Intense battles are guaranteed! Men's Individual, Block 29.
The 4th match area, block 29, has 和田拓人 from Kochi Sho (3rd year, 3rd dan) seeded and appearing from the second round. In the first round, 矢野昊雅 from Meiho (Oita) (3rd year, 2nd dan) and 千代田幸志郎 from Maebashi (Gunma) (3rd year, 3rd dan) will compete. Meiho High School has a record of being runner-up for two consecutive years at Inter-High in 2024 and 2025.
The first three players in this block.
- No.85 和田 拓人高知県Seeded (advancing from the second round)Kochi Sho（高知商）／3Year・三Rank.
- No.86 矢野 昊雅大分県Meiho（明豊）／3Year・二Rank.
- No.87 千代田 幸志郎群馬県Maebashi（前橋）／3Year・三Rank.
Round 1: No.86 矢野 昊雅(Meiho) vs. No.87 千代田 幸志郎(Maebashi)
Round 2: Winner of Round 1 vs. No. 85 和田 拓人(Kochi Sho)
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 和田
Kochi Sho’s 和田拓人 (3rd year, Sandan) earned a seed and will enter from the second round. They advanced through the prefectural qualifiers to reach the Inter-High stage. Aiming for advancement with their inherent composure and solid kendo skills.
Player 矢野 of Meiho
Meiho’s 矢野昊雅 (3rd year, 2nd dan) is participating from a powerhouse school with a two-year consecutive runner-up record at Inter-High. They aim to advance from the first round with their naturally aggressive swordsmanship.
Maebashi's 千代田 player
Maebashi’s 千代田幸志郎 (3rd year, Sandan) won through the Gunma Prefecture qualifiers and secured a spot in Inter-High. They overwhelm opponents with their naturally powerful striking.
Strong school・Meiho High School
Meiho High School traces its origins to a school founded in 1908. After several changes, the current Meiho Junior High School and Meiho High School opened in 1999. At Inter-High team events, the school achieved the remarkable result of being runner-up for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025.
Three players advanced after winning the two qualifying spots for the prefecture.
Kochi, Oita, Gunma. These three players broke through their respective prefectural preliminaries and stepped onto the Inter-High stage. Attention is focused on how far these skilled players, who have honed their abilities through rigorous training, will advance among the nation's strong competitors.
Live broadcast「Intense battles are guaranteed! Men's Individual, Block 29.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
和田, 矢野, 千代田! Representing your respective prefectures and standing on the Inter-High stage, you have already overcome great hurdles. Kochi, Oita, Gunma. Clash your spirits of kendo, cultivated in your respective lands, and elevate one another here in this arena. Standing alone in the arena may feel lonely. However, the support of your hometown, the passionate gaze of your teachers, the cheers of your teammates, and the love of your family are firmly by your side. Without fear and with confidence, swing your swords. Carve this moment into your heart as an eternal memory! Believe in your own kendo journey and push forward!
School Information
Kochi Sho（高知商）
- Official name
- 高知県立高知商業高等学校
- Reading
- Kochi Sho
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Public (Kochi City)
- Location
- Kochi Prefecture Kochi City, 6 Otani
- History
- Founded in May 1898 as a simplified commercial school. In 1899, it was renamed Kochi Sho Vocational School, and following the educational system reform of 1948, it became Kochi Municipal Kochi Sho Vocational High School. In 1970, it moved to the current school building.
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto "Hohon Hanshi"
- Department.
- Full-time Course: General Management / Social Management / Information Management / Sports Management; Part-time Course: Commerce
- Kendo Club
- The activity goal is "Top 8 at the National Tournament." The men's and women's teams and women's individuals competed in the Shikoku Championship, and the women's team competed in the National Selection Tournament. Achievements include 2nd place for the women's team and 3rd place for the men's team at the Prefectural Athletic Meet, and winning the women's team title at the Prefectural Autumn Newcomers Tournament.
- Notes
- History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).
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.
Maebashi（前橋）
- Official name
- 前橋高等学校
- Reading
- Maebashi
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Public (Gunma Prefecture)
- Location
- 321-1 Shimooki-cho, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
- History
- It originates from the "17th Middle School Tonegawa School" established in September 1877 within the former Maebashi castle grounds. After passing through stages such as the Gunma Prefecture Ordinary Middle School, it became Gunma Prefectural Maebashi Middle School in April 1901, and then Gunma Prefectural Maebashi High School during the 1948 school system reform. In 1979, it moved to its current location in a newly constructed building.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Shitsujitsu Goken" (simplicity and fortitude) and "Kiu Yudai" (magnanimity).
- Department.
- Full-time course, General course (Boys' school)
- Kendo Club
- The official Kendo club page's "Tournament Results for the Past 10 Years" states "Inter-High appearances: Team 4 times, Individuals 8," "All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament appearances: Team 4 times," and "Kanto appearances: Team 9 times, Individuals 11." Reached the best 16 at the All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament in March 2023. Won the team championship at the Gunma Prefecture High School General Athletic Meet Kendo Competition in May 2023 (10th title, first time in 4 years).
- 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 Meiho ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- Block assignments, seeding (No. 85), and the first round match-up (No. 86 vs. No. 87) and match location (Court 4) were determined according to the bracket 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.