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Mao Shimada Catches Up to Arakawa and Ando with 3rd Straight Japan Junior Crown

The top scorer on the Junior Grand Prix circuit this season, Mao Shimada rises to the occasion in the free skate after a disappointing short program.

World junior champion Mao Shimada won the Japan Junior Championships for the third consecutive time with a strong free skate on Sunday night, November 19 at Kinoshita Kansei Ice Arena in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. 

The 15-year-old rose to the occasion after a disappointing short program on Friday to clinch the victory.

Shimada etched her name in the record books alongside Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa (1994-96) and two-time world titlist Miki Ando (2001-03) as the only women to win the competition three years in a row. 

The Tokyo native's winning total score was 201.33 points, giving her a 12-point margin over second-place finisher Ikura Kushida, who had 190.12.

Thirteen-year-old Rena Uezono took third with 186.51, while Yo Takagi came in fourth on 183.96.

Mao Shimada
Women's champion Mao Shimada (center), runner-up Ikura Kushida (left) and third-place finisher Rena Uezono display their medals after the competition. (KYODO)

Mao Shimada Lands Eight Clean Triple Jumps in Free Skate

Shimada, who was the top scorer on the Junior Grand Prix circuit this season, skated to "Benedictus" and began with a sublime triple axel, before falling on a quadruple toe loop. 

She recovered and went on to land an impressive eight clean triple jumps while earning level fours on all of her spins in an enchanting performance that exhibited fine line and edge.

Mao Shimada
Mao Shimada (KYODO)

"I wonder if I got closer to the two of them," Shimada was quoted as saying about moving alongside the two skating legends. 

She added, "I just tried to forget about yesterday, [and] I was encouraged to believe in myself by the people around me."

Ikura Kushida glides across the ice in the women's free skate. (KYODO)

Kushida Demonstrates Skating Potential

Kushida, a 16-year-old from Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, led after the short program, but could not match up to the technical excellence of Shimada in her free skate to "The Little Prince" soundtrack. She did land five clean triples and registered level fours on all of her spins.

Uezono hit five clean triples and received level fours on two of her spins in her free skate to "Pray" and "Mechanisms," illustrating her big potential going forward.

Ami Nakai, who has qualified for December's JGP Final in Beijing, improved from a disastrous short program that saw her come in 14th to climb up to 10th with 160.89.

Shunsuke Nakamura performs his free skate routine at the Japan Junior Championships. (KYODO)

It's just a shoe!

Nakamura Earns Men's Title

Earlier Sunday, Shunsuke Nakamura captured his first medal at the Japan Junior Championships on the sixth attempt, winning the gold in a convincing fashion. The 18-year-old from Kyoto held onto the lead he had after Friday's short program to top the podium.

Nakamura's winning tally was 212.42, putting him well ahead of Rio Nakata, who finished second with 205.76, and third-place finisher Tsudoi Suto (201.12). Haru Kakiuchi was fourth on 197.97.

Men's gold medalist Shunsuke Nakamura (center), second-place finisher Rio Nakata (left) and bronze medalist Tsudoi Suto attend the medal ceremony. (KYODO)

Nakamura, whose previous best finish in this competition was fourth last year, opened his free skate to "Child of Nazareth" with a nice quadruple toe loop and went on to hit six clean triples. He fell on a triple flip midway through his routine, but notched level fours on all of his spins.

"This is what I have been aiming for," an elated Nakamura remarked. "I'm happy."

He added, "I see this victory as the starting line for next season when I will compete in seniors."

Rio Nakata (KYODO)

Nakata, the top qualifier on the JGP circuit this season, skated to "Blunt Instrument" and "Writing's on the Wall" and also opened with a solid quad loop. The 15-year-old from Chiba added six clean triples on the way to taking the silver.

Suto, 16, hit seven triples, including two triple axels, and posted level fours on all of his spins in his skate to "Piano Concerto No. 2" to claim the bronze.

Upcoming Extravaganza

The top six finishers in the women's and men's events will compete at the Japan Championships (December 20-24) in Osaka.

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Author: Jack Gallagher

The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page, and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan.

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