National High School Baseball Championship

The National High School Baseball Championship of Japan, commonly known as "Summer Koshien", is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament and was first held in 1915. The tournament, organized by the Japan High School Baseball Federation and Asahi Shimbun, takes place during the school summer vacation. It culminates in a two-week final tournament stage in August of 49 teams at Hanshin Koshien Stadium.

The 49 schools taking part represent each of the prefectures of Japan (with two from Hokkaido and Tokyo). The participating teams are the winners prefectural qualification tournaments held from June to August. Thus thousands of teams participate as opposed to the much smaller invite-only National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament held in the spring.

The preliminary brackets are determined by random draw several days prior to the tournament. Because of the odd number of teams, about two-thirds of the teams will have to play one extra game to make it to the "Best 8". Once reaching the "Best 8" another random draw determines the matchups. Another draw is done on the 2nd day of "Best 8" matches to determine semifinal matches. This can make for serious drama as teams hope to pick a favorable draw.

The tournament was first held at Koshien in 1924, prior to that it had been held at Toyonaka Sports Ground (1915-1916) and Naruo Baseball Stadium (1917-1918).

In the past teams from overseas have participated in the tournament. Korea fielded teams from 1921 to 1940; both Taiwan and Manchuria had teams participate from 1923 to 1940.

Finals Results

Tournament Year	Total Teams	Final Teams	Date	Champion	Score	Runner-up	Notes
1 1915	73	10	August 23	Kyoto Second (Kyoto)	2 - 1	Akita (Akita)
2 1916	115	12	August 20	Keio (Tokyo)	6 - 2	Ichioka (Osaka)
3 1917	118	12	August 20	Aichi First (Aichi)	0 - 1 1 - 0	Kwansei Gakuin (Hyogo)	The first game was rained out after 3 innings
4 1918	137	14	The tournament was cancelled due to the Rice Riots.
5 1919	134	14	August 19	Kobe First (Hyogo)	7 - 4	Nagano Shihan (Nagano)
6 1920	157	15	August 19	Kwansei Gakuin (Hyogo)	17 - 0	Keio (Tokyo)
7 1921	207	17	August 18	Wakayama (Wakayama)	16 - 4	Kyoto First Shogyo (Kyoto)
8 1922	229	17	August 18	Wakayama (Wakayama)	8 - 4	Kobe Shogyo (Hyogo)
9 1923	243	19	August 20	Koyo (Hyogo)	5 - 2	Wakayama (Wakayama)
10 1924	263	19	August 19	Hiroshima Shogyo (Hiroshima)	3 - 0	Matsumoto Shogyo (Nagano)
11 1925	302	21	August 23	Takamatsu Shogyo (Kagawa)	5 - 3	Waseda Jitsugyo (Tokyo)
12 1926	337	22	August 20	Shizuoka (Shizuoka)	2 - 1	Tairen Shogyo (Manchuria)
13 1927	389	22	August 20	Takamatsu Shogyo (Kagawa)	5 - 1	Koryo (Hiroshima)
14 1928	410	22	August 22	Matsumoto Shogyo (Nagano)	3 - 1	Heian (Kyoto)
15 1929	465	22	August 20	Hiroshima Shogyo (Hiroshima)	3 - 0	Kaisou (Wakayama)
16 1930	541	22	August 20	Hiroshima Shogyo (Hiroshima)	8 - 2	Suwa Sanshi (Nagano)
17 1931	634	22	August 21	Chukyo Shogyo (Aichi)	4 - 0	Kagi Norin (Taiwan)
18 1932	660	22	August 21	Chukyo Shogyo (Aichi)	4 - 3	Matsuyama Shogyo (Ehime)
19 1933	671	22	August 20	Chukyo Shogyo (Aichi)	2 - 1	Heian (Kyoto)
20 1934	675	22	August 20	Goko (Hiroshima)	2 - 0	Kumamoto Kogyo (Kumamoto)
21 1935	666	22	August 21	Matsuyama Shogyo (Ehime)	6 - 1	Ikuei Shogyo (Hyogo)
22 1936	665	22	August 20	Gifu Shogyo (Gifu)	9 - 1	Heian (Kyoto)
23 1937	654	22	August 20	Chukyo Shogyo (Aichi)	3 - 1	Kumamoto Kogyo (Kumamoto)
24 1938	633	22	August 21	Heian (Kyoto)	2 - 1	Gifu Shogyo (Gifu)
25 1939	608	22	August 20	Kaisou (Wakayama)	5 - 0	Shimonoseki Shogyo (Yamaguchi)	Seiichi Shima throws a no-hitter.
26 1940	617	22	August 19	Kaisou (Wakayama)	2 - 1	Shimada Shogyo (Shizuoka)
27 1941	The 27th annual tournament was to be held but cancelled due to World War II
From 1942 to 1945 the tournament was not held due to World War II
28 1946	745	19	August 21	Naniwa Shogyo (Osaka)	2 - 0	Kyoto Second (Kyoto)
29 1947	1125	19	August 19	Kokura (Fukuoka)	6 - 3	Gifu Shogyo (Gifu)
30 1948	1256	23	August 20	Kokura (Fukuoka)	1 - 0	Toin (Wakayama)
31 1949	1365	23	August 20	Shounan (Kanagawa)	5 - 3	Gifu (Gifu)
32 1950	1536	23	August 21	Matsuyama Higashi (Ehime)	12 - 8	Naruto (Tokushima)
33 1951	1633	23	August 19	Heian (Kyoto)	7 - 4	Kumagaya (Saitama)
34 1952	1653	23	August 20	Ashiya (Hyogo)	4 - 1	Yao (Osaka)
35 1953	1701	23	August 20	Matsuyama Shogyo (Ehime)	3 - 2	Tosa (Kochi)
36 1954	1705	23	August 22	Chukyo Shogyo (Aichi)	3 - 0	Shizuoka Shogyo (Shizuoka)
37 1955	1721	23	August 17	Yokkaichi (Mie)	4 - 1	Sakaide Shogyo (Kagawa)
38 1956	1739	23	August 20	Heian (Kyoto)	3 - 2	Gifu Shogyo (Gifu)
39 1957	1769	23	August 20	Hiroshima Shogyo (Hiroshima)	3 - 1	Hosei Daini (Kanagawa)
40 1958	1807	47	August 19	Yanai (Yamaguchi)	7 - 0	Tokushima Shogyo (Tokushima)
41 1959	1864	29	August 18	Saijo (Ehime)	8 - 2	Utsunomiya Kogyo (Tochigi)
42 1960	1903	30	August 21	Hosei Daini (Kanagawa)	3 - 0	Shizuoka (Shizuoka)
43 1961	1941	30	August 20	Namisho (Osaka)	1 - 0	Toin (Wakayama)
44 1962	1996	30	August 19	Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)	1 - 0	Kurume Shogyo (Fukuoka)
45 1963	2106	48	August 20	Meisei (Osaka)	2 - 1	Shimonoseki Shogyo (Yamaguchi)
46 1964	2270	30	August 18	Kochi (Kochi)	2 - 0	Hayatomo (Yamaguchi)
47 1965	2363	30	August 18	Miike Kogyo (Fukuoka)	2 - 0	Choshi Shogyo (Chiba)
48 1966	2415	30	August 24	Chukyo Shogyo (Aichi)	3 - 1	Matsuyama Shogyo (Ehime)
49 1967	2460	30	August 20	Narashino (Chiba)	7 - 1	Koryo (Hiroshima)
50 1968	2485	48	August 22	Kokoku (Osaka)	1 - 0	Shizuoka Shogyo (Shizuoka)
51 1969	2523	30	August 18 August 19	Matsuyama Shogyo (Ehime)	0 - 0 4 - 2	Misawa (Aomori)	The first game was called after 18 innings
52 1970	2547	30	August 20	Tokaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)	10 - 6	PL Gakuen (Osaka)
53 1971	2569	30	August 16	Toin Gakuen (Kanagawa)	1 - 0	Iwaki (Fukushima)
54 1972	2614	30	August 23	Tsukumi (Oita)	3 - 1	Yanai (Yamaguchi)
55 1973	2660	48	August 22	Hiroshima Shogyo (Hiroshima)	3 - 2	Shizuoka (Shizuoka)
56 1974	2709	34	August 19	Choshi Shogyo (Chiba)	7 - 0	Hofu Shogyo (Yamaguchi)
57 1975	2798	38	August 24	Narashino (Chiba)	5 - 4	Niihama Shogyo (Ehime)
58 1976	2893	41	August 21	Oberlin (West Tokyo)	4 - 3	PL Gakuen (Osaka)
59 1977	2985	41	August 20	Toyodai Himeji (Hyogo)	4 - 1	Toho (Aichi)
60 1978	3074	49	August 20	PL Gakuen (Osaka)	3 - 2	Kochi Shogyo (Kochi)
61 1979	3170	49	August 21	Minoshima (Wakayama)	4 - 3	Ikeda (Tokushima)
62 1980	3270	49	August 22	Yokohama (Kanagawa)	6 - 4	Waseda Jitsugyo (East Tokyo)
63 1981	3394	49	August 21	Hotoku Gakuen (Hyogo)	2 - 0	Kyoto Shogyo (Kyoto)
64 1982	3466	49	August 20	Ikeda (Tokushima)	12 - 2	Hiroshima Shogyo (Hiroshima)
65 1983	3568	49	August 21	PL Gakuen (Osaka)	3 - 0	Yokohama (Kanagawa)
66 1984	3705	49	August 21	Toride Second (Ibaraki)	8 - 4	PL Gakuen (Osaka)
67 1985	3791	49	August 21	PL Gakuen (Osaka)	4 - 3	Ube Shogyo (Yamaguchi)
68 1986	3847	49	August 21	Tenri (Nara)	3 - 2	Matsuyama Shogyo (Ehime)
69 1987	3900	49	August 21	PL Gakuen (Osaka)	5 - 2	Joso Gakuin (Ibaraki)
70 1988	3958	49	August 22	Hiroshima Shogyo (Hiroshima)	1 - 0	Fukuoka Daiichi (Fukuoka)
71 1989	3990	49	August 22	Teikyo (East Tokyo)	2 - 0	Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
72 1990	4027	49	August 21	Tenri (Nara)	1 - 0	Okinawa Suisan (Okinawa)
73 1991	4046	49	August 21	Osaka Toin (Osaka)	13 - 8	Okinawa Suisan (Okinawa)
74 1992	4059	49	August 25	Nishi Nihon Tandai Fuzoku (Fukuoka)	1 - 0	Takudai Koryo (Chiba)
75 1993	4071	49	August 23	Ikuei (Hyogo)	3 - 2	Kasugabe Kyoei (Saitama)
76 1994	4088	49	August 21	Saga Shogyo (Saga)	8 - 4	Shonan (Kagoshima)
77 1995	4098	49	August 21	Teikyo (East Tokyo)	3 - 1	Seiryo (Ishikawa)
78 1996	4089	49	August 21	Matsuyama Shogyo (Ehime)	6 - 3	Kumamoto Kogyo (Kumamoto)
79 1997	4093	49	August 21	Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)	6 - 3	Heian (Kyoto)
80 1998	4102	55	August 22	Yokohama (East Kanagawa)	3 - 0	Kyoto Seisho (Kyoto)	Daisuke Matsuzaka throws a no-hitter.
81 1999	4096	49	August 21	Kiryu Daiichi (Gumma)	14 - 1	Okayama Ridaifu (Okayama)
82 2000	4119	49	August 21	Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)	11 - 6	Tokaidai Urayasu (Chiba)
83 2001	4150	49	August 22	Nichidaisan (West Tokyo)	5 - 2	Ohmi (Shiga)
84 2002	4163	49	August 21	Meitoku Gijuku (Kochi)	7 - 2	Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)
85 2003	4163	49	August 23	Joso Gakuin High School (Ibaraki)	4 - 2	Tohoku (Miyagi)
86 2004	4146	49	August 22	Komadai Tomakomai (South Hokkaido)	13 - 10	Saibi (Ehime)
87 2005	4137	49	August 20	Komadai Tomakomai (South Hokkaido)	5 - 3	Kyoto Gaidai Nishi (Kyoto)
88 2006	4112	49	August 20 August 21	Waseda Jitsugyo (West Tokyo)	1 - 1 4 - 3	Komadai Tomakomai (South Hokkaido)
89 2007	4081	49	August 22	Saga Kita (Saga)	5 - 4	Koryo (Hiroshima)
90 2008	4059	55	August 18	Osaka Toin (Osaka)	17 - 0	Tokoha Gakuen Kikugawa (Shizuoka)
91 2009	4041	49	August 24	Chukyodai Chukyo (Aichi)	10 - 9	Nihon Bunri (Niigata)
92 2010	4028	49	August 21	Konan (Okinawa)	13 - 1	Toukaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)
93 2011	4014	49	August 20	Nichidaisan (Tokyo)	11 - 0	Kosei Gakuin (Aomori)
94 2012	3985	49	August 23	Osaka Toin (Osaka)	3 - 0	Kosei Gakuin (Aomori)
95 2013	3957	49	August 22	Maebashi Ikuei (Gunma)	4 - 3	Nobeoka Gakuen (Miyazaki)
96 2014	3917	49	August 25	Osaka Toin (Osaka)	3 - 2	Mie (Mie)
97 2015	3906	49	August 25	Tokaidai Sagami (Kanagawa)	10 - 6	Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
98 2016	3874	49	August 21	Sakushin Gakuin (Tochigi)	7 - 1	Hokkai (South Hokkaido)
99 2017	3839	49	August 23	Hanasaki Tokuharu (Saitama)	14 - 4	Koryo (Hiroshima)
100 2018	3781	56	August 21	Osaka Toin (North Osaka)	13 - 2	Kanaashi Nogyo (Akita)
101 2019	3730	49	August 22	Riseisha (Osaka)	5 - 3	Seiryo (Ishikawa)
In 2020, no tournament was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
103 2021	3603	49	August 29	Chiben Wakayama (Wakayama)	9 - 2	Chiben Gakuen (Nara)
104 2022	3547	49	August 22	Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)	8 - 1	Shimonoseki Kokusai (Yamaguchi)
105 2023	3486	49	August 23	Keio (Kanagawa)	8 - 2	Sendai Ikuei (Miyagi)
106 2024	3441	49	August 23	Kyoto Kokusai (Kyoto)	2 - 1	Kanto Daiichi (Tokyo East)

Further Reading

• Michael Clair: "Summer Koshien: Dreams are made, crushed", mlb.com, August 26, 2021. [1]