NHK Trophy 2023: Kagiyama Yuma dazzles with world lead in men's short program, holds off Uno Shoma

Kagiyama Yuma is back - and then some.

Call it the Carolina Kostner effect, Kagiyama produced the world lead in the men’s short program at the NHK Trophy on Friday (24 November), a smoking 105.51 that floored the crowd in Osaka, Japan.

Kagiyama managed to put five points on two-time defending world champion and fellow Olympic silver medallist Uno Shoma (100.20).

After the top two, Lukas Britschgi sat back - way back - in third with 86.42.

Kagiyama was deservedly fired up following one of the best performances of his career.

“A lot of emotions there,” he said. “I skated as well as I possibly could with the best program I could possibly put together at this given time.

“From start to finish, I was able to skate exactly as I do in practice.”

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Uno Shoma: "Yuma was incredible"

As hyped and anticipated, it was a two-horse race between Uno and Kagiyama, who took to the ice first in the second group.

Performing to his new music ‘Believer’, Kagiyama showed a newfound maturity to his skating and an expression that was missing prior to this season - which he hired Kostner to help him find.

After an immaculate three minutes, Kagiyama pumped his fist with fire, certain he had absolutely nailed it.

“Today I was hoping to put it all together more than anything and it led to 105, which makes me thrilled,” said the 20-year-old, whose personal best is 108.12.

“I thought it would’ve been nice if I cleared 100 but I thought the scoring this season in general has been tough and I wasn’t so sure I could do it.

“Carolina told me to be the same as usual. She said that to me before warm-ups, too. She said be fantastic - not perfect.”

Uno on this night was not bad himself. Kagiyama was just better, and Uno was man enough to admit it, tipping his hat to his compatriot.

“Yuma was incredible today,” he said. “To beat his score, I knew I had to be absolutely perfect. So when I was a little tight on the quad toeloop, I knew right away it wasn’t going to happen.

“I’ve always thought Yuma is so well-rounded, good at everything not only jumps. If he ever has a perfect skate, I think he’s superior to Ilia (Malinin) and Adam (Siao Him Fa).”