The race for the SoftBank Winter Cup 2026 national championship narrowed significantly on November 1 as regional tournaments across eight prefectures awarded 10 berths for the 79th All Japan High School Basketball Championship. In the high-stakes qualifying matches held throughout Iwate, Yamagata, Ishikawa, Hyogo, Nara, Okayama, Ehime, and Fukuoka, perennial powerhouses and rising contenders alike secured their places at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium ahead of the December 23 opening tip-off.
Fukuoka Powerhouses Secure National Berths in High-Scoring Rout
Three tournament berths hung in the balance in Fukuoka Prefecture, where the decisive second day of the final league stage yielded two triple-digit blowouts. Having claimed victories in their opening matches the previous day, both juggernauts guaranteed themselves a top-two finish in the standings and punched their tickets to the national tournament.
Hokuriku Gakuin Fends Off Ishikawa Challengers
After a frantic exchange of baskets in the early quarters, Hokuriku Gakuin broke open a tight game in the third period and held off a persistent challenge from Kanazawa Gakuin to win 105–99. The hard-fought victory earns Hokuriku Gakuin its place in the Tokyo bracket.
Okayama Round-Robin Decides Two Finalists
Two qualification spots were up for grabs in Okayama Prefecture through a tense round-robin league schedule. Those results cemented Okayama Shoka in first place and Okayama Science in second, sending both programs through to the national stage.
Regional Qualifiers Round Out the November 1 Field
Across the remaining prefectural brackets, regional finals and league matches settled the remaining national tournament line-ups for the opening Saturday of November. In Iwate Prefecture, Kurosawajiri Technical High School defeated Ichinoseki Technical High School 78–58 to capture its third and sixth overall national appearance. Yamagata Prefecture saw Haguro High School defeat Yamagata Chuo High School 87–72. Hyogo Prefecture action concluded with Hotoku Gakuin High School topping Saiseikoika High School 88–62. Nara Prefecture’s final went to Nara Ikuei High School, which defeated Prefectural Commercial High School 92–43. Teikyo Daisan High School defeated Nitta High School 86–80 in Ehime Prefecture.
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