The girls’ deciding battle! Women’s Individual – Block 9.
The second match area, the women's individual 9th block features seeded player from Yamanashi Prefecture Kofu Shogyo, 星知波 (3rd year, 3rd dan), along with 石黒莉央 (1st year, 2nd dan) from Akita Prefecture Akita Minami, and 横山紗来 (3rd year, 2nd dan) from Gifu Prefecture Takayama Nishi. The first round will be a match between Ishiguro and Yokoyama. Kofu Shogyo is a powerhouse school that won the Inter-High men's team competition in 1957.
The first three players in this block.
- No.25 星 知波山梨県Seeded (advancing from the second round)Kofu Shogyo（甲府商業）／3Year・三Rank.
- No.26 石黒 莉央秋田県Akita Minami（秋田南）／1Year・二Rank.
- No.27 横山 紗来岐阜県Takayama Nishi（高山西）／3Year・二Rank.
Round 1: No.26 石黒 莉央(Akita Minami) vs. No.27 横山 紗来(Takayama Nishi)
Round 2: Winner of round 1 vs. No. 25 星 知波(Kofu Shogyo)
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
Seed is Kofu Shogyo・Hoshi.
The 星知波 player representing Yamanashi Prefecture (Kofu Shogyo 3rd year・3rd dan) will enter from the second round with a seeded position. Kofu Shogyo is a traditional kendo powerhouse with a history of winning the Inter-High men’s team championship in 1957. Hoshi player inherits that tradition, and high performance is expected of him at this tournament.
Akita Minami・石黒, first match
The Akita Prefecture representative 石黒莉央 (Akita Minami 1st year・2nd dan) appeared in the first round. Despite being a high school first-year student, they advanced to the Inter-High stage by winning through the prefectural qualifiers. Detailed information about Akita Minami High School could not be confirmed with publicly available information.
Takayama Nishi・横山, showing their resolve
The Gifu Prefecture representative 横山紗来 (3rd year・2nd dan) will also participate from the first round. Takayama Nishi High School is a strong school with a track record of winning both the women's team and individual titles at the Tokai High School General Athletic Meet. 横山選手 wants to show her determination at her final Inter-High.
Takayama Nishi’s strengths
Takayama Nishi High School’s school motto is “Sincerity, Health, Common Sense, Effort, and Harmony,” and it has a general course (Special Advanced Course I & II, Keisetsu Course). It has a record of winning both the girls’ team and individual championships at the Tokai High School Games, with the goals of “national domination” for the boys and “being number one in Japan” for the girls.
Three players advanced after winning the two qualifying spots for the prefecture.
Yamanashi, Akita, and Gifu. These three competitors advanced through their respective prefectural qualifying tournaments to earn their spots at Inter-High. Let’s look forward to the passionate kendo of these women who have overcome fierce battles. We will bring you the exciting matches from the ninth block of the women’s individual competition, starting on the second competition field.
Live broadcast「The girls’ deciding battle! Women’s Individual – Block 9.」
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
剣持 翔
堂島 厳
藤堂 大地
藤堂 大地
藤堂 大地
藤堂 大地
藤堂 大地
剣持 翔
Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
At the Inter-High stage, one person prepares to wield their sword. Their back carries the mountains of their hometown, the strict training of their teacher, the passionate cheers of their teammates, and the warm gaze of their family. 星知波 player, Akita Minami’s 石黒莉央 player, Takayama Nishi’s 横山紗来 player. Each represents their prefecture, and each fights with their own feelings in their hearts. Yamanashi, Akita, Gifu. The swordsmanship honed in each land now clashes on the Inter-High grounds. Victory or defeat depends on luck. However, the spirit of giving your all and never giving up until the end is true strength. I hope this battle will become the shining moment of your youth. Now, grip your sword tightly and forge your own path!
School Information
Kofu Shogyo（甲府商業）
- Official name
- 甲府市立甲府商業高等学校
- Reading
- Kofu Shogyo
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Kofu City (Coeducational)
- Location
- Yamanashi Prefecture, Kofu City.
- History
- Opened as Kofu Shogyo Municipal School within the Aioi training hall of Kofu Normal Higher Elementary School in 1901 (Meiji 34). Became a new system commercial high school in 1948, and became coeducational and full-time in 1951. Relocated to the current location in 1977.
- Department.
- Business Department, Information Processing Department.
- Kendo Club
- The kendo club won the boys' team event at the 1957 National High School General Sports Tournament (Inter-High). In this tournament, they will participate as the Yamanashi Prefecture representatives in all four categories: boys' team, girls' team, boys' individual, and girls' individual. The girls' individual representative is 星知波 (3rd year, 3rd dan), and the boys' individual representatives are 水谷一惺 (2nd year, 2nd dan) and 谷田部大稀 (3rd year, 3rd dan).
- Notes
- Not prefectural, but Kofu City-run. Pronounced "Kofu Shogyo".
Akita Minami（秋田南）
- Official name
- 秋田県立秋田南高等学校
- Reading
- Akita Minami
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Public (Akita Prefecture)
- Location
- 4-1 Midori-cho, 井田, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
- History
- Opened in April 1962. In April 2016, the junior high school opened, making it a combined junior and senior high school.
- School motto/philosophy
- School motto "Independence and Self-Respect" (words of 福澤諭吉)
- Department.
- General studies course.
- Kendo Club
- The boys' kendo club places in the top ranks every year, and achieved a 20-person sweep at the Gyokuryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament in fiscal year 2007.
- Notes
- History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).
Takayama Nishi（高山西）
- Official name
- 高山西高等学校
- Reading
- Takayama Nishi
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational)
- Location
- 353 Shimo-Hayashi-machi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.
- History
- Founded in August 1962.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school motto is "Sincerity, Health, Common Sense, Effort, and Harmony." The school slogan is "As a school pursuing both academic and martial arts excellence, we wholeheartedly support students in achieving their dreams!"
- Department.
- General Studies (Special Advanced Course I & II, Keisetsu Course)
- Kendo Club
- Advisor is 前川矩英, vice-advisor is 木伏智仁, and coach is 前川綾. Takayama Nishi Practice is held at the high school martial arts hall from after school until 18:45 on weekdays, and for half a day or for away trips on weekends and holidays. The goals are "national domination" for the men and "number one in Japan" for the women. Based on the idea that "a disturbed mind means a disturbed life," they emphasize the basics of daily life such as greetings and tidiness. Main achievements include best 16 in the men's team and men's individual at the National High School General Athletic Meet, best 16 in the women's team and best 8 in the women's individual, and a runner-up finish in the men's team and a win in both the team and individual events at the Tokai High School General Athletic Meet. The men's team made their Inter-High debut in 2011.
- Notes
- This tournament features competition in the women’s team event, men’s individual event, and women’s individual event.
・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 Kofu Shogyo ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Takayama Nishi ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- Block arrangement, seeding (No. 25), and first round match-up (No. 26 vs. No. 27) and match field (No. 2) were determined according to the bracket in the official PDF “R8奈良総体≪女子個人戦≫” 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.