NHK Trophy 2023: Preview, full schedule and how to watch live
Japanese titans Uno Shoma and Kagiyama are set to lock horns as the Grand Prix Series heads to its final destination in Osaka, Japan, for the 24-26 November event.
Figure Skating
The ISU Grand Prix Series will make its sixth and final stop with the NHK Trophy this weekend in Osaka, Japan.
With a bulk of the Grand Prix Finalists having already been decided, the 24-26 November competition at Towa Pharmaceutical Ractab Dome has shaped up to be a showdown between the two men’s Olympic silver medallists, Uno Shoma and Kagiyama Yuma.
It will be the first time the Japanese stars face off since last year’s national championships where Uno triumphed and a half-fit Kagiyama slumped to eighth place.
Uno is coming off a somewhat disappointing Cup of China two weeks ago by his standards (second), but expect the reigning two-time world champion to bounce back at the NHK Trophy which he won last year.
Kagiyama missed all of the last Grand Prix campaign with a left-ankle injury but returned earlier this month with bronze at the Grand Prix de France, closer to the form he was in during the Beijing 2022 Olympic season. Should Uno and Kagiyama skate to their usual levels, the rest of the field will be playing for third place.
The women’s event will be up for grabs. The defending Grand Prix Final champion Mihara Mai would have been the favourite but missed the Cup of China with a right-ankle injury. Her rate of recovery remains to be seen.
That may open up the door for Mihara’s compatriot Wakaba Higuchi, Lee Hae-in and title-holder Kim Ye-lim from the Republic of Korea, as well as Nina Pinzarrone who was runner-up in France.
With pairs defending champion Miura Riku/Kihara Ryuichi out, Minerva Fabienne Hase/Nikita Volodin, Rebecca Ghilardi/Filippo Ambrosini, Lucrezia Beccari/Matteo Guarise and Chelsea Liu/Balazs Nagy all have a shot to top the podium.
Look for Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri and Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson to headline the ice dance act while Komatsubara Misato/Tim Koleto excite the home crowd.
Kagiyama Yuma is eyeing his first Grand Prix victory in more than two years at the NHK Trophy.
NHK Trophy 2023: Full schedule
All times Japan Standard Time (GMT +9). The full schedule here.
Friday, 24 November
- 12:25 - Ice dance rhythm dance
- 14:15 - Women's short program
- 16:15 - Pairs short program
- 19:00 - Men's short program
Saturday, 25 November
- 11:50 - Ice dance free dance
- 13:50 - Women's free skate
- 17:10 - Pairs free skate
- 19:30 - Men's free skate
Sunday, 26 November
- 13:20 - Exhibition gala
Lee Hae-in of the Republic of Korea
NHK Trophy 2023: How to watch live
Fans in Japan can catch the action live including the exhibition gala on NHK G/BS1. Details of the broadcast are here.
The ISU provides a "where to watch" page for international fans, who will be able to watch via the ISU YouTube Channel. Geo-blocking may apply.