the All-Japan Selected Tournament six times, and the Kinki Tournament 30 times, and also has a record of reaching the best 32 in the Gyokuryūki. The club's policy is to "emphasize character development, which is the philosophy of kendo," and to devote a lot of time to basic practice. They advanced from the best 8 in the Kinki Tournament in this tournament.
Kinki showdown—Hieizan and Nara Ikuei
Hieizan (Shiga) and Nara Ikuei (Nara) are two schools that both advanced through the Kinki region. Let's Kendo’s combination article also highlighted this match as a focal point, calling it “a Kinki clash between Nara Ikuei and Hieizan receiving local support.” Nara Ikuei traces its origins to the private Ikuei Women's School founded in 1916 (Taisho 5) by Fujii Takakura and Show couple in Hanashiba-cho, Nara City, and became Nara Ikuei High School, a coeducational school, in 1948. Its founding spirit is “the development of complete personalities.” This tournament features participation in the men’s team, women’s team, and women’s individual categories.
Koryo Cup runner-up – Goshogawara Daiichi, 25 players from the Tohoku region
A private school in Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture, Goshogawara Daiichi (Kandaga Gakuen, commonly known as "Goshōichi"), finished second in the 15th Koryo Cup National Selected Kendo Tournament men's team event this spring. They lost to Akitashogyo Industry with a score of 0-1 in the final. In the 72nd Tohoku High School Kendo Championships in June, the men's team finished third, and the prefectural general competition saw the men's team finish first (8th time in 2 years), with the individuals taking first and second place. The team has 25 members (11 first-years, 4 second-years, 10 third-years) and upholds the unchanging belief that "kendo builds character." 成田龍飛, who will compete in the men's individual event, is making his third consecutive appearance at Inter-High, and 髙間慎平 reached the best 8 in the Tohoku Tournament individual event.
The F League awaits them beyond that.
The one school that advances from League E will face the winner of League F, who is in the same second court, in the first round of the final tournament. League F consists of three schools: Kanazawa Sakuragaoka(石川), Ikubunkan(Tokyo), and Johoku(Tokushima). Ikubunkan won this year's Tokyo prefectural qualifiers and also won the Tokyo qualifiers for the national selection last year. Johoku swept both the team and individual titles at the Tokushima Prefectural General Athletic Meet and ranked high in the Shikoku tournament. Including Kanazawa Sakuragaoka from Hokushinetsu, all are powerhouse schools that have won their respective regions. Both E and F will face each other after fighting through two matches from the first day of the tournament.
Live broadcast「A clash between the Kinki region and a challenger from the Tohoku region! E League Men's Team Competition.」
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
咲間 ひかり
咲間 ひかり
咲間 ひかり
咲間 ひかり
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
From the Hieizan where learning began, 木下智貴 and 山田咲希 will advance as individuals. From Aomori comes Goshogawara Daiichi, with 髙間慎平 and 成田龍飛 leading the way, proclaiming "Kendo builds character" as they head to Nara. The host school, Nara Ikuei, will take the floor with 髙間咲良 and 榎本景香, receiving the closest local support. Three schools chase the same single spot, and in a league match, two must inevitably shed tears. Still, the ippon accumulated to reach this point cannot be taken from anyone. I won’t say to win. Please give it your all, with what you have polished, this summer in Nara.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
"Kendo builds character"—these are words we have consistently upheld. There are twenty-five club members, with fifteen male members in Hieizan. Five of them are selected to compete in the second arena alongside the host school, Nara Ikuei. The players from Hieizan whose names are on the match list are 木下智貴, and 髙間慎平 and 成田龍飛 from Goshogawara Daiichi. The male players from Nara Ikuei haven’t competed yet, but the lineup will be announced on August 2nd, and the names of all five players from each of the three schools will echo throughout the arena. Not knowing a name is different from not having fought. An ippon by the Senpo is the same as an ippon by the Taisho—it's still one win. Let us make our names known in Nara.
School Information
Hieizan（比叡山）
- Official name
- 比叡山高等学校
- Reading
- Hieizan
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private coeducational school operated by Enryaku-ji Gakuen, a school corporation affiliated with the Tendai sect.
- Location
- 4-3-1 Sakamoto, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.
- History
- Founded in 1873 (Meiji 6) as “Tendai Sōgaku” on Hieizan. In 1879, it became a middle school and was split into Hieizan and Tokyo, and in 1888, the first school building was constructed on Hieizan. A new middle school was established with the 1947 educational system reform, and a high school was established in 1948 with the opening of a girls' department. It became a school corporation after 1951.
- School motto/philosophy
- Based on the words of Kobo Daishi (Saicho), “Illumination from a single point,” “Practice what you preach,” and “Selflessness and benefit to others.”
- Department.
- General Studies (Act Course, Bright Course, Crest Course)
- Kendo Club
- Inter-High appearance 9 times, All Japan Selected Tournament appearance 6 times, Kinki Tournament appearance 30 times, Kinki Selected Tournament appearance 8 times, Tamaryu Flag best 32. The club has 15 male members (4 first years, 5 second years, 6 third years) and 11 female members (3 first years, 1 second year, 7 third years). Guided by the principle of “emphasizing character development, which is the philosophy of kendo,” they dedicate a significant amount of time to fundamental practice. In practice matches, they value “respect and friendship through the sword.” The women’s team is a strengthening base school for the 2025 Shiga National Sports Festival. They entered this tournament after achieving a best 8 finish in the Kinki Tournament.
- Notes
- This tournament features competition in the men’s team, men’s individual, and women’s individual events.
Goshogawara Daiichi（五所川原第一）
- Official name
- 五所川原第一高等学校
- Reading
- Goshogawara Daiichi
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private coeducational school. School Corporation Tateda Gakuen. Commonly known as “Goshōichi.”
- Location
- Aomori Prefecture, Goshogawara City.
- History
- Founded in 1948, it became Goshogawara Katei Gakuen in 1949, and was later renamed under the school corporation Kantada Gakuen, with the establishment of a general academic course and the introduction of co-education, leading to its present form. It also has a correspondence course.
- Department.
- Full-time courses are offered alongside correspondence courses.
- Kendo Club
- "Kendo builds character" is our unchanging creed, and we aim for placement in the Tohoku Tournament and National Tournament. 25 club members (as of April 20, 2024, 11 first-years, 4 second-years, 10 third-years). First place in the Aomori Prefectural High School General Sports Meet Men's Team (8th time in 2 years), first place in the Men's Individual event, 成田選手, and second place, 髙間選手. Third place in the Men's Team at the 72nd Tohoku High School Kendo Championships (髙間選手 best 8, 成田選手 best 16 in the individual event). Runner-up in the Men's Team at the 15th Koryo Cup National Selected Kendo Tournament in April 2024 (lost 0-1 in the final to Akitashogyo業). Champion in the Men's Team at the Prefectural Newcomer Tournament in 2023 (7th time in 3 years). In the Hokkaido/Obihiro Inter-High in 2023, the Men's Team had 1 win and 1 loss in the preliminary league. 成田龍飛選手 has participated in the Inter-High individual event for 3 consecutive years.
- Notes
- This tournament features competition in both the men’s team and men’s individual events.
Nara Ikuei（奈良育英）
- Official name
- 奈良育英高等学校
- Reading
- Nara Ikuei
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). School Corporation Nara Ikuei Gakuen
- Location
- Nara City, Nara Prefecture.
- History
- In 1916 (Taisho 5), Takakura Fujii and his wife, Shō, founded Ikuei Women's School in Hanashiba-cho, Nara City. In 1923, the school building was newly constructed and relocated to the current location, and Nara Ikuei Higher Women's School was established. With the 1947 school system reform, a junior high school was added and co-education was implemented. In 1948, the school was reorganized as the Nara Ikuei Gakuen school corporation, a high school was established, and Nara Ikuei Higher Women's School was integrated. A kindergarten was established in 1953, an elementary school in 1956, and Ikuei Nishi Junior High and High School were established in 1983.
- School motto/philosophy
- The founding spirit is “the nurturing of complete individuals.” It is based on the founder, Fujii Takazō’s, belief that “people should live in this world with sincerity.”
- Department.
- General studies course.
- Kendo Club
- In 2026 (Reiwa 8), they won the Nara Prefecture qualifiers and qualified for Inter-High in both the men's and women's team events. The Let's Kendo combination article introduces them as "having qualified from Nara, the host location, with a third-place finish in the Kinki tournament." 髙間咲良 and 榎本景香 players participated in the women's individual event. The school's official club activity record lists achievements such as winning the 2025 All-Japan High School Tournament Prefecture qualifiers men's individual competition and qualifying for the 2024 Inter-High.
- Notes
- This tournament’s host location/Nara Prefecture’s participating schools. Different from Ikuei High School (League I) in Kobe City.
・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 Schools Library Hieizan High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Goshogawara Daiichi High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Nara Ikuei High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Hieizan Middle and High School Kendo Club ↗
・Wikipedia Hieizan middle and high school ↗
・Goshogawara Daiichi High School Kendo Club Official Page ↗
・Wikipedia Goshogawara Daiichi High School ↗
・Nara Ikuei Academy Ikuei Academy's history ↗
・Nara Ikuei Junior High and High School High School Kendo Club Archive ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Hieizan・Goshogawara Daiichi・Nara Ikuei), second match venue, individual competition participants from each school, the E vs. F match in the final tournament is in data/2026/kumiawase.json and data/2026/league_briefs.json (based on the official PDF).
- Among the 48 boys’ teams, only Nara Prefecture has two schools competing from the same prefecture, as confirmed by aggregating the prefectures of all 48 teams across the 16 boys’ leagues in data/2026/league_briefs.json.
- "Third place in the Kinki Tournament Nara Ikuei" "Third place in the Tohoku Tournament・Goshogawara Daiichi" "Best 8 in the Kinki Tournament Hieizan" "Kinki showdown" are highlights in the Let's Kendo article on the Nara Inter-High pairings.
- 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."
- Hieizan’s kendo club results (Inter-High 9 times, All-Japan Selected Players Tournament 6 times, Kinki 30 times, Gyokuryuki Flag best 32) and number of members/coaching policy are on the school’s official website’s kendo club page. Founding year (1873 Tendai Sōgaku)・history・school motto・departments・location are on Wikipedia “Hieizan Middle School/High School”.
- Goshogawara Daiichi's runner-up finish at the Koryo Cup (final 0-1 Akitashogyo), 3rd place in the Tohoku Tournament, Prefectural Tournament champion, 25 members, motto "Kendo is character building," 成田's three consecutive years of individual appearances are on the school's official kendo club page. School Corporation Tateda Gakuen, commonly known as "Gosho-ichi," is on Wikipedia and the Notion school-specific page.
- The founding year (1916), history, and founding spirit of Nara Ikuei are detailed in the official “Ikuei Academy’s History” published by the Nara Ikuei Academy school corporation. Recent award history of the kendo club is available in the high school kendo club archive on the same school’s official website.
- 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. Player names have not been confirmed, so furigana are not included.
- 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.
- ※Nara Ikuei’s men’s team’s ranking in the prefectural qualifying tournament is unconfirmed due to being a paid article. We have not delved into the breakdown of the host city qualification spots.
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.