Inter-High School Tournament

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The men's tournament was held for the first time in 1966, with Fujieda Higashi winning the first edition, held in the Aomori Prefecture. To qualify, high schools across the country play prefectural qualifications, structured very similarly to the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament's prefectural qualifications. A total of 52 schools participate, with two schools from Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and the year's host prefecture (if the host is one of those prefectures, three schools qualify), and just one school from each of the other prefectures. Matches during the prefectural qualifiers and in the tournament itself last 70 minutes, with 35-minute halves. In case of a draw on full-time, penalty shoot-outs are required, with no extra-time being played. The only exception is the final, where a 20-minute extra time with 10-minute halves takes place, followed by penalty shoot-outs should the match remain tied.

In Their Own Story

The women's tournament has been held since 2012. Hinomoto Gakuen is the only school to win the tournament in consecutive occasions, winning it four times between 2012 and 2015. It is also the record-winner with five titles, having won its last in 2017. As of 2024, Fujieda Junshin is the only school to participate in every tournament since its inception in 2012. The winner of this tournament advances to the JFA U-18 Women's Football Finals, held in September, where they play against the winners of the Japan Club Youth U-18 Women's Football Championship.

Reader's Guide

Until 2023, the tournament's football competition was held in the same prefecture as the other events. However, to deal with extreme heat, the men's competition will be held every year from 2024 onwards in Fukushima Prefecture. The women's competition will be held in Hokkaido in 2024 and 2025. The women's tournament qualifications are held regionally. Sixteen schools qualify, with three from Kanto, two from Tohoku, Tokai, Kinki and Kyushu, and one from Hokkaido, Hokushin'etsu, Chugoku, Shikoku and the year's host prefecture (its region wins an extra slot). The duration of the matches is the same as the men's tournament.

Did You Know?

• The men's tournament was first held in 1966, with Fujieda Higashi winning the first edition in Aomori Prefecture.
• Hinomoto Gakuen is the only school to win the women's tournament in consecutive years, winning four times between 2012 and 2015.
• As of 2024, Fujieda Junshin is the only school to have participated in every women's tournament since it began in 2012.
• Starting in 2024, the men's competition will be held every year in Fukushima Prefecture to deal with extreme heat.
• The women's competition will be held in Hokkaido in 2024 and 2025.