Spring Chu Hand 2026, Handball connecting to the future

The Spring National Junior High School Handball Championship, with SSK/hummel serving as an official partner, was held again in late March this year, concluding with GHR from Gunma Prefecture securing their first victory in the boys' division, and Uto City Tsurujo Junior High School from Kumamoto Prefecture winning for the second consecutive tournament and second time overall in the girls' division. As the transition of school club activities to communities progresses, the Japan Handball Association is advancing the development of an environment where matches can be played throughout the year.

Top players send their cheers

From March 26 to 29, the 21st Spring National Junior High School Handball Championship (Spring Chu Hand) was held in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture. GHR (Gunma Prefecture) won the boys' tournament, and Uto City Tsurujo Junior High School (Kumamoto Prefecture) won the girls' tournament. SSK/hummel, the official partner of the tournament, presented original uniforms to the winning teams and set up a hummel booth.

Furthermore, this year, life-size panels of players Kosuke Yashira and Natsuki Aizawa, who have experience winning the Spring Chu Hand, were set up, and interviews were conducted with four players, including hummel contract players Adam Yuki Baig and Grey Clare Francis, regarding what they were conscious of during their student days. They sent cheers to the students working hard at handball.

Player Kiyoshi Shoji, belonging to Toyama Dreams of League H, who was watching the fierce battles at the venue, said, "There are often results that differ from expectations, and I felt the unpredictable appeal of handball once again. Also, the support from the parents was amazing, and I hope to be able to cheer loudly for my own children in the future."

Building the future for elementary and junior high school handballers

Player Shoji, who has announced his retirement at the end of this season, has established a new handball club team for elementary and junior high school boys and girls starting in April 2026 in the Tonami area of Toyama Prefecture, where there are no handball teams. Shoji, who participated in the Spring Chu Hand during his junior high school days, experienced a homestay in Himi. Based on that experience, he also established a training camp facility to prepare an environment where children can grow both physically and mentally through sports, engaging in activities to build the future of children.

Also, due to reasons such as the declining birthrate, reduction of burden on teachers, and the transition of school club activities to the community, the national junior high school handball tournament, which was held every August, will be canceled. Consequently, the Japan Handball Association (JHA) has decided to end the current form of the Spring Chu Hand in fiscal year 2027. Regarding the future handball environment for elementary and junior high school students, Mr. Fujimoto, Managing Director and Head of the Instruction and Promotion Division of JHA, commented, "We prioritize the perspective of the next-generation players, not the convenience of adults. Building on that, we will anticipate changes in the times and steadily advance reforms while carefully gaining the understanding, cooperation, and support of all stakeholders."

Moving forward, based on the 10-year plan for developing the playing environment for the next generation, JHA will hold a national championship in August where both school clubs and community clubs compete on the same stage, and a national tournament using a block selection method in March. While aiming for an environment where matches can be played throughout the year, such as league matches, they will create stages where everyone can participate in matches according to their level. To keep them loving handball, they will continue to create an exciting environment where they can enjoy handball in their daily lives. Hummel, as an official sponsor of JHA, will support the popularization and promotion of handball.

In addition, a commemorative magazine compiling the records of the "49th National High School Handball Selection Tournament" and the "21st Spring National Junior High School Handball Championship" has been published. Pre-orders are accepted until April 24.

Click here to pre-order.
High School Selection/Spring Chu 2026 Tournament Commemorative Magazine ¥2,000 (tax included)

■ Contents (planned)
- Tournament photos (mainly showing the fierce battles of the matches)
- Final report
- Tournament results
- Award-winning teams
- Tournament highlights
* Contents are subject to change.
* Since this is a booklet summarizing the tournament records, it does not guarantee the publication of photos of all teams and players.

■ Specifications
- Size: A4 size
- Number of pages: About 80 pages
- Printing: Full color
- Binding direction: Right binding

■ Regarding shipping
Scheduled shipping start: Ships sequentially from early May 2026

■ Best 4 Results

[Girls]
Semifinals
Tsurujo JH (Kumamoto) 35-29 Kawasaki Ikuta & Bal (Kanagawa)
HC Kyoto (Kyoto) 27-25 HC Haruyoshi Jr. (Fukuoka)
Final
Tsurujo JH (Kumamoto) 41-15 HC Kyoto (Kyoto)

[Boys]
Semifinals
Ryukyu Corazon (Okinawa) 35-24 Aira Sports Club (Kagoshima)
GHR (Gunma) 24-22 HC Kyoto (Kyoto)
Final
GHR (Gunma) 36-23 Ryukyu Corazon (Okinawa)

Tournament Information
The 21st Spring National Junior High School Championship
Period: March 26 - March 29, 2026
Location: Himi City Fureai Sports Center, Toyama Prefectural Himi High School First Gymnasium, Himi Municipal Nanbu Junior High School Gymnasium
Organizer: Japan Handball Association (JHA)
[OFFICIAL WEBSITE] https://haruhand.com/

■ About hummel