KENDOJIDAI 2026.2
Photography: Sasai Takamasa
Interview: Yanagida Naoko
*Unauthorized reproduction or use of any images in this article is strictly prohibited.
When she stepped onto the final stage for the third time in seven years, Takahashi said that she deliberately placed pressure on herself, telling herself, “I will definitely take it.” Her instinct as a competitor was telling her so.
Midway through the match, just as her opponent attempted to launch a technique, she executed a Hiki-men. It was a move born of countless battles, seizing even the slightest opening without hesitation.
Takahashi Moeko
A Chance for Victory Drawn In by Sheer Determination
“I had this quiet but unwavering thought inside me: ‘I’m going to win this—no matter what.’ About a week beforehand, I kept replaying videos of my past championship matches and repeatedly visualizing everything in my mind, even how I would enter the venue. I don’t usually do that before competitions, but this time was different…”
As she lifted her face slightly and glanced up at the ceiling, Takahashi Moeko calmly reflected on that day. By nature, she is straightforward and unpretentious, not the type to revisit footage of past victories. Yet this time, she departed from her usual approach.
“Why was that, I wonder. Once the matches began and as I continued to advance, I had this feeling that this might be my chance, that this was an opportunity I could not afford to let slip. Somehow, I had a physical sense that today I could do it.”
Kendo is often described as a discipline in which it is difficult to keep winning consistently. This is even more true at the very highest level, such as the All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship. To win a title, more than technical ability is required. A competitor’s physical condition on the day, the way the tournament unfolds, and how one manages one’s mindset all intertwine. This time, all of those elements came together.
“I don’t think the All Japan Women’s Championship is something you can win simply by aiming for it. It is that difficult a tournament. Precisely because of that, I made up my mind to summon the determination to win and to be the loudest voice on the floor from the very start. To be honest, matches are frightening and nerve-racking, but by projecting a strong first shout, I was able to wipe away my own anxiety. When my voice is coming out well, I know I’m in good condition, so I place great importance on vocal projection in my daily training.”
In the opening round, she defeated Saito Makiko with two Men strikes, sending a wave of excitement through the venue. “I was nervous, but I think my mind was calm. Rather than focusing on my opponent’s movements, I was thinking about committing my own body fully. That’s why, even after taking the first point, I didn’t go into a defensive mindset. I decided, ‘I’m going for the next one as well.’”
She felt a strong sense of Ki from the very opening match. The second and third rounds turned into long, grueling battles lasting a combined total of nearly an hour. Her opponents were Fujisaki Kaoruko in the second round and Sato Minori in the third. They were familiar rivals, having faced each other many times at police tournaments and All Japan Kendo Federation training camps.
“Even though the matches went long, my focus never wavered.”
Both victories were decided with Men. Against Fujisaki, she struck Men as her opponent came forward. Against Sato, she initiated the attack and leapt to Men from the Ura(裏).
“When it was over, I thought to myself, ‘This is where it really begins. Having won this, I have no choice but to keep going. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what those twenty or thirty minutes of fighting were for.’”
She said that her mindset had come together, and the momentum toward victory was building. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Hashimoto Hina of Yamaguchi, a first-year student at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya. In the semifinals, she overcame Kakimoto Satsuki of the Fukuoka Prefectural Police. That set the stage for the final against Oshima Yuria of the Osaka Prefectural Police.
“Before the final, I was conscious of winning. I kept telling myself that I absolutely could not let this slip away.”
Her thoughts drifted back to the National Police Kendo Championship individual event two months earlier. She had entered that tournament in excellent form, yet finished second for the second consecutive year. There was lingering regret at having fallen just one step short twice in a row at such a high-level competition.
“I kept thinking, ‘I’m only one win away from the title, so I can’t let it go.’ That’s why it wasn’t about telling myself to go for it without hesitation or not to worry about the result. It was more a feeling of, ‘I must not let this escape here.’”
Before the final, she deliberately placed pressure on herself, telling herself, “I will absolutely take this.”
“That kind of mindset really fired me up. I think the way you build your mental state differs from person to person, and it also changes depending on the situation. But on that day, I felt that if I let this chance slip, it wouldn’t just be a single loss. I feared that many things inside me might collapse, that I might lose my confidence. That was exactly why I felt I had to win, no matter what.”
The instincts of a veteran who has fought on the biggest stages, including world championships, were telling her that this was a moment she could not afford to let pass.
The match moved in the middle phase. Oshima Yuria, known for her aggressive, attacking style, struck Men and moved into tsuba-zeriai. Pressing forward, she disrupted Takahashi Moeko’s balance, created distance, and attempted Hiki-dō. Takahashi reacted instantly with her entire body. Without missing that fleeting opening, she immediately answered with Hiki-men. All three flags went up.
“There might have been another option, like taking as much time as needed and waiting for a mistake. But that day, I was committed to breaking through with pressure and actively going for my chance. I think that approach worked in my favor.”
Seven years after her last triumph, the Empress’s Cup was back in her hands. Through sheer determination, she finally carved her way forward.
“I realized how much time had passed, but I had always wanted to win it one more time. I’m really glad I was able to do that.”
A look of relief crossed her face. It was the moment when years of effort were finally rewarded.
Expanding One’s Repertoire Through Repeated Trial and Error
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