A mixed-gender D League event! Women’s team competition.
The D League at the first match venue includes Nara Ikuei, a prestigious school in the host city of Nara, Saku Chosei (Nagano) as a strengthening club and a frequent participant in the All-Japan Selected Kendo Tournament and Inter-High, and Tamashima (Okayama) which has consecutively participated in the Inter-High men’s team event for five years. This is a mixed group where all three schools have also qualified for the national men’s team event. Each school plays two matches in a round-robin format, and only one school advances to the knockout tournament, putting Nara in a difficult battle from the first day.
These three schools.
- Nara Ikuei（奈良育英）Nara Prefecture.Men's team.Girls' team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 髙間 咲良Players(3Year)、榎本 景香Players(3Year)
- Saku Chosei（佐久長聖）Nagano Prefecture.Men's team.Girls' team.Men's IndividualMen's Individual: 成澤 輝空Players(1Year)
- Tamashima（玉島）Okayama Prefecture.Men's team.Girls' team.
The one school that advanced will play against the winner of C League (Eishin(Hiroshima), Tomioka Higashi(Tokushima), Shirakawa(Fukushima)) in the first round of the finals tournament.
Highlights
Round-robin tournament between three schools – only one team can advance.
The preliminary league will be a round-robin between three schools, with each school playing two matches. The team match consists of five members: Senpo, Jiho, Chuken, Fukusho, and Taisho. The winner is decided by the number of wins, and if tied, by the number of 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. The school that advanced from League D will play against the winner of League C in the first round of the knockout tournament.
All three schools are nationally ranked in the men’s team event—an unusual situation in the women’s Group D.
The characteristic of this league is that Nara Ikuei, Saku Chosei, and Tamashima have all qualified for Inter-High in the men's team event. It is rare for all three schools to have both men's and women's teams advance to the national stage in the women's team event qualifying league. Nara Ikuei has qualified in the men's team, women's team, and women's individual events, Saku Chosei in the men's team, women's team, and men's individual events, and Tamashima in the men's team and women's team events. While the men's teams from the same school are competing at different venues, the women are competing for one spot in Group D at the first match venue.
Local area・Nara Ikuei—“To become a person of sincerity”
The private Nara Ikuei Junior and Senior High School in Horencho, Nara City, traces its origins to a private Ikuei Women's School founded in 1916 by Takazō and Shō Fujii. Its founding spirit is "to nurture and develop the excellent qualities that each individual possesses, so that they may become truly outstanding as human beings," and the school's motto is the "Ikuei Pledge" established in 1946 by former president Chōji Fujii together with all staff. In this tournament, the school will participate in the men's team, women's team, and women's individual events as the representative of Nara Prefecture, the host location, with 髙間咲良 and 榎本景香, two third-year students, competing in the women's individual event.
Strengthening club・Saku Chosei’s consistent national presence
N Nagano Prefecture Saku City’s private Saku Chosei High School opened in 1964 as Saku High School and began integrated middle and high school education in 1995, leading to its current name. The kendo club is designated as a reinforced club of the high school. According to the school’s club page, in fiscal year 2025, the women’s team will participate in the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament, and the men’s team and individual men’s and women’s players will participate in the National High School Athletic Meet (Inter-High). In fiscal year 2024, the men’s team participated in the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament and the Inter-High men’s team and individual men’s and women’s players, and in fiscal year 2023, the men’s and women’s teams participated in the Inter-High. In this tournament, first-year student 成澤輝空 will participate in the men’s individual event.
Prefectural Shin School・Tamashima’s kendo club
Okayama Prefecture Kurashiki City's prefectural/Tamashima High School was founded in 1904, with the school motto of "Autonomy, Wisdom, and Action," and is an advanced school with general and science courses, also designated as a Super Science High School. The kendo club aims for "placing in the national tournament" and "is engaged in various activities such as learning, club activities, and volunteer work, not only to improve kendo skills but also to be supported by many people as individuals." In fiscal year 2025, the men's team will participate in Inter-High for the 7th time in 5 consecutive years, and in the 71st Chugoku High School Kendo Championships, they recorded a men's individual championship, a men's team runner-up, and a women's individual runner-up.
1904, 1916, and 1964 – Three schools with different strides.
Tamashima was founded in 1904 as an attached organization to Tamashima Higher Elementary School, celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2024, while Nara Ikuei was founded in 1916 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016, and Saku Chosei opened in 1964, resulting in a 60-year difference in the histories of the three schools. They also differ in character as a prefectural preparatory school, a prestigious local private school, and an integrated middle and high school strengthening club. Three kendo clubs with different backgrounds compete for the same single spot in the same first match venue.
Live broadcast「A mixed-gender D League event! Women’s team competition.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Nara Ikuei everyone, this Inter-High held locally is a stage that may only come once in a lifetime. 髙間咲良 and 榎本景香, with Ikuei in your hearts, make the familiar air of Nara your ally. Saku Chosei everyone, the days you have stacked as a strengthening club must be as thick as the winter in Shinshu. Including 成澤輝空 in the men's individual event, a summer to challenge the nation with the whole school. Tamashima everyone, the ticket obtained by a prefectural high school that balances learning and practice is, in itself, proof of "autonomy, intelligence, and execution." It is the nature of league matches that three schools with different strides cannot share the same one spot. Still, the path you have taken so far will not disappear.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
In 1946, the “Ikuei Pledge” was established by the former president Nara Ikuei along with all staff members. Representing their local area of Nara, they will compete in the Inter-High held in their home prefecture, keeping those words in their hearts. Tamashima, founded in 1904, embodies “Autonomy, Wisdom, and Action,” while the strengthening club Saku Chosei has overcome the winter of Shinshu to reach Nara. The players mentioned from Nara Ikuei are 髙間咲良 and 榎本景香, and there are no individual spots for women from Tamashima and Saku Chosei. However, team matches are five-person, and all five members from each of the three schools will compete. Once the order is announced, the names of the remaining thirteen players will also echo throughout the venue. Fifteen players from three schools—let their names be heard in Nara.
School Information
Nara Ikuei（奈良育英）
- Official name
- 奈良育英高等学校(奈良育英中学校・高等学校)
- Reading
- Nara Ikuei
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). Offers integrated middle and high school education (mixed-type).
- Location
- Nara City, Nara Prefecture, 1000 Horen-cho.
- History
- April 17, 1916, Ikuei Girls' School was founded by Takazō Fujii and Shō Fujii. With the school system reform of 1947, a junior high school was added, and in 1948, a coeducational high school was established. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016.
- School motto/philosophy
- The founding spirit is "to cultivate and nurture the excellent qualities that every individual possesses within themselves, so that they may truly become distinguished human beings." The school motto "Ikuei Vow" is "to cultivate a spirit of believing in God, loving people, respecting morality, loving truth, valuing one's duty, and finding joy in labor, and to strive to approach becoming a person of perfect character," established in 1946 by former Board Chairman 藤井長治 together with all staff members.
- Department.
- General studies (including Advanced Course, University-High School Collaboration G Course, University-High School Collaboration S Course, and Comprehensive University Entrance Course; some categories also include the International Understanding G Course).
- Kendo Club
- Having won the Nara Prefecture qualifiers in 2026, they will participate in Inter-High in both the men's and women's team events. 髙間咲良 (3rd year, 3rd dan) and 榎本景香 (3rd year, 3rd dan) will participate in the women's individual event. Detailed results from the kendo club's past national tournaments could not be confirmed on the school's official website or Wikipedia.
- Notes
- The participating schools from Nara Prefecture, the host location of this tournament. A different school from Ikuei High School in Hyogo Prefecture.
Saku Chosei（佐久長聖）
- Official name
- 佐久長聖高等学校(佐久長聖中学校・高等学校)
- Reading
- Saku Chosei
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). Offers a unified middle and high school education.
- Location
- 951 Iwamurada, Saku City, Nagano Prefecture (3638 for the middle school)
- History
- Opened as Saku High School in 1964. Began integrated middle and high school education in 1995, and was renamed to Saku Chosei High School.
- School motto/philosophy
- The educational philosophy is "Education is freedom and love." It formerly emphasized "courtesy," "perseverance," and "sincerity."
- Department.
- General studies course (Type I = University preparatory, Type II = Sports, Type III = Integrated middle and high school program)
- Kendo Club
- The kendo club is designated as a strengthened club of the high school. According to the school’s club activity page, in fiscal year 2025, the women’s team will participate in the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament, and the men’s team and individual men and women will participate in the National High School Athletic Meet (Inter-High). In fiscal year 2024, the men’s team participated in the All Japan Selection Tournament, and the men’s team and individual men and women participated in Inter-High. In fiscal year 2023, the men’s team participated in the All Japan Selection Tournament, and the men’s and women’s teams participated in Inter-High. The entire athletic club promotes “challenging the potential of spirit and physical strength and being active on the national stage.” In this tournament, 成澤輝空 player, a first-year student, will participate in the men’s individual event.
Tamashima（玉島）
- Official name
- 岡山県立玉島高等学校
- Reading
- Tamashima
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Okayama Prefectural (Co-educational)
- Location
- Okayama Prefecture Kurashiki City Tamashima Agazaki 3-chome 1-1
- History
- Founded on April 25, 1904, as an attached school to Tamashima Higher Elementary School (initially a town-run women's school). Transferred to prefectural administration in 1928, and became the current school name with the educational system reform of 1948, becoming coeducational in 1950. Designated as a Super Science High School from 2007, and celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2024.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Autonomy, Wisdom, and Action."
- Department.
- General studies (annual enrollment of 240 students) and science/mathematics course (annual enrollment of 40 students, established in 1999).
- Kendo Club
- Working with the goal of "placing in the national tournament," they engage in various activities such as studies, club activities, and volunteering, so that they can be supported by many people not only for their kendo skills but also as human beings. In the 2025 fiscal year, the boys' team appeared at the Inter-High for the 7th time in 5 consecutive years. At the 71st Chugoku High School Kendo Championship, they achieved the boys' individual winner (中山寛人), boys' team runner-up, and girls' individual runner-up (大月あさひ); at the 27th Chugoku High School Newcomer Kendo Tournament, they achieved the boys' individual winner (菅野心平) and girls' individual runner-up (大月あさひ). In this tournament, they are competing in the boys' and girls' team events, with no participants in the individual events.
- Notes
- The kendo club results page is current as of fiscal year 2025, and the players listed may not be the registered members for this tournament.
・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 Nara Ikuei High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Saku Chosei High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Tamashima High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Wikipedia Nara Ikuei middle and high school ↗
・Nara Ikuei Middle and High School Educational Philosophy ↗
・Nara Ikuei Junior High and High School Official Website ↗
・Wikipedia Saku Chosei middle and high school ↗
・Saku Chosei High School Club Activities ↗
・Saku Chosei Junior High & High School Official Site ↗
・Wikipedia Okayama Prefectural Tamashima High School ↗
・Okayama Prefectural Tamashima High School Kendo Club ↗
・Okayama Prefectural Tamashima High School Official Site ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Nara Ikuei・Saku Chosei・Tamashima), first match venue, individual competition participants from each school, the D vs. C match in the knockout tournament is in data/2026/league_briefs.json and data/2026/kumiawase.json (based on the official PDF).
- School names, participation categories, and prefectures can be found on the school-specific pages of the Notion “2026 Inter-High Kendo Participating Schools Library.”
- "All three schools will advance to Nationals in the men's team event" is based on the fact that the qualifying teams (Nara Ikuei・Saku Chosei・Tamashima) all include a men's team in league_briefs.json.
- Nara Ikuei’s founding spirit and school motto “Ikuei Seigan” – the 1946 Seigan by Nagaharu Fujii is on the school’s official website’s educational philosophy page. Founding (1916, Ikuei Women’s School) – location – courses are on Wikipedia and the school’s official website.
- Saku Chosei’s founding (Saku High School, 1964) ・name change in 1995 ・location ・educational policy ・course types are on Wikipedia. The kendo club’s strengthening club designation and the 2023-2025 National Selection and Inter-High participation status are on the school’s club activities page.
- Tamashima’s founding (1904), history, school motto “Autonomy, Intelligence, Action,” departments, SSH designation, and 120th anniversary are on Wikipedia and the school’s official website. The kendo club’s goals, the men’s team’s aiming for their 7th consecutive Inter-High appearance in fiscal year 2025, and the results of the China Championships and China Newcomer Tournament are on the kendo club’s page.
- 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.
- Note: The past national tournament results of the Nara Ikuei kendo team could not be confirmed from publicly available information, and only confirmed facts are described.
- The player names have not been confirmed, so furigana are not included.
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.