73rd AJKC & 64th AJWKC - November 3, 2025

73rd All Japan Kendo Championship

&

64th All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship

November 3, 2025

Nippon Budokan, Tokyo

Japan has many national holidays in Japan, such as National Foundation Day (February 11), Respect for the Aged Day (third Monday in September), Mountain Day (August 11), and many more to celebrate various aspects of Japanese culture and life. However, for the kendo community in Japan, Culture Day on November 3 is perhaps the most important of these national holidays as it the day that the All Japan Kendo Championships is held. Since 2024, the All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship is also being held alongside it at the Nippon Budokan, making November 3 a veritable feast of kendo!

As usual, the Kendo World Team will descend on the Nippon Budokan to watch 64 of the best male and 64 of the best female kendoka in Japan battle it out to become the All Japan Champion. We will be posting updates throughout the day and highlight videos in the days following the competition.

Men’s Preview

The men’s competition this year is very strong with no fewer than six former champions and the current champion, Takenouchi Yuya (Tokyo). Takenouchi won his first title at the 62nd edition when he was a student at kendo powerhouse University of Tsukuba, and he won his second title ten years later at the 72nd AJKC in 2024 as a Tokyo police officer. Every champion in the intervening years from his first to second title, with the exception of Katsumi Yosuke (64th AJKC champion), has qualified this year. Here is the list of current and former champions taking part this year:

62nd: Takenouchi Yuya

63rd: Nishimura Hidehisa

65th: Nishimura Hidehisa

66th: Nishimura Hidehisa

67th: Kunitomo Rentaro

68th: Matsuzaki Kenshiro

69th: Hoshiko Keita

70th: Murakami Tetsuhiko

71st: Natsumeda Ryusuke

72nd: Takenouchi Yuya

If Kumamoto’s Nishimura Hidehisa manages to win the title this year, it will take his tally to four championships and move into clear second for most amount titles behind Miyazaki Masahiro (six titles). Currently he is in joint second with Chiba Masashi, Nishikawa Kiyonori, and Uchimura Ryoichi who are all on three titles. If Takenouchi can win the title this year, he will join that illustrious group and become only the fourth kendoka after Miyazaki Masahiro, Takanabe Susumu, and Nishimura Hidehisa to win two titles in a row. To prove the experience level of competitors in this tournament, only 24 are debutants, which is the lowest it has been for several years.

As usual, police officers are the most represented with 49 of the 64 competitors, followed by teachers (6), company workers (4), and prison officers (3), and one civil servant and one student. In terms of dan grade there are five 7-dan, 21 6-dan, 27 5-dan, 10 4-dan, and one 3-dan, with an average age of 29.4.

In the first block (competitors 1-16), there is potential exciting third-round clash between former champion Kunitomo Rentaro (Fukuoka), known for his very orthodox style, and Takenouchi Yuya. The fourth block (competitors 49-64) could see a similar clash between former champions in the third-round – Nishimura Hidehisa versus Hoshiko Keita.

If results go the right way, all four semifinalists could be former champions, but whatever happens, it is sure to be an enthralling contest.

Men's Competitor Profiles:

Top to bottom; No., Prefecture, Name, Age, 1. Dan, 2. Job, 3. Graduated University/School, 4, AJKC entries and major competition history.

Women’s Preview

As with the men’s competition, there’s a strong lineup in the women’s tournament with reigning All Japan and world champion Kondo Mihiro looking to take her second title in her 11th appearance. She will also be joined by three former champions: Suenaga Mari (51st, 52nd, and 61st), Takahashi Moeka (56th and 57th), and Senoo Maika (60th). There are also seven winners of the WKC team competition and four who have finished in the medals in the WKC individual competition among the competitors.

It is possible for Kondo and Suenaga to meet in the first quarterfinal which should be a great encounter between these two veterans. Fukuoka’s Senoo Maikai must also be a favourite having previously won the 60th edition and also finishing runner-up twice and third once. Kanagawa’s Matsumoto Chika has just won the police championships so she will be carrying good momentum into this championship.

24 of the 64 entrants are police officers with the second biggest group being university students at 17. Then there are 11 teachers, five company employees, two high school students and one each from public organisations, prison service, SDF, and graduate school and one who is unemployed.

The competitors in the women’s event appear to be more experienced on the whole with only 16 making their debut. There is a good balance between veterans, experienced kendoka, and younger competitors. It is sure to be a great competition.

Women's Competitor Profiles:

Top to bottom; No., Prefecture, Name, Age, 1. Dan, 2. Job, 3. Graduated University/School, 4, AJWKC entries and major competition history.