Japan's Best High School Dance Team Determined! 'Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION 2026 FINAL'
The Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION 2026 FINAL, Japan's largest high school dance festival, was held on April 18, 2026, at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Meguro Nihon University High School won the SMALL division, while Nihon University Meisei High School achieved their third consecutive victory in the LARGE division. The audition for "NAIL the NAME," aimed at discovering next-generation female artists for D.LEAGUE, also showcased their first performances.
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- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 01:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 16:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 22:06 (5h 34m after Collected)
Anomaly Inc. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Kantaro Kanda) held Japan's largest high school dance club festival, "Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION 2026 FINAL," at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
On the main Mynavi Stage, high school students from all over Japan, who have dedicated their youth to dance, engaged in fierce battles for the title of Japan's best.
The contest began with an exclusive opening showcase featuring representatives from teams participating in each category, with the venue filled with excitement. Each high school poured all their practice into performances full of spirit, aiming for the top spot in Japan, and the tension in the venue reached its peak. In the SMALL category, "Meguro Nihon University High School / Meguro de Eye Black" emerged victorious, and in the LARGE category, "Nihon University Meisei High School / Helios" achieved their third consecutive championship.
■ Mynavi Stage: Contest Winning Schools
◆ SMALL Category WINNER: Meguro Nihon University High School / Meguro de Eye Black
"We are truly delighted to receive such an award. This performance was planned to be the last one today, so we danced it as the culmination of a year's worth of effort. The support from our teachers, coaches, and students from other schools who always stood by us gave us strength! Thank you very much!"
◆ LARGE Category WINNER: Nihon University Meisei High School / Helios
"We were able to achieve our third consecutive championship! First, thank you for giving us such a wonderful award. The 'High Dan' stage was a competition where our seniors had won two consecutive times, so it was the most pressure-filled tournament, but while experiencing not only fun but also hardships, we are truly glad to have received the title of Japan's best."
■ Members of the next-generation female artist group "NAIL the NAME" decided!
"NAIL the NAME" is an audition based on the concept of "etching one's name (NAIL) = proving one's existence," with the aim of creating new teams participating from D.LEAGUE 26-27 SEASON and discovering next-generation female artists. The selection process reached its climax, and the candidates gave their first performances, staking their claim to a professional career.
At the venue, amidst an enthusiasm no less than that of the "High Dan" participating schools, the candidates delivered "soulful performances" to etch their names in history. Their efforts, putting their all into every moment to win a contract as a "D.Leaguer" to perform on the professional dance league stage promised to the successful candidates, strongly moved the audience.
The final selection results are scheduled to be announced on Thursday, April 30.
■ D.LEAGUE's absolute champions KADOKAWA DREAMS and other gorgeous guests brought the venue to a frenzy
■ About "Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION 2026"
This is a dance contest for students enrolled in high schools and educational institutions equivalent to high schools nationwide. It started in 2015 and this season marks its 11th holding. Qualifying rounds will be held in a total of five regions: Kanto, Kansai, Tohoku, Chubu, and Kyushu.
Each school that passes the qualifying rounds will advance to the final competition, "Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION 2026 FINAL," held in April 2026, where Japan's best high school dance club, which has dedicated their high school lives wholeheartedly to dance, will be determined.
This season, the number of prize-winning spots in the qualifiers has been expanded by three, and the number of eligible participants for points has increased. After the qualifiers, a final challenge will be held to determine advancement to the finals based on point rankings.
Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION Official Website: https://high-dan.com/
On the main Mynavi Stage, high school students from all over Japan, who have dedicated their youth to dance, engaged in fierce battles for the title of Japan's best.
The contest began with an exclusive opening showcase featuring representatives from teams participating in each category, with the venue filled with excitement. Each high school poured all their practice into performances full of spirit, aiming for the top spot in Japan, and the tension in the venue reached its peak. In the SMALL category, "Meguro Nihon University High School / Meguro de Eye Black" emerged victorious, and in the LARGE category, "Nihon University Meisei High School / Helios" achieved their third consecutive championship.
■ Mynavi Stage: Contest Winning Schools
◆ SMALL Category WINNER: Meguro Nihon University High School / Meguro de Eye Black
"We are truly delighted to receive such an award. This performance was planned to be the last one today, so we danced it as the culmination of a year's worth of effort. The support from our teachers, coaches, and students from other schools who always stood by us gave us strength! Thank you very much!"
◆ LARGE Category WINNER: Nihon University Meisei High School / Helios
"We were able to achieve our third consecutive championship! First, thank you for giving us such a wonderful award. The 'High Dan' stage was a competition where our seniors had won two consecutive times, so it was the most pressure-filled tournament, but while experiencing not only fun but also hardships, we are truly glad to have received the title of Japan's best."
■ Members of the next-generation female artist group "NAIL the NAME" decided!
"NAIL the NAME" is an audition based on the concept of "etching one's name (NAIL) = proving one's existence," with the aim of creating new teams participating from D.LEAGUE 26-27 SEASON and discovering next-generation female artists. The selection process reached its climax, and the candidates gave their first performances, staking their claim to a professional career.
At the venue, amidst an enthusiasm no less than that of the "High Dan" participating schools, the candidates delivered "soulful performances" to etch their names in history. Their efforts, putting their all into every moment to win a contract as a "D.Leaguer" to perform on the professional dance league stage promised to the successful candidates, strongly moved the audience.
The final selection results are scheduled to be announced on Thursday, April 30.
■ D.LEAGUE's absolute champions KADOKAWA DREAMS and other gorgeous guests brought the venue to a frenzy
■ About "Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION 2026"
This is a dance contest for students enrolled in high schools and educational institutions equivalent to high schools nationwide. It started in 2015 and this season marks its 11th holding. Qualifying rounds will be held in a total of five regions: Kanto, Kansai, Tohoku, Chubu, and Kyushu.
Each school that passes the qualifying rounds will advance to the final competition, "Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION 2026 FINAL," held in April 2026, where Japan's best high school dance club, which has dedicated their high school lives wholeheartedly to dance, will be determined.
This season, the number of prize-winning spots in the qualifiers has been expanded by three, and the number of eligible participants for points has increased. After the qualifiers, a final challenge will be held to determine advancement to the finals based on point rankings.
Mynavi HIGH SCHOOL DANCE COMPETITION Official Website: https://high-dan.com/