Japan Figure Skating Championships 2024: Kagiyama Yuma makes history by storming to first national title
The Beijing 2022 runner-up throws down a season-best free program score of 205.63 in Osaka to win the Japanese nationals for his first time. With this title, Kagiyama emulates his father Masakazu, becoming only the second father-son duo to win the Japanese nationals.
Figure Skating
Kagiyama Yuma won his first national title with a season best free-skate score of 205.68 for a 297.73 total at the Japan Figure Skating Championships on Saturday (21 December) in Osaka.
Sixteen-year-old Nakata Rio came in second (263.99) to become the first junior skater to reach the men’s singles podium of the senior nationals since none other than Kagiyama, who achieved the feat in 2019.
Tsuboi Tatsuya (247.31) leapfrogged 11 places from the short program to take bronze.
Thirty-seven-year-old and 2008 champion Oda Nobunari ended his career for the second and final time by finishing a respectable fourth (234.68).
Finally prevailing on his seventh try, Beijing 2022 Olympic silver medallist Kagiyama and his father Masakazu - who won three straight championships from 1991 - became only the second father and son to win the Japanese nationals.
From left, Nakata Rio, Kagiyama Yuma and Tsuboi Tatsuya fill out the men's singles podium at the Japanese nationals on Saturday.
Kagiyama Yuma: 'I have to live up to that billing now'
It was a special moment for the Kagiyamas, one that had Masakazu bawling after Yuma’s performance.
“It’s been a while since I last saw my father become emotional to a point of being in tears,” said Yuma, who is the first skater not named Hanyu Yuzuru or Uno Shoma to capture the crown in 13 years.
“I’m obviously happy with myself for fighting to the finish but it means a lot to me to see my coaches be happy.
“He’s not one to cry often, always calm and collected. Not one to show a lot of emotion.
“He watches me more than anyone, every single day in person so it makes me incredibly happy to be able to return the favour this way.
“For him to be in tears, so moved - it really meant a lot to me. I have a feeling this will help me turn a corner, climb the walls I’ve been facing.”
Masakazu, who rarely speaks to the media at competitions, was a proud father on this night as Yuma floored the crowd, opening his skate with a sublime quadruple flip seamlessly followed by a quad Salchow.
“All long, I wanted him to win this title no matter what,” Kagiyama Senior said. “I could only say congratulations to him because I was crying my eyes out. I couldn’t come up with the words. I think I wanted Yuma to win this more than he did.
“Now, he’s finally earned the right to say he wants to be world No. 1. He’d done well, but he had to have this. He’s now ready for a restart.”
The younger Kagiyama echoed his sentiments, eyeing bigger and better things with his whole career ahead of him. Saturday’s victory also punched his ticket to the ISU World Championships in March in Boston.
“It hasn’t completely sunk in that I won the nationals for the first time. I’m just grateful. I’ll keep working hard because I want to win more medals than he has eventually.
“From hereon, I’ll probably be recognised as the Japanese champion more often than not.
“I have to live up to that billing now and can’t embarrass myself out there.”
Miura Riku/Kihara Ryuichi are on the cusp of their second national title after Saturday's short program.
Miura/Kihara cruise in pairs
Former world champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi opened up a sizable lead after the pairs short program in their first nationals appearance in five years.
Miura/Kihara waltzed to a 74.16, a country mile ahead of Nagaoka Yuna/Moriguchi Sumitada on 61.82. Shimizu Sae/Honda Lucas Tsuyoshi sat third (54.22) in the four-team field.
Two years ago, Miura/Kihara had their baggage lost on the flight home and could not compete without their skates or costume. Last year, they were forced to withdraw because of Kihara’s bout with lumbar spondylosis.
The two are coming off second place at the Grand Prix Final two weeks ago, when they took a backseat to Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin but Kihara is confident he and his partner are on an upward swing.
“We’re always competing against ourselves,” Kihara said. “We’re skating better than we were at the Final. We’ll definitely be OK.”