In the 2012 All Japan Student Championships, Kunitomo played chuken for Kokushikan University who won the tournament, adding to their triumphs at the Kanto Games too. This year’s team boasted a colorful line-up of exceptional talent, even among the long tradition of Kokushikan being a powerhouse. Ando Sho and Fujioka Read More
It was really “third time lucky” for Rentaro Kunitomo who won the All Japan Championship. 5 years ago, he entered the Championship for the first time and came 2nd, and two years later he also achieved 2nd. He kept challenging for the title, and he finally reached the summit on Read More
The star player in 3 back-to-back Gyokuryuki Titles finishes it off with a 4-man sweep in the final 3 back-to-back wins gained huge publicity back then, and its glory still lives on today While kendo was banned during and after WWII, the Gyokuryuki Games (which had a different name back Read More
Victorious in Historical High School Kendo Rivalry In 1986, PL Gakuen (Osaka) won the Gyokuryuki boys with fine performances from 2nd grader Takahiro Nabeyama. They were seeking back to back titles the following year with Nabeyama as their key player. Facing PL in the final was Takachiho (Miyazaki), who had Read More
The Gyokuryuki crosses the Kaimon strainght for the first time PL Gakuen, located in Osaka, won the inter high games (boys) in 1972 for the first time, and has won it 7 times in total. Especially between 1975-1985 it was considered one of the two top kendo schools along with Read More
“Become a legend” Sho Umegaya Responds as he Beats 4 in a row at the Final (2013 Gyokuryuki High School Games) The most interesting aspect of the Gyokuryuki Games is that it is held in the “fight until you lose” format. This means that no matter how much you are Read More
The youngest of all participants, post-war player reaches the top of Japan for the first time at age 21 In 1960, at the 8th edition of the All Japan Championship, a player in his 20s reached the top for the very first time, Up until then, all champion players were Read More
Not giving up at 0-2 down, catching the flow for a great comeback win The 2012 Inter High Girls team final was between defending champion Moriya (Ibaraki) and Nakamura Gakuen Girls (Fukuoka) who were gunning for their first title. In the pervious year, Moriya had taisho Moeko Takahashi, who also Read More
The underdogs who turned the impossible into reality The Second Far-away Winner of the Gyokuryuki The last Gyokuryuki High School Kendo Championship (men’s edition) of the 20th Century was won by the underdog of all underdogs, Kurashiki High School (Okayama). Kurashiki had only made it to the inter-high team championship Read More
