Sports
Shido Swordplay's Autumn Five-Match Tournament: Final Round Set for November 15 in Kameido
The Tokei Sword Bearers' Association announced on the 29th that the final, fifth round of the Autumn Five-Match Tournament — previously reported on the 23rd as tentatively set for 'early November' — will be held November 15 at the training hall near the wall course in Kameido, one week after the fourth-round rematch against Owari on November 8.
Shinobi Trial's 'Long Night Cup' Set for November 21 — Britan's Entry Request Deferred to Next Season
The Patrol Guild announced on the 28th that this November's Shinobi Trial 'Long Night Cup' will be held on November 21st. The request to compete from a person claiming to represent a covert-patrol group in Britan, previously reported on October 7th, has been formally deferred to next season — citing the absence of a screening framework — with work on such rules to proceed toward next June's 'Short Night Cup.' Two-time defending champion Iori Kiryu, 29, will aim for a third straight title among domestic competitors only.
Tosatsu: Sawatari and Okonogi Build Toward November — 'I Won't Beat Him Back the Same Way He Beat Me'
At the Shiomibashi shopping district Tosatsu Association, master Gonzo Sawatari, 77, and rising star Daichi Okonogi, 23, continue to train ahead of their rematch at November's monthly tournament. Sawatari, who lost to Okonogi in the September 9th tournament final, got a measure of revenge in an informal practice bout on the 14th, both previously reported, but since then he has reportedly spent less time tallying wins and losses than reworking his form.
Hexball Round 9: Tokei Hex Grinds Past Owari to Extend Win Streak to Eight, Fukagawa Pelicans Hold Second
The Hexball league played Round 9 across the city on the 25th. League-leading Tokei Hex met Owari at Bayside Arena and ground out a tight 5–4 (1-corner) win to push its streak to eight. Keystone scorer Ritsu Kishiura, 24, again posted multiple edges, keeping his streak alive. Second-place Fukagawa Pelicans beat Naniwa Six 6–2 (2-corner), holding their gap behind the leaders and tightening their grip on second place.
Tower Running's 88th Meet: Rookie Seira Koda Takes Her First Win, Edging Veteran Daichi Tarumi by 0.8 Seconds
The monthly Tower Running meet — the 88th overall — in which competitors race up the stairwells of tall buildings, was held on the 25th at the 42-story Kyobashi HQ Tower. Seira Koda, 24, of the Fire Bureau team, took her first-ever win in 42 floors, 11 minutes 24 seconds, edging out Daichi Tarumi, 38, of the Tokei Tower Running Club — a five-time winner this season, as previously reported — by 0.8 seconds. A month after setting the meet's rookie record in September, the runner who once said she was 'out of breath by the third floor' now stands atop this season's field.
Hexball Round 8: Tokei Hex Stretches Win Streak to Seven, Fukagawa Pelicans Also Win to Hold Second
Round 8 of the Hexball League took place at courts around the city on the 24th. Tokei Hex, previously reported with a six-game win streak through Round 7, defeated Naniwa Six 6-3 (1 corner), stretching its unbeaten run from the season opener to seven games and extending its lead atop the league. Fukagawa Pelicans also won, beating Hokuto 5-2 (2 corners) to improve to five wins, one loss, and one draw, cementing second place. Owari had no match this round.
Shido Swordplay's 'Autumn Five-Match Series,' Round 4: Owari Rematch Set for Nov. 8
Round 4 of 'the Autumn Five-Match Series,' the sword bearers' intercity tournament, will be held on November 8 at the Owari Martial Arts Hall, the Hinokuni Sword Bearers' Association announced on the 23rd. Tokei's association, which lost its winning streak in a home defeat to Hokuto in the previously reported Round 3 on the 18th, stands at two wins and one loss overall heading into the Owari rematch. Chitose Kaname, 41, head of the Kaname school, offered only a brief line: 'If I'm fighting, I'm fighting to win.'
Tail-Tag Student Autumn League, Round 5: Edagawa Stops Its Slide With a Rematch Win Over Shiodome Academy
Round 5 of the Tail-Tag student autumn league was held on the 22nd at Kameido Second Gymnasium. Edagawa Metropolitan High School, which had lost its previous match to Toyosu, previously reported on the 13th, beat Shiodome Academy — its opponent from the season-opening match on September 14th — 11-8 in tags taken, stopping its slide at one straight loss.
Kiko Run's 'Kiko Festival' Wraps Up — Mixed University Club Team Wins Overall, Zero Assists to the End
Kiko Run's October competition, 'Kiko Festival,' held its final day of racing on the 21st at the temporary bay-side course. The mixed university club team, overall leader after day two as previously reported on the 20th, trimmed its time to 1:35 while never once breaking its zero-assist record across all three days, taking the overall title. It is the first time in the event's history a team has finished without a single assist, and organizers summed up the three days as 'a case study in combining speed with care.'
Kiko Run's 'Kiko Festival,' Day Two: Mixed University Club Team Takes the Lead, Overtaking Tokiwado With a Clean Zero-Assist Run
Kiko Run's October competition, 'Kiko Festival,' held its second day of racing on the 20th at a temporary bay-side course. The mixed university club team, which drew applause on day one for a clean zero-assist run, trimmed its time while keeping that zero-assist record intact, overtaking previously reported day-one leader Tokiwado for the overall lead. With day two combining speed and a clean run, attention at the festival has shifted to whether a team can hold both at once.
Kiko Run: October's 'Kiko Festival' Opens, Tokiwado Team Wins Day One
October's running of 'Kiko Festival,' one of two annual Kiko Run competitions pairing a human with a symbiotic robot through an obstacle course, opened on the 19th at a temporary bay-side course. The previously reported Tokiwado team, already drawing attention for racing with a borrowed robot, took first place overall on day one — a bright follow-up to the 18th's Shido Swordplay coverage, two cheerful days in a row.
Shido Swordplay 'Autumn Five Bouts' Round 3: Hokuto Gets Its Redemption, Ends Tokei's Win Streak
Round 3 of Shido Swordplay's 'Autumn Five Bouts' was held on the 18th at the Himuro School's headquarters dojo in Hokuto, where the Hokuto Sword Bearers' Association beat the Tokei Sword Bearers' Association 3–2. Hokuto, defeated by Tokei in the opening round on the 3rd, got its redemption on home ground. Tokei's two-round winning streak came to an end, though Gen Minase, 22, individually extended his own winning streak to three straight matches.
Hexball Round 7: Tokei Hex Beats Hokuto for Sixth Straight Win; Fukagawa Pelicans Edge Owari
The Hexball League held Round 7 on the 17th. League-leading Tokei Hex beat Hokuto 6–2 (2 edges) to go 6-1 and extend its winning streak to six games. Fukagawa Pelicans edged Owari 5–4 (1 edge) in a close contest to improve to 4-1-1, pulling ahead of Owari (3-3) in the race for second place. Naniwa Six had no match this round and stayed at 1-2-1.
Shido Swordplay 'Autumn Five Bouts' Round 3: Tokei Faces Hokuto in Rematch on the 18th
The Tokei Sword Bearers' Association announced on the 16th that Round 3 of Shido Swordplay's 'Autumn Five Bouts' will be held on the 18th at the Himuro School's headquarters dojo in Hokuto — a rematch against the Hokuto Sword Bearers' Association (Himuro School), whom Tokei defeated 3–2 in the opening round on the 3rd. Tokei, unbeaten through two rounds, will look to Gen Minase, 22, who made his inter-city debut this season, for a third straight win.
Tosatsu: Sawatari and Okonogi Face Off at Practice — 'One More, Before It Counts'
At the Shiomibashi shopping district Tosatsu Association's regular practice night on the 14th, master Gonzo Sawatari, 77, who lost the previously reported monthly tournament final on the 9th, and the young challenger who beat him, Daichi Okonogi, 23, faced off for the first time since in an informal bout. Sawatari narrowly edged it, 3 planks 2 squares to 3 planks 3 squares, though both men agreed the result "has nothing to do with the real thing."
Tower Running: Tokei Club and Fire Department Team Hold Joint Practice Ahead of Monthly Meet
The Tokei Tower Running Club and the Fire Department team held joint practice at the Kyobashi head office building on the 14th, ahead of this month's monthly meet, the 88th overall. Daichi Tarumi, 38, winner of the previously reported September meet, and Seira Koda, 24, of the Fire Department team, who holds the rookie record, ran the same stairwell side by side.
Tail-Tag Student Autumn League: Toyosu Metropolitan HS Ends Edagawa's 3-0 Start
Round 4 of the Tail-Tag student autumn league was held on the 13th at Kameido Second Gymnasium, where Edagawa Metropolitan High School — unbeaten through three straight wins to open the season, as previously reported — suffered its first loss of the year, falling 10-9 to first-time entrant Toyosu Metropolitan High School.
Tosatsu Master Gonzo Sawatari Resumes Practice — 'I'll Ask for One More Shot in November'
Gonzo Sawatari, 77, the Tosatsu master who lost in the previously reported monthly tournament final to newcomer Daichi Okonogi, 23, showed up at the Shiomibashi Shopping Street Tosatsu Association's practice session on the 12th and threw tiles for the first time in about a week. He publicly declared he'll take a rematch in November, drawing laughs and applause from fellow shopkeepers.
Tide Rowing's Biggest Spring Tide of the Season — A Familiar Weather-Forecaster Face in the Stands
Tide Rowing, one of the ten featured sports in which crews row canals timed to the rise and fall of the tide, was held on the 11th at the Fukagawa Canal to coincide with the season's biggest spring tide, with the Fukagawa Tide Rowing Association beating Sunamachi Rowing Club by a margin of three boat-lengths. As previously reported, former tide reader turned BTV forecaster Shioji Hatano, 52, appeared in the stands as a guest commentator — invited, notably, by Fukagawa rather than his own old club.
Shido Swordplay's Autumn Tournament, Round 2: Tokei Defeats Owari 3-2 as Gen Minase Wins on Home Ground for a 2-0 Start
Round 2 of the inter-city Autumn Five-Match Swordplay tournament was held on the 10th at the Minase school's head dojo in Kyobashi, where the Tokei Sword Bearers' Association defeated the newly entered Owari Sword Bearers' Association (Sawai school) 3-2. The Minase school's rising talent, Gen Minase, 22, won again on his home floor, improving to 2-0 following his previously reported tournament debut. The anchor bout was decided by Chitose Kaname, 41, head of the Kaname school, with a judges' call rather than a drawn blade.
Hexball Round 6: League-Leading Tokei Hex Beats Owari, Ritsu Kishiura Scores Multiple Sides for First Time in Four Games
Round 6 of the Hexball league was played on the 10th at the Bay Arena and elsewhere, with league-leading Tokei Hex beating Owari 7-4 (2 corners) to move to 5 wins and 1 loss. Ritsu Kishiura, 24, who suffered the team's first loss of the season and went without a multi-side game in Round 5, bounced back with 2 sides for the first time in four games. The same day, Fukagawa Pelicans beat Naniwa Six 6-4 (1 corner) to improve to 3 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw.
Tosatsu: 23-Year-Old Upsets Master Gonzo Sawatari — A Hint of Generational Change at the Shiomibashi Monthly Tournament
The Shiomibashi shopping-street Tosatsu association announced on the 9th that master Gonzo Sawatari, 77, lost the final of its monthly tournament to newcomer Daichi Okonogi, 23, a second-generation rabbit-lineage Drifter, by a score of 3 tiles/2 squares to 4 tiles/3 squares. It is, as far as this paper could confirm, Sawatari's first loss in an association-run tournament in at least three years. A quiet stir reportedly ran through the hall.
Tail-Tag Student Autumn League: Edagawa Metropolitan HS Wins Third Straight, Holds Off Newcomer Kameido Gakuen
Round 3 of the Tail-Tag student autumn league took place on the 8th at Kameido Second Gymnasium, where Edagawa Metropolitan High School (46 years since its club's founding), previously reported as having won its first two matches, defeated newcomer Kameido Gakuen Private School 11-7 to extend its unbeaten start to three straight wins.
Shinobi Trial's 'Long Night Cup' Entry List Announced, Kiryu Eyes Third Straight Title — Guild Receives Britan's First-Ever Request to Compete
The Patrol Guild announced on the 7th the entry list for November's Shinobi Trial 'Long Night Cup.' Iori Kiryu, 29, the previously reported two-time defending champion, is entered for a third straight title — and the guild also revealed, for the first time, that it has received a request to compete from someone claiming to represent a covert-patrol group in Britan. Screening has not yet begun, and whether foreign participation will actually happen remains undecided.
Rumor of Kan'yo Pro League Interest in Migiwajima, Who Says 'I Haven't Heard Anything Yet'
A rumor has spread among fans that a Kan'yo pro wall-racing club may approach Rui Migiwajima, the Tokei RC racer named the previously reported September Rookie of the Month at a record-young 17, during the off-season. After practice on the 6th, Migiwajima told reporters, 'Nothing like that has reached me yet,' and the rumor remains unconfirmed.
Middle-School Tail-Tag Tournament: Fukagawa Dai-ni Wins First-Ever Title, 7-5 in the Final
The final of the autumn middle-school Tail-Tag tournament was held on the 4th at the Kameido Daini Gymnasium, where Fukagawa Dai-ni Middle School beat spring national champion Johoku Academy Middle School 7-5 in tags taken, winning its first-ever title just three years after the club's founding. The deciding tag was taken by first-year student Kanade Asari, 14 — the first time in a decade that a club founded within the previous three years has won a middle-school Tail-Tag title.
Shido Swordplay's Autumn Tournament Opens as Gen Minase Wins His Debut — Tokiwado Takes Its First-Ever Placing at the Kiko Festival
The inter-city tournament known as the Autumn Five-Match Swordplay opened on the 3rd at the Kameido Budokan. Gen Minase, 22, of the Minase school, making his inter-city debut, won his opening bout, and the Tokei Sword Bearers' Association defeated the Hokuto Sword Bearers' Association (Himuro school) 3-2. Chitose Kaname, 41, head of the Kaname school, who had said she 'wasn't competing,' ended up taking the anchor bout anyway and scored without drawing her blade. The same stretch saw Kiko Run's biggest annual event, the Kiko Festival, held at the Kyobashi head office building on the 4th, where Tokiwado's long-term boarding robot 'Unit Four' and its human partner, Yamato Okita, 24, climbed out of two straight mid-table finishes to take the team's first-ever placing in its fourth year.
Hexball: Tokei Hex Suffers Its First Loss of the Season as Fukagawa Pelicans Win the 'Bayside Derby'
In Round 5 of Hexball — the 'Bayside Derby' — the Fukagawa Pelicans beat Tokei Hex 6-5 (1 corner) at Bayside Arena on the night of the 1st, handing Hex its first loss of the season after an unbeaten start. Ritsu Kishiura, held without his streak of multi-edge games for the first time in four matches, reflected that form can live outside the hexagon too, but tonight it just wasn't there either.
Hexball 'Bayside Derby' Rematch: Tokei Hex Edge Through to 5-0
Round 5 of the hexball league was played at Bayside Arena on the night of the 1st, the first 'Bayside Derby' rematch since the season opener on the 8th. Tokei Hex beat Fukagawa Pelicans 7–5 (2 corners) to stay unbeaten at 5-0 and hold the solo lead. Ace Ritsu Kishiura, 24, recorded multiple sides for a fifth consecutive match. The same night, Owari beat Hokuto 6–2 (1 corner) to bounce back from its previously reported first loss.
Wall Racing's September MVP Goes to 17-Year-Old Rui Migiwajima — Youngest Ever
The wall-racing league announced on the 30th that its September Monthly MVP award goes to Rui Migiwajima, 17, of Tokei RC — the first teenager ever to win it, and the youngest recipient on record. Her string of personal bests, climbing from Tier 8 to Tier 11 over the season's final weeks, combined with a selection process the league says is judged on criteria separate from match results, sealed the honor.
Tosatsu: Young Challenger Beats 77-Year-Old Master Gonzo Sawatari for the First Time
At the Shiomibashi Shopping District Tosatsu Club's monthly meet on the evening of the 28th, tile-throwing master Gonzo Sawatari, 77, lost to Yu Hatanaka, 20, a member in his second year, 9 boxes to 11 out of 12 tiles each. It was Sawatari's first loss at a monthly meet in roughly three years. "It wasn't so much the win I felt as how easy it was to just say 'you got me' and move on," Hatanaka said.
Shido Swordplay Ramps Up Training a Week Before Opening — Minase: 'A Strike They Can't Read'
With the Oct. 3 opening of Shido Swordplay's Autumn Five-Match Tournament now a week away, the Hinokuni Sword Bearers' Association held an intensive training session at its Kameido practice hall on the 28th. Gen Minase, 22, the Minase school's young hopeful set for his inter-city debut, made final adjustments to his armor's fit, while Chitose Kaname, 41, head of the Kaname school and, as previously reported, expected to compete again this season, was seen coaching younger members through observation drills.
School Wall Racing Semifinals: Toyosu Tech Edges Konan Academy for a 7th Straight Win, Faces Daiba Industrial in the Final
The semifinals of school wall racing's autumn qualifiers were held on the morning of the 27th at the Kameido No. 2 Wall. In the first match, unbeaten Private Toyosu Tech held off Private Konan Academy — the only first-time entrant among this season's 62 debut schools to reach the semifinals — 7-tier-2-link to 6-tier-4-link, extending its unbeaten run to seven matches. In the second match, Private Daiba Industrial beat Municipal Ariake High 6-tier-3-link to 5-tier-4-link. The final will pit Toyosu Tech against Daiba Industrial, again at the Kameido No. 2 Wall in November.
Hexball Round 4: Tokei Hex Hands Owari Its First Loss in Unbeaten Showdown, Fukagawa Takes First Win
Round 4 of the hexball league was played on the night of the 26th. At Bayside Arena, unbeaten Tokei Hex and Owari met head-to-head, with Tokei Hex winning 8–6 (3 corners) to move to 4-0 and hand Owari its first loss of the season. On the same night, Fukagawa Pelicans beat Hokuto 5–2 (1 corner) for their first win.
Tower Running's Monthly Meet at the Kyobashi HQ Tower — Fire Bureau Rookie Seira Koda Sets a Rookie Record
The monthly Tower Running meet, in which competitors race up the stairwells of tall buildings, was held on the 25th at the 42-story Kyobashi HQ Tower. Daichi Tarumi, 38, a veteran of the Tokei Tower Running Club, took first place in 42 floors, 11 minutes 32 seconds. Second place went to Seira Koda, 24, a rookie on the Fire Bureau team, who set a new meet rookie record at 42 floors, 11 minutes 58 seconds. 'Six months ago I was out of breath by the third floor,' Koda said.
School Wall Racing's Semifinals Set for the 27th — Unbeaten Toyosu Tech Meets Lone Newcomer Konan Academy
The semifinals of school wall racing's autumn qualifiers will be held on the 27th at the Kameido No. 2 Wall, the student federation confirmed on the 24th. As previously reported, the previously reported quarterfinals on the 16th produced four survivors: Private Toyosu Tech, still unbeaten through six matches since the opener; Private Konan Academy, the only first-time entrant among this season's 62 debut schools to reach the semifinals; Private Daiba Industrial; and Municipal Ariake High. Toyosu Tech and Konan Academy have landed in the same semifinal bracket, already drawing attention as one of the tournament's marquee matchups.
Kiko Run's 'Kiko Festival' Set for Oct. 4 — Tokiwado to Enter 'Unit 4,' a Robot in Its Permanent Care
Kiko Run, the obstacle race pairing a person with a non-humanoid symbiotic robot, holds its biggest annual event, the Kiko Festival, on Oct. 4 at a special course built around the Kyobashi headquarters building. Tokiwado, the Kyobashi business that keeps retired symbiotic robots in perpetual custody, announced on the 23rd that it will again field 'Unit 4,' one of the robots in its care. The image of a robot retired into storage still taking the field has quietly won a following in this city, apart from the previously reported debate at the robot legislative council.
School Tail-Tag's Second Round Held After a Spring-Tide Postponement — Edagawa Edges Tatsumi to Stay Unbeaten
The second round of the school tail-tag autumn league was held on the 22nd, after being postponed from its original date of the 17th due to spring-tide weather. Edagawa Metropolitan High School, previously reported to have won its opener, beat first-time opponent Tatsumi Metropolitan High School in a close 10–8 contest to stay unbeaten.
Shido Swordplay Gears Up for the Autumn Five-Match Tournament — Gen Minase, Ahead of His City-vs-City Debut: 'I Don't Feel Ready to Win'
The Tokei Sword Bearers' Association began preparations on the 21st at a Kameido training hall for Shido Swordplay's city-vs-city Autumn Five-Match Tournament, opening Oct. 3. Chitose Kanome, 41, previously reported for saying at a joint drill, 'Judge a sword by the times it stayed sheathed,' is expected to compete again this year, while Gen Minase, 22, of the Minase school, makes his city-vs-city debut. The sport is decided by three referees' 'reading' with padded gear rather than live blades, but the tension in Monday's training hall was of a different kind than the sword bearers usually carry into an exclusion operation.
Hexball Round 3: Both Tokei Hex and Owari Make It Three Straight Wins
Round 3 of the hexball league took place on the night of the 20th. At Bayside Arena, Tokei Hex beat Hokuto 7–4 (2 corners) to open the season 3-0, with Ritsu Kishiura, 24, recording three edges for a third straight match. On the same night, Owari beat Naniwa Six 6–3 (1 corner) to stay unbeaten as well, with its previously reported player from Kan'yo scoring four edges.
Kikousai Robot-Pair Race Entries Top 200 — Two University Clubs Join as First-Timers
Entries for Kikousai, the annual Kiko Run (human-and-robot pair race) held in October in Kyobashi, passed 200 teams on the 19th. Registration only opened on the 13th, as previously reported, and the organizing committee said, 'Even accounting for the early pace, this is fast.' Two university robotics clubs are entering for the first time this year, while Tokiwado aims for a fourth consecutive appearance with a team that includes one of its custody robots.
Wall Racing: Tokei RC Clinches the Title, Beating Hokuto 8 Tiers 1 Link–5 Tiers 3 Links as Migiwajima Sets a Personal Best of Tier 11
In Round 22, the wall-racing league's title-deciding final, leaders Tokei RC and second-place Naniwa WC — level on 44 points — fought for the championship at two separate venues on the night of the 18th. Tokei RC beat Hokuto 8 tiers, 1 link to 5 tiers, 3 links at home at Kameido Second Wall, taking their points to 47, while Naniwa WC lost 5 tiers, 4 links to 6 tiers, 3 links away at Horikawa Wall to Owari — enough to seal Tokei RC's championship. Tokei RC's Rui Migiwajima, 17, reached a personal-best Tier 11 late in the match.
Wall Racing's Title Decider Is Tonight — Kameido Second Wall and Horikawa Wall Open at the Same Hour
Round 22, the wall-racing league's title-deciding final round, takes place on the night of the 18th. As previously reported, league leaders Tokei RC and second-place Naniwa WC, level on 44 points, will not meet directly: Tokei RC hosts Hokuto at home at Kameido Second Wall, while Naniwa WC travels to Horikawa Wall to face Owari, unbeaten there all season — two venues, the same hour, one title. Lines formed at both grounds from the morning, the sold-out excitement spilling out into the surrounding streets.
Wall Racing's Title Decider Tomorrow: Level on 44 Points, Rivals Fight for the Crown at Separate Venues
Round 22, the wall-racing league's season-closing round, takes place on the 18th. As previously reported, league leaders Tokei RC and second-place Naniwa WC are level on 44 points, but the two will not meet head to head: Tokei RC hosts Hokuto at home at Kameido Second Wall, while Naniwa WC travels to Horikawa Wall to face Owari, unbeaten there all season. Advance tickets have sold out at both venues.
Student Wall-Racing: Toyosu Technical Beats Shinonome Jitsugyo to Reach the Semifinals, Undefeated in Six; Bleachers Expanded to 400 Seats
The quarterfinals of the student wall-racing autumn qualifiers were held on the 16th at Kameido Second Wall, with eight matches among sixteen schools deciding the eight teams advancing to the semifinals. Toyosu Technical, the tournament favorite on a five-match winning streak, faced Shinonome Jitsugyo, last autumn's runner-up, and won a close 6-tiers-3-links to 5-tiers-4-links contest to extend its unbeaten run to six matches. The previously reported temporary bleachers, expanded from 200 to 400 seats, were filled to capacity.
Hexball: Tokei Hex Edge Hokuto 6–4 (1 Corner) — Ritsu Kishiura Scores Multiple Sides for a Second Straight Match
In Hex League action on the night of the 14th at Bayside Arena, Tokei Hex beat Hokuto 6–4 (1 corner). Ace Ritsu Kishiura, 24, who took three sides in the season opener, added two more — a second straight match with multiple sides. Hokuto, which had narrowly lost its own opener to Naniwa Six, fell to 0–2 to start the season.
School Tail-Tag's Autumn Season Opens; Traditional Power Edagawa High Wins Its Opener
The school-league autumn season of tail-tag, a team sport with roots in Drifter culture, opened on the 14th. Edagawa Metropolitan High School — the same school whose two-year-old wall-racing club has struggled this autumn — fields a tail-tag club with 46 years of history. It opened the new season with a win, its third straight opening-day victory.
Student Wall-Racing Quarterfinals Set for the 16th; 16 Schools Head to Kameido Second Wall
The student wall-racing federation announced on the 14th that the quarterfinals, contested by the 16 schools that survived the third round, will be held on the 16th at Kameido Second Wall. Toyosu Technical, undefeated in five matches so far this season, opens against Shinonome Jitsugyo. Temporary bleacher seating, previously reported, is expected to be expanded for the round.
Toyosu Technical Extends to Five Wins in Student Wall-Racing's Third Round; Tatsumi's Run Ends — and the Pro League Sets Its Title-Deciding Final Round
The third round of the student wall-racing autumn qualifiers was played on the 13th at Kameido Second Wall. Toyosu Technical HS, previously reported to have won its first four matches, beat Konan Gakuen to extend its run to five, while Tatsumi Metropolitan HS, the only first-time entrant to reach this round, fell to Shinonome Jitsugyo and exited the tournament. The same day, the professional wall-racing league announced the matchups for its title-deciding final round on Sept. 18.
Wall Racing Round 21: Naniwa WC Rallies to Level the Table at 44 Points; Migiwajima's Personal-Best Tenth Tier Not Enough
Round 21 of the wall-racing league was held on the night of the 11th at Kameido Second Wall, home ground of league leaders Tokei RC, where second-placed Naniwa WC won 7 tiers 3 chains to 6 tiers 4 chains. Both teams now sit level on 44 points, making the Sept. 18 final round a de facto title decider. Tokei RC's Rui Migiwajima, 17, reached a personal-best tenth tier even in defeat.
First Meets Second at Tokei RC's Home Wall as Naniwa Closes to Three Points
Round 21 of the wall-racing league takes place on the night of Sept. 11 at Kameido Second Wall, home ground of league leaders Tokei RC. First plays second, with Tokei RC on 44 points hosting Naniwa WC, three points behind on 41. A win would put Tokei RC's lead nearly out of reach; a loss would push the title race to the final round.
Shiomigaoka Wins Its First-Ever Title in Extra Innings at a Rare Weekday Final
The final of the autumn high school baseball tournament, pushed to a rare weekday slot after the schedule's spare days ran out, was played on the 10th at Suzaki No. 1 Stadium. Shiomigaoka Municipal High School beat private powerhouse Kamata Gakuin 5-4 in extra innings to claim the program's first-ever title. As previously reported, the tournament endured five weather-related suspensions, forcing both the semifinals and final onto weekdays.
Hexball League opens: Tokei Hex beat Fukagawa 5–3 (2 corners) — Ritsu Kishiura takes three sides; 'I didn't use my tail'
The 2026–27 Hexball League season opened on the night of the 8th, with Tokei Hex beating Fukagawa Pelicans 5–3 (2 corners) in the opener. Ace Ritsu Kishiura, 24, took three sides, equalling the record for an opening match. Attendance was 18,200 by the organizers' count.
Student Wall-Racing's Third Round Draws Set — Debut School Tatsumi Draws a Powerhouse
The student wall-racing federation announced on the 9th the matchups for the third round of the autumn qualifiers. The 32 remaining schools will play 16 matches on the 13th at Kameido Second Wall. Toyosu Technical HS, winners of its first four matches, and Tatsumi Metropolitan HS, the only first-time entrant to advance this far, both face established powerhouses. The tournament's injury-free record continues.
Student Wall-Racing's Second Round Wraps Up, Safety Record Still Unblemished
The autumn qualifying rounds of the student wall-racing tournament, which opened on September 5, completed all second-round matches on the 8th. There have still been no injury reports since safety briefings became mandatory, with Toyosu Technical HS and first-time entrant Tatsumi Metropolitan HS both advancing to the third round, which is expected to be scheduled later this week.
Student Wall-Racing Autumn Qualifiers Reach Midpoint, No Injuries as Safety Measures Hold
The autumn qualifying rounds of the student wall-racing tournament, which opened on September 5, have completed most of their first-round matches as of the 7th. Thanks to the previously reported safety briefings and wall-familiarization sessions, there have been no major injuries so far.
Wall Racing's Final Two Rounds Set, With a Direct First-vs-Second Showdown
The wall-racing league announced its final two-round schedule on the 6th. Round 21, on September 11 at the home venue of league-leading Tokei RC (44 points), will pit them directly against second-place Naniwa WC (41 points, three behind). The final round, Round 22, falls on September 18, with matchups to be announced separately.
Owari Defend the Dry Wall, End Tokei RC's Bid for a Fourth Straight Win — Migiwajima Sets New Personal Best
Round 20 of the wall-racing league was held on the night of the 4th at Owari's home ground, the Horikawa Wall, where sixth-placed Owari defeated league leaders Tokei RC 7 tiers 1 link to 6 tiers 4 links. The sold-out match went to the home side, unbeaten all season at Horikawa, denying Tokei RC a fourth straight win. Seventeen-year-old Migiwajima Rui reached a new personal-best ninth tier, but it was not enough to change the result.
Autumn Qualifiers Open: Toyosu Technical Edges Past Edagawa High, Whose New Club Meets Its Own Safety Goal
The autumn qualifying round of the student wall-racing tournament opened on the morning of the 5th at the Kameido No. 2 Wall. In the opening match, last autumn's runner-up, Private Toyosu Technical, beat first-time entrant Municipal Edagawa High 4 tiers 2 links to 2 tiers 3 links. Edagawa, a two-year-old club with only nine members, fell short of a win but met the goal its coach had set beforehand: all nine climbers coming down safely.
Showdown at the Dry Wall: League Leaders Tokei RC Chase a Fourth Straight Win on the Road
League-leading Tokei RC travel to Owari's home ground, the Horikawa Wall, on the evening of the 4th for Round 20 of the wall-racing league. Advance tickets sold out faster than at any point this season, and a line formed at the same-day window from the morning. Tokei RC arrive on a three-match winning streak; Owari have not lost at home all season. Seventeen-year-old Migawajima Rui could also become the league's first teenage Athlete of the Month.
Student Wall-Racing Autumn Qualifiers Open Tomorrow with 187 Schools
The autumn qualifying round of the student wall-racing tournament opens on the 5th at the Kameido No. 2 Wall, with a record 187 schools entered, 62 of them first-timers. The opening match pits perennial contender Private Toyosu Technical against first-time entrant Municipal Edagawa High. The tournament introduced mandatory safety briefings for the first time in its history, following Wednesday's open practice session.
500 students turn out for wall-racing's student "wall familiarization" day
Ahead of the student wall-racing league's autumn qualifiers, the student federation held a public practice session called "wall familiarization" on the 3rd at Kameido Second Wall, for the 62 schools entering the competition for the first time. About 500 students from 56 schools took part, limited to trial climbs up to the third tier and confirmation of multiple descent routes; experienced schools were excluded. In the professional league, Tokei RC holds first place on 44 points, with Round 20 set for the night of the 4th, away at rival Owari's Horikawa Wall.
Wall racing: Round 20 tomorrow — leaders Tokei RC head for the "dry wall" away
Round 20 of the wall racing league is set for the night of Sept. 4 at Horikawa Wall, home of sixth-placed Owari. League leaders Tokei RC (44 points), six clear of second-placed Naniwa WC, go for a fourth straight win on the road after edging Hokuto in the rain at Kameido last round. Rui Migiwajima, 17, is again expected to run third leg.
Reserve days exhausted: autumn high school baseball moves semifinals and final to weekdays
The organizing committee of the autumn Tokei high school baseball tournament announced on Sept. 1 that the two postponed semifinals will be played on the 9th and the final on the 10th, both at Suzaki First Stadium. Rain, together with five "alert suspensions" over the course of the tournament, has exhausted the reserve days, forcing the unusual weekday schedule.
"We came to climb all of them": Edagawa High's nine in a last tune-up at the old Shinonome sluice gate
The autumn student qualifiers for wall racing open on Sept. 5. On Sept. 1, one of the 62 first-time entrants — the wall racing club of Edagawa Metropolitan High School — held its final tune-up on the face of the old Shinonome sluice gate, the wall it uses for practice. Nine members, two years since founding, and a first-round draw against Toyosu Technical, last autumn's runner-up.
Student wall racing draws a record 187 schools; safety course required for 62 newcomers
The draw for the autumn qualifiers of student wall racing was held in Kameido on Aug. 30, setting the fixtures for a record 187 schools. The qualifiers open Sept. 5 and lead to the November final at Kameido Second Wall. With 62 schools entering for the first time, the federation has made a safety course mandatory for the first time in its history.
Wall Racing Round 19: Tokei RC edges Hokuto
Round 19 of the Wall Racing League was held on the night of the 28th at Kameido Second Wall, where league leaders Tokei RC beat Hokuto six tiers three chains to six tiers one chain for a third straight win. Rui Migiwajima, 17, took her season-best eighth tier late in the match to settle it.
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'The Light-Keeper' Theme Song by Yuki Shirase
Airing on TCT next spring. Advance stream early next month.