The Swordsmen's Challenge! Men's Individual - Block 21.
The third match area, Block 21, features a 3rd-year student 神澤恵佑 from Ikuei High School in Hyogo Prefecture as a seed, entering from the second round. In the first round, a 3rd-year student 三宅哲平 from Numata High School in Hiroshima Prefecture and a 3rd-year student 濱田涼輝 from Kokoku High School in Osaka Prefecture will compete. Ikuei High School boasts numerous achievements in Inter-High. Three players who won through each prefectural qualifying tournament have secured tickets to the Nara Inter-High.
The first three players in this block.
- No.61 神澤 恵佑兵庫県Seeded (advancing from the second round)Ikuei（育英）／3Year・二Rank.
- No.62 三宅 哲平広島県Numata（沼田）／3Year・二Rank.
- No.63 濱田 涼輝大阪府Kokoku（興國）／3Year・三Rank.
Round 1: No.62 三宅 哲平(Numata) vs. No.63 濱田 涼輝(Kokoku)
Round 2: Winner of Round 1 vs. No. 61 神澤 恵佑(Ikuei)
In the individual competition, the 96 competitors will be divided into blocks of three. One competitor from each block will receive a bye and begin competition in the second round. One competitor advancing from each match area will advance to the semi-finals.
Highlights
Seeded player 神澤
Ikuei High School 3rd year student, 神澤恵佑 player, appeared from the second round. Having advanced through the Hyogo Prefecture qualifiers, they have reached the Inter-High stage. With skills equivalent to second dan, they aim to advance to the upper ranks. Ikuei High School is known as a nationally competitive powerhouse.
Numata High School・三宅選手
三宅哲平, a 3rd-year student at Numata High School and representative of Hiroshima Prefecture. He will face 濱田 in the first round. He holds a second-dan rank.
Kokoku High School・濱田選手
濱田涼輝, a 3rd-year student from Kokoku High School representing Osaka Prefecture. After winning the first round against 三宅, they face the seeded 神澤. With the skill of a 3rd dan, they fight as a representative of Osaka Prefecture.
Ikuei High school's strength
Ikuei High School is a traditional school founded in 1899. The kendo team also boasts an impressive record, having participated in Inter-High 29 times, with 2 runner-up finishes and 5 third-place finishes. In 2023, they achieved their 30th consecutive team victory at the Hyogo Prefectural High School Athletic Federation Tournament.
Three representatives from each prefecture.
Having overcome their respective prefectural qualifying tournaments, three competitors have earned their places at Inter-High. Representing Hyogo, Hiroshima, and Osaka, they will engage in fierce competition. At Nara, they will clash, each displaying their kendo spirit.
Live broadcast「The Swordsmen's Challenge! Men's Individual - Block 21.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
神澤, 濱田, 三宅! Three young swordsmen crossing blades here in Nara! To have won the prefectural qualifiers and stood upon the stage of the Inter-High is an achievement in itself. The loneliness of standing alone in the arena, and the strength to fight through it. On your backs, you surely carry the cheers of your hometown, the passion of your teachers, the bonds with your teammates, and the love of your families. Ikuei High School, Numata High School, Kokoku High School. With the pride of your respective schools in your hearts, I want you to give it your all. Beyond victory or defeat, turn this moment into strength and carry it into the future! Carve a new history into the kendo worlds of Hyogo, Hiroshima, and Osaka!
School Information
Ikuei（育英）
- Official name
- 育英高等学校
- Reading
- Ikuei
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational)
- Location
- 2-15 Nagaobimachi, Nagata-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture
- History
- Founded in 1899. Renamed to "Kobe Ikuei Gakuen" in 1902, and "Kobe Type A Ikuei Commercial School" was established in 1915. The second gymnasium with a kendo dojo and judo dojo, also serving as a small auditorium, was completed in 1983.
- School motto/philosophy
- The founding principle of the school is "each individual has unique abilities." The slogan is "nurture the future, nurture the heart."
- Department.
- General studies (all courses will be reorganized from academic year 2025).
- Kendo Club
- 35 club members (10 third-year students, 15 second-year students, 10 first-year students). 29 Inter-High appearances (2 runner-up finishes, 5 third-place finishes), 21 All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament appearances (1 win, 2 runner-up finishes, 5 third-place finishes), 1 National Sports Festival win. They pursue activities with the motto "Seriously aiming to be number one in Japan." In the Hyogo Prefectural High School Athletic Federation tournament in June 2023, they defeated Kansei Gakuin 1-0 in the final to win their 30th consecutive team championship.
- Notes
- Saitama Prefecture's Ikuei Gakuen High School and a different school
Numata（沼田）
- Official name
- 群馬県立沼田高等学校
- Reading
- Numata
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Public (Gunma Prefecture)
- Location
- 1510 Nishihara Shinmachi, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture
- History
- Opened in April 1897 as the Tone Branch of Gunma Prefecture Ordinary Middle School. It became independent as Gunma Prefectural Numata Middle School in 1912, and was renamed Gunma Prefectural Numata High School during the educational system reforms of 1948. In April 2025, it merged with Gunma Prefectural Numata Girls' High School to become coeducational.
- School motto/philosophy
- School Motto: "Enterprise and Diligence," "Harmony and Cooperation," "Sincerity and Fortitude"
- Department.
- Full-time Course General Studies (General Course / Humanities and Sciences Inquiry Course), Part-time Course General Studies
- Kendo Club
- In the 2026 men's individual competition, 金子 成 (3rd year, 3rd dan) will participate.
- Notes
- History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).
Kokoku（興國）
- Official name
- 興國高等学校
- Reading
- Kokoku
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (Educational Corporation Kokoku Gakuen). Boys' school
- Location
- 1-4-26 Teradacho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- History
- Opened in March 1926 as Kokoku Commercial School. In April 1948, following the educational system reform, it became Kokoku Commercial High School, and in June 1961, it was renamed Kokoku High School. It became coeducational in 1964, but transitioned back to a boys' school in 1978.
- Department.
- General Course (Super Advance / Premium Advance / Athlete Advance / Career Try / Academia), IT Business Course
- Kendo Club
- Won the 76th Osaka Prefecture High School Commercial Education Association Athletic Meet Kendo Tournament (August 2025) for the third consecutive year.
- Notes
- History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).
・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 Ikuei ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- Block assignments, seeding (No. 61), first round (No. 62 vs. No. 63), and match arena (No. 3) were determined according to the combination chart in the official PDF “R8奈良総体≪男子個人戦≫” and the rule of odd-numbered blocks having the top seed/even-numbered blocks having the bottom seed.
- The names, prefectures, schools, grade levels, and ranks of three players are available in data/2026/kumiawase.json (based on the official PDF).
- School profiles for each school will reuse verified information from existing organization/individual articles (gakko_gaiyo) or be sourced from the Notion participating schools library and Wikipedia.
- The individual competition qualifying spots are two per prefecture, which determines the structure of the bracket.
- Note: The pronunciation of players' given names has not been confirmed, so only the family name is announced in the video audio.
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.