Overview
- The 105th tournament began on December 27 at Hanazono in Higashiosaka with a commemorative expansion to 56 schools, five more than usual.
- Opening-day pairings included Tokai University Osaka Gyosei vs Sakaide Dai and first-time participant Gifu Seitoku vs Chubu University Kasugai.
- North Hokkaido representative Engaru was eliminated 5–74 by Onomichi in the first round.
- Toin Gakuen, Osaka Toin and other seeds start in the second round on December 30, and the final is scheduled for January 7.
- Elsewhere in the winter championships, high school soccer starts December 28 at the National Stadium with Waseda Jitsugyo vs Tokushima Municipal, and high school basketball set a girls’ final of Ouka Gakuen vs Osaka Kun-ei as the boys’ last four were finalized.