The teams ranked 2nd and 3rd are tied! K League.
The K League in the third match venue includes Meiho (Oita), which was a consecutive runner-up in the Inter-High men's team competition for the last two tournaments, Seiko Gakuin (Fukushima), which placed third in the same tournament in 2024, and Hiroshimaminami, a traditional county high school in Hiroshima founded in 1901. Two schools that stood on the podium at the 2024 Inter-High will clash in a round-robin format on the first day of the tournament in Nara two years later. Each school plays two matches in a round-robin between the three schools, and only one school advances to the knockout tournament. The school that advances will play against the winner of the L League.
These three schools.
- Seiko Gakuin（聖光学院）Fukushima Prefecture.Men's team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 工藤 煌大Players(2Year)、齋藤 正真Players(2Year)
- Meiho（明豊）Ōita PrefectureMen's team.Girls' team.Men's IndividualWomen's IndividualMen's Individual: 伊藤 光佑Players(3Year)、矢野 昊雅Players(3Year) / Women's Individual: 渡邊 愛菜Players(3Year)
- Hiroshimaminami（広島皆実）Hiroshima Prefecture.Men's team.
The one school that advanced will play against the winners of the L League (Hanamaki Kita(Iwate), Sapporonichidai(Hokkaido), Niigata Meikun(Niigata)) 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 quick report 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 you drop even one of the two matches, your summer is over. Let's Kendo views that "Meiho is the center of the league, and their match will be the key to breaking through the league."
The two schools that reached the podium in 2024 will be battling it out from day one.
The 71st Inter-High men's team competition in 2024 saw Kyushu Gakuin as champion, Meiho as runner-up, and Toin Gakuen and Seiko Gakuin in third place. These runner-up and third-place schools were drawn into the same preliminary league in Nara two years later. A match-up that would normally occur in the later stages of the knockout tournament, if in a different league, will be realized in the round-robin on the first day of the tournament. Only one school can advance, and one of the schools that knows the national podium will inevitably be eliminated on the first day.
Runner-up for two consecutive years・Meiho is the champion school of the National Selection Tournament.
Private Meiho High School in 別府 City, Oita Prefecture, finished as runners-up in the Inter-High boys' team event for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025. Prior to that, they placed 3rd in 2019 and 2021, consistently ranking among the top in recent national tournaments. In the Spring National High School Kendo Selected Tournament, they won the boys' team event in 2022 (31st tournament), with Kyushu Gakuin as their opponent in the final, and were runners-up in 2019. In the boys' individual event, 山下剣希 won the Inter-High in 2024. As a school, the kendo, table tennis, baseball, and girls' basketball clubs are considered to be at a national level.
Meiho has the comprehensive strength to participate in all four divisions for both men and women.
Meiho will participate in all four categories – men’s team, women’s team, men’s individual, and women’s individual – as the Oita Prefecture representative in this tournament. The women’s team is also strong, having won the 2024 (33rd) National Selected Women’s Team Tournament and finished as runner-up in 2022, 2025, and 2026. They have also finished as runner-up in the Inter-High Women’s Team Tournament in 2022 and 2023, and took third place in 2024, consistently appearing on the podium. 伊藤光佑 and 矢野昊雅 (both 3rd year, 2nd dan) will compete in the men’s individual event, and 渡邊愛菜 (3rd year, 2nd dan) will compete in the women’s individual event.
Designated strengthening club・Seiko Gakuin has 2 second-year students for individual training.
Fukushima Prefecture Date City's private Seiko Gakuin High School was founded in 1962 as Seiko Gakuin Industrial High School and became its current name in 1977, a Christian school. The school motto, "To those who work with God," is linked to Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world," which is also the origin of the school's name. The kendo club is a designated reinforced club designated by the school, and in addition to 3rd place in the 2024 Inter-High Men's Team event, Toda Kosei and Watanabe Kaede were selected as outstanding players in the same tournament and the 34th National Selection, respectively. Both players in this tournament's Men's Individual event, 工藤煌大 and 齋藤正真, are second-year students.
125 years of prefectural high school · Hiroshimaminami
Hiroshima Prefectural Hiroshimaminami High School traces its origins to "Hiroshima Prefectural Hiroshima Higher Girls' School" established in 1901, and this year celebrates its 125th anniversary as a traditional school. Its school motto is "Diligence, Perseverance, Responsibility, Freedom," and it has general academic, nursing, and physical education courses. The kendo club has a history of participating in national tournaments, achieving 3rd place in the men's team event at the 5th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in 1996, and 3rd place in the women's team event at Inter-High in 2019. This tournament features the men's team qualifying from 3rd place in the Chugoku Tournament. It is also the school where the soccer club won its first championship at the 2008 All Japan High School Soccer Championship.
Live broadcast「The teams ranked 2nd and 3rd are tied! K League.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Meiho, Seiko Gakuin, Hiroshimaminami——To the three schools of the K-League. The weight of 別府 carried by 伊藤光佑 and 矢野昊雅. The potential of 工藤煌大 and 齋藤正真, who, despite being second-year students, have made a name for themselves in the national individual competitions. Hiroshimaminami enters from the Chugoku region, carrying 125 years of school history in their hearts. Whether it is a school with memories of the podium or one yet to carve its own, the expanse of the floor they stand on the first day is the same. Only one school will break through; two will inevitably swallow their tears. Even so, rather than spending time lamenting the misfortune of being placed in this group, go for an ippon——with that spirit, give everything you have built up. Respect to the summer of these three schools.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
Founded in 1901, Hiroshimaminami celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The school motto of diligence, perseverance, responsibility, and freedom has been passed down through generations of club members. Currently, the players whose names appear on the bracket are Meiho’s 伊藤光佑 and 矢野昊雅, and Seiko Gakuin’s 工藤煌大 and 齋藤正真; Hiroshimaminami has not yet competed. This is simply because each prefecture is allocated two spots in the individual competition, and there is no other significance. The team competition consists of five members. If the order is announced on August 2nd, the names of all five players, from Senpo to Taisho, will be called. Fifteen players from three schools, all are the main characters. Please let us hear those names in Nara.
School Information
Seiko Gakuin（聖光学院）
- Official name
- 聖光学院高等学校
- Reading
- Seiko Gakuin
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). Established by the school corporation Seiko Gakuin.
- Location
- Rokkakku 3, Date City, Fukushima Prefecture (First Campus), 成田, Doi-no-uchi 10, Koori Town, Date District, Fukushima Prefecture (Second Campus)
- History
- Founded in 1962 (Showa 37) as Seiko Gakuin Industrial High School. Renamed to Seiko Gakuin High School in 1977 (Showa 52).
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is “To those who work with God.” The school name, 『聖光』, comes from Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world,” and the school provides education based on Christian principles. They have a unique educational philosophy called “80/3mind,” which posits that the three years of high school are the three years that determine one’s life.
- Department.
- General studies, engineering department.
- Kendo Club
- Designated school club for strengthening. 3rd place in the 71st Inter-High Men's Team in 2024. At the same tournament, 戸田皇聖 was selected as the Men's Outstanding Player, and 渡部楓 was selected as the Men's Outstanding Player at the 34th National High School Kendo Selection Tournament. In this tournament, they will participate as representatives of Fukushima Prefecture in the Men's Team and Men's Individual events, with 工藤煌大 player (2nd year, Sandan) and 齋藤正真 player (2nd year, Nidan) in the Men's Individual event.
- Notes
- Kanagawa Prefecture Yokohama City’s Seiko Gakuin Middle and High School is a different school. Its hardball baseball club is known as a frequent participant in the Koshien tournament.
Meiho（明豊）
- Official name
- 明豊高等学校(明豊中学・高等学校)
- Reading
- Meiho
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (co-educational). A combined junior and senior high school established by the 別府 University educational corporation.
- Location
- 3088 Noguchihara, 別府 City, Oita Prefecture
- History
- The origin is the Hoshu Girls' School, founded in 1908 (Meiji 41). The school became the 別府 University Affiliated High School in 1958, after passing through Showa Jissen Girls' School, Hoshu Higher Girls' School, Oita Girls' High School, and Jiyugaoka High School. In 1998, the Educational Corporation 別府 University and the Educational Corporation Myojo Gakuen merged, and in April 1999, Meiho Junior High School and Meiho High School opened. The two former schools closed in 2001. The school name combines "Myo" (bright) from Myojo and "Ho" (abundant) from Hoshu Girls' School.
- Department.
- Full-time courses: General academic course (Special Advanced class, University-High School Collaboration class, Physical Education major class), Health Nursing course, Nursing course (Advanced program), Correspondence course: General academic course.
- Kendo Club
- At Inter-High for the men’s team, they were runners-up for two consecutive years in 2024 (71st) and 2025 (72nd), and placed third in 2019 (66th) and 2021 (68th). In the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament for the men’s team, they won in 2022 (31st) and were runners-up in 2019 (28th). For the men’s individual event, Yamashita Kenki won at Inter-High in 2024. The women’s team were runners-up at Inter-High in 2022 and 2023, and placed third in 2024. They won at the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in 2024 and were runners-up in 2022, 2025, and 2026. They will participate in all four divisions – men’s and women’s team and individual – at this tournament.
- Notes
- In school introductions, the kendo club, table tennis club, baseball club, and women’s basketball club are said to be at a national level. The baseball club was the runner-up in the 2021 Spring Koshien tournament.
Hiroshimaminami（広島皆実）
- Official name
- 広島県立広島皆実高等学校
- Reading
- Hiroshimaminami
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Hiroshima Prefectural (Co-educational)
- Location
- Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
- History
- Founded in 1901 (Meiji 34) as “広島県立広島高等女学校,” the school celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2011. In 1953, the industrial course separated to become 広島県広島工業高等学校, and in the same year, the current school emblem (laurel leaves and snowflakes) was established.
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto: "Diligence, vigor, responsibility, and freedom." The school's educational goal is "to foster young people who are healthy in both mind and body, possess high intellect, rich emotionality, and strong will."
- Department.
- General studies, nursing, and physical education.
- Kendo Club
- A sports club with a history of qualifying for national tournaments. They placed third in the men’s team event at the 5th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in 1996, and third in the women’s team event at the 66th Inter-High in 2019. This year, they will participate as the Hiroshima Prefecture representative in the men’s team event, having finished third at the China Regional Tournament.
- Notes
- "Minami" is read as "皆実". The soccer club was founded in 1949 and won its first championship at the 87th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament in 2008, marking the 60th anniversary of its founding.
・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 Seiko Gakuin High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Meiho High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Hiroshimaminami High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Wikipedia National High School General Sports Tournament Kendo Competition (Past Results) ↗
・Wikipedia All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Past Results) ↗
・All Japan Kendo Federation 31st National High School Kendo Selection Tournament Results. ↗
・All Japan Kendo Federation 34th National High School Kendo Selection Tournament Results. ↗
・Wikipedia Meiho middle and high school ↗
・Wikipedia Seiko Gakuin High School ↗
・Seiko Gakuin High School Club Activities ↗
・Wikipedia Hiroshima Prefectural Hiroshimaminami High School ↗
・Oita Prefectural High School Athletic Federation – Total Sports Kendo Tournament Results for Reiwa 8 ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Seiko Gakuin・Meiho・Hiroshimaminami), third match venue, individual competition participants from each school, the K vs. L match in the final tournament is data/2026/kumiawase.json (based on the official PDF)
- “Kyushu’s strong team Meiho”, “Hiroshimaminami, third place in the Chugoku Tournament”, “Meiho is at the center of the league, and their match is the key to advancing” are highlights from the Inter-High combination article on Let's Kendo.
- 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."
- Meiho’s Inter-High men’s team runner-up in 2024 and 2025, 3rd place in 2019 and 2021, women’s team runner-up in 2022 and 2023, and 3rd place in 2024, men’s individual champion in 2024 (山下剣希), and Seiko Gakuin’s 3rd place in the 2024 men’s team, Hiroshimaminami’s 3rd place in the 2019 women’s team are from the Wikipedia “All Japan High School Comprehensive Sports Tournament Kendo Competition” past results table.
- Meiho’s All-Japan High School Kendo Tournament selection – men’s team 2022 champion, 2019 runner-up; women’s team 2024 champion, 2022/2025/2026 runner-up; Hiroshimaminami’s 1996 men’s team 3rd place is in the historical results table of the Wikipedia “All-Japan High School Kendo Tournament.” The results for 2022 (31st tournament) were verified on the official tournament results page of the All Japan Kendo Federation.
- Meiho’s history, founder, location, departments, and the origin of the school name are on Wikipedia. The school introduction also mentions that the kendo team is at the national level in the same article.
- Seiko Gakuin’s founding year, school motto “To those who work with God,” origin of the school name, educational philosophy “80/3mind,” departments, and location are on Wikipedia. The fact that the kendo team is a reinforced club is on the school’s official website’s club activities page. Excellent players (戸田皇聖・渡部楓) are on the Notion school-specific page and the All Japan Kendo Federation’s official 34th National Selection Tournament results page.
- Hiroshimaminami’s founding in 1901, school motto, departments, and the soccer club’s 2008 national championship are on Wikipedia.
- School name reading is in the reading column of the Notion participating school library. The notation of 矢野昊雅 player is based on the official documents of the Oita Prefectural High School Athletic Federation, and "奨雅" seen in OCR is a misreading (note on the Notion school page). Since the reading of the player name is unconfirmed, only the surname will be read in the audio.
- 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)).
- 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.
- *Seiko Gakuin The kendo club's official website inner page is "Currently Under Construction," so the number of members and coaching policy cannot be confirmed and are not listed.
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.