The final pairings are decided on the first day! The “League of Death” – Women’s Team Competition.
The women’s K League at the third venue is the biggest abnormality of this tournament. Nakamura Gakuen(Fukuoka), which has won the Inter-High women’s team competition eight times and is aiming for two consecutive wins, and Too Gijuku (Aomori), which was runner-up in the 2019 Inter-High and won the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament twice, were placed in the same preliminary league on the first day of the tournament. The 2019 Inter-High final pairing will be reproduced not in the final, but in the preliminary league. Konko Osaka, which won through the Osaka Prefecture qualifiers, joins the three schools in a round-robin format, with only one school advancing to the final tournament.
These three schools.
- Nakamura Gakuen（中村学園）Fukuoka PrefectureGirls' team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 木原 愛由花Players(2Year)
- Konko Osaka（金光大阪）Osaka Prefecture.Girls' team.
- Too Gijuku（東奥義塾）Aomori Prefecture.Girls' team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 松名瀬 天絆Players(3Year)、宇佐美 華凜Players(2Year)
The one school that advanced will play against the winner of the L League (Suzuka(Mie), Toridedaiichi(Ibaraki), Toin Gakuen(Kanagawa)) 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 scored. 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 will advance to the knockout tournament. Therefore, in this K League, at least one of either the school that has won Inter-High eight times or the school that has won the All-Japan Selected Tournament twice will be eliminated on the first day.
The 2019 Inter-High final is being recreated in the preliminary league.
The 2019 All Japan High School Kendo Tournament Women’s Team final was a matchup between Nakamura Gakuen Girls (Fukuoka) and Too Gijuku (Aomori). Nakamura Gakuen Girls won, and Too Gijuku finished as runner-up. Those two schools were placed in the same preliminary league group, not in the final, at the 2026 Nara tournament. Furthermore, at the 34th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in March 2025, Nakamura Gakuen Girls and Too Gijuku both ranked 3rd in the Women’s Team event. Two of the four best teams in the spring battled each other in the preliminary league in the summer.
Inter-High Women's Team 8-time Champion・Nakamura Gakuen
Fukuoka Ichijōnan Ward's Nakamura Gakuen has dominated the Inter-High women's team competition, winning eight times in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025, establishing itself as a perennial powerhouse. From 2016 to 2022, they achieved six consecutive victories, including a cancellation in 2020, and are currently on a two-year winning streak in 2024 and 2025. They have also won the Tamaryūkki tournament a total of 12 times, including eight consecutive years from 2016 to 2023, and have won the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2021. 木原愛由花 (2nd year, 2nd dan) will participate in the women's individual competition at this tournament.
This spring, the school dropped "Girls'" from its name.
Nakamura Gakuen opened in April 1960 as Nakamura Gakuen Girls' High School, and a junior high school was added in 1992. It was a private girls' school. However, in April 2026 (Reiwa 8), with the transition to coeducation, the word "Girls'" was removed from the school name, and it was changed to Nakamura Gakuen Junior High School and Nakamura Gakuen High School. Therefore, this Nara Inter-High will be the tournament faced as “Nakamura Gakuen”, the first summer after coeducation, not as “Nakamura Gakuen Girls’” which has achieved eight national championships. The location is 7 Torikai, Jonan Ward, Fukuoka City, full-time general course.
Founded in 1872, the oldest private school in Aomori, Too Gijuku
Aomori Prefecture Hirosaki City’s Too Gijuku High School is the oldest private school in Aomori Prefecture, founded on November 27, 1872 (Meiji 5) by Kikuichi Kikuchi, succeeding the former Hirosaki Domain’s domain school, and is a Protestant mission school. The school motto is “Reverence for God, Love for Humanity.” The girls’ kendo team has won the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in 2016 and 2019, was runner-up at Inter-High in 2019, and placed third in 2015, 2018, and 2024, boasting one of the nation’s top records, and has continued to participate in Inter-High for 16 consecutive years. They also placed third in the women’s team at the 34th All Japan Selection Tournament in 2025. In this tournament, 松名瀬天絆 (3rd year) and 宇佐美華凜 (2nd year) will participate in the women’s individual event.
"Beginners welcome" to the whole country, Konko Osaka
Osaka Prefecture Takatsuki City's private Konko Osaka High School opened in 1982 as Konko Daiichi High School and was renamed to its current name in 1999. It is a school affiliated with the Konko religion. Its founding spirit is based on the teaching that "all people are children of the gods." The kendo club has 30 members (5 third-year students, 11 second-year students, and 14 first-year students) and promotes the slogan "Let's enjoy kendo. Beginners are welcome!" In the Osaka Prefecture qualifying round for the National High School Kendo Tournament in Reiwa 7, the men's team finished third, and a female individual finished third in the prefectural novice tournament. This year, that team will be in the same group as the two schools that won the national championship after dominating Osaka.
Live broadcast「The final pairings are decided on the first day! The “League of Death” – Women’s Team Competition.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Nakamura Gakuen, Konko Osaka, Too Gijuku. Some may feel it is unfair that these three schools will face each other in the same group on the first day. Nakamura Gakuen, experiencing its first summer after becoming coeducational, has 木原愛由花 player, and Too Gijuku, coming from the oldest school in Aomori, has 松名瀬天絆 player and 宇佐美華凜 player. And then there are the members of Konko Osaka who won through Osaka from a club that proclaims "Beginners Welcome." Three schools with different histories and club colors will cross bamboo swords in the same arena. Only one school can advance, but the practice each school has repeated to get here is equally genuine. Have a second match with no regrets.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
“Let’s enjoy kendo. Beginners are welcome.” — These are the words displayed by the kendo club of Konko Osaka. Five members selected from thirty players will line up against Nakamura Gakuen, which has won the Inter-High women’s team championship eight times, and Too Gijuku, the oldest private school in Aomori. Currently, the players with names in the women’s individual competition are 木原愛由花 from Nakamura Gakuen, and 松名瀬天絆 and 宇佐美華凜 from Too Gijuku. The name of Konko Osaka has not yet appeared, but once the matches begin on August 2nd, the order will be announced and the names of all fifteen players from the three schools will echo throughout the venue. Senpo creates the flow, Chuken holds firm, and Taisho decides the match. There is no difference between famous and unknown players when it comes to the weight of that ippon. Please let us hear those names in Nara.
School Information
Nakamura Gakuen（中村学園）
- Official name
- 中村学園高等学校(2026年4月に中村学園女子高等学校から改称)
- Reading
- Nakamura Gakuen
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private school. Coeducational from April 2026 (Reiwa 8). Nakamura Gakuen Includes a middle school.
- Location
- Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka City Jonan Ward Torikai 7-10-38
- History
- Opened as Nakamura Gakuen Girls' High School in April 1960. Nakamura Gakuen Girls' Junior High School opened in April 1992. In April 2026 (Reiwa 8), with the transition to coeducation, "Girls'" was removed from the school name, and it was changed to Nakamura Gakuen Junior High School and Nakamura Gakuen High School respectively.
- Department.
- Full-time general academic course.
- Kendo Club
- The women’s kendo team is one of the strongest in the nation. They have won the Inter-High women’s team event eight times: in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. From 2016 to 2022, they achieved a six-year winning streak, including the 2020 cancellation, and are currently on a two-year winning streak in 2024 and 2025. They won the Tamaryu Flag in 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 (eight consecutive years from 2016 to 2023). They won the National High School Kendo Selection Tournament in 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2021, and finished third in the 34th tournament in March 2025. They advanced to the Inter-High in the women’s team and women’s individual events (木原愛由花選手・2nd year・2nd dan) by winning the Fukuoka prefectural qualifying tournament for fiscal year 2026.
- Notes
- The school name until March 2026 is "Nakamura Gakuen Girls' High School". In past tournament records, it is written as "Nakamura Gakuen Women". It is a different school from Nakamura Junior High and High School in Koto Ward, Tokyo.
Konko Osaka（金光大阪）
- Official name
- 金光大阪高等学校
- Reading
- Konko Osaka
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). Includes Konko Osaka middle school.
- Location
- 1-3-1 Higashikamimaki, Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture.
- History
- Opened as Kinjo First High School in April 1982. Kinjo Osaka Junior High School opened in April 1988, and was renamed to the current Konko Osaka Junior High and High School in April 1999.
- School motto/philosophy
- Based on the teachings of Konko-kyo that “all people are children of the gods,” the school’s founding principle is to provide an educational environment where everyone can make the most of their individuality.
- Department.
- General studies (Special Advancement Courses I & II, University Preparatory Course, Science Course, Logical Sports Course, Medical Science Course)
- Kendo Club
- With 30 club members (5 third-years, 11 second-years, and 14 first-years), the club operates in the kendo dojo with the slogan “Let’s enjoy kendo! Beginners are welcome.” Major achievements include 3rd place in the Osaka Prefecture qualifying tournament for the 2025 All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (men’s team) and 3rd place in the 2025 Osaka Prefecture High School Rookie Kendo Tournament (women’s individual). Having won the Osaka Prefecture qualifying tournament in 2026, the women’s team will advance to Inter-High.
- Notes
- Okayama Prefecture’s Kinugakuen, and a different school from Osaka Prefecture’s Konko Fuyin High School.
Too Gijuku（東奥義塾）
- Official name
- 東奥義塾高等学校
- Reading
- Too Gijuku
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private coeducational school. Protestant mission school. Established a junior high school in 2022.
- Location
- 61-1 Chojamori, 石川, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
- History
- Founded on November 27, 1872 (Meiji 5) by Kikuchi Kuro, as a continuation of the former Hirosaki Domain’s domain school, it is the oldest private school in Aomori Prefecture. After experiencing financial difficulties leading to public and prefectural administration, it was re-established in 1922. A junior high school was established in 2022.
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto: "Respect God, Love People" (officially established as the school motto in 1985).
- Department.
- Full-time general academic courses (CⅠ course = special advancement, CⅡ course = advancement selection/global studies, B course = comprehensive)
- Kendo Club
- The women's kendo team is one of the strongest in the country, with 16 consecutive Inter-High appearances. They won the All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament for women's teams in 2016 and 2019. They were runners-up in the Inter-High women's team event in 2019, and finished third in 2015, 2018, and 2024. They also finished third in the women's team event at the 34th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament in March 2025 (淡路咲来 was named an outstanding player). This tournament features the women's team and women's individuals (松名瀬天絆 player, 3rd year, 3rd dan, 宇佐美華凜 player, 2nd year, 2nd dan) as representatives of Aomori Prefecture.
- Notes
- “Touou” refers to the Ou region, including Aomori Prefecture.
・National High School Kendo Tournament Official Website ↗
・Let's Kendo [Matchups] August 2nd - 5th, 73rd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament / Nara Inter-High 2026. ↗
・Wikipedia National High School Kendo Tournament (Women's Team - Historical Results) ↗
・Wikipedia Nakamura Gakuen middle and high school ↗
・Wikipedia Too Gijuku High School ↗
・Too Gijuku High School Official Site ↗
・Wikipedia Konko Osaka middle and high school ↗
・Konko Osaka High School Club Activities (Kendo Club) ↗
・All Japan Kendo Federation 34th National High School Kendo Selection Tournament Results. ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Nakamura Gakuen High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Konko Osaka High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Too Gijuku High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・72nd All Japan High School Kendo Tournament (Hiroshima 2025) – Tournament Quick Report ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League structure (Nakamura Gakuen・Konko Osaka・Too Gijuku), third venue, individual competition participants from each school, the K vs. L 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 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."
- Nakamura Gakuen’s eight Inter-High women’s team championships (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) and the 2019 final against Too Gijuku are listed in the Wikipedia article “All Japan High School Kendo Tournament”’s women’s team historical results table.
- Nakamura Gakuen’s 12 Tamaryokki tournament wins, 6 All-Japan Selected Players Tournament wins, founding history, and the co-educational transition and name change in April 2026 (Nakamura Gakuen Girls → Nakamura Gakuen) are on Wikipedia “Nakamura Gakuen Junior High and High School.” The original text is “April 2026 (Reiwa 8) - With the transition to co-education, the school name will be changed from the old school name to Nakamura Gakuen Junior High School and Nakamura Gakuen High School, respectively, by removing “Girls”.”
- March 2025・The 34th All Japan High School Kendo Selection Tournament Women’s Team 3rd place is Nakamura Gakuen and Too Gijuku on the All Japan Kendo Federation tournament results page.
- Too Gijuku’s founding year (1872), founder, being a mission school, school motto “Respect God, Love People,” and course structure are on Wikipedia and the school’s official website. The 2016 and 2019 national selection women’s team championships are on Wikipedia, and the Inter-High runner-up and 3rd place finishes are in Wikipedia’s “National High School Kendo Tournament” past results table, with 16 consecutive years of participation on the Notion school page.
- Konko Osaka’s founding year, name changes, founding spirit, and course structure are available on Wikipedia and the school’s official website. The kendo club’s number of members, slogan, 3rd place in the men’s team prefectural preliminaries and 3rd place in the women’s individual novice tournament in Reiwa 7 are on the school’s club activity 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)).
- School names are read as indicated in the Notion participating schools library’s reading column. Player names have not been confirmed, so readings 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 that only one school can advance from the league, which is why it is said that “one of the teams will be eliminated on the first day.” This is a statement of fact based on the league rules and is not a prediction of any specific school’s loss.
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.