What is the Kaiseiki Tournament?
The Kaiseiki National High School Kachinuki Kendo Tournament (commonly known as the Kaiseiki Tournament) is one of the three major high school kendo competitions in Japan. Alongside the Gyokuryuki (Fukuoka) and the National Selection Tournament (Aichi), it is considered one of the most prestigious championships in high school kendo. One of the most unique aspects of the Kaiseiki Tournament is its kachinuki (winner-stays-on) format. This system keeps matches highly unpredictable, making every single point crucial. Held annually in Akita Prefecture, a region with a strong kendo tradition, the tournament attracts top high school kendo teams from all over Japan, making it an intense battleground for young kendo athletes. Junior Canada Kendo Team to Participate in Kaiseiki! This year, the Junior Canada Kendo Team will once again compete in this prestigious tournament! Facing off against Japanese high school teams is no easy task, but the team will take on the challenge with determination and passion. For international kendo players, competing in Japan is a rare and valuable experience. The unique sense of maai (distance), match tempo, and fighting spirit in Japanese kendo can be difficult to adjust to. However, this challenge provides an incredible opportunity for growth. How far will the Junior Canada Team go this year?
Last Year’s Results
Last year, the Junior Canada Team delivered an impressive performance at the Kaiseiki Tournament. • First Round: They faced a high school team from Akita Prefecture and secured a hard-fought victory! The Japanese players put up a strong fight, but the Canadian team demonstrated resilience and managed to win. • Second Round: In the next match, they faced Nissho Gakuen, a powerhouse team from Miyazaki Prefecture. Despite putting up a great fight, the Canadian team fell short and was eliminated from the tournament. This match served as a valuable lesson, highlighting the high level of Japanese high school kendo.
Let’s Support the Team Together!
This year, the Junior Canada Team aims to build on last year’s experience and advance even further in the tournament. As members of the Canadian kendo community, let’s rally together and support the team as they take on this exciting challenge in Japan! Whether you’re cheering them on in person or sending encouragement from Canada, your support will mean the world to these young kendo players. Let’s stand behind them and hope they shine on the grand stage of the Kaiseiki Tournament!
Message from a Junior Canada Team Member
(Uvic/ Dean Buckham)
This will be my first time competing in the Kaiseiki Tournament as a member of Team Canada. To prepare, I have been intensifying my training at my dojo and diligently practicing suburi at home. Most weekends, I took the ferry to train at Renbu Dojo, where many kendo practitioners of my age gather, to further enhance my skills. This tournament will be a great opportunity for me to test how well my kendo holds up in competition and to observe the differences between Japanese and Canadian kendo. I believe this experience will be incredibly valuable for me, and I am really looking forward to it!