All-Japan Figure Skating Championships 2022 Day 1 - Sakamoto Kaori tops women's short with Mihara Mai challenging for top women's honours

The stage has been set for the reigning world champion and Grand Prix Final champion.

Sakamoto Kaori and Mihara Mai topped the women’s short program of the All-Japan Figure Skating Championships on Thursday (22 December) in Osaka, where the besties will lock horns for the country’s top honours this weekend.

Sakamoto produced an immaculate 77.79 points to finish first, rebounding from a disappointing Grand Prix Final two weeks ago when Mihara captured the crown in her debut at the select mid-season event.

Mihara on this night scored a 74.70, marred only slightly by a quarter landing on a triple lutz-toeloop combo.

“This is the most confident I’ve been going into a competition this season,” said Sakamoto, who struggled to hold back a smile.

“I made zero mistakes and throughout the year, I haven’t been able to hit a 4 on my steps and spins, but I had a 4 on all four so I’m pretty happy with the way things turned out.”

Sitting in third ahead of Saturday’s free skate is Chiba Mone, 17, with 71.06 and in fourth at 70.28 is 14-year-old phenom Shimada Mao, winner of the Junior Grand Prix Final.

Former Grand Prix Final winner Kihira Rika was 11th with a 60.43, Skate Canada champion Watanabe Rinka a further seven places back with 56.23. Beijing Olympian Kawabe Mana saved face with a 64.51 though she left out her trademark triple Axel.

Following her error-filled free program in Turin, which saw her finish fifth at the Grand Prix Final, Sakamoto consoled herself with eating exquisite Italian food - and forgot about it all.

After returning to Japan, the defending national champion said she feels like she is born again - back to her joyful self prior to being weighed down by a world championship and the demands of an Olympic year where she came away with a bronze medal.

“Since coming back from Italy, I feel like something changed within me for the better - I almost feel like a totally different person. There’s a new wind blowing and I’m catching it.

“And as a result I’ve been able to put in the work I need to. Lately, I’ve been struggling with the second half of my free program and I want to make sure I get the job done this time.”

Mihara continued her torrid campaign marked by three Grand Prix gold medals. Triumph on Saturday would be a first All-Japan title for the 23-year-old late bloomer.

“I want to have the best free skate I’ve had this season”, Mihara said. “My legs felt really heavy today but whatever the circumstance, the top athletes find a way. It’s in situations like this you are tested.

“There’s nothing in my program I can’t do. If I focus, one element at a time, it’s something I can do. I just need to visualise and execute.”

'Kana/Dai' halfway to 1st title

In the ice dance rhythm dance, Muramoto Kana/Takahashi Daisuke took a step towards winning their first national title with a 77.70, holding off the four-time defending champions Komatsubara Misato/Takeru.

Muramoto/Takahashi fell short of a PB (79.56) but it was the first time they topped 70 points at the nationals.

The Komatsubaras meanwhile marked a 69.96 as a fifth consecutive championship hangs in delicate balance.

Said Takahashi, “Maybe I was more nervous than usual but I don’t feel like I nailed it. But on the other hand, we didn’t make any critical errors other than the deduction on the lift.

“It’s not a bad score. I’m of the opinion that you can’t do what you haven’t done in practice so we need to keep the faith in what we’ve done up to this point.”

No-go for Miura/Kihara after losing baggage

Japan's first-ever pairs Grand Prix Final champions Miura Riku/Kihara Ryuichi will not perform here after all, after arriving two days later than originally scheduled and losing their luggage in the process.

The two are without their costume. Kihara is also missing his skates.

Kihara said even if the skates were to arrive in time for the short program starting on Friday at 15:30 local time, he would have felt unsafe performing lifts after not having been on the ice for four full days.

“All I’ve got is my massage machine,” Kihara said. “I have to go buy something to wear now.”

Added Miura, “It’s the biggest domestic competition. Everyone is finally paying attention to us but we can’t do anything now. I can’t make sense of anything.”

The pair’s unforeseen absence should not affect their selection for the world championships, however. As last year’s runners-up, Miura/Kihara have met the qualifying criteria of a top-three finish at a previous worlds.

Schedule for All-Japan Figure Skating Championships 2022 (all times local JST, UTC+9):

Friday 23 December

Pairs' short program - 15:30

Men's short program - 16:22

Saturday 24 December

Ice dance (free dance) - 14:19

Women's free program - 17:00

Sunday 25 December

Pair's free program - 15:30

Men's free program - 17:00