Japan Figure Skating Championships 2024: Let the battle royale begin in Osaka
Sakamoto Kaori and Kagiyama Yuma will be tipped to win the 20-22 December Japanese nationals but it will be anything but a walk in the park. Get ready for a world-class rumble.
Figure Skating
The Japanese nationals are no longer a domestic competition - it’s gone global.
The 93rd Japan Figure Skating Championships will be held at Ractab Dome in Osaka this weekend and it’s shaped up to be a bona fide, top-flight international meet.
While the men’s singles title will be Kagiyama Yuma’s to lose, the women’s field is so stacked and oozing with quality that it could comfortably pass as an eighth Grand Prix event.
Three-time defending champion Sakamoto Kaori will be the favourite, especially now that she’s overcome a sinus infection which forced her to settle for bronze at the Grand Prix Final two weeks ago.
But make no mistake, Sakamoto - who also happens to be the reigning three-time world champion - will have to work for what would be her fifth crown against the 28 ladies entered.
Among them are Japan’s four other Grand Prix Finalists: Chiba Mone, who took silver behind Amber Glenn, Higuchi Wakaba, Yoshida Hana and Matsuike Rino.
And they will be joined by the trio who swept the Junior GP Final - Shimada Mao, Wada Kaoruko and Nakai Ami. Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic champion Shimada became the first skater in history to three-peat at the Junior GP Final.
It doesn’t stop there. Don’t count out Beijing 2022 Olympian Kawabe Mana; Watanabe Rinka and Aoki Yuna, who both reached the Grand Prix podium this season; and Mihara Mai, the GP Final winner of only two seasons ago. The list goes on.
Beijing 2022 silver medallist Kagiyama will be under the microscope as he chases his first national championship. Look for the likes of Miura Kao, Sato Shun, Yamamoto Sota, Tomono Kazuki and junior hopeful Nakata Rio to contest the remaining medals.
Adding fuel to the fire is the prized carrot being dangled - places for the world championships in March in Boston will be on the line here.
The mouth-watering show begins on Friday (20 December).
Fast-rising Chiba Mone was runner-up to Amber Glenn at the ISU Grand Prix Final in Grenoble, France.
Japan Figure Skating Championships 2024: Full schedule
All times Japan Standard Time (UTC +9)
Friday, 20 December
- 12:30-16:40 Men's short program
- 17:30-21:49 Women's short program
Saturday, 21 December
- 13:30-14:01 Ice dance rhythm dance
- 14:45-15:17 Pairs short program
- 15:45-19:47 Men's free skating
Sunday, 22 December
- 12:30-13:08 Ice dance free dance
- 14:10-14:49 Pairs free skating
- 15:45-19:47 Women's free skating
Monday, 23 December
- 15:00-17:45 Exhibition gala
Japan Figure Skating Championships 2024: How to watch live
The 20-22 December Japan Figure Skating Championships 2024 will be broadcast exclusively on the Fuji TV Network - both live and delayed - on its terrestrial, BS, CS and FOD Premium channels.
It will also be shown on the TVer app for Japanese audiences.