Kyushu, Kanto, and Shikoku clash! N League Women's Team Competition.
In the N League at the fourth match area, the lineup consisted of Miyaki, a prefectural school from 佐賀 that sent representatives across all four categories of men's and women's team and individual events; Shukutoku Sugamo, a private school from Tokyo with a record of reaching the Inter-High quarterfinals and winning the Kanto tournament; and Takamatsuminami, a prefectural school from Kagawa with five departments. With one school each from the Kyushu, Kanto, and Shikoku regions, they will play a round-robin where each school competes in two matches, and only one school will advance to the final tournament. The school that breaks through will face the winner of the M League in the first round of the final tournament.
These three schools.
- Miyaki（三養基）佐賀 PrefectureMen's team.Girls' team.Men's IndividualWomen's IndividualWomen's Individual: 片地 枇愛Players(3Year)
- Shukutoku Sugamo（淑徳巣鴨）Tokyo MetropolisGirls' team.Women's IndividualWomen's Individual: 杉本 歩夢Players(3Year)、北川 美緒Players(3Year)
- Takamatsuminami（高松南）Kagawa Prefecture.Girls' team.
The one school that advanced will play against the winners of the M League (Hakuodaiashikaga(Tochigi), Koshiengakuin(Hyogo), Kumiyama(Kyoto)) in the first round of the finals tournament.
Highlights
Round-robin tournament between three schools; only one school advances.
The preliminary league is a round-robin between three schools, with each school playing two matches. According to the tournament regulations of Wikipedia's "All Japan High School Kendo Tournament," the team competition consists of league matches with three teams in each group, and the top team from each group—a total of 16 teams—advances to the knockout tournament. If team points, number of wins, and points are all tied, a deciding match will determine the outcome. The team competition is a five-person system of Senpo, Jiho, Chuken, Fukusho, and Taisho. The one school that advances from N League will play the winner of M League (Hakuodaiashikaga・Koshiengakuin・Kumiyama) in the first round of the knockout tournament.
All four divisions were won by the prefectural high school, Miyaki.
佐賀 Prefecture Miyaki Gun Miyaki Town's prefectural Miyaki High School was founded in 1920 (Taisho 9). The school mottos are "Simplicity and Fortitude," "Unity of Literary, Martial, and Spiritual Arts," and "Flowers Bloom Through Devotion," and it is a high school with 200 students per grade, consisting only of a full-time general course. In this tournament, they will participate as the 佐賀 Prefecture representative in all four categories: Men's Team, Women's Team, Men's Individual, and Women's Individual. It is rare nationwide for a prefectural general course high school to secure all four entry spots. The kendo club's men's team won the Gyokuryuki All Japan High School Kendo Tournament in 1995.
Both the men’s and women’s teams experienced the coincidence of the “N League.”
Miyaki will participate in both the boys' and girls' team events, and due to the draw, the boys' team is also in the N League (Court 4). By coincidence, the representatives for both genders are competing in leagues with the same letter. The girls' team is appearing at the Inter-High for the second consecutive tournament, while the boys' team returns for the first time in three tournaments; according to Kachisupo (佐賀 Newspaper), the boys won the prefectural tournament final league, contested by four schools, with two wins and one draw. The girls' team captain, 片地枇愛, is also competing in the girls' individual event and is described in the article as a player who "has a strong core and utilizes her height to launch attacks."
The Dojo of Gratitude and Service——Shukutoku Sugamo
Toshima Ward, Tokyo’s private Shukutoku Sugamo High School was founded in 1919 (Taisho 8) by social worker Yoshinobu Hasegawa. The school motto is “Gratitude and Service,” and it emphasizes character development based on Mahayana Buddhist principles. According to the school’s official website, the kendo club is a combined middle and high school team, with 4 male and 21 female high school members (as of March 2026), and 12 female middle school members. Major achievements include a best 8 finish at the National High School Sports Tournament and a win at the Kanto High School Kendo Tournament for the high school team, and a win at the National Junior High School Kendo Tournament and a win at the Kanto Junior High School Kendo Tournament for the middle school team. It has a well-supported dojo with alumni cooperation, and practices almost every day except Mondays.
Raised the flag after 36 years Takamatsuminami
Kagawa Prefecture Takamatsu City Ichinomiya Town’s prefectural Takamatsuminami High School was established in 1949 through the merger of two schools and was renamed to its current name in 1969. It is a large prefectural school with general studies, living design, environmental science, nursing, and welfare departments, plus a specialized nursing department. According to the school’s official website, the kendo club was founded as a club in 1959, was elevated to a department in 1960, has produced approximately 280 alumni, many of whom support kendo in Kagawa as police officers, teachers, and junior sports club instructors. In the fiscal year 2024, the women’s team won the prefectural novice tournament for the first time in 36 years.
Kyushu, Kanto, and Shikoku each sent one school.
N League consists of three schools—佐賀, Tokyo, and Kagawa—which differ in both region and school character. A prefectural academic high school in Kyushu, a Buddhist private school in Kanto, and a multi-course prefectural school in Shikoku. In terms of establishment, there are two prefectural and one private school; in terms of entry categories, they vary in their presence at the tournament, with Miyaki in all four categories, Shukutoku Sugamo in women's team and women's individual, and Takamatsuminami in women's team only. For the women's individual category of Shukutoku Sugamo, 杉本歩夢 and 北川美緒 are listed, with the school occupying both of Tokyo's slots for women's individual.
Live broadcast「Kyushu, Kanto, and Shikoku clash! N League Women's Team Competition.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Miyaki, Shukutoku Sugamo, Takamatsuminami. Three schools gathered from Kyushu, Kanto, and Shikoku will face each other at the fourth venue. Miyaki, which sent representatives to all four divisions, has captain 片地枇愛 also competing individually, and 最所溜偉 player to Nara as well. From Shukutoku Sugamo, which has trained at a dojo of gratitude and service, come 杉本歩夢 player and 北川美緒 player. And Takamatsuminami, supported by approximately 280 alumni, will carry the banner of Kagawa. Although the three schools differ in their origins and the size of their clubs, the fact that they all won their prefectures to reach this point carries the same weight. Even breaking through with just one spot is something to be proud of, simply by challenging. Give it everything you've got.
To the five members from Senpo to Taisho.
The kendo club of Shukutoku Sugamo has been practicing in the same dojo with four male and twenty-one female high school students, plus twelve female middle school students. Among the five who stand, 杉本歩夢 and 北川美緒 are individual female players. Miyaki has only one captain, 片地枇愛, and Takamatsuminami’s players have not yet been announced. However, the team match is a five-person system, and all five players stand on the competition floor to aim for an ippon. Starting as a club in 1959, Takamatsuminami’s five players are the same, having sent out approximately 280 members. On August 2nd, when the order is announced, the names of all fifteen players from three schools will resonate throughout the venue. Please let us hear those names in Nara.
School Information
Miyaki（三養基）
- Official name
- 佐賀県立三養基高等学校
- Reading
- Miyaki
- Division/Category of Establishment
- 佐賀 Prefectural (Co-ed)
- Location
- 佐賀 Prefecture, Miyaki District, Miyaki-cho Harukoga 300
- History
- Founded on January 30, 1920 (Taisho 9).
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Shitsujitsu Gokken," "Bunbu Shindo Ichinyo," and "Nezureba Hana Hiraku." As a school slogan, it displays "Uniquely Miyaki."
- Department.
- Full-time regular course (first-year enrollment of 200 students)
- Kendo Club
- The men's team won the 1995 Gyokuryuki All Japan High School Kendo Tournament. In this tournament, they will participate as 佐賀 Prefecture representatives in all four categories: men's team, women's team, men's individual, and women's individual. According to Kachisupo (佐賀 Newspaper), the men's team won the prefectural tournament final league, contested by four schools, with 2 wins and 1 draw to qualify for the Inter-High for the first time in three tournaments, while the women's team qualified for the second consecutive tournament. The captain of the women's team, 片地枇愛, also competes in the women's individual category and is described in the article as having a "strong core and utilizing her height to launch techniques." The men's individual representative is 最所溜偉 (3rd year, 3rd dan).
- Notes
- "Miyaki" is read as "miyaki". The men's team is also in the N League, like the women's team.
Shukutoku Sugamo（淑徳巣鴨）
- Official name
- 淑徳巣鴨高等学校(淑徳巣鴨中学校・高等学校)
- Reading
- Shukutoku Sugamo
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational)
- Location
- 2-22-16 Nishi-Sugamo, Toshima Ward, Tokyo.
- History
- Founded in 1919 (Taisho 8) by social worker Yoshinobu Hasegawa. Currently has a middle school attached.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Gratitude and Service." We aim to cultivate character based on the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism.
- Department.
- The high school offers a selection course (Ultimate Class/Premium Class) and a special advancement course. The junior high school offers a super selection course and a special advancement course.
- Kendo Club
- Combined junior high and high school division, with practice locations at the kendo and judo dojo. There are 4 male and 21 female high school members, totaling 25, and 12 female junior high school members (as of March 2026). Main achievements include a best 8 finish at Inter-High and a win at the Kanto High School Kendo Tournament for the high school team, and a win at the All Japan Middle School Kendo Tournament and the Kanto Middle School Kendo Tournament for the junior high school team. They have a spacious dojo with strong support from alumni, with Fridays off for junior high school and Mondays off for high school, and training camps in spring and summer. In this tournament, they will participate in the women's team event and the women's individual event (杉本歩夢 player・北川美緒 player).
Takamatsuminami（高松南）
- Official name
- 香川県立高松南高等学校
- Reading
- Takamatsuminami
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Kagawa Prefectural (Co-educational, Full-time)
- Location
- 531 Heizaku, Ichinomiya-cho, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture.
- History
- Founded in 1911 as a predecessor school, it was established through the merger of two schools in 1949. The current school name was adopted in 1969. A branch school was closed in 1989.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school website displays “Looking towards the future, Minami High.”
- Department.
- General studies, Lifestyle Design, Environmental Science, Nursing, Welfare, and Specialized Nursing courses.
- Kendo Club
- Founded as a club in 1959, it was elevated to club status in 1960. Having produced approximately 280 alumni, many are active as police officers, teachers, and in local businesses, and also support kendo in Kagawa Prefecture as instructors for junior sports clubs. According to the school’s website, their results for 2024 include winning the women’s team championship (after 36 years) and placing third in the men’s team at the prefectural novice tournament, as well as finishing second and third in the women’s second-dan division at the prefectural rank-based championships. As a school, their water polo club, sumo club, and women’s softball club have all competed in national tournaments.
・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. ↗
・Wikipedia National High School Kendo Tournament ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Miyaki High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Shukutoku Sugamo High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Notion Participating School Library Takamatsuminami High School Kendo Club History and Achievements Summary ↗
・Wikipedia 佐賀 Prefectural Miyaki High School ↗
・佐賀 Prefectural Miyaki High School Official Website ↗
・Kachi-Spo (佐賀 Newspaper) Kendo 佐賀 Prefectural Tournament Article ↗
・Wikipedia Shukutoku Sugamo middle and high school ↗
・Shukutoku Sugamo Junior and Senior High School Kendo Club ↗
・Wikipedia Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsuminami High School ↗
・Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsuminami High School Official Site ↗
・Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsuminami High School Sports Club ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- League formation (Miyaki・Shukutoku Sugamo・Takamatsuminami), fourth venue, individual competition participants from each school, N vs. M matches in the final tournament are in data/2026/kumiawase.json and data/2026/league_briefs.json (based on official PDF).
- Miyaki’s men’s team is also in N League, which can be confirmed in the men’s team league formation in data/2026/kumiawase.json
- 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."
- The preliminary league consists of groups of three teams, with the top team from each group – a total of 16 teams – advancing to the knockout tournament. In the event of a tie in points, wins, and total points scored, the outcome will be decided by a deciding match, as per the tournament regulations outlined in the Wikipedia article “全国高等学校剣道大会”.
- Wikipedia for Miyaki's founding year, school motto, departments, and 1995 Gyokuryu-ki boys' championship. The school's slogan is on the official school website. The prefectural tournament results (boys' first time in 3 tournaments, 2 wins 1 draw; girls' 2nd consecutive tournament) and the personality profile of 片地枇愛 are in the prefectural tournament kendo article of Kachi-Spo (佐賀 newspaper).
- Shukutoku Sugamo’s founding year, founder, school motto, location, and courses are on Wikipedia. The kendo team’s number of members, practice days, and results (Inter-High best 8, Kanto Tournament champion, junior high national champion) are on the same school’s official website’s kendo team page.
- Takamatsuminami’s history, departments, and national-level divisions are on Wikipedia. The kendo club’s founding year (Showa 34 as a club → Showa 35 as a department), number of graduates, and results for the Reiwa 6 academic year (prefectural rookie women’s team won the championship for the first time in 36 years) are on the school’s official website’s sports club page.
- The reading of the school name is in the reading column of the Notion Participating Schools Library. The reading for 最所溜偉, "Saisho Rui," is listed in Notion as being derived from Kachi-Spo and 佐賀 Newspaper, but since the readings for other players' names are unconfirmed, furigana has not been added.
- 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 national achievements of Shukutoku Sugamo and Takamatsuminami are not disclosed with the year of achievement, so the year is not indicated.
- The Let's Kendo article regarding the Nara Inter-High pairings only contained descriptions of individual points of interest for each women’s team league, so this article does not quote from it.
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.