Shimonoseki 2025

A blistering 1.76 winning average from Takahiro Aoki in the 2x2x2 Cube set the competitive tone at Shimonoseki 2025, where high-speed efficiency across three disciplines delivered an unforgettable single day of action in Yamaguchi. Staged on December 28, 2025, the tournament brought together 92 competitors at Kaikyo Messe Shimonoseki for four rounds of intense solving. With a fast-paced schedule and a concentrated field, the WCA competition offered an ideal platform for both established frontrunners and emerging contenders to test their limits.

The 2x2x2 Cube event generated notable milestones in the official ledger, with numerous participants securing newly established marks. Aidan Proietto registered a 4.34 single and a 4.61 average, while Haru Matsuki produced a 3.25 single and a 5.23 average. Hong Kong solver Lo Tsz Ham notched a 2.62 single and 4.24 average, and Masayuki Hirai posted a 3.03 single alongside a 4.35 average. Further benchmarks came from Shota Wakabayashi with a 4.20 single and 5.79 average, Kanta Kamigaki with a 5.63 single and 6.68 average, Kenichi Hokama with a 5.85 single and 10.11 average, Ryotaro Okazaki with a 6.58 single and 16.91 average, Koetsu Hirano with a 7.53 single and 11.54 average, and Hayato Sugita with a 9.28 single and 10.61 average.

In the flagship 3x3x3 Cube, the premier test of classic Rubik's Cube solving, 89 competitors battled through two rounds to settle the podium. Masaki Nishimura captured the championship with a winning average of 7.02, having also delivered the event best single of 6.23. Takahiro Aoki followed closely in second place with an average of 7.18, and Haru Matsuki claimed third place on the podium with an 8.44 mark. The tight spreads at the top highlighted the demanding nature of the final round.

The 2x2x2 Cube final saw Takahiro Aoki double up on his success, securing the event victory with that phenomenal 1.76 average and a best single of 1.57 across a field of 53 competitors. Takeru Iguchi claimed the second spot on the podium by delivering a 2.58 average. Masaki Nishimura added another honor to his weekend tally by taking third place with a 2.73 average, demonstrating exceptional consistency across the short-format event.

Solving without sight presented its unique challenges in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, an event requiring rigorous memorisation and execution under pressure. Hirotaka Ito emerged victorious among 23 competitors with a winning average of 29.10 and a best single of 20.96. Aidan Proietto took second place on the podium with a 27.27 average, while Takuma Shirahase secured third place with an average of 45.53. In total, Japanese solvers secured eight of the nine podium places awarded, with the United States taking one.

Beyond the podium battles, significant progress unfolded throughout the ranks as several competitors took on new events and posted major breakthroughs. Shinichi Ono delivered an impressive jump in the 2x2x2 Cube, recording a personal best of 4.06 to finish 56.9 percent faster than his prior 9.41 mark across two events entered. Kenta Kabasawa also made a substantial leap in the 2x2x2 Cube, cutting his previous best of 6.38 down to 3.11 for a 51.3 percent improvement. Hiroaki Aoki lowered his 2x2x2 Cube personal best to 5.81, an improvement of 50.2 percent over 11.67, and improved his 3x3x3 Cube mark to 25.77. Misato Nishimura tackled two events, making a first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube with a 6.38 and shaving 33.3 percent off her 3x3x3 Cube best to record 13.81.

The personal milestones continued across the venue floor. Taiki Nakatani took on three events at Shimonoseki 2025, achieving a 6th place finish in 3x3x3 Blindfolded with a personal best of 2:21.68 that was 30.3 percent faster than his previous 3:23.23, while also logging a 4.06 in his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube and a 10.97 in the 3x3x3 Cube. Toma Nishihara posted a 3.93 in his first ever attempt at 2x2x2 Cube and achieved a 10.54 personal best on the 3x3x3 Cube, improving by 25.7 percent. Kanta Kamigaki logged a 5.63 in his first 2x2x2 Cube attempt alongside a 17.21 in the 3x3x3 Cube, an improvement of 21.6 percent. Tomoki Takeda logged a 2.54 in his first attempt at 2x2x2 Cube and improved his 3x3x3 Cube personal best by 20.5 percent with a 7.35, claiming 9th place.

This speedcubing gathering in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan closed the 2025 calendar with remarkable individual steps forward across all tiers of the competition. From the sharp 3x3 results at the top table to dozens of individual leaps, the gathering highlighted the vibrant state of speed cubing in the region. As competitors look ahead to the next season, the standard set at Shimonoseki 2025 will serve as a strong baseline for the year to come.

静寂が支配する会場でキューブを記憶し目隠しで揃え切る3x3x3 Blindfoldedにおいて、Hirotaka Ito (伊藤大平)が平均29.10、単発20.96という圧巻の記録を叩き出して見事に優勝を飾りました。極限の記憶力と正確な指先の動きが求められるこの競技で、アメリカのAidan Proiettoが単発27.27で2位、日本のTakuma Shirahase (白波瀬拓磨)が単発45.53で3位に入り、会場を大いに沸かせました。

2025年12月28日にShimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japanの海峡メッセ下関で開催されたShimonoseki 2025は、年末の熱気に包まれる中で全3種目4ラウンドの熱戦が繰り広げられました。総勢92名の選手が集結したこのキュービング大会では、ルービックキューブの愛好者たちが日頃の練習の成果を存分に発揮し、スピードキュービング特有の緊張感あふれるドラマが随所で展開されました。

目隠し競技の熱狂に続き、花形種目である3x3x3 Cube部門でもハイレベルな争いが繰り広げられました。89名がエントリーした予選と決勝の2ラウンドを制したのはMasaki Nishimura (西村正輝)で、決勝平均7.02、単発6.23という素晴らしいタイムを記録して頂点に立ちました。2位には平均7.18を記録したTakahiro Aoki (青木尊弘)、3位には平均8.44のHaru Matsuki (松木晴琉)が続いて表彰台を飾りました。

スピード感あふれる2x2x2 Cube部門では、53名の選手による1ラウンド勝負が行われました。この種目を制したのはTakahiro Aoki (青木尊弘)で、驚異的な平均1.76、単発1.57を叩き出して優勝を果たしました。2位には平均2.58のTakeru Iguchi (井口丈瑠)、3位には平均2.73をマークしたMasaki Nishimura (西村正輝)がランクインし、ハイペースな回転技で観客を魅了しました。

今回のShimonoseki 2025では、上位争いだけでなく自己ベストの更新や新たな挑戦に臨んだ選手たちの奮闘も際立っていました。Ai Matsumura (松村藍)は3x3x3 Cubeで従来の記録から40.8パーセント短縮する24.95を記録し、Soshi Sasaki (佐々木創史)も同種目で31.5パーセント更新となる17.21の自己新を達成しました。JaeWoo Jangは2x2x2 Cubeで27.5パーセント縮める1.71を出し22位となったほか、3x3x3 Cubeでも11.9パーセント向上の13.16をマークしました。Yuki Mochizuki (望月宥希)は3種目に出場して3x3x3 Blindfoldedで11位に入り、2x2x2 Cubeへの初挑戦で3.46、3x3x3 Cubeでも11.4パーセント短縮の16.63を記録しました。

さらに初参加となるWCA公式大会で堂々たる成果を残した顔ぶれも会場を盛り上げました。Kazuma Takemoto (竹本和真)は2種目に挑んで2x2x2 Cubeで50位となる7.89、3x3x3 Cubeで30.36をそれぞれ初記録しました。Yusei Shimada (島田悠晟)は2x2x2 Cubeで2.04を記録して19位に入り、3x3x3 Cubeでも11.91をマークしました。Hikaru Matsuura (松浦光)は2x2x2 Cubeで4.93を出して31位、3x3x3 Cubeで15.91を残し、Jay Fujibayashi (藤林弐叡)も2x2x2 Cubeで4.08を記録して35位、3x3x3 Cubeで13.73の初記録を残しました。

大会の全体を通じ、日本勢が8つの表彰台を獲得し、アメリカ勢が1つの表彰台を獲得するなど国際色豊かな交流と高い競技水準が示されました。参加した92名の選手たちによる熱意と研ぎ澄まされた技術は、冬の山口の地を熱く照らし出し、スピードキューブの奥深さと楽しさを改めて証明しました。

すべてのスケジュールを終えたShimonoseki 2025は、選手それぞれの成長と確かな記録を刻んで閉幕しました。目隠し部門での鮮烈なタイムや各部門での白熱した順位争い、そして多くの自己新記録は、選手たちが積み重ねてきた日々の鍛錬の結実であり、それぞれの次なる挑戦への大きなステップとなりました。