Japan's summer high school baseball tournaments spotlight Kyoto clash and star slugger Kazuhiro Iwahashi

The summer high‑school baseball Kyoto tournament will open on 4 July, featuring seed schools such as Ryukoku Dahei, Ritsumeikan Uji, Kyoto Gakuin West and Kyoto International, which is seeking a third straight title. Kyoto Shimbun staff produced a video preview analysing the expected top teams and players ahead of the competition.

At the same time, Shukutoku High School’s senior outfielder Kazuhiro Iwahashi, who famously hit two home runs in his debut at the 108th National High‑School Baseball Championship, is preparing for his final summer. Iwahashi credits intensive winter training with his father and a distinctive vertical swing technique for his growth from a bench player in junior high to a leading slugger. He aims to surpass his previous record of three home runs as he competes in the East/West Tokyo tournament that also begins on 4 July.