Yuma Kagiyama holds a narrow lead over junior Rio Nakata after the short program at the Japan Championships on Friday, December 20, in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. The 21-year-old Kagiyama, in pursuit of his first Japan title, fell on his triple axel, but still managed to emerge on top due to his superior skating skills.
Kagiyama's score in first place is 92.05 points, while the 16-year-old Nakata is in second at 90.31. Kazuki Tomono stands in third on 89.72. Kao Miura is fourth with 88.87.
Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto is in front after the women's short program with 78.92. Three-time world junior titlist Mao Shimada is second at 75.58, while Mone Chiba is third on 74.72.
Skating to "The Sound of Silence," Kagiyama opened with a nice quadruple salchow, followed by a quad toe loop/triple toe loop combination jump. He appeared to be on the way to a big score, but went down on the triple axel in which he looked to be lacking speed.
Kagiyama posted level fours on two spins and his step sequence as he tries to win the title that his father Masakazu captured three times.
"Only the axel was a big mistake," Kagiyama stated. "The coaches said that the other parts were well scored, so I want to do my best tomorrow."
Added Kagiyama, "Tomorrow is tomorrow and there are a lot of quads [in the program]. I want to adjust firmly in the morning [at practice] and do my best to give 100 percent."
A Confidence-Boosting Performance for Nakata at the Japan Championships
Nakata, the 2023 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, was the surprise of the day. He skated to "Aroul" and "Uccen" and began with a big quad toe loop/triple toe loop combo, followed by a solid triple axel. Nakata went on to land a triple flip and earned level fours on all of his spins and step sequence.
"I didn't expect to get 90 points," Nakata remarked. "It gives me a lot of confidence. I will go for a quad loop and a quad toe loop in the free skate and aim for the top three."
The veteran Tomono, now 26, was the final skater of the day and put together a respectable program to "Tshegue" and "Muanapoto." He started with a good quad toe loop/triple toe loop combo and a quad salchow, but his triple axel was shaky. Tomono managed a level four on just one spin and his step sequence.
"It's a waste," Tomono commented on his triple axel. "I want to go for it tomorrow with a champion's mentality."
The 19-year-old Miura performed to "Conquest of Spaces" and pulled off a quad salchow/triple toe loop combo and a triple axel without issues, but fell on his quad toe loop. His spins and step sequence were all level fours, and helped keep him in the hunt for a medal at the Japan Championships on Saturday.
Sakamoto Meets Expectations on Opening Night
Sakamoto, who finished third at the GP Final earlier this month, bounced back in a big way with a near flawless skate to "Resurreccion del Angel" and "La Muerte del Angel." The 24-year-old hit her double axel and triple lutz at the outset of the program and went on to land a smooth triple flip/triple toe loop combo.
She earned level fours on two of her spins and step sequence as she seeks her fourth straight Japan title.
"I'm relieved that I didn't make a big mistake," Sakamoto stated. "It is good that I am getting closer to my personal best [score]."
Added Sakamoto, "It is rewarding that there is still room for growth. I want to skate my best and enjoy the free program."
Shimada in Contention for the Women's Title
The 16-year-old Shimada competed to "Defying Gravity" and was judged a quarter rotation short on her opening triple axel. She executed her triple flip and triple lutz/triple toe loop combo without problems and notched level fours on all of her spins and step sequence.
Shimada will try to become the first junior woman to win the senior crown at the Japan Championships since Miki Ando in 2003 in Sunday's free skate.
"I will definitely do it, I challenged with that feeling," Shimada stated. "Not looking back on the past, I was focused on the present and performed."
About matching Ando's feat, Shimada said, "I don't think much about it. This event I don't think about just winning, but passing a point on the way to a destination."
Chiba Pleased with Performance
Chiba performed to "Last Dance" and started with a triple lutz/triple toe loop combo, then hit a double axel, and went on to land a nice triple flip. The 19-year-old recorded level fours on all of her spins and step sequence.
"It seems that I was more nervous than I thought, but I felt like I calmed down," Chiba commented. "I was glad that I started from a place where I was impatient and finished it without a mistake. It seemed like my usual flow was about to be swept away by other waves of tension."
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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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