The Gunma Prefectural Judo Federation has established a new three-tier U-18 judo league to broaden competitive opportunities for high school athletes, according to reports. Designed to address the limitations of traditional single-elimination tournaments—where many schools exit in the early rounds—the inaugural tournament creates regular match play for athletes of varying skill levels and team sizes across the prefecture.
Origins of the Three-Tier Tournament Structure
Planning for the league began between one and two years ago as the Gunma Prefectural Judo Federation and the prefectural high school athletic federation’s judo department searched for new ways to strengthen athletes ahead of the 2029 “Yukemuri National Sports Festival” in Gunma. Operating Committee Chairman Katsuyoshi Koyama pointed to team sports like soccer and basketball as inspiration for introducing a league format to judo.
“We thought about what we could do to strengthen our athletes for the National Sports Festival,” Koyama said. “In other sports like soccer and basketball, they play league matches, so we thought we could do something similar for judo.”
Organizers divided the men’s team competition into three distinct tiers to match school strength and club rosters. The first division features the top four finishers from the prefectural tournament competing in seven-person teams. The second division comprises four teams that reached the top eight, using five-person lineups. All remaining high schools compete in the third division with three-person teams.
Balancing Competition and Experience Across Divisions
Koyama noted that standard tournament draws often force developing programs to face powerhouses immediately, cutting short their competitive seasoning. The divisional setup guarantees that schools face opponents of similar caliber over a sustained schedule.
“In tournament play, schools often face top-tier opponents early and get knocked out in the first or second rounds, giving them few chances to play against teams of similar ability,” Koyama explained in the reports. “By dividing into three tiers, we hear that the athletes’ motivation is rising because they can compete against evenly matched opponents.”
The final fixtures concluded on October 11 at the Naruse Group Isesaki Civic Plaza, bringing together teams from across the prefecture for the closing matches of the inaugural season.
Title Winners and Program Impacts
Tokiwa High School claimed the inaugural championship in the first division. Yu Shizaki, the judo coach at Tokiwa and a deputy chairman involved in tournament operations, called the launch a success despite the logistical hurdles.
“It was our first time trying this, and it was fun. Setting it up was difficult, but I’m glad it finished safely,” Shizaki said. “Tournaments with seven-person teams and a three-tier format are rare nationwide, and it created chances for players who usually don’t get to compete in team events.”
Tokiwa competitor Ryosuke Nishiru added that the additional matches provided valuable mat time. “Normally I don’t get to play in team matches, but this time I got to play in two matches and win, which gave me confidence,” Nishiru said.
In the third division, Takasaki High School secured the title after a six-match run. Coach Shuten Sakurai noted that the extended schedule provided an ideal proving ground for athletes balancing rigorous academic schedules at an academic-focused school. Captain Daisho Miyashita credited the team’s preparation and joint training sessions with stronger programs for their steady improvement.
Future Expansion and the Road to 2029
Organizers intend to continue the league annually while planning several key expansions. Federation leadership is exploring the creation of a dedicated women’s division for future editions.
Looking toward regional growth, the federation aims to extend the competition into neighboring prefectures such as Tochigi and Ibaraki, building toward a broader North Kanto or regional framework. These steps form part of Gunma’s broader preparation for the 2029 National Sports Festival, using regular competition to lift baseline standards across local high school programs.
Worth a look
.jpeg)