Most wins with 11 championships・Kyushu Gakuin awaits in G League! Men's team
The G League in the second match venue includes Kyushu Gakuin from Kumamoto, which has won the Inter-High men’s team competition a record 11 times. They are a prestigious school with 11 victories in the Tamaryokuki and 11 in the All-Japan Selected Championships, achieving a triple crown. Standing in their way are Taisha (Shimane), who advanced through the Chugoku Tournament, and Mie, who finished third in the Tokai Tournament. It’s a round-robin tournament with two matches per school, and only one school can advance to the knockout tournament. Beyond that lies the possibility of facing Shimabara (Nagasaki) from H League—the 2022 Inter-High men’s team champions.
These three schools.
- Mie（三重）Mie PrefectureMen's team.Men's IndividualWomen's IndividualMen's Individual: 平岡 青空Players(3Year)、田﨑 寛舵Players(3Year) / Women's Individual: 別府 紗衣Players(3Year)
- Taisha（大社）Shimane PrefectureMen's team.Girls' team.Men's IndividualWomen's IndividualMen's Individual: 諏訪 颯司Players(2Year)、小倉 悠Players(2Year) / Women's Individual: 槇尾 光空子Players(3Year)、小村 そらPlayers(3Year)
- Kyushu Gakuin（九州学院）Kumamoto Prefecture.Men's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 石橋 智紀Players(3Year)、田村 悠然Players(3Year)
The one school that advanced will play against the winner of H League (Tokiwa(Gunma), Tsuruga(Fukui), Shimabara(Nagasaki)) 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 number of wins, and if tied, by 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 can advance to the knockout tournament, and if they drop even one of the two matches, their summer is over. This condition—that they cannot lose either of these two matches—applies equally to Kyushu Gakuin, which boasts 11 national championships.
Inter-High record 11 championships—a wall called Kyushu Gakuin
Private Kyushu Gakuin in Kumamoto City has won the Inter-High boys' team title a record 11 times. Following 1966 (13th) and 1998 (45th), they won four consecutive titles from 2013 to 2016, and further reached the top in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024. They are a prestigious three-crown school, with a record 11 wins in the Gyokuryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament and 11 wins in the All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament. Entering this tournament after placing third in the All Kyushu Tournament, Let's Kendo commented, "Kugaku is supported by 石橋, the All Kyushu individual champion, and will likely be in peak form for the Inter-High."
Reverence for Heaven, Love for Humanity – The school began at ルーテル神学校.
Kyushu Gakuin began in 1909 (Meiji 42) as the Roche (Lutheran) Theological School, which opened in Kumamoto City. It was approved as Kyushu Gakuin in 1911, and Toyama Sanra became the first principal. It was renamed Kyushu Middle School in 1943, and Kyushu Gakuin High School opened in 1948, transitioning from an all-boys school to coeducation in 1991. It is a Christian school with the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church as its background, and its school motto is "Reverence for Heaven, Love for Humanity" (reverence for God, love for people). Its educational philosophy is "to nurture good people who will be of service to the world by providing spiritual education on top of intellectual, moral, and physical education," and an athlete class is established in the high school general course.
The school motto is "Sincere Dedication" — the Mie Kendo Club
Mie Prefecture Matsusaka City's private Mie High School opened in April 1961, added a junior high school in 1962, and has been conducting integrated middle and high school education since 1985. The school motto is "Shinkenmi." It is a school that makes you want to say there is no better three-character phrase for kendo. The kendo club is designated as a reinforced club of the high school. In this tournament, they will participate in the men's team event as third place in the Tokai Tournament, and 平岡青空, 田﨑寛舵 in the men's individual event, and 別府紗衣 in the women's individual event will be listed as representatives of Mie Prefecture. Although the school is known nationwide as a baseball powerhouse, this summer it will also take the stage at the Nara Rota Arena in kendo.
Having won through China Taisha, all 4 divisions and a second-year pair.
Shimane Prefecture Izumo City's prefectural Taisha High School was founded in 1898 (Meiji 31) as Shimane Prefecture Hikawa Normal Junior High School, a school with over 120 years of tradition, and is the only high school in Shimane Prefecture to have established a physical education course in 1973. Let's Kendo introduces them as "Chugoku Champion・Taisha (Shimane)." This tournament will feature participation in all four categories: men's team, women's team, men's individual, and women's individual. Taisha is the only school from the G League to send representatives to all categories. The men's individual players 諏訪颯司 and 小倉悠 are both second-year students and hold the rank of sandan. The school's name is derived from Izumo Taisha.
The H League that awaits beyond—2022 champion・Shimabara
A school that broke through G League will play against the winner of H League in the first round of the final tournament. That H League includes Shimabara (Nagasaki) – the champion school that won the men’s team event at the 2022 Kochi Inter-High. Moreover, 2022 was also the year that Shimabara broke the winning streak of Kyushu Gakuin which had continued in 2018, 2019, and 2021. If both schools win their respective leagues, a Kyushu clash between Kyushu Gakuin, with the most Inter-High wins at 11, and Shimabara, the 2022 champion, will be realized in the first round of the final tournament.
Live broadcast「Most wins with 11 championships・Kyushu Gakuin awaits in G League! Men's team」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Carrying the flag of a record 11 championships, Kyushu Gakuin is given the same two matches as other schools. Together with 石橋智紀 and 田村悠然, they will stand on the floor with the reputation of a prestigious school. Having won through China, Taisha sends out 諏訪颯司, 小倉悠, 槇尾光空子, and 小村そら to demonstrate Shimane’s strength in all four categories. Mie, raising the three characters “真剣味” (shinkenmi), sends 平岡青空, 田﨑寛舵, and 別府紗衣 to the floor in Nara. As it is a league match, both schools are certain to shed tears. Nevertheless, the training they have accumulated to get here cannot be taken from them by anyone. Please give it your all, showing everything you have built up.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
Respect heaven, love people. This is the school motto of Kyushu Gakuin. Even a school with the most championship flags—eleven—can only send out five people for a single match. Taisha and Mie are also five people. The players whose names are on the match list are Kyushu Gakuin’s 石橋智紀 and 田村悠然, Taisha’s 諏訪颯司 and 小倉悠, and Mie’s 平岡青空 and 田﨑寛舵. Because each prefecture has two slots for the individual competition, this is all for now, and the remaining three names for each school will be announced on August 2nd. All five players bear the sign of a prestigious school, the three characters of seriousness, and the pride of the physical education department. Fifteen summers for each of them. Let us hear those names in Nara.
School Information
Mie（三重）
- Official name
- 三重高等学校
- Reading
- Mie
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). A junior and senior high school with an affiliated Mie middle school.
- Location
- Mie Prefecture Matsusaka City Kubocho 1232
- History
- In April 1961 (Showa 36), the high school was established and relocated to the current location in August of the same year. The junior high school was established in April 1962. Coeducation was introduced in April 1974, and a six-year middle and high school system was adopted in April 1985. In April 1994, Mie High School and Matsusaka Women's High School merged. The new school building was completed in April 2008, and the six-year middle and high school system commenced. In April 2018, the operating entity became independent from Umemura Gakuen Educational Institution.
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto: "Sincerity and earnestness"
- Department.
- General studies (university preparatory course, advanced preparatory course, six-year course)
- Kendo Club
- The kendo club is a designated strengthening club of the high school. Winning the Mie prefectural qualifying tournament in 2026 (Reiwa 8), the men's team advanced to Inter-High, and is introduced in the Let's Kendo combination article as "Tokai Tournament 3rd place・Mie(Mie)". 平岡青空 and 田﨑寛舵 players participated in the men's individual event, and 別府紗衣 player participated in the women's individual event. The history and national tournament results of the kendo club alone could not be confirmed in publicly available information.
- Notes
- A school nationally known as a baseball powerhouse. This tournament features competition in the men's team, men's individual, and women's individual categories.
Taisha（大社）
- Official name
- 島根県立大社高等学校
- Reading
- Taisha
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Shimane Prefectural (Co-educational)
- Location
- Shimane Prefecture, Izumo City Taisha Kitahara-ki 1473
- History
- Opened as "Shimane Prefecture Hikawa Higher Elementary School" in 1898 (Meiji 31). In 1948, the new system high school "Shimane Prefectural Taisha First High School" (boys' school) was established, and in 1949 it merged with "Shimane Prefectural Taisha Second High School" to become the current Shimane Prefectural Taisha High School, starting coeducation. A physical education course was established in 1973, and a founding 100th anniversary ceremony was held in 1998.
- Department.
- General studies and physical education (physical education is the only program of its kind among high schools in Shimane Prefecture).
- Kendo Club
- In 2026 (Reiwa 8), they won the Shimane Prefecture qualifiers and qualified for Inter-High in both the men's and women's team events. They are introduced as "Chugoku champions・Taisha (Shimane)" in the Let's Kendo combined article. In June 2026, they will participate in the 72nd Chugoku High School Kendo Championships. 諏訪颯司 and 小倉悠 (both 2nd year, 3rd dan) will participate in the men's individual event, and 槇尾光空子 and 小村そら (both 3rd year, 3rd dan) will participate in the women's individual event.
- Notes
- Men’s team, women’s team, men’s individual, and women’s individual – a total of four categories were entered. The school name is derived from Izumo Taisha.
Kyushu Gakuin（九州学院）
- Official name
- 九州学院高等学校
- Reading
- Kyushu Gakuin
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). School corporation Kyushu Gakuin. A Christian school with the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church as its background.
- Location
- 5-2-1 Ooe, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
- History
- Opened in Kumamoto City in 1909 (Meiji 42) as Luther Theological School. In 1911 (Meiji 44), it was authorized as Kyushu Gakuin, and Toshiyoshi Toyama became the first principal. It was renamed Kyushu Middle School in 1943, Kyushu Gakuin Middle School in 1946, and Kyushu Gakuin High School opened in 1948. It transitioned from an all-boys school to coeducation in 1991 (Heisei 3).
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto: "Respect Heaven and Love People (revere God and love humanity)." The educational philosophy is to cultivate "good people who are useful to society" through intellectual, moral, physical, and spiritual education.
- Department.
- General studies (Progress Class, Advanced Class, Athlete Class)
- Kendo Club
- Having won the National High School General Sports Tournament (Inter-High) men's team event a record 11 times. Winning years: 1966 (13th time), 1998 (45th time), 2013 (60th time), 2014 (61st time), 2015 (62nd time), 2016 (63rd time), 2018 (65th time), 2019 (66th time), 2021 (68th time), 2023 (70th time), 2024 (71st time). Also won the Tamaryu Flag High School Kendo Tournament a men's record 11 times (1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023). Also won the National High School Kendo Selection Tournament 11 times. In this tournament, they qualified from third place in the All-Kyushu Tournament, and the men's individual player 石橋智紀 won the All-Kyushu Tournament individual event.
- Notes
- This tournament featured participation in both the men’s team and men’s individual events. We have no record of female participation.
・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 Mie High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Taisha High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Kyushu Gakuin High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Wikipedia Kyushu Gakuin middle and high school ↗
・Wikipedia National High School General Sports Tournament Kendo Competition ↗
・Wikipedia Tamaryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament 本日、<a href="https://tamaryu.jp/">玉竜旗高校剣道大会</a>の試合結果を報告します。 Today, I will report the results of the <a href="https://tamaryu.jp/">Tamaryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament</a>. <a href="https://tamaryu.jp/">玉竜旗</a>は、高校剣道界では最も権威のある大会の一つです。 The <a href="https://tamaryu.jp/">Tamaryu-ki</a> is one of the most prestigious tournaments in high school kendo. 今回の大会では、各校の先鋒、次鋒、中堅、副将、大将が激戦を繰り広げました。 In this tournament, each school’s Senpo, Jiho, Chuken, Fukusho, and Taisho fought fiercely. 試合は一本勝負で行われ、勝者数は各校の総合力を測る指標となります。 Matches were decided by ippon, and the number of wins served as an indicator of each school’s overall strength. また、取得本数も重要な要素であり、積極的な攻撃が評価されました。 The number of points taken was also an important factor, and aggressive attacks were highly valued. 特に、代表戦では、各校の代表選手がしのぎを削り、見応えのある試合が展開されました。 In particular, the deciding match featured representative players from each school competing fiercely, resulting in exciting matches. <a href="https://tamaryu.jp/">玉竜旗</a>は、Inter-Highへの出場権をかけた重要な大会でもあります。 The <a href="https://tamaryu.jp/">Tamaryu-ki</a> is also an important tournament for qualifying for Inter-High. 今回の大会の結果は、今後の高校剣道界に大きな影響を与えるでしょう。 The results of this tournament will likely have a significant impact on the future of high school kendo. ↗
・Wikipedia Shimane Prefectural Taisha High School ↗
・Shimane Prefectural Taisha High School Official Site ↗
・Wikipedia Mie middle and high school ↗
・Mie High School Official Site ↗
・Mie Prefecture High School Sports Federation Reiwa 8th Year Prefecture General Games Results ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Mie・Taisha・Kyushu Gakuin), second venue, individual competition participants from each school, the G vs. H match in the final tournament is in data/2026/kumiawase.json and data/2026/league_briefs.json (based on the official PDF).
- "Kyushu Gakuin, 3rd place at the All-Kyushu Tournament and most Inter-High titles," "Taisha, Chugoku champion," "Mie, 3rd place at the Tokai Tournament," and "石橋, All-Kyushu individual champion" are in the highlights section of the Let's Kendo 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."
- Kyushu Gakuin’s Inter-High men’s team 11 championships and a list of championship years, the most championships by school is on Wikipedia “National High School General Sports Tournament Kendo Competition.” Tamaryu-ki men’s 11 championships and championship years are on Wikipedia “Tamaryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament.” All-Japan Selected 11 championships, founding history (1909, Rotei Shin Gakko), school motto “Respect Heaven and Love People,” academic departments are on Wikipedia “Kyushu Gakuin Junior High and High School.”
- Mie’s founding year (1961)・history・school motto “Shinkenmi”・departments・the kendo club is a designated reinforced club (Wikipedia “Mie Junior High and High School” and Notion school-specific page (citing the school’s official website and Mie Prefectural High School Athletic Federation records) are used as sources).
- Taisha’s founding year (1898, Hikawa Normal Middle School), history, and the fact that its physical education department is the only one in Shimane Prefecture are detailed in the Wikipedia article “Taisha High School.” Participation in the 72nd Chugoku High School Kendo Championships (June 2026) is listed on the school’s official website’s list of club activities.
- "In 2022, Shimabara broke the winning streak of Kyushu Gakuin" is described as a fact readable from the list of past winning schools in the Wikipedia article "National High School Comprehensive Sports Festival Kendo Tournament" (Kyushu Gakuin in 2018, 2019, 2021, Shimabara in 2022, and Kyushu Gakuin in 2023 and 2024).
- 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.
- *The match between Kyushu Gakuin and Shimabara is a possibility if both schools advance from their respective leagues, and a match has not been decided.*
- *Kyushu GakuinThe official website could not be accessed due to a server error when obtaining the information, so the kendo club results are based on the list on Wikipedia.
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.