Overview
- The opening ceremony will feature Kwansei Gakuin captain Nishiura Akihiro delivering the players’ oath.
- Ten first-round games are set for Dec. 27, including Meikei Gakuen vs. Josho Gakuen, with 14 more first-round games on Dec. 28.
- Eight seeded teams enter in the second round on Dec. 30, with favorites such as Toin Gakuen chasing a third straight title and Higashi Fukuoka targeting a return to the top.
- Quarterfinal pairings will be redrawn after the third round on Jan. 1, and the tournament has dropped the additional redraw previously held after the quarterfinals.
- Expanded slots were awarded to Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, Aichi, and Fukuoka, bringing first-time entrants Keio Shiki, Nagoya, and Gifu Shotoku Gakuen; the final is scheduled for Jan. 7.