Tokai Big Cubes 2025

A staggering 35 out of 36 cubes solved blindfolded by Shiori Yanai in 56:09 capped off an extraordinary display of concentration at Tokai Big Cubes 2025. Held on December 14, 2025, at the Industrial Promotion Center in Kariya, Aichi, Japan, the gathering brought together 58 competitors across eight rounds of elite puzzle solving. While Yanai secured the top spot on the 3x3x3 Multi-Blind podium, the seamless execution of the one-day schedule stood out just as brightly, built entirely on the dedication of the local organizers, delegates, and community volunteers.

Staging a high-complexity cubing competition requires meticulous planning, especially when juggling long-format events alongside the largest puzzles in the World Cube Association catalog. The organizational team managed station logistics, cube runners, and strict scrambling standards without a single delay. From early morning blindfolded isolation to the frantic turn-taking of the later rounds, the organizers and volunteers ensured that every competitor could focus entirely on their performance, creating an atmosphere that drew praise from across the region.

The 3x3x3 Multi-Blind event presented the heaviest logistical demand of the day, with 18 competitors tackling an astonishing quantity of puzzles simultaneously. Japan took all three podium spots in the event. Behind Yanai's triumphant 35/36 result, Naoto Kobayashi claimed second place with a massive attempt of 36 out of 42 cubes in 58:22, while Takuma Shirahase took third with a perfect 9 out of 9 in 51:47. For spectators tracking speedcubing developments, the logistical precision required to scramble and manage hundreds of cubes at once showed the event staff operating at the absolute top of their game.

Across the traditional big puzzle disciplines, Ivan Li Ka Leong of Hong Kong staged a complete sweep, capturing three titles in dominant fashion. In the 5x5x5 Cube, where 51 competitors battled through three rounds, Li Ka Leong posted a winning average of 42.45 seconds alongside the day's best single of 40.98. Yi-Fan Wu of Taiwan earned second place with an average of 47.34, while Kohei Aruga of Japan rounded out the podium in third at 50.64 seconds, demonstrating the immense depth present at Tokai Big Cubes 2025.

Li Ka Leong continued his masterclass in the 6x6x6 Cube, recording a winning average of 1:25.55 and a single of 1:22.35 across two rounds of play. Yudai Naito of Japan pressed hard to finish runner-up with an average of 1:26.91, followed by Yi-Fan Wu in third at 1:32.33. In the 7x7x7 Cube, Li Ka Leong completed his triple crown with a 2:10.44 winning average, holding off Kohei Aruga who logged 2:12.48 for second, and Yi-Fan Wu who took third with 2:14.37. The high-tier speed cubing standard across these massive puzzles reflected both competitor talent and the smooth tournament conditions provided by the event staff.

Away from the top of the podium, several under-the-radar competitors delivered breakthrough personal milestones that defined the true character of the weekend. Mirei Morioka took on three events and secured huge personal bests, cutting her 6x6x6 Cube mark down to 3:36.70 from 5:05.27, an improvement of 29 percent, while reducing her 7x7x7 Cube record by 20.3 percent to 5:14.52 alongside a first ever attempt at 5x5x5 Cube in 2:03.91. Kodai Ueda also produced massive drops across three events, lowering his 7x7x7 Cube personal best by 23.4 percent to 3:45.41, trimming his 5x5x5 Cube mark by 18.6 percent to 1:15.03, and completing a first ever attempt at 6x6x6 Cube with 2:45.23.

That same drive was evident throughout the rest of the field as athletes expanded their repertoires into new territory. Fumitaka Yoneyama stepped up to tackle three big cube categories for the very first time in competition, registering a 4:30.52 in 7x7x7 Cube, a 1:47.46 in 5x5x5 Cube, and a 2:55.09 in 6x6x6 Cube. Rio Esaki entered three events, setting a 5x5x5 Cube personal best of 57.95 seconds that was 8.7 percent faster than before, placing 12th in that event, while also posting first ever attempts at 6x6x6 Cube in 2:11.22 and 7x7x7 Cube in 3:37.19. Haru Matsuki placed 7th in 5x5x5 Cube while making inaugural attempts at both 6x6x6 Cube in 2:03.55 and 7x7x7 Cube in 3:25.02. Meanwhile, Ryutaro Miyazaki took on four events, securing a 16th-place finish in 3x3x3 Multi-Blind, an 8.2 percent personal best of 4:26.26 in 6x6x6 Cube, and first official attempts in 5x5x5 Cube at 2:19.04 and 7x7x7 Cube at 9:48.35.

The international balance at the venue proved remarkably tight, with Japan taking six podium places, while Hong Kong and Taiwan captured three apiece. Beyond the standard Rubik's Cube variants, the sheer scale of the equipment handled by the organizers ensured that every heat progressed without incident. Whether athletes were reviewing their multi-blind memory pathways or comparing 3x3 results from previous seasons, the collaborative environment fostered by the event crew stood as a model for regional competitions.

As the final timers clicked off, Tokai Big Cubes 2025 concluded as an unqualified triumph for the local cubing community in Aichi. The efficient delivery of eight rounds across four complex events highlighted the invaluable work of the volunteers and delegates who make high-level competition possible. With the 2025 calendar winding down, the successful weekend serves as an enduring reminder of how essential dedicated organizers are to the growth and spirit of every WCA competition.

愛知県刈谷市の刈谷市産業振興センターで開催されたTokai Big Cubes 2025において最も際立ったのは、Ivan Li Ka Leong（李嘉亮）が見せた圧倒的な安定感でした。単発の好記録だけに頼らず、揃えを重ねても揺るがないハイレベルな平均記録を武器に、大型パズル部門を席巻しました。2025年12月14日に行われたこの大会には58名の選手が集まり、計4種目8ラウンドにわたって熱い戦いを繰り広げました。

5x5x5 Cube部門では51名がエントリーし、3ラウンドの激戦が展開されました。決勝に進んだIvan Li Ka Leong（李嘉亮）は最速単発40.98をマークしつつ、平均42.45という驚異的なタイムを揃えて見事に優勝を果たしました。2位には平均47.34を記録したYi-Fan Wu（吳亦凡）、3位には平均50.64のKohei Aruga（有賀康平）が入り、ハイレベルな表彰台争いを繰り広げました。

続く6x6x6 Cube部門でもIvan Li Ka Leong（李嘉亮）の盤石な強さは揺らぎませんでした。42名が出場した2ラウンド制の戦いにおいて、ベスト単発1:22.35を含む平均1:25.55を叩き出してトップの座を射止めました。2位には平均1:26.91をマークした日本のYudai Naito（内藤悠大）が僅差で続き、3位には平均1:32.33でYi-Fan Wu（吳亦凡）が入賞しました。

さらに7x7x7 Cube部門においても、Ivan Li Ka Leong（李嘉亮）が平均2:10.44を記録して勝利を収めました。最速単発2:01.41を記録するなど、手数と判断力が問われる最難関の大型ルービックキューブにおいて安定した実力を遺憾無く発揮しました。この種目ではKohei Aruga（有賀康平）が平均2:12.48で2位、Yi-Fan Wu（吳亦凡）が平均2:14.37で3位表彰台を獲得しました。

記憶力と集中力の極限が試される3x3x3 Multi-Blind部門には18名が参加しました。この競技を制したのは日本のShiori Yanaiで、36個中35個を記憶・復元して56:09という見事な結果を残しました。2位には42個中36個を成功させ58:22を記録したNaoto Kobayashi（小林直登）、3位には9個中9個を完璧に揃えて51:47をマークしたTakuma Shirahase（白波瀬拓磨）が続きました。

公式記録の上位争いから一歩引いたところでも、スピードキュービングの舞台ならではの挑戦と劇的な成長が数多く刻まれました。Yuto Date（伊達優人）は5x5x5 Cubeで従来の記録から30.7パーセント短縮する1:31.37の自己新記録を達成し、3x3x3 Multi-Blindでは13位となりました。Yuichi Hamada（濵田祐一）は4種目に出場し、6x6x6 Cubeで23.1パーセント更新の4:01.12、7x7x7 Cubeで8.8パーセント更新の6:09.06、5x5x5 Cubeで4パーセント更新の2:20.20を記録しました。またKento Hirai（平井健斗）は7x7x7 Cubeで8.1パーセントタイムを縮める2:27.34を出し、初挑戦となった3x3x3 Multi-Blindで3/3を20:07で揃えて6位に入りました。

新たな種目へ果敢に足を踏み入れた選手たちの奮闘も会場を彩りました。Ryosei Yamada（山田稜成）は7x7x7 Cubeに初挑戦して4:56.11を記録したほか、6x6x6 Cubeでも自己記録を9.1パーセント更新する3:14.87をマークしました。Ojiro Nakagami（中神王治郎）は5x5x5 Cubeの初挑戦で2:19.13を残し、3x3x3 Multi-Blindでは16位となりました。Takato Mori（森理人）も5x5x5 Cubeに初挑戦し4:43.46の公式タイムを残しました。

Tokai Big Cubes 2025は、大型キューブと複数目隠し競技という高い技術と精神力が求められる種目に特化したWCA competitionとして、参加者たちの確かな練習の成果が存分に発揮された一日となりました。国境を越えたハイレベルな競り合いと、個々の挑戦が生んだ数々のパーソナルベストは、次のシーズンに向けた選手たちの確かな糧となります。