QuizKnock's Takuji Izawa / Togen Higashi "High School Quiz Battle WHAT"

Discover a new you through quizzes

■QuizKnock Takushi Izawa
Born in 1994. Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo. Achieved the first-ever two consecutive individual victories in the "High School Quiz" competition. In 2016, he founded the intellectual entertainment group QuizKnock, and their YouTube channel currently has over 2.6 million subscribers. In 2019, he established QuizKnock Inc. and became its CEO. He has appeared on numerous television programs, including "Todai-Oh" and "Boken Shonen."

■High School Quiz Battle WHAT 2026 Chairman: Gon Higashi (QuizKnock)
Born in 2001. Graduated from the Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo. He started taking quizzes in junior high school with his twin brother, Tomon, and together they won the "High School Quiz" competition as teammates. He joined QuizKnock in 2022 and currently appears in YouTube videos and is involved in event PR as a public relations representative. He has also appeared on television programs such as "Todai-Oh" and "Degawa Tetsuro's Quiz School." In February 2025, he won his first championship on "Q-sama!!".

The "High School Quiz Battle WHAT," a quiz competition for high school students and younger that began in 2022, will be held again this year. Last year, 2,278 people from all over the country participated, making it a huge success. This time, we interviewed Mr. Higashi, this year's tournament chairman, and Mr. Izawa Takuji, who founded QuizKnock, about the appeal of the tournament and the potential of quizzes.

■What kind of competition is "High School Quiz Battle WHAT"?

Higashi: "High School Quiz Battle WHAT" is a quiz competition for high school students and younger that QuizKnock has been holding since 2022. Last year, more than 2000 people participated. It is the largest quiz event for high school students and younger in Japan, and is like a battle to determine the top quiz champion. However, at the same time, more than half of the participants are first-time quiz competitors. WHAT has two characteristics: it is a championship to determine the top, and it is an entry-level event for people participating in a quiz competition for the first time.

Izawa: Twenty years ago, when I started taking quizzes, the industry was small, so it was common for competitions aiming to be number one to be entry-level. However, nowadays, with more people taking quizzes, it's become difficult to answer many questions in a competition on your first try. That's why WHAT is taking on the challenge of balancing entry-level competitions and championships, allowing many participants to compete while still offering the value of aiming for the top. To do this with high satisfaction, a certain scale of event is necessary, and I believe this is something that only a company can do. That's our biggest feature.

■Please tell us about the highlights and points of interest in this tournament.

Higashi: One of the highlights is the gathering of diverse players. There are many talented people out there whose names are not yet known, and there are many "raw talents" among high school students who are stronger than us. Along with the fierce battles that these players will wage, I hope you will also pay attention to the questions that QuizKnock has seriously created. Also, the first round is a simple quiz where you answer multiple-choice questions on your smartphone. I hope you will give it a try without thinking that it's impossible for you.

Izawa: Up until now, the "quiz competitions showcasing strong high school quiz players" that have been featured in the media have mainly focused on having contestants answer long word names, or conversely, asking questions that quiz players have heard many times before to demonstrate their speed in pressing the buzzer. That's certainly impressive. But we believe that high school students can shine even without those kinds of quizzes. By presenting a balanced set of questions, we can give more players a chance to shine and showcase the depth of their individual knowledge, which we think is a clear innovation. Even people who have never played quizzes before might enjoy it if they come thinking that there's at least one question where they can shine.

■ Do you have any tips for winning this tournament?

Higashi: To put it bluntly, I don't think you need to win (laughs). The purpose of quizzes is to have fun, you don't have to win. However, if I had to say something, it would be to know what kind of questions will be asked in WHAT. Although it is updated every year, the basics remain the same. QuizKnock has published a question book containing past WHAT questions, so I recommend using that to prepare.

Izawa: The easiest way for anyone to boost their power is to get a good night's sleep on the day of the test. This is really important, because with multiple-choice questions like this one, which require you to answer in a short amount of time, you'll miss points if you're not paying attention. Any player can score a little better if they get enough sleep. I also try to get six or seven hours of sleep before a competition. Mentally speaking, it's discouraging to miss questions in your strong areas, so it might be a good idea to review your strong areas right before the test. If you have the time and energy, preparing for current events is the best way to score points. The web media "QuizKnock" is a helpful website for that, so please check it out (laughs). Reading articles on QuizKnock will definitely make you stronger.

■Please tell us about the possibilities of quizzes.

Higashi: First of all, there isn't really a defined definition of quizzes. Whether it's friends quizzing each other or competing in a tournament, both are quizzes. That freedom is what makes quizzes so appealing. Also, quizzes are quite integrated into everyday life. For example, I sometimes come up with quiz questions while watching soccer or listening to music. In this way, I feel that the fact that there's no clear line between quizzes and the rest of life offers endless possibilities.

Izawa: What I'm focusing on right now is how to increase the number of casual players. There are probably quite a few people who have been to a mystery-solving event, even if they don't consider solving mysteries to be their hobby. I hope that people will enjoy quizzes in a similar way. If people who say, "I don't know much about quizzes, but they're fun when I do them occasionally," start spreading the word, that would be great for the industry.

■Finally, do you have a message for us?

Higashi: Life is full of fascinating things that we haven't yet noticed ourselves, and I believe quizzes are a tool that can be a catalyst for discovering them. Through quizzes, you can find things that you never knew existed, so I hope you'll come and find them for yourselves. You might think that it's difficult to participate because it's a quiz competition, but I hope you'll try something new.

Izawa: First of all, I hope you'll discover a new side of yourself. Through the quiz, you might recall forgotten knowledge and experiences, or discover a new side of yourself. And just as importantly, you'll also meet new people. It's a great discovery to see what people your age know and what you don't know. You might even realize, "Wow, I'm getting so much support!" That's also a way to meet new people. I hope you enjoy all sorts of encounters. That being said, it's a once-a-year festival, so just go along with it and you'll have fun!

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on May 26, 2026: Mio Ozawa, 2nd year student at Seijo University

"High School Quiz Battle WHAT 2026"

This individual quiz competition was first held in 2022 and is now in its fifth year. Last year, 2,278 people entered, and 30 junior and senior high school students who passed the preliminary rounds gathered from all over the country to engage in fierce competition.
　This year, just like last year, the event will be held over two days. On the first day, all entrants will participate, and only those who win on the first day will be able to participate on the second day. The first day will be held on August 16th (Sunday) in Tokyo, Osaka, and online, and the second day is scheduled to be held on August 29th (Saturday) at a venue in Tokyo.
　We are currently accepting entries. The application period ends on August 9th (Sunday) at 11:59 PM. We encourage everyone to apply, whether you're an experienced quiz player or someone who's trying a quiz competition for the first time.

WHAT Official Website:https://what.quizknock.com/

Karin Ishimatsu (4th year, Tsuda University) / Aoi Morikawa (2nd year, Hosei University) / Mio Ozawa (2nd year, Seijo University) / Sakura Yamashita (4th year, Tsuda University) / Moe Ota (2nd year, Nihon University) / Yurie Watanabe (3rd year, Josai International University)