Mythical Village's four-time champion! Women's Team F League.
The F League in the second match venue featured Takachiho, a prestigious school in Miyazaki that has won the Inter-High women's team event four times, as well as Yonago Hokuto, the only junior and senior high school in Tottori Prefecture, and newly coeducational in April 2026, Morioka Shirayuri Gakuen (Iwate). The prefectural school from the mythical village of Takachiho town will face the only junior and senior high school in the prefecture and a mission school in its first year of coeducation. A round-robin format with two matches per school will determine the single school that advances to the knockout tournament, where they will face the E League, which includes the current All-Japan Selected Players champion, Shonan.
These three schools.
- Yonago Hokuto（米子北斗）Tottori Prefecture.Girls' team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 菊地 凛Players(3Year)、後藤 明Players(2Year)
- Shirayuri Gakuen（白百合学園）Iwate PrefectureGirls' team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 廣谷 彩心Players(3Year)
- Takachiho（高千穂）Miyazaki Prefecture.Girls' team.Men's IndividualWomen's IndividualMen's Individual: 堂野 颯太Players(2Year) / Women's Individual: 重永 琴音Players(3Year)
The one school that advanced will play against the winners of the E League (Gosen (Niigata), Toin (Wakayama), Shonan (Kagoshima)) 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 players: 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, and dropping even one match means the summer is over. The one school that advances from F League will face the winner of E League in the first round of the knockout tournament.
Women's team 4 crowns — Mythical village of Takachiho
Miyazaki Prefecture Nishiusuki District Takachiho Town's prefectural Takachiho High School has won the Inter-High Women's Team Competition four times: in 1986, 1997, 2003, and 2004. They also won the Tamaryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament for women in 1979, 2000, 2003, and 2004, and in 2004 they also won the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament Women's Team Competition. In 2003 and 2004, they won both the Tamaryu-ki and Inter-High, and were a leading presence in women's high school kendo in the early 2000s. The school was founded in 1917 as Nishiusuki District Agricultural School, and its school motto is "Walk the broad path, train, cooperate, and serve."
The boys’ team achieved a national triple crown, and the school is known as the best in Japan for both men and women.
Takachiho’s strength is not limited to the girls. The boys’ kendo team has also won the Inter-High men’s team competition three times in 1986, 1991, and 2017, and has won the Tamaryu Flag High School Kendo Tournament four times in 1957, 1987, 1988, and 1991. 1986 was also the year that both the men and women won the Inter-High team competition. In this tournament, Takachiho will participate in three categories: girls’ team, girls’ individual, and boys’ individual, with 重永琴音 (3rd year, 2nd dan) competing in the girls’ individual event and 堂野颯太 (2nd year, 2nd dan) competing in the boys’ individual event.
First year of coeducation at Morioka Shirayuri Gakuen
The tournament notation “Shirayuri Gakuen (Iwate)” refers to Shirayuri Gakuen High School, a private school in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture (a different school from Yatsushiro Shirayuri Gakuen in Kumamoto Prefecture). It was founded in 1892 as Morioka Women’s School and changed to its current name in 1948. It moved to Yamagishi, Morioka City in 1982. The school motto is “Obedience, Diligence, and Love of Virtue.” And in April 2026, this school will become coeducational. Therefore, this tournament is the Inter-High held in the first year of coeducation. They will participate as the Iwate Prefecture representative in the women’s team and women’s individual events, with 廣谷彩心 (3rd year, 3rd dan) competing in the women’s individual event.
The only junior and senior high school in Tottori Prefecture — Yonago Hokuto
Tottori Prefecture Yonago City's private Yonago Hokuto High School (Shōei Gakuen Corporation) is a relatively new school founded in 1988, established as the only junior and senior high school in Tottori Prefecture. The school motto is "Self-study and self-discipline," and its educational goal is "fostering well-rounded individuals in terms of knowledge, morality, and physical ability." It has only a general academic course. In this tournament, they participated in the women's team and women's individual events, with 菊地凛 (3rd year, 3rd dan) and 後藤明 (2nd year, 3rd dan) filling Tottori Prefecture's two women's individual slots. They are a duo spanning multiple grades.
Former champions met in the opening round of the tournament.
A school that advanced through F League will play against the winner of E League in the first round of the final tournament. The favorite in E League is Shonan(Kagoshima), which won the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in March 2025 and was reported as “the first national championship for Kagoshima Prefecture.” If Takachiho and Shonan emerge from their respective leagues, a Kyushu showdown between the Miyazaki team, which has won four consecutive Inter-High women’s team titles, and the Kagoshima team, the current All Japan Selection champions, will suddenly materialize in the first round of the final tournament.
Live broadcast「Mythical Village's four-time champion! Women's Team F League.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Takachiho students, the history inherited from the land of myths is weighty, but it is you who now hold the shinai. 重永琴音 player, 堂野颯太 player, swordsmanship in Nara, not of the past but of the present. Students of Morioka Shirayuri Gakuen, this Inter-High in the first year of co-education is a milestone that does not come around often. 廣谷彩心 player, release each ippon of what you have accumulated in Iwate. Yonago Hokuto students, including 菊地凛 player and 後藤明 player who shared the two individual spots for women in Tottori, these are tickets earned at school. Even in groups with only one spot, simply standing here is the answer to your hard work. All three schools, play two matches with no regrets.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
In April 2026, Shirayuri Gakuen in Morioka became coeducational. In the summer of the first year of coeducation, they will compete on the national stage in the women's team event. Yonago Hokuto, the only junior and senior high school in Tottori Prefecture, has the motto "self-study and self-governance," and Takachiho, which was founded in 1917 as a prefectural agricultural school, has the motto "walk the broad path." The players mentioned are 廣谷彩心 from Shirayuri Gakuen, 菊地凛 and 後藤明 from Yonago Hokuto, and 重永琴音 from Takachiho. Eleven more players whose names have not yet been mentioned will join them. Team battles are contested by five players, and all fifteen will clash with bamboo swords. Please tell me the names of the fifteen players from the three schools in Nara.
School Information
Yonago Hokuto（米子北斗）
- Official name
- 米子北斗高等学校
- Reading
- Yonago Hokuto
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). School Corporation Shoei Gakuen. Yonago Hokuto The only junior and senior high school in Tottori Prefecture with an integrated curriculum, also incorporating a middle school.
- Location
- Tottori Prefecture, Yonago City.
- History
- Founded in 1988 (Showa 63). Established as the only junior and senior high school in Tottori Prefecture, and produced its first graduating class of integrated junior and senior high school students in 1994.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Self-learning and Self-discipline." Its educational goals are "the development of well-rounded individuals in terms of knowledge, morality, and physical ability" and "to foster an efficient, planned attitude of self-learning and self-discipline, and to acquire a rich culture."
- Department.
- General studies (full-time, co-educational)
- Kendo Club
- Having won the Tottori Prefecture qualifying tournament for the Reiwa 8 academic year, they will participate in Inter-High as a women’s team. Two players, 菊地凛 (3rd year, 3rd dan) and 後藤明 (2nd year, 3rd dan), will participate in the women’s individual event. No past national tournament results could be confirmed from publicly available information.
- Notes
- The reading is "Yonago Hokuto".
Shirayuri Gakuen（白百合学園）
- Official name
- 盛岡白百合学園高等学校
- Reading
- Shirayuri Gakuen
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private. Became coeducational in April 2026.
- Location
- Iwate Prefecture, Morioka City, Yamagishi
- History
- Founded in 1892 as the private Morioka Women's School on Honmachi Street in Morioka City. After several name changes, it was renamed to its current name in 1948. It moved to Yamagishi, Morioka City in 1982. It will become coeducational in April 2026.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Obedience, Diligence, and Love of Virtue."
- Department.
- General studies (ME Advanced Course, ME Course, MI Course)
- Kendo Club
- In the Reiwa 8 academic year, they will participate in the National High School General Athletic Meet (Inter-High) as the Iwate Prefecture representatives in both the women's team and women's individual events. The women's individual representative is 廣谷彩心 (3rd year, 3rd dan). Past performance in national tournaments could not be confirmed from publicly available information.
- Notes
- The tournament notation is "Shirayuri Gakuen". It is a different school from Yatsushiro Shirayuri Gakuen in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Takachiho（高千穂）
- Official name
- 宮崎県立高千穂高等学校
- Reading
- Takachiho
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Miyazaki Prefectural (Co-educational)
- Location
- Miyazaki Prefecture Nishiusuki District Takachiho Town
- History
- Founded on September 6, 1917 (Taisho 6) as Nishiusuki District Agricultural School. Following the 1948 educational system reform, it became a new system high school and adopted its current name.
- School motto/philosophy
- Our school motto is "To walk the great path, train diligently, cooperate, and serve others."
- Department.
- General Studies (University Preparatory Course & Liberal Arts Course), Agricultural and Distribution Course, Information Solutions Course.
- Kendo Club
- The women's team won the Inter-High women's team competition 4 times (1986, 1997, 2003, 2004), the Gyokuryuki High School Kendo Tournament women's division 4 times (1979, 2000, 2003, 2004), and also won the women's team event at the All Japan High School Kendo Selected Tournament in 2004. The men's team won the Inter-High men's team competition 3 times (1986, 1991, 2017) and the Gyokuryuki 4 times (1957, 1987, 1988, 1991). Notable alumni in kendo include 吉本政美 and 佐藤博光. In this tournament, they will compete in three categories: women's team, women's individual, and men's individual.
- Notes
- Mythical village・Takachiho Town's prefectural high school. Pronounced "Takachiho".
・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 Yonago Hokuto High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Shirayuri Gakuen (Iwate) High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Takachiho High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Wikipedia Yonago Hokuto High School ↗
・Wikipedia Morioka Shirayuri Gakuen Junior High School/High School ↗
・Wikipedia Miyazaki Prefectural Takachiho High School ↗
・Wikipedia National High School Kendo Tournament (Past Champions) ↗
・Wikipedia All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Past Champions) ↗
・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. ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Yonago Hokuto・Shirayuri Gakuen・Takachiho), second venue, individual competition participants from each school, the F vs. E match in the final tournament is in data/2026/league_briefs.json and data/2026/kumiawase.json (based on the official PDF).
- Each school’s name reading, school type, location, and qualification for participation can be found on the school-specific page in the Notion “2026 Inter-High Kendo Participating Schools Library.”
- Takachiho’s Inter-High girls’ team 4-time championship (1986, 1997, 2003, 2004) and boys’ team 3-time championship (1986, 1991, 2017) were cross-checked with the list of past winning schools on Wikipedia “All Japan High School Kendo Tournament” and Wikipedia “Takachiho High School.”
- Takachiho's Gyokuryuki championship years (women 1979, 2000, 2003, 2004, men 1957, 1987, 1988, 1991) are Wikipedia “Takachiho High School, Miyazaki Prefecture” and Wikipedia “Gyokuryuki High School Kendo Tournament.”
- Takachiho’s 2004 All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament Women’s Team Championship is listed in the Wikipedia article “All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament”’s list of past champions.
- Takachiho’s founding (1917 Nishiusuki District Agricultural School) · school motto · courses are on Wikipedia “Takachiho High School, Miyazaki Prefecture”
- Morioka Shirayuri Gakuen’s founding in 1892, renaming in 1948, relocation in 1982, co-education in April 2026, school motto, and courses are on Wikipedia “Morioka Shirayuri Gakuen Junior High and High School”.
- Yonago Hokuto’s 1988 founding – the only junior and senior high school in Tottori Prefecture – school motto “Self-Study, Self-Discipline” – general academic course is Wikipedia “Yonago Hokuto High School”
- ShonanThe 2025 All-Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament women’s championship was won by Wikipedia’s “All-Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament” list of past champions, and the report of “the first national championship for Kagoshima Prefecture” is on the Notion Shonan school page (citing FNN Prime Online as the source).
- 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.
- Note: “Takachiho vs Shonan” is a potential match-up if both schools advance from their respective leagues, and the match is not yet confirmed.
- *Yonago Hokuto・Regarding the kendo club of Morioka Shirayuri Gakuen, no publicly available information confirming national tournament results could be found, so only confirmed facts are 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.