Student Wall-Racing's Third Round Draws Set — Debut School Tatsumi Draws a Powerhouse

The student wall-racing federation announced the matchups for the third round of the autumn qualifiers on the 9th, following the completion of the second round, previously reported, which narrowed the field to 32 schools. The third round will be played on the 13th at Kameido Second Wall, with 16 matches. Nearly a third of the original 187 entrants have now been eliminated. "There were more upsets from lower seeds than usual this year, which made the bracket harder to put together," a federation spokesperson said.

Toyosu Technical HS, previously reported to have won its first four matches, will face Konan Gakuen in the third round. Konan Gakuen advanced by defeating last year's semifinalist in the second round, prompting Toyosu's coach to say, "We know how much momentum they have. We can't afford to be complacent either." Tatsumi Metropolitan HS, the only first-time entrant to reach the third round after a close second-round win over Urayasu Technical, previously reported, has drawn Shinonome Jitsugyo, last autumn's runner-up and a recognized powerhouse. "Honestly, I don't think we can win," said Tatsumi's team captain, a third-year student. "But just standing on the wall opposite a school we watched on video last year already means something."

Beyond the two headline matchups, five of the remaining eight third-round pairings are considered close based on past results, according to the federation's bracket coordinator: "Once you're down to 32 schools, there's almost no one left you could call an underdog." Aomi Girls' HS, one of the 62 first-time entrants that fell short of the third round after losing to Toyosu, is reportedly being discussed within the federation as a candidate for an expanded recommendation slot next season, in recognition of its strong showing in the second round. "We want next season's slots to reflect more than just wins and losses — including whether a team came down safely," a federation spokesperson said.

The mandatory safety briefings and wall-familiarization sessions introduced this season, previously reported, continue to hold: there have been no injury reports across the tournament as of the 9th. The federation said it has sent all remaining schools a renewed reminder to keep up safety protocols ahead of the third round. "This is exactly the stretch where enthusiasm can get ahead of people, so we go back to basics," it said.

Ahead of the third round, the federation has also fielded requests about spectator seating at Kameido Second Wall. Through the second round, viewing had largely been standing-room only, but with the field down to 32 schools, demand from parents alone is running higher than in past years, and the federation is considering adding temporary viewing space. "In the first round, just seeing my child on the wall was enough," one parent said. "The further they advance, the more you want a proper seat to watch from." The federation says details of any expansion will be announced before the third round.

Following the third round on the 13th, the quarterfinal schedule will be announced. The final, as previously reported, is set for November at Kameido Second Wall. "From here on, one loss ends a team's tournament," the federation said. "We want to keep both kinds of tension — safety and competition — alive right through to the end."