Overview

• An official lottery in Osaka on August 3 determined first- through third-round pairings for the championship.
• Soseikan and Komatsu Otani will open the tournament on August 5 at Hanshin Koshien Stadium with a 4 p.m. game.
• Spring senbatsu champion Yokohama meets Tsuruga Kehi on day three and last summer’s winner Kyoto International faces Kendai Takasaki on day eight.
• Forty-nine schools, including five making their debut, will compete for the national title.
• For the first time the opening ceremony is at 4 p.m. and games are split into morning and evening sessions under expanded heat countermeasures.