An all-male F League! Tokyo, 石川, and Tokushima clash
League F at the second court consists of three schools: Ikubunkan (Tokyo), founded in 1889; Kanazawa Sakuragaoka (石川), a prefectural academic high school founded in 1921; and prefectural Johoku (Tokushima), which upholds the school motto "Where there's a will, there's a way." Of the 16 boys' team leagues, League F is the only one where all three schools are entering both the boys' team and boys' individual events; it is also an "all-male" league with no female participants. In a round-robin format, each school will play two matches, and only one school will advance to the final tournament.
These three schools.
- Kanazawa Sakuragaoka（金沢桜丘）石川 PrefectureMen's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 竹津 裕真Players(2Year)
- Ikubunkan（郁文館）Tokyo MetropolisMen's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 地主 朝陽Players(1Year)
- Johoku（城北）Tokushima PrefectureMen's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 野田 宗佐Players(3Year)、大和 希輔Players(3Year)
The one school that advanced will play against the winners of the E League (Hieizan (Shiga), Goshogawara Daiichi (Aomori), Nara Ikuei (Nara)) in the first round of the finals tournament.
Highlights
Round-robin tournament between three schools; only one school advances.
The preliminary league is a round-robin between three schools, with each school playing two matches. The team competition is a five-person system of Senpo, Jiho, Chuken, Fukusho, and Taisho, and the winner is decided by the number of wins, and if tied, by the number of points. The official results of the previous tournament also listed the number of wins and points together, such as "3(6)-1(2)". Only one school from each league can advance to the knockout tournament. The Let's Kendo combination article states, "Ikubunkan’s first match is against Sakuragaoka, and attention is focused on the match against Johoku", highlighting the progression of this group itself as a point of interest.
In the 16 leagues, this is the only group—with all three schools participating in both the team and individual events.
The preliminary league for the boys’ team competition consists of 16 groups with 48 schools. Looking at the pairings, only this F league has all three schools sending representatives to both the boys’ team and boys’ individual competitions. Kanazawa Sakuragaoka has 竹津裕真 player, Ikubunkan has 地主朝陽 player, and Johoku has 野田宗佐 and 大和希輔 players. Furthermore, none of the three schools have female participants, and only male players from the F league will compete on the floor of the Lotte Arena Nara. Even if they lose in the team competition, they can still hope for the individual competition—the three schools all share this condition.
Founded in 1889, Ikubunkan, Tokyo's two crowns.
Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward private Ikubunkan High School is a historic school founded by Ichiro Tanihashi on November 13, 1889, and became coeducational in 2010. The kendo club won the Tokyo Prefectural qualifying tournament for the 8th Reiwa National High School Kendo Tournament, and also won the Tokyo Prefectural qualifying tournament for the National High School Selected Kendo Tournament in the previous year. They also won the 57th Tsukubane Flag High School Kendo Tournament in 2025. As Let's Kendo evaluated, “Ikubunkan representing Tokyo has shown remarkable performance in recent years,” it is on an upward trajectory. 地主朝陽 player, competing in the men’s individual event, won the individual competition in the Tokyo Prefectural qualifying tournament despite being a first-year student.
School motto "If you try, you can do it" — Johoku monopolized the prefectural tournament.
Tokushima City’s Tokushima Prefectural Johoku High School was approved for establishment as Tokushima Prefectural Ijo Middle School in 1941 and became Johoku High School with the introduction of coeducation in 1949. The school motto, established in 1966, is “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” It is a credit-based high school with general and science courses. The kendo club aims for “academic and martial arts excellence” and, in addition to practice matches with schools inside and outside the prefecture 1-2 times a month, also trains with the Tokushima Prefectural Police Mobile Force. In fiscal year 2026, they won the men’s team championship and dominated the men’s individual competition with a first and second place finish at the Prefectural High School Games, and achieved third place in the men’s team event and second place in the men’s individual event at the Shikoku High School Kendo Championships in June.
Quality and strength, Kanazawa Sakuragaoka, a second-year student secured an individual spot.
石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Sakuragaoka High School was established in 1921 (Taisho 10) as 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Third Middle School, moved to its current location in Ohi-cho, Kanazawa City in 1923, and took its current name in 1949. The school motto is "Sincerity and Fortitude," and the general course is divided into four tracks from the second year: humanities, sciences, humanities and social sciences, and natural sciences. Let's Kendo introduces the school as a "powerhouse of the Hokushinetsu region." In this tournament, they competed in the boys' team event after winning the 石川 prefectural qualifiers, and second-year student 竹津裕真 secured a spot for the boys' individual event from 石川 Prefecture. He is the only underclassman individual representative in the F League.
The E League awaits them beyond that.
The one school that advanced through the F League will face the winner of the E League in the first round of the final tournament, in the same second match venue. The E League includes Hieizan founded on Hieizan in 1873 (Shiga), Goshogawara Daiichi (Aomori) which was runner-up in the Koryo Cup/All Japan Selected Kendo Tournament this spring, and Nara Ikuei (Nara) which is participating through a host region berth. If Nara Ikuei advances, it will be a match against a team with the strong support of the local crowd. The winners of both the F and E Leagues will be facing off after battling through two matches on the first day.
Live broadcast「An all-male F League! Tokyo, 石川, and Tokushima clash」
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
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
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
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.
Dating back to 1889, Ikubunkan comes from Tokyo with 地主朝陽, a first-year student who secured a spot in the Tokyo individual tournament. Kanazawa Sakuragaoka, a public high school known for its integrity and strength, will have 竹津裕真, a second-year student, step onto the floor carrying the pride of Hokushinetsu. Johoku, whose school motto is "Where there's a will, there's a way," has repeatedly trained with the prefectural police mobile force, and 野田宗佐 and 大和希輔 will also compete in the individual tournament. These three schools are the only group in the 16 leagues to send representatives to both the team and individual events. The league matches are a stage where two schools will be defeated, but the sweat shed in the team event will surely be beneficial in the individual event. I won't say win, but please give it your all in Nara, showing everything you've polished.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
Once or twice a month, they go to matches inside and outside the prefecture, and also train with the Mobile Investigation Force of the Tokushima Prefectural Police—that is Johoku’s daily routine. The five who have trained are facing the five from Kanazawa Sakuragaoka and the five from Ikubunkan. All three schools sent representatives to the individual competition, with Kanazawa Sakuragaoka fielding 2nd-year student 竹津裕真, Ikubunkan fielding 1st-year student 地主朝陽, and Johoku fielding 野田宗佐 and 大和希輔. Even so, team matches are five-a-side, so there are still three or four players from each school whose names haven’t been mentioned. On August 2nd, when the lineup is announced, the names of all fifteen players will echo around the venue. Everyone is the main character. Let us hear those names in Nara.
School Information
Kanazawa Sakuragaoka（金沢桜丘）
- Official name
- 石川県立金沢桜丘高等学校
- Reading
- Kanazawa Sakuragaoka
- Division/Category of Establishment
- 石川 Prefectural (Co-ed)
- Location
- 16-1 Ohi-cho, Kanazawa City, 石川 Prefecture
- History
- Established in March 1921 (Taisho 10) as 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Third Middle School. In 1923, it moved to its current location in Ohi-cho, Kanazawa City. Following the school system reform of 1948, it was converted into a high school, and in April 1949, it merged with 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Third High School and was renamed 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Sakuragaoka High School. A new school building was completed in 2015.
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto: "Quality and Robustness"
- Department.
- General studies (from the second year, students divide into four courses: humanities, natural sciences, science, and arts).
- Kendo Club
- Won the 石川 prefectural qualifiers in 2026 (Reiwa 8) to qualify for the Inter-High in the boys' team event. In the Let's Kendo bracket articles, they are introduced as "the powerhouse of Hokushinetsu, Kanazawa Sakuragaoka (石川)". 竹津裕真 (2nd year, 2nd dan) competed in the boys' individual event. No public information could be found regarding the history or national tournament results of the kendo club alone.
- Notes
- This tournament featured participation in both the men’s team and men’s individual events. We have no record of female participation.
Ikubunkan（郁文館）
- Official name
- 郁文館高等学校
- Reading
- Ikubunkan
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). Integrated junior and senior high school education (co-located, mixed-type).
- Location
- 2-19-1 Mukogaoka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
- History
- Founded on November 13, 1889, by Tana Hashi Ichiro. Received approval as a junior high school in 1892, and the school building was completely destroyed by fire in 1896. The name was changed to its current form in 1919 along with a commercial school. Separated into junior and senior high school divisions with the 1947 new school system, and reorganized into a new system junior and senior high school in 1951. Became coeducational in 2010.
- Department.
- General studies course.
- Kendo Club
- 2026 All Japan High School Kendo Tournament Tokyo Prefectural Qualifier Champion. 2025 All Japan High School Selected Kendo Tournament Tokyo Prefectural Qualifier Champion. 57th Tsukubane Flag High School Kendo Tournament 2025 Champion. In the Let's Kendo combination article, it is introduced as "The Tokyo representative Ikubunkan has shown remarkable success in recent years." 地主朝陽 (1st year, 2nd dan), who will participate in the men's individual event, won the Tokyo Prefectural Qualifier individual competition in 2026 as a first-year student.
- Notes
- This tournament featured participation in both the men’s team and men’s individual events. We have no record of female participation.
Johoku（城北）
- Official name
- 徳島県立城北高等学校
- Reading
- Johoku
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Tokushima Prefectural High School (co-educational). Credit-based system.
- Location
- 13-6 Kitamiyacho, 4-chome, Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture.
- History
- Established in 1941 (Showa 16) as “Tokushima Prefectural Ijo Junior High School.” A new system junior high school was established alongside it with the school system reform of 1947, and in 1948 it was reorganized into “Tokushima Prefectural Tokushima Second High School” (a boys' school). In 1949, it was renamed “Tokushima Prefectural Johoku High School” and began coeducation, becoming “Tokushima Prefectural Johoku High School” in 1956. The comprehensive selection system was abolished and transitioned to a credit system in 2004. It celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2011.
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto: "Where there's a will, there's a way" (established May 1966)
- Department.
- Full-time course, General Studies and Science courses.
- Kendo Club
- Aiming for "academic and martial arts balance" in activities. Practice matches are held 1-2 times a month with teams from inside and outside the prefecture, and training sessions are also conducted at the Tokushima Prefectural Police Mobile Force. Competitive goals are to place in the National and Shikoku Tournaments. In fiscal year 2026, the men's A team won the Yamaya Flag Tournament in April, the men's team won the Chairman's Cup Tournament, the men's team and individual won and were runner-up at the Tokushima Prefectural High School General Sports Festival in June, and the men's team finished 3rd and the men's individual was runner-up at the Shikoku High School Kendo Championships. In the combined article of Let's Kendo, it is introduced as "[Johoku](Tokushima), which reached the semifinals of the Shikoku Tournament."
- Notes
- This tournament featured participation in both the men’s team and men’s individual events. This school is distinct from other schools with the same name in prefectures such as Kanagawa and Saitama.
・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 Kanazawa Sakuragaoka High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Ikubunkan High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Johoku High School (Tokushima) Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・IkubunkanYume Gakuen Kendo Club ↗
・Wikipedia Ikubunkan middle and high school ↗
・Tokushima Prefectural Johoku High School Kendo Club ↗
・Wikipedia Tokushima Prefectural Johoku High School ↗
・Wikipedia 石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Sakuragaoka High School ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Kanazawa Sakuragaoka・Ikubunkan・Johoku), second venue, individual competition participants from each school, the F vs. E match in the final tournament is in data/2026/kumiawase.json and data/2026/league_briefs.json (based on the official PDF).
- “The F League is the only league with all three schools competing in both the men’s team and men’s individual events.” “There are no female competitors in the F League” was confirmed by compiling and checking the qualifying breakdown for all 48 schools across the 16 men’s team leagues in data/2026/league_briefs.json.
- "Tokyo representative Ikubunkan has shown remarkable success in recent years" "Johoku, best 4 in the Shikoku Tournament" "Strong team from Hokushinetsu, Kanazawa Sakuragaoka" "Ikubunkan's first match is against Sakuraoka" is the highlights section of the Let's Kendo Nara Inter-High pairing 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."
- IkubunkanKendo team's Tokyo preliminary victory (Reiwa 8)・National selection Tokyo preliminary victory (Reiwa 7)・Tsubakine flag victory are on the school's official website kendo team page. Founding year (1889)・Founder・History・Location are on Wikipedia “Ikubunkan Middle and High School”.
- 地主朝陽 player advanced through the Tokyo Prefectural qualifying individual competition as a first-year student, Notion school page
- Johoku’s school motto “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”・Founding year (1941, Izumi Middle School)・History・Departments are on the Wikipedia page “Johoku High School”. Kendo club’s 2026 season results, goals, and training with the Tokushima Prefectural Police Mobile Force are on the kendo club page of the school’s official website.
- Founding year of Kanazawa Sakuragaoka (1921 Kanazawa Third Middle School), history, school motto "Shitsujitsu Goken," departments, and location are on Wikipedia "石川 Prefectural Kanazawa Sakuragaoka High School"
- 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.
- Note: The history and national tournament results of the Kanazawa Sakuragaoka kendo club could not be confirmed through publicly available information, so they are not described.
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.