2026.2 KENDOJIDAI
Oshima said that “the excitement outweighed the nerves.”
On November 3, 2025, she stepped onto the stage of the All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship final for the first time.
She added that it was her “challenger’s mindset” that lifted her spirits and drove her forward.
Oshima Yuria
Born in 2001 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. She began her Kendo journey at Hisada Dojo. After graduating from Nakamura Gakuen Girls’ High School, she went on to Kanoya University of Physical Education. Upon graduation, she joined the Osaka Prefectural Police. During her high school years, she contributed to three consecutive team championships at the Inter-High School Championships. At Kanoya University of Physical Education, she achieved team victory at the All Japan Women’s Student Kendo Championships, among other accomplishments. After joining the Osaka Prefectural Police, she earned second place at the National Sports Festival and also finished as runner-up in the team division at the All Japan Police Kendo Championships. In her fourth appearance at the 64th All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship, she made a breakthrough by advancing to the final.
Determined to Show Her Parents a Championship Victory Someday
“The excitement outweighed the nerves. It felt different from anything I had experienced before.”
At the All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship in 2025, Oshima Yuria advanced to the final for the first time in her fourth appearance. Overcoming a field of formidable opponents, it was the day the name “Osaka – Oshima” left a lasting impression on everyone watching.
“When I first competed, I lost in the first round. The second time, I lost in the second round. The third time, I lost in the third round. Since this was my fourth appearance, my ultimate goal was to win, but I had set a benchmark of reaching at least the quarterfinals. In the end, I went one step further and made it to the final. I don’t think anyone expected me to go that far.”
As she said this, she showed a slightly bashful smile. But was that really the case? Surely those around her had believed in her breakthrough—her parents, for instance, who had come to the venue that day.
“I’m one of five siblings. My younger sisters also practice Kendo, so there haven’t been many opportunities for my parents to watch my matches. But this time they came, and I was really happy.”
She usually tells them, “Please go and watch my sisters instead,” out of consideration. But on this day, her parents made the trip to Tokyo despite their busy schedules. That alone was reason enough—she had to show them what she could do.
“On the day before the match, my father, Shinji, told me, ‘You’ve got nothing to lose—just go all out, even if it means looking messy, even if you’ve got snot running down your nose. I want to see you fight with everything you have to take Ippon.’ After hearing that, it was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders…”
It was a slightly blunt, yet deeply affectionate message of encouragement. She knew she had no choice but to give it everything.
“Maybe it was because of my father’s words, but this time I was able to stay focused on each match, one by one. Of course I felt nervous, but more than that, I was enjoying it.”
In her previous individual tournaments, she admits that she “wasn’t able to fight boldly and lacked confidence.” This time, however, with each match from the opening round onward, her sense of enjoyment only grew. Her father’s words had given her that push.
In the semifinal, she faced Senoo Maika, a senior from both high school and university, and one of the leading young competitors who had already won this championship.
“I never imagined we would face each other on a stage like this. Before the quarterfinals, she told me, ‘If I lose, it might create a bad flow for you, so I’m definitely going to win—you come up too.’ And she really did win, which gave me strength as well. After my quarterfinal, she gave me a fist bump. Because I had the chance to face such an incredible senior, all I could do was go all out and challenge her.”
Known as a competitor strong in both offense and defense, Oshima felt that “if I stopped my feet, it would be over.”
“There are only limited moments where you can truly commit. If you attack carelessly, you get countered—and if you hesitate, you get pressured and struck. It was a very difficult Maai, but being able to commit and go for Men gave me confidence.”
In the closing stages of the match, amid an intense exchange of Seme, Oshima seized her moment—delivering a decisive Men that brought the crowd to its feet.
It was her first final. Her opponent was Takahashi (Kanagawa Prefectural Police), a formidable competitor and four-time World Championship team gold medalist. Even against such an accomplished opponent, Oshima’s Kendo did not waver.
“I tried to stay on the offensive, but perhaps my breaking technique wasn’t sharp enough. I wasn’t able to fully capture the target. If I had broken her balance more effectively, the development of the match might have been different.
As for the point I conceded, I think her experience made the difference.”
She never abandoned her attacking style, but in a brief opening she was struck with a Hikimen in the middle of the match. Thoughts crossed her mind—her relative lack of experience, the fact that she has yet to claim an individual title—but there was also a clear sense of progress.
At present, selections are underway for the first Asia–Oceania Championships next year and the 20th World Championships the year after. A series of police tournaments also lie ahead. For Oshima, it is simply a matter of pushing forward toward each of these stages.
“I wanted to show my parents what it looks like when I win, so that part is disappointing. But because of that frustration, I know I can keep pushing—next year and the year after.”
Higher, and higher still—her gaze is fixed solely on the top.
High School Frustration Opened the Path Forward
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