A year after Shoma Uno and Kaori Sakamoto captured the men's and women's titles at the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier, France, there are great expectations for the Japanese contingent at this year's extravaganza.

Competition at the 2023 world championships at Saitama Super Arena is scheduled to be held from Wednesday, March 22 until Saturday, March 25. Jack Gallagher, Ice Time columnist and figure skating reporter for SportsLook and JAPAN Forward, joins sports editor Ed Odeven on this podcast episode to preview the marquee event.

The discussion highlights the medals prospects for Uno and Sakamoto along with men's entrants Sota Yamamoto and Kazuki Tomono. The journalists also talk about Mai Mihara's splendid season, women's figure skater Rinka Watanabe and pairs duo Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara.

Gallagher weighs in on Yuzuru Hanyu's incredible star power and the successful launch of his one-man skating shows. In addition, he offers insights on Japan's successful showing at the World Junior Championships in Canada.

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RELATED:

• [ICE TIME] Can Japan Make History at the World Championships?
• Predictions 2023: Japan's Figure Skaters Poised for Another Banner Year
• Shoma Uno Claims Fifth National Title By a Large Margin at Japan Championships
• Kaori Sakamoto Captures Third National Title at Japan Championships

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed in his weekly [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.