Yamagata, Nara, and Tochigi! Women's Individual, Block 29.
The 4th arena, block 29 features seeded player 猿山桃花 (3rd year, 2nd dan) from Aterazawa High School in Yamagata Prefecture, and players 榎本景香 (3rd year, 3rd dan) from Nara Ikuei High School in Nara Prefecture, and 本澤こころ (3rd year, 2nd dan) from Sakushin Gakuin High School in Tochigi Prefecture. Saruyama will appear from the second round, with Enomoto and Honzawa facing each other in the first round.
The first three players in this block.
- No.85 猿山 桃花山形県Seeded (advancing from the second round)Aterazawa（左沢）／3Year・二Rank.
- No.86 榎本 景香奈良県Nara Ikuei（奈良育英）／3Year・三Rank.
- No.87 本澤 こころ栃木県Sakushin Gakuin（作新学院）／3Year・二Rank.
Round 1: No.86 榎本 景香(Nara Ikuei) vs. No.87 本澤 こころ(Sakushin Gakuin)
Round 2: Winner of Round 1 vs. No. 85 猿山 桃花(Aterazawa)
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
Seeded player 猿山
The third-year student 猿山桃花 from Aterazawa High School in Yamagata Prefecture gained a seeded position and will appear from the second round. The Aterazawa High School girls' kendo club has won the women's team event at the National High School Kendo Tournament in 1992 (39th time) and 1998 (45th time), and was runner-up in 1983 (30th time) and 1987 (34th time).
Nara Ikuei・榎本選手
Nara Ikuei High School's 3rd-year student 榎本景香 participated in Inter-High with a third-dan level of skill. Nara Ikuei High School won the Nara Prefecture qualifiers in 2026 (Reiwa 8) and qualified for Inter-High in both the men's and women's team events. In the Let's Kendo combined article, they are introduced as having "qualified from Nara, the host city, with a third-place finish in the Kinki tournament."
Sakushin Gakuin・本澤選手
Tochigi Prefecture’s Sakushin Gakuin High School 3rd-year student 本澤こころ also advances to Inter-High with the skill level of second dan. Sakushin Gakuin High School was founded in 1946. It is known as a high school strong in university entrance, mainly with a general academic course. Regarding the kendo club, 本澤 こころ (3rd-year, second dan) participated in the 2026 Women’s Individual competition.
Three players advanced after winning the two qualifying spots for the prefecture.
Having overcome their respective prefectural qualifying tournaments, the three players have earned their spots at Inter-High. The skilled competitors who have fought through tough battles will clash at the fourth dojo.
Live broadcast「Yamagata, Nara, and Tochigi! Women's Individual, Block 29.」
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Messages of support for the participating schools and players.
Yamagata, Nara, and Tochigi! Three individuals who have stood on the Inter-High stage representing their respective prefectures. Having won through the grueling prefectural qualifiers, please do not let this hard-won chance go to waste. Standing alone in the arena may feel lonely, but your back is supported by the feelings of the teammates, teachers, and family who always cheer you on. 猿山, the athlete inheriting the tradition of Aterazawa High School; 榎本, the athlete carrying the expectations of Nara Ikuei High School; and 本澤, the athlete showing the pride of Sakushin Gakuin High School. With your respective feelings in your heart, please push forward with total devotion to kendo. May this tournament be a wonderful experience that adds brilliance to your youth! 猿山, who overcame the rough seas of Yamagata Prefecture; 榎本, who possesses the strength cultivated in the land of Nara; and 本澤, who hides a quiet fighting spirit from Tochigi. Let your individual personalities shine and show us your best kendo!
School Information
Aterazawa（左沢）
- Official name
- 山形県立左沢高等学校
- Reading
- Aterazawa
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Yamagata Prefectural (Coeducational)
- Location
- 816-3 Yamano, Fujida, Oaza Ooe, Nishimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture.
- History
- Opened in April 1948 as Yamagata Prefectural Takamatsu High School, with a branch school established in July of the same year Aterazawa. Became Yamagata Prefectural Aterazawa High School with the high school consolidation in 1952. Relocated to the current Fujida area in 1985, and reorganized into a comprehensive high school in 2013.
- School motto/philosophy
- The school’s guiding principle is “to pursue the well-being of the school and to develop capable individuals who will contribute to the community.”
- Department.
- Comprehensive Studies (Liberal Arts, Business, and Orchard Horticulture courses)
- Kendo Club
- The women's kendo team is one of the strongest in the nation. They won the women's team event at the National High School Kendo Tournament in 1992 (39th time) and 1998 (45th time), and were runners-up in 1983 (30th time) and 1987 (34th time). They recorded 28 consecutive wins at the prefectural high school general athletic meet until fiscal year 2010, where their winning streak was broken in the semi-finals against Yamagata Johoku in fiscal year 2011. In the Yamagata Prefecture qualifying round for the kendo competition of the National Sports Festival in June 2026, Aterazawa High School team finished second, and the Yamagata Prefecture selection team with four additional members won. This tournament will feature the women's team and women's individual events (山田芽依 player・猿山桃花 player).
- Notes
- "Aterazawa" is read as "aterazawa," a difficult-to-read school name. The only high school in Ooe Town.
Nara Ikuei（奈良育英）
- Official name
- 奈良育英高等学校
- Reading
- Nara Ikuei
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (coeducational). School Corporation Nara Ikuei Gakuen
- Location
- Nara City, Nara Prefecture.
- History
- In 1916 (Taisho 5), Takakura Fujii and his wife, Shō, founded Ikuei Women's School in Hanashiba-cho, Nara City. In 1923, the school building was newly constructed and relocated to the current location, and Nara Ikuei Higher Women's School was established. With the 1947 school system reform, a junior high school was added and co-education was implemented. In 1948, the school was reorganized as the Nara Ikuei Gakuen school corporation, a high school was established, and Nara Ikuei Higher Women's School was integrated. A kindergarten was established in 1953, an elementary school in 1956, and Ikuei Nishi Junior High and High School were established in 1983.
- School motto/philosophy
- The founding spirit is “the nurturing of complete individuals.” It is based on the founder, Fujii Takazō’s, belief that “people should live in this world with sincerity.”
- Department.
- General studies course.
- Kendo Club
- In 2026 (Reiwa 8), they won the Nara Prefecture qualifiers and qualified for Inter-High in both the men's and women's team events. The Let's Kendo combination article introduces them as "having qualified from Nara, the host location, with a third-place finish in the Kinki tournament." 髙間咲良 and 榎本景香 players participated in the women's individual event. The school's official club activity record lists achievements such as winning the 2025 All-Japan High School Tournament Prefecture qualifiers men's individual competition and qualifying for the 2024 Inter-High.
- Notes
- This tournament’s host location/Nara Prefecture’s participating schools. Different from Ikuei High School (League I) in Kobe City.
Sakushin Gakuin（作新学院）
- Official name
- 作新学院高等学校
- Reading
- Sakushin Gakuin
- Division/Category of Establishment
- Private (Sakushin Gakuin Educational Corporation)
- Location
- 1-1-41 Ichinosawa, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture
- History
- Established on May 28, 1885, by Hyoda Hyogo and others as "Shimotsuke English School." After passing through Private Sakushinkan, Private Ordinary Middle School Sakushinkan, and Shimotsuke Middle School, it merged with Sakushinkan Higher Girls' School and Shimotsuke Middle School in 1947 to become "Sakushin Gakuin High School Division." In 2003, the High School Division was renamed "Sakushin Gakuin High School," and in 2010, operations were transferred to the School Corporation Sakushin Gakuin.
- School motto/philosophy
- The educational policy is "One School, One Family; Self-Study and Self-Learning; Sincerity and Diligence."
- Department.
- Full-time course. Comprised of four departments: Top Eishin, Eishin, General Academic, and Information Science.
- Kendo Club
- The "Past Major Achievements" section of the official website lists "All Japan High School Kendo Tournament: Men's and Women's Team and Individual participation," "All Japan High School Selected Kendo Tournament: Women's Team participation / Best 16," "Kanto High School Kendo Tournament: Team participation / Men's 3rd place," and "Same tournament: Team participation / Women's 5th place." The motto is "Utilizing Kenki" and "Balance of Academic and Athletic Pursuits."
- Notes
- History, school motto, and location are to be investigated (TODO).
・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 Aterazawa ↗
・Notion Participating Schools Library Nara Ikuei ↗
Which fact comes from which source?
- Block assignments, seeding (No. 85), and the first round match-up (No. 86 vs. No. 87) and match location (Court 4) 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.